Tarot Journaling + First Tarot Card of the Week Post!

I have been trying to learn Tarot for the last 10+ years. I bought myself my first deck, The Housewives Tarot, and set to work teaching myself the meanings of the cards sometime around 2013. I got to know this deck very well and reach for it now when I need an honest and direct approach. This is like my Auntie deck. Loves me and wants what's best for me, but will tell me when I'm being an ass. I would frequently do readings for friends on camping trips and at get togethers and also spreads for myself, over the years gathering a well loved collection of decks. I would still search through a few trusted websites for info on the individual cards and loved being able to gain deeper insight on whatever may be going on. I see Tarot Cards, and other Divination methods, as less telling the future and more giving you another way to look at things. "Hey, but what about this angle?" Kinda thing. So once I know what the card represents, I put their meanings together in a way that makes sense and feels right. However, remembering what each card represents has proven difficult; my brain is a seive.

When I began my journaling habit and thought about things I wanted to incorporate into my spreads I knew that I wanted to squeeze Tarot Cards in there somewhere.

I know that the more I touch something, the better I'll remember it. So writing about it, thinking about it, applying it daily, would cement that card in to my mind. What works for me right now is when I do my weekly spread every Wednesday, I pick a deck, shuffle, and pick a card that will be my focus for that week.

When I pick my deck and card for the week, I shuffle and cut and select the top card. I take note of the imagery of the card, what do I feel when I look at it? Is this card of the Major or Minor arcana? What suit and what does that tell me? What do I already know about this card? Many Tarot Decks come with a booklet to explain the cards. What does that say? I then head to a few of my favorite sources (see Sources at the bottom) and see what they have to say about the card.

Now that I've absorbed a bit, it's time to write what I've learned. I write basic meanings, characteristics, and keywords that apply to the card. The key here is to write things that are going to help me remember. Sometimes the energy is best expressed with a color or a quote. I'll then look at these things and maybe jot a few notes on how I feel like that card applies in my life.

In addition, I always note the source. I have a few beautiful Tarot Decks that I call on regularly but sometimes I don't feel like shuffling and the cards are big and my hands are small and I'll use an app. Either way, I note the source! I feel different energy from different Tarot Decks. My Herbcrafter's Tarot Deck is a gentle friend, reminding me of the beauty and flow of life and my tiny, miniscule, incredibly important place in it. Remember, your journal is yours. You can use it to learn or track or remember whatever feels important to you. It doesn't have to make any sense to anyone but you!

Sometimes, when feeling particularly creative, I'll do a lil doodle of or inspired by the card. Including creativity and art are known to activate both sides of the brain and stimulate neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize things and make new connections. Thus, if you're trying to remember something, maybe do a lil doodle!

(this stuff is fascinating, btw. Again, Sources are down there!!).

In addition to putting it in my Weekly Spread, I note the Tarot Card of the week on each daily sheet. At the top, I put the date, the Moon Phase, and the Tarot of the Week. As part of my morning journaling ritual, I check the Moon Phase in my Chani App, as well as my daily horoscope (although I don't typically note that). I will take notes on how I see them manifesting or things to be on the lookout for.

Throughout the week, I'll think about journal prompts to do with that card. I think about how I may apply it or what the card may be teaching me. Sometimes I'll just write about the card or who or what situation it reminds me of. If I'm stuck, I'll hit my Sources. There's a few awesome blogs posting Tarot Content! If you know of any I should check out, please drop them in the comments. I'll do maybe 2-3 journal prompts, usually when I can't think of anything else to write about. I'm almost always very full of many, many words.

What I love about adding Tarot Cards in my Journaling is it reinforces both habits and gives me a lot of time with each card to really look at what it's telling me. Thus far, the cards of the week have been RIGHT on time. A lot of Major Arcana, a lot of self knowledge, a lot of getting shit done. As this is the first time I'm blogging about Tarot Cards in my brand new shiny blog, I'm going to call this my First Tarot Card of the Week.

Every week on Friday I'll post my Tarot Card of the Week, along with the deck it came from and some information about the card. Subscribe below to follow along and be notified whenever I post my weekly card!

So, here she is. This week is actually the first time I've ever pulled this card.

Tarot Card of the Week

February 19-25 2025

Deck: The Herbcrafter's Tarot - This deck is artwork. The cards are huge but they're beautifully illustrated and each card is represented by a plant. I would recommend this deck and reach for it when I'm feeling particularly in touch with my wild woman and want to sip tea and talk to plants. This deck also offers activity suggestions and often a little verse or poem associated with the energy of the card. I would reach for this deck more if the cards weren't so darn big. My wittle hands stuggle! In this deck, the Minor Arcana face cards are replaced with Hijas, Adelitas, Madres, and Curanderas and the suits are replaced with Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. It's all explained in the book that comes with it that also includes explanations, illustrations, rituals, crafts, journal prompts, spreads, etc. It's a really great little book.

Card : The Lovers, represented by Hawthorne.

Description of the Card : Two Hawthorne wreaths lay, overlaping like a Venn Diagram. The top is covered in the fresh blooms, the bottom in berries. The area where they intersect has thorns. I'm reminded of birth and death and opposites and how they can work together to compliment one another. In addition, I know that Hawthorn is a heart gladdening herb. It's known for uplifting spirits and opening good feelings and communication. It's also been known to be beneficial for physical heart and cardiovascular health.

Keywords, Phrases, and Ideas : Harmonious partnership, collaboration, harmony, balance, development of personal belief systems seperate of societal norms.

Sources

Below are a few sites that I find help for Journaling Ideas, Tarot Card Journaling Ideas, sources for information used in this blog entry and other cool stuff I think you might like that relate!

MJS Tarot - A lot of tarot information with deck reviews and some pretty dope spreads i'm excited to try! If you're interested in a new deck, she may have a review with pics. I link to her review of The Housewives Tarot above with lots of pics!

Labryinthos - My favorite website for Tarot Card meanings and explanations. They have an academy where you can learn Tarot in a few different ways and a bunch of different card decks you can choose from to guide you. There's a website and an app, both have daily lessons and a store.

Gem Blackstone - A Tarot blog I really enjoy. They offer good information on how we can see these themes play out in our lives. They have an excellent recent post on The Death card!

Latisha Guthrie, author of The Herbcrafter's Tarot book Her website with links to purchase. Looks like there's also a substack coming.

Chani - I'm going to be honest and say I have no idea who Chani Nicholas is. This is a fantastic lil app she made that shows moon phase, transits, horoscopes, rituals, guided meditations AND gives money to domestic violence survivors.

How Drawing can Help You to Improve Your Memory - Lovely article talking about how creativity and art help our brains remember stuff.

Info on Hawthorn from Eclectic Herb - I don't seem to have much growing locally so I don't pretend to be an expert. Follow the link to find out more about working with Hawthorn.