The American Tarot Association

 

Tarot Rituals For Grounding and Protection

With Geraldine Amaral

"The purpose of a ritual is to link a person to the larger rhythms of life." James Hollis

Ritual is "any prescribed ceremony that is performed in order to accomplish a certain goal. Ritual is the means to come into contact with divine or supernatural will or forces . . . . Ritual raises energy."

Rosemary Ellen Guiley

What is Ritual?
 By Geraldine Amaral

Ritual is a symbolic behavior, or a symbolic acting out of something. It can serve as a BRIDGE BETWEEN THE CONSCIOUS AND THE UNCONSCIOUS, it releases PSYCHIC ENERGIES, opens psychic gateways, enables the releasing of INNER BLOCKS AND OBSTACLES. It allows the power of the inner world to manifest in the physical. It may allow you to access new and creative solutions to a problem. It can be described as:
Use of symbolic language to speak to the
unconscious;
Active meditation;
A way to celebrate special events;
A way to put us in sync with the rhythms of nature;
Actions designed to give us pause in the midst of our hectic lives;

Our inner life made manifest;

A way of invoking the scared in ordinary actions;

An attempt to heal the opposites within us through a special rite;

A way to access the power inherent in our connection with a Universal energy;

A vehicle for the soul's expression and evolution;

Action undertaken when words are not sufficient.

 

Elements Used in the Creation of Ritual and Ceremony
 Prayer

Invocations

Incense

Smoke

Special gestures

Offerings

Use of Power Objects

Fasting

Feasting

Burning Objects

Burying

Untying or tying

Washing

Purification

 

Knocking down or breaking

objects

Building and lighting fire

Movement with/without a circle

Singing/chanting

Ritual silence

Dance

Creation of altar

Vigils

Lighting candles

Wearing masks

Use of special power name

Wearing symbolic clothing

Crossing thresholds

Exchanging special gifts

Immersion in water

Using smudge stick

Crystals

Music

High Priestess in particular, but ANY Tarot

Image

Special fabric

Soothing tea

Shuffling

Breathing techniques

Use anything in your rituals such as symbols, cards, pictures, flowers – anything that has special meaning or healing benefit to you.

THE MOST EMPOWERING RITUALS ARE INVENTED BY YOU.

 

Remember the power does not come from the ritual, the object that you might use or even the Tarot card. The power is inside you! Use rituals that feel right to you when working with the cards. There are many suggestions, many ideas, many opinions from many teachers. USE THE SYSTEM THAT CALLS TO YOU, not the one that a book or teacher say you should use. Treat the cards the way you treat anything else of value. Tarot is spiritual, mystical tool for transformation and growth, treat it with respect, honor this tool (but don't get tethered to it, don't give away your power to it!)

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Ideas for Storing, Handling and Clearing Your Deck

Everyone has ideas about rituals to use with your Tarot deck. Here are some of these many ideas. USE the SYSTEM and METHODOLOGY that calls to you, that works for you. Do not use a particular ritual because someone told you that you should. The most powerful rituals are those that you have created and that you have found to work for you.

Some Common Beliefs

Wrap cards in silk or other natural fiber;

Store cards in a wooden box;

Clear cards with repeated shuffling;

Clear cards with smudging, crystals, sage, sea salt, sunlight or moonlight;

Choose cards with left hand only;

Never let anyone else touch the cards;

Face north, face east, face west when working with the cards;

Light candles, burn incense;

Place a new deck under your pillow at night – this allows your subconscious mind a chance to get acquainted with the images

Clearing Methods

The most common method for clearing a deck is simply SHUFFLING the deck. This is also the best way to impregnate the cards with your personal energy/magnetism.

Another method is to re-order the cards in chronological order (both Major and Minor). Keep them in order for a day or two.

Swirl smudge stick, incense, oil of lavender around your deck or sprinkle with water.

Place a clear crystal on top of the deck for a day or so. Sweet grass, cedar chips, and your own sacred items are also options for clearing the deck.

Sprinkle with salt.

Deb Dorn even recommends burying the deck for a few days.

Above all else, think of the deck as your connection to Spirit and that which is sacred. Treat it with respect.

 

My Tarot Mission and Grounding Spread

By Geraldine Amaral

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  1. How can I best ground and protect MYSELF before a reading?
  2. How can I best ground and protect the SEEKER of WISDOM before a reading?
  3. Is there anything I should be concerned or especially cautious about when doing a reading? (This could be an internal issue for me personally, an internal issue for the Seeker or an external matter.)
  4. Show me an element/image from the Tarot that represents the element most likely to help me stay grounded. This should be a Minor Arcana card. It represents the suit/element that can be the most helpful. A Wand symbol may inspire the creativity, intuition and inspiration of fire needed for a reading; a Cup symbol may inspire the empathy and compassion needed; a Sword symbol may inspire the discernment and good communication of air needed; and a Pentacles suit may help you provide a tangible, concrete experience for the Seeker to take away from the reading. If a Major Arcana comes up here, you can choose another so that you can have an elemental symbol.
  5. My Tarot Mission: What is MY INTENT for the use of my Tarot deck? What do I perceive as my purpose in working with the Tarot? What do I hope to accomplish with the Tarot? If you receive a Minor Arcana card here, you can pull again until you receive a Major Arcana. However, don't disregard the Minor. It has a message as well.
  6. The Universal Tarot Mission: What is the UNIVERSE'S INTENT for me when I use the Tarot? What does Spirit want me to know about how best to use the cards? Choose a Major card if desired.

Begin by simply holding your deck in both your hands. Breathe slowly and carefully, knowing that Spirit enters through the breath. As you hold the deck, ask your guides and angels to assist you in determining the answers that you seek in this spread. Shuffle, breathe, surround the cards with light. Fan them out before you. Focus on each question as you choose. Lay the cards in their positions, face down. Turn them over one at a time, contemplate their meaning.

 

Bibliography and Recommendations:

Psychic Protection, Ted Andrews

Listening to the Oracle by Diane Skafte

Spiritual Tarot by Signe E. Echols, Robert Mueller, and Sandra A. Thomson.

Tarot Shadow Work by Christine Jette

Tarot Celebrations by Geraldine Amaral and Nancy Brady Cunningham