For many centuries tarot cards have offered a welcome sense of guidance through life’s challenges, offering a dose of comfort alongside the big and small changes we naturally ebb and flow through. And whilst it was once considered bad luck to purchase and pull from your own deck of cards, more recently there has been a shift in the wider approach to tarot and a rise in the popularity of this practice.

Today we’re delving into the benefits of a daily tarot pull, and how to carve out a corner for this mindful morning ritual. As the new season approaches, there’s never been a better time to explore the clarity and peace that comes from these nods of guidance from the universe.

The basics of tarot:

Tarot cards are small, paper cards that come in a deck of 78, each with their own imagery, symbolism and story. Tarot cards are known as a tool of divination (a form of energetic communication), helping to provide insight and guidance that can be helpful both in times of struggle, and to guide our daily lifestyle choices.

Dating back to the 15th century, tarot cards can be originally traced back to Northern Italy as part of a game called Tarocchi before they gained popularity across the rest of Europe. First considered family heirlooms, the cards have only more recently been used for divination purposes and are now most commonly associated with spiritual guidance and self-reflection.

The deck of 78 cards in total is broken down into two major categories: the Major and Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana denote important life events, lessons or milestones, and the Minor Arcana cards reflect day-to-day life.

The Major Arcana are often considered to be the most recognisable cards in a tarot deck, and share both their own deep meanings and influences and a united story when observed together.

0 - The Fool.  New beginnings, taking a leap of faith, new possibilities, new potential.

1 - The Magician. A symbol of unique potential and taking action to move forward.

2 - The High Priestess. A sign to trust your inner instincts, a nod to spiritual insight,

3 - The Empress. Divine feminity, traditionally associated with maternal influence.

4 - The Emperor. Divine masculinity, stability, security, ambition, power.

5 - The Hierophant. Representing tradition and convention,  seeking guidance from wise figures or elders.

6 - The Lovers. Relationships, choices, commitment and temptation.

7 - The Chariot. Positive forwards momentum and motivation, letting go of the past in order to step into the future.

8 - Strength. Triumph over a difficult or long-standing problem, oftentimes illness or other major life problems.

9 - The Hermit. Solitude, time alone, reflection and taking time out to hear the truth of your inner voice.

10 - Wheel of Fortune. Drastic change, destiny, fate and new opportunities.

11 - Justice. Indicative of the fairest decision being made, karma and equilibrium.

12 - The Hanged Man. A change of perspective, breaking old patterns and ultimate surrender.

13 - Death. Implying an end, possibly of a relationship or interest, and an increased sense of self-awareness.

14 - Temperance. Balance being restored, equal give and take in a given situation.

15 - The Devil. Feeling trapped, living in fear or controlled by your thoughts.

16 -  The Power. Unforeseen change or endings, catastrophic events or starting from scratch.

17 - The Star. Holding onto hope, new fertile ground or inspiration, dreams being fulfilled.

18 - The Moon. Deception, illusion, something is not as it seems.

19 - The Sun. Good fortune, positive outcomes, abundance and joy.

20 - Judgement. The resolution of complex situations, an absolute end making way for dynamic new beginnings.

21 - The World. The end of a cycle, resting before beginning a new chapter, travel and endless possibilities.

Next, the Minor Arcana cards, arranged into 4 suits - swords, pentacles, wands, and cups- and each has a ruling element which corresponds to a specific area of life.

Swords represent air and relate to intellect, decisions and communication.

Pentacles represent earth energy, meaning tangible areas of life such as money, achievement and health.

Wands represent fire, and can relate to action, passion and inspiration.

Cups represent water meaning our emotions and intuition.

Whilst some cards can feel overwhelming to receive, it’s important to remember that their meanings are situation dependent, most often pointing to changes that ultimately bring about good! Try not to think of cards such as Death or The Devil in the literal sense, and instead delve deeper into what each card represents that may relate to your own circumstances.

The benefits of a mindful daily tarot ritual

A daily tarot practice can be helpful in so many ways, offering both clarity during periods of change and creating a beautiful ritual and source of consistency in your routine. Intention setting is perhaps one of the most valuable tools tarot can provide, allowing you to pause ahead of your day and feel grounded ahead of whatever unfolds in the next 24 hours. Having a daily focus to return to can help prevent catastrophising tendencies, and allow you to be present and approach each day with a clear focus.

A regular tarot practice can also help expand your general awareness too, with the lessons of each day coming together to unveil the patterns and behaviours that don’t feel serving on a wider scale. Whilst the ritual of the practice encourages a daily sense of presence, it also creates an awareness of the ways we respond to scenarios that come up again and again, as opposed to compartmentalising days as entirely individual experiences. The comfort that can come from a daily tarot reading is considered invaluable by so many, which combined with journaling, meditation or a gentle morning stretch can help form a morning routine that feels like peace epitomised.

Before getting started

Before each reading it’s important to “clear” your deck and cleanse your cards of the previous reading’s energy. One of the most popular ways to do so is by smudging the deck which involves lighting sage or incense and wafting it around the room in circular motions to remove old and stagnant energy. There are a few ways to clear your tarot deck so it’s worth experimenting to see which feels best suited to you.

And now to pull your card! During a daily practice, set aside time before pulling your card to visualise the day ahead and all that you’d like to feel. Maybe there’s a particular problem or struggle you’re facing, or perhaps you’re on the brink of an exciting shift or change in your life and need some guidance to keep you on the right track. Whatever feels most pressing for you in this particular season, take a moment to reflect before shuffling your deck and selecting your card.

If you’re new to tarot it might take some time to familiarise yourself with each card and their meanings, so get yourself a guidebook or look up each meaning online to decipher what your card could be guiding you to on any particular day. It’s important to remember that tarot typically offers a subtle message and suggestion to mull over throughout your day, not a prediction of your future.

Enjoy the exploration that comes with these hints from the universe, and the comforting ways our daily habits can bring us a sense of peace.

Creating a cosy tarot corner at home

The benefits that come from a daily tarot practice are amplified in a space where you feel truly relaxed, making the act of carving out a cosy corner at home one you’ll thank yourself for again and again.

If your living room feels like the spot where relaxing comes most naturally, consider an armchair or corner of your sofa the prime spot for a daily tarot practice. Start by layering plump cushions to create the foundation of your intention setting spot and the basis of a space you feel equal parts supported and at ease. Alice Palmer & Co’s Tangier Mustard Stripe Frilly Cushion is a beautiful place to start, with its dopamine inducing colour palette sparking good vibrations from the moment you enter the room. Contrast your stripes by layering Colours of Arley’s Playing with Stripes Cocktail Cushion on top, and enjoy sinking into a sofa setup that marries both style and function.

During mornings when you need an extra push to feel motivated for the day ahead, light some invigorating incense before your tarot pull and take a few seconds to let your senses soak in this signal to let go of expectation and all you have to do in the next few hours ahead. A beautiful foundation of tarot is a surrender to what is, and letting yourself sit with and acknowledge the unfolding of life- however messy and at times frustrating- can be all that’s needed to bring about a sense of inner peace.

We love Vyrao’s Verdant incense sticks for invigorating any space, with a mix of refreshing bergamot and uplifting cyclamen and frankincense, they make for the perfect energising scent no matter the season. Seeking comfort instead? The addition of a heavyweight blanket or hot water bottle is one you can rely on no matter your mood or the challenges you’re facing. Show yourself kindness and reap the rewards of a routine that prioritises taking care, even with the simplest of acts of self-love.

If you share your home with others, finding ways to create a safe haven for mindful rituals is still possible even with more limited space. Think about how to turn existing cosy corners or places of comfort such as your bed into a space for intention setting, and the small changes you can make that create a different and inspired feeling.

Making the bed, plumping cushions and adding a bolster or more firm cushion to rest against can provide a feeling of extra support that’s helpful when journaling or pulling tarot. *Stoff Studio’s Basket Cushion* is the perfect addition, with its heavy weight linen and round bolster shape offering the perfect amount of support. Perfect for soothing meditation too, prop a bolster under your knees when lying flat on the floor and enjoy a restorative 5 minutes of silence at the start or end of your day that allows for you to reflect on your tarot pull or set an intention ahead of your practice.

Other small shifts to your space can be as simple as opening the windows to allow in some welcome fresh breeze, or focusing your senses on scents or sounds you can notice in the room around you. Enjoy a soothing cup of herbal tea in one of Artemis Deco’s beautiful Vacanza mugs, and think about switching on a smaller bedside light to create a cosy feel that is less stark and extreme than overhead lighting. Light a few of your favourite candles alongside, and your intention setting spot is almost complete.

Your next steps

Ready to delve deeper into the world of tarot? Here are a few of our favourite resources for those new to the practice of tarot pulling, helping to guide you in your journey to a morning routine you look forward to again and again.

Tarot Is F*cking Cool, a podcast by Ruby Wednesday and Amelia Whitehouse is a brilliant resource for those looking to delve into the world of tarot a little deeper, with each detailed episode chatting through one card at a time and all there is to uncover about the meanings and interpretations of each.

The Biddy Tarot Podcast is another popular and easy to understand tool for those at all stages of their tarot journey. Hosted and with wisdom from best-selling author and world renowned tarot reader, Brigit Esselmont has dedicated so much of her life to both learning and teaching tarot, helping those who discover her work to trust their intuition and access their inner wisdom. 

Finally, Modern Tarot by Michelle Tea.  A beautiful combination of Tea’s own life experiences, blended with detailed card write-ups, her book is dubbed as one “beginners will fall in love with and experienced readers will learn from anew.”