Spiritual disciplines are a work-out for the soul. They strengthen qualities of the spirit and train us to deal with earthly matters. It is not a new age practice. Ever since man looked to the sky for answers, philosophers, theologians, and spiritual leaders have praised the benefits of spiritual discipline.
I became interested in developing my spiritual disciplines after reading an article at the Art of Manliness. I foresaw a problem though, as in the case of physical exercise, I would lose motivation very quickly and probably become bored. So why not integrate Tarot into the spiritual disciplines? Everything is better with Tarot! Indeed, turning any activity into a Tarot-inspired practice always makes it fun and motivating. The subtopics below will tackle each spiritual discipline by pairing it with a simple Tarot spread. And of course, each spread has been tested and verified, and carries the Seven Metals seal of approval.
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Fellowship
- Stewardship
- Chastity
- Service
- Contemplation
- Evangelism
- Confession
- Gratitude
- Self-examination
- Celebration
Meditation
How often do you need a little motivation to meditate? Add this quick and powerful tarot spread beforehand and see how it shifts your perspective. Lay out the cards as shown but do not turn over the Card 3. This 3rd card is a special message about your meditation, to be revealed after you have finished your session!
Card 1 will tell you about the things that distract you or that need to be resolved before meditating. It may also give you insight into negative feelings you may have about meditating.
Card 2 will give you a prompt or a theme for your meditation. Meditating does not always have to be thoughtless; in fact, meditation is really about accepting the thoughts that come to you, but not allowing them to dominate your mind. This card may also be a significator describing your current state of mind.
Both of the above cards can be interpreted as Past/Present too.
Card 3 is the fun bit. I enjoy the mystery of not knowing what it is until I have finished my meditation. It will give you an overview of what you have learned, or perhaps it will suggest an new insight to contemplate throughout the day. Try reading Cards 2 and 3 together as a synopsis of your session.
Prayer
Has prayer ever felt like a chore? It shouldn’t! Add this quick and powerful tarot spread beforehand and see how it improves prayerful communication.
Card 1 will describe the situation in your monkey mind. What is distracting you? What voices are competing with the voice of your higher power? Is it your ego? Read this card with a sense of humility.
Card 2 will give you insight to other’s needs. Praying for others is as important as praying for yourself. We are all made of the same stuff, right? This card may be challenging to interpret, since it is asking a “who” question. Open your spirit to what this card may be trying to tell you.
Card 3 turns the spread towards your needs. Read the card as if you are receiving a message from a dear friend. This card will often tell you something that you need to know, but have not yet admitted to yourself.
Card 4, left face down until now, is the fun part. I enjoy the anticipation of its message, not knowing what it is until I have finished praying. This card will impart a special revelation from your prayer time. Try combining card 4 with both Cards 2 & 3 to provide additional insight and new revelations.
Seven Metals Tarot 