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Tarot writing

Weathering the Storm: Anchoring Yourself with Writing and Tarot in Challenging Times

July 24, 2024

In my book, Wholehearted: Self-leadership for women in transition, I share about anchoring practices for challenging times. In this post, I describe the linked writing and tarot practice that has helped me navigate a difficult period of change recently. So powerful for me as a grounding and clarifying practice, I hope the writing and tarot insights below provide tips and ideas you can apply in your life.

Challenging times and writing practice

With the sudden death of my beloved partner Keith in late 2022, everything changed and life was difficult. I felt so lost as I navigated the shock and unexpected challenges. This went deep, touching every aspect of my being and daily life with uncertainty.

I am a regular writer. Call it Morning Pages, journalling, daily writing – whatever works for you. I call it Morning Pages, but I make it my own, writing any time of the day, as much or as little as I want. But with Keith’s sudden death, the shock meant I couldn’t immediately engage with these regular practices that supported me like swimming, writing and tarot. I was just surviving day to day in the fog of grief, making it through the initial shock, organising the immediate priorities.

After about two weeks, I returned to the page, writing to make sense of what had happened, was happening. I tapped into that rich weave of practices I already knew as I navigated this time. It has helped immensely. Over time, this practice has grown stronger, helping me navigate the difficult circumstances and intense emotions of deep grief. It continues to support me every day as I move through the stages of grief.

So here is what that practice now looks like and how it might help you.

First steps, working digitally and connecting practices

I write Morning Pages on my computer in a Google doc and I have done this for years now. Here are some reasons:

  • I have osteoarthritis so it is easier on my hands.
  • I can search the document for when the same tarot cards and themes have come up before and learn from my own insights.
  • It is private, transportable, easily accessible anywhere, anytime.
  • I copy and paste the weekly oracle card, monthly intentions, word of the year – whatever is important – to keep front of mind as I write.

I have a connected practice with the lunar cycle, monthly intentions, a weekly oracle card, and a daily tarot card. Writing helps us live more consciously and reflectively. Tarot is a way of tapping into our unconscious, what is just beneath the surface, making connections between what we might otherwise miss. It is a powerful source of self-awareness, self-leadership and conscious living. Connecting the two, writing and tarot, and making sure we have our intentions in front of us provides a powerhouse of guidance.

Example from my Morning Pages practice

Here is what a recent ‘frontispiece’ to my Morning Pages writing looked like:

Gibbous Moon (Doing) – I trust that the perfect intention is coming into form at the perfect time.
New moon intentions for this cycle:
Virgo: I find safety in connection. I nurture my most honest hopes and dreams for the future.
Aquarius: Each day is an opportunity to live a life that feeds me and improves my sense of wellness
Soulful Woman card of the week: 7 Loving from the Inside – It is a blessing to give myself the gift of my own presence.
Card for the day: Strength – fortitude, patience, gentle power (The Spacious Tarot)
‘Strength coaxes you to take a gentle but confident approach. There is a similar boldness in Strength as that found in the Chariot, but there is more grace and softness here. Strength affirms that you can bloom delicately even if you find yourself in a harsh environment. 
Approach challenges with fortitude, instead of ruthlessly bulldozing forward. Find empathy for the terrain you find yourself in. Have the patience to understand your circumstances and find ways to work with them instead of against them. The cactus lives in a dry environment yet holds reserves of water within. As such, this card reminds you that you also have great reserves of gentle power. Tap into those reserves. You are strong and compassionate – believe this, know this, and act accordingly.

Sources and scene setting for writing and tarot

Here are some sources for the entry above that support me:

I copy over the previous days ‘frontispiece’ as a template and some of it stays the same. This all sets the scene, helping me to focus and keep in touch with the lunar cycle and my intentions. I often check in with other tarot guides. The Gentle Tarot deck and Guidebook and The Creative Tarot by Jessa Crispin stay on my desk for further insight.

But the ground-breaking piece in this time of change has been connecting the daily tarot card with other occasions when it has arrived. Searching through my current and previous Google Morning Pages documents, I can see where this tarot card has come up before. Engaging with this has yielded powerful insights and learning.

Learning from our own wisdom

Working with a Google Doc makes this so easy. Using the Edit/Find and Replace function and popping in the card’s name, we can locate other times it has come up. It helps us see if it’s a frequent, rare or new card arriving. If it is a card that has popped up many times, that is enlightening. What did we reflect on last time and learn from its arrival?

I scan through the previous times and see what was happening: circumstances, emotions, realisations, priorities, how I coped, what I moved through, recurring struggles. Often I see the progress I have made and that in itself is helpful. We forget how far we have come in challenging times, often focusing on what is before us now. I frequently uncover useful insights, tools and wisdom that I apply anew as an anchor in uncertain times.

Sometimes I copy the text and learning from that time as a way into today’s writing and reflections. I come across lists of ideas already brainstormed I can add to or draw from. This method helps you rediscover a forgotten body of work with the links between writing and tarot strengthening focus.

Try linking writing and tarot more consciously!

It might seem like a lot and sometimes it takes time, but once in the rhythm, it is easily and quickly done. The insights gained far outweigh the time involved. It helps to stitch your progress into the fabric of your ongoing experience. Setting up this platform helps to have richer and deeper awareness to guide you forward. You also identify where you’re going over the same ground and need to try a fresh approach.

The reason I started using a digital approach to Morning Pages was twofold: my hand condition and exploring the advantages of digital methods. I have benefited in both those ways and many more. It provides a structured way to tap into your intuition and go deeper with writing and tarot. The outcomes for supporting you in navigating challenging times are supportive and anchoring.

So try it and see how it works for you. We all need frameworks, guides and anchors in swirly, uncertain times. And you can always fashion your own practice. You can find more tips, strategies and frameworks to inspire conscious, intuitive living in challenging times in Wholehearted: Self-leadership for women in transition and the Wholehearted Companion Workbook. Wholehearted is available in audiobook, print and ebook here.

inspiration & influence wholehearted stories

Cora Pacheco – Sacred Creative Stories of Transition

August 18, 2020
Cora Pacheco

Having left her paralegal role and with some newly freed up time, a woman seeks to engage more deeply with her personality, creativity and intuitive skills and self as a guide for the future.

Cora Pacheco joined the Sacred Creative Collective for community and support in going deeper on her intuitive practices. She was seeking clarity on where these important skills could take her in a new phase of life. Building on personality insights, Cora traversed realms of archetypes and shadow work to deepen her intuitive knowledge for herself and for others.

I asked alumni from the Sacred Creative Collective to share their experiences and how group coaching contributed to self-understanding and future directions. Cora took the time to reflect on her journey in life and the Sacred Creative Collective via these interview questions. I am grateful to Cora for sharing her wisdom and learning. Cora’s journey shows how working with a coach and a group can help us embrace the creative and intuitive sides of our personality in a deeper way and without fear.

Enjoy and may Cora’s story inspire your own intuitive search for wisdom!

Can you please tell us a little about yourself and your transition journey? What led you to want to make a deeper, more creative shift in your life?

Five years ago when I was 50, I left my profession as a paralegal prosecutor to stay at home as a full-time caregiver to my children, one of whom has a developmental disability.  I was burned out and needed to focus on priorities.  Then, two years ago, in a serendipitous development, my daughter moved in with her much-loved and fun support worker.  Suddenly, my life changed again, and I had time to rest, re-group and decide what was next.  I had delved into abstract painting already but I wanted to set some goals and have some accountability, as I find it difficult to keep myself motivated and moving forward with projects.  Sacred Creative Coaching came at just the right time for me to explore some goals and how to move forward. 

intuitive learning

What are some of the challenges you have faced when it comes to living in alignment with your creative desires and aims?

As an INFJ, (which I discovered whilst delving into Personality Stories with Terri), I need quiet time alone to recharge and a personally attuned process which helps “set me up” for creative work.  It seems that I need a lot of free, open time (during which I can read inspirational material, pull some tarot cards or delve into my personal astrology, for example) in order to inspire my creative juices.  For me, it’s easy to let my responsibilities take over and just not find the time to be creative or, as is often the case, I remain in research and learning mode without much output.  I have come to realize that self-expression and creativity are important components in my life, but I do seem to need help with keeping myself on track and focused. 

Can you please describe your focus now and how you are working more in line with what is sacred and creative for you?

I have developed my morning routine which includes coffee time, reading, journaling, sometimes including dreamwork, and sometimes pulling tarot cards for myself. I’ve noticed that I need to be inspired and then I feel I can create something or share something; for example, a tarot reading for the collective, on my Instagram page.  I also aim to get out for a walk every day, sometimes in nature. After completing the Sacred Creative Collective program, I started a business as a tarot reader, as I was enjoying delving into the card meanings and using my intuitive abilities to deepen my spiritual practice.  This was a big step for me, fully “stepping out of the spiritual closet”, and letting myself be seen.  I created a website for the business, known as Eagle and Star Tarot and spend time writing occasional blogposts and Instagram posts for the business. 

intuitive learning

What helped you to develop your skills and new/renewed focus?

Over the last few years, I’ve taken several courses, including obtaining a certificate as a Positive Psychology Coach from the Wholebeing Institute, and courses in tarot.  I also did the Personality Stories with Terri, as already mentioned.  During the Sacred Collective Coaching program, one of my goals was to deepen my knowledge of tarot.  One of the things I realized as I went through the collective coaching process and working with Terri, as funny as it may sound, is that it’s ok to like what you like, even though others may find it weird or unappealing.  It also helped me to explore some of my limiting beliefs and shadow tendencies, like people pleasing, which keep me from moving forward and stepping fully into my personal power. 

intuitive learning

What does creative transition look like in your life now and what are you proud of?

My creative transition has been about recognizing that I actually am a creative being (we all are!), and that being creative in some form, whether it’s doing abstract painting or writing a blog or Instagram post, is good for and necessary for me.  I’m proud of myself for being someone who is curious and a lifetime learner and for taking the time to work on my personal development through the courses and coaching that I’ve taken. 

What are your next steps?

My next steps are to continue working on building my community on Instagram at Eagle and Star Tarot, sharing insights and readings, as well as growing my business as a reader.  I also want to continue doing things that I enjoy such as walking in the woods, day-tripping and hopefully more travel. 

intuitive learning
Cards from The Wild Unknown Tarot deck

Thank you for sharing your sacred creative story with us, Cora!

And for the images curated from your intuitive journey, story and business.

If you would like to shape your sacred creative life with the help of a coach and the camaraderie of a community, I would love to support you. You can find out more about the Sacred Creative Collective here.

The Sacred Creative Collective is current open for enrolments with an early bird opportunity until midnight Saturday 20 February 2021 AEDT.

If now doesn’t feel like the right time, get on the waitlist to hear about the next round of the Collective. We’d love you to join us! Places are limited. Get on the Waitlist to be the first to know. You also get Exclusive Early Bird access and save!

You can connect with Cora on Instagram and via her website: Eagle and Star Tarot.

Cora Pacheco

inspiration & influence intuition

How to develop your practice in the intuitive art of tarot

July 20, 2020

In this post, I share my tarot practice with you and show you how to develop skills in the intuitive art of tarot and oracle. I talk about intuition in my life and my practice. And I talk about the cards that come up in this particular reading and how I help others develop their intuitive practice via coaching. I welcome your feedback!

When I started on my transition journey to COMPLETELY change my life, a few years ago now, I had three major learning pillars:

  1. Become a certified life coach
  2. Become an accredited Jung/Myers-Briggs personality type practitioner
  3. Learn the intuitive art of tarot.
Quiet Writing Coaching

I wasn’t even sure at that time why learning tarot and developing my intuition was so important. It was something I was interested in but never really fully engaged with. Over time, I realised that this was all about activating intuition as a self-leadership tool in my life.

Personality type-wise, I have INTJ preferences, so Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking and Judging. My natural, lead cognitive function is Introverted Intuiting. But in the external world especially the workplace, I relied on my second in command, Extraverted Thinking. So it was time to shake off and shape up my natural intuition and also get some structure for it in my life.

Through my intuitive tarot practice, I have developed a way to write, create and live with wisdom, my own inner wisdom. And through my coaching, I open others to the wisdom and creativity within including via the intuitive art of tarot.

So here’s an insight into my intuitive tarot practice via a video I shared on Instagram and Facebook. If you are coming across this video now, there’s a message for you in there. Time is less important a construct than tapping into the inner wisdom that calls us.



Intuitive practice tools in the video

Here is the blessing I share in the video:

I bless you and in the name of Spirit. I ask for your guidance. Show me what I cannot see, confirm what I know, and help me that I may serve the highest good of all.

Here are the decks I mention and work with in the reading:

The Spacious Tarot

Wisdom of the Oracle

Tarot Narrative

How to develop your practice in intuitive tarot and oracle

Here are a few tips for developing an intuitive practice with tarot and oracle cards:

Start with oracle cards

Tarot is quite a structured system of 78 cards with 22 Major and 56 Minor Arcana. It’s brilliant to learn about but complex. Starting with Oracle cards is an excellent way in to working with your intuition and cards. I started with The Enchanted Map deck by Colette Baron-Reid but any oracle deck that calls you will be a great place to start. There are so many beautiful oracle decks out there to work with.

Do a short online course

A short online course is another way in to begin to explore tarot and oracle cards. My friend Victoria Smith’s Coffee with the Oracle program is instant access, self-paced and a fantastic introduction to working intuitively with oracle cards. Susannah Conways’s 78 Mirrors is an excellent way to learn about intuitive practice, working with tarot and understanding its structure and symbolism. The content of both courses was pivotal to my developing intuitive practice.

Read about tarot and oracle + work with guidebooks

Reading about intuition, tarot and oracle and how it works can be helpful. The guidebooks that accompany most tarot and oracle decks are accessible sources of wisdom based on the symbolism of specific decks. For full-length tarot practice books linked to specific decks, I love The Creative Tarot by Jessa Crispin creator of the Spolia Tarot and Playing with Symbols by Monicka Clio Sakki creator of the Sakki Sakki Tarot. 78 Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack is a classic text on tarot that I have found valuable.

Get a tarot reading

Get a tarot reading yourself! Find someone who is experienced and offers readings so you can experience what a tarot reading feels like and how it can guide you. That helped me so much in my emerging learning about tarot and intuitive wisdom. There are plenty of online options and Instagram can provide a place to connect with tarot readers and readings. Find someone who resonates with you. Hashtags like #tarotreadersofinstagram or #tarotoftheday are possible starting points.

Dive in and start!

Probably the best way to develop an intuitive practice is to just dive in and start! Choose a deck that calls you. Draw a card each day, whether it be oracle or tarot. See what comes up, make notes in a tarot journal about what you notice and intuitively feel from the card. Combine intuitive wisdom with reading about the card via the guidebook for insight. Journal about what this intuitive wisdom might mean for you in your life. There are free and affordable online tarot and oracle card options too. I love the Steampunk Tarot app which has a detailed accompanying guidebook and the Housewives Tarot app for some vintage fun. Colette Baron-Reid’s free online oracle app is also a very good place to get started. They are great on-the-go options too.

Follow my Tarot Narrative readings on Instagram and Facebook Stories

You can follow my regular Tarot Narrative readings in my Stories on Instagram and Facebook for wisdom, guidance and insight. Just Follow on IG or Like my Quiet Writing Facebook page and you will see the readings arrive as Stories there. Seeing how others read and the lessons they draw from the cards they pull can be a way of learning about intuitive practice. I also love Marianne’s Two Sides Tarot for regular, inspired insight.

Work with me as your coach + guide to developing intuition

Developing intuition and intuitive practice can be a rich goal to work on with a coach. I learnt that way and I have guided many others through learning to tap into their intuition and develop personal intuitive practices. You need to find what works for you and your personality and contexts. So work with me as your coach and guide to developing your intuition. With years of deep practice in intuition and an intimate understanding of how it works, I can help you find a practice that works for you!

I hope this video and these insights on my practices and how to develop skill in the intuitive art of tarot and oracle help you to create and live with wisdom. Enjoy learning!

You might also enjoy

Intuition and how to master it – a review of The Inner Tree

Introverted and extraverted intuition and how to make intuition a strong practice

Intuition, writing and work: eight ways intuition can guide your creativity

Being a vessel and working with Introverted Intuition

And explore the INTUITION category here on the blog for many more tarot and intuitive inspired insights!

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