The Journal · tarot meditation

9 October 2026 · 11 min read

The deck used to illustrate this post is The Moonchild Tarot by Danielle Noel. You can also find the Shadow Work Edition and the pair of both editions.

There is something wonderfully natural about bringing Tarot and meditation together.

Both invite us to slow down, turn our attention inward and become more aware of what is happening beneath the busy surface of everyday life.

Tarot gives us an image to contemplate

Meditation gives us the space to listen.

The Moonchild Tarot by Danielle Noel and the decks in our Meditation and Mindfulness section are particularly beautiful for this kind of practice. Their dreamlike imagery, celestial symbolism and contemplative atmosphere invite us into the quieter realms of intuition, emotion and the subconscious or the unconscious mind.

Mindful Tarot meditation is not about predicting the future or trying to force an answer from the cards. Instead, the card becomes reflective, a mirror, something to contemplate while we notice our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and intuitive responses.

And this makes it a wonderful practice for shadow work.

When we become still, things that are normally drowned out by the noise of everyday life can begin to surface. A memory, an emotion, a fear, a resistance or even a part of ourselves that we have learned to overlook.

We do not need to judge these things, we simply notice.

What is mindful meditation?

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing our attention to the present moment with curiosity and without judgement.

It sounds simple, but our minds naturally wander. We think about yesterday, tomorrow, what someone said, what we need to do later or what we should have done differently.

Meditation gives us an opportunity to practise returning. Returning to the breath, returning to the body, returning to the present moment.

When we introduce Tarot, we have something visual and symbolic upon which we can gently rest our attention.

There is no need to immediately ask, “What does this card mean?”

Instead, try asking:

“What am I experiencing as I sit with this card?”

That small change can transform the way we work with Tarot.

Exercise One: The One Card Breath

This is a lovely place to begin, particularly if meditation is new to you.

Choose a Tarot card intuitively. You do not need to ask a question. Simply allow yourself to choose a card and place it somewhere you can comfortably see it.

Take a moment to settle yourself.

Close your eyes and take three slow, comfortable breaths.

Then open your eyes and simply look at the card.

Don't interpret it.

Don't reach for the guidebook.

Don't try to work out what the card is telling you.

Just observe.

Notice the colours.

Notice the figures.

Notice the landscape.

Notice what your eyes are naturally drawn towards.

Now bring your attention back to your breathing.

As you breathe in, notice the card.

As you breathe out, soften your attention.

Continue for five minutes, slow deep breaths.

If your mind begins analysing the card, simply notice that you have started thinking and gently return to looking.

You might ask yourself:

• What do I notice first?

• What emotion arises?

• Does anything in the image make me feel comfortable or uncomfortable?

• What happens in my body as I look at this card?

• Does my response change the longer I sit with it?

There is no right answer.

The purpose of this exercise is simply to experience before interpreting.

Afterwards, write down three words describing your experience.

Exercise Two: Meeting the Card Through the Body

Our minds are not the only places where we experience Tarot.

Sometimes our bodies respond before our conscious minds understand why.

For this meditation, choose a card and place it in front of you.

Begin with several slow breaths.

Then gently bring your awareness to your feet.

Notice how they feel.

Move your awareness slowly upwards through your body, your legs, abdomen, chest, shoulders, neck and face.

There is nothing you need to change.

Simply notice.

Now bring your attention back to your Tarot card.

Look at the image quietly.

Then ask yourself:

“Where do I feel my response to this card in my body?”

Perhaps you notice warmth in your chest.

Perhaps there is tension in your shoulders.

Maybe your stomach tightens.

Perhaps you feel completely relaxed.

There is no correct response.

Try not to analyse the sensation, simply acknowledge it.

You might silently say:

“I notice this.”

Then breathe.

If a thought or emotion appears, allow it to be there without immediately following it.

This is an important principle of mindful meditation:

We do not have to believe every thought we have. We can simply observe it.

Afterwards, journal about what you noticed.

You could begin with:

“When I looked at this card, my body…”

Exercise Three: Sitting with the Shadow

This is where mindful Tarot meditation begins to move gently into shadow work.

Shadow work asks us to explore aspects of ourselves that may have been hidden, rejected, suppressed or simply left unexplored.

These are not necessarily “bad” parts of ourselves.

Our shadows can contain anger, fear, jealousy, grief, insecurity or shame, but they can also contain qualities we have learned that we are not allowed to express, our confidence, creativity, sensuality, independence, ambition or power.

Choose a Tarot card with the intention:

“What part of myself am I currently finding difficult to see?”

Place the card before you.

Take a few breaths.

Look at the image.

Notice your immediate reaction.

Then ask:

“What about this card makes me uncomfortable?”

Do not force an answer.

Perhaps nothing does.

Perhaps something immediately catches your attention.

Maybe there is a figure you dislike.

Maybe a particular expression, symbol or situation creates resistance.

Stay curious.

You might explore the following questions in your journal:

• What quality am I resisting?

• Why might this quality make me uncomfortable?

• Do I recognise this quality in myself?

• Do I tend to reject this quality in other people?

• When did I first learn that this part of myself was unacceptable?

• What might this part of me need from me now?

The final question is perhaps the most important.

Rather than asking:

“How do I get rid of this part of myself?”

try asking:

“What is this part of me trying to tell me?”

Shadow work is not about destroying the shadow. It is about bringing what has been unconscious into conscious awareness, so that we can begin to understand it.

If a meditation brings up something particularly distressing, stop the exercise and ground yourself. Shadow work should be approached with compassion and at a pace that feels safe.

Exercise Four: A Tarot Meditation for Integration

Our final practice brings everything together.

Choose two Tarot cards.

Place them side by side.

The first card represents:

What am I ready to acknowledge?

The second represents:

What can help me integrate it?

Begin with your breath.

Allow yourself to become still.

Look at the first card and simply notice what arises.

Then move your attention to the second card.

Imagine that the two cards are having a conversation.

You do not need to create a story.

Simply notice what happens within you as you move your attention between them.

After several minutes, close your eyes.

Take three slow breaths.

Then silently say:

“I see you.”

Pause.

“I hear you.”

Pause.

“I do not need to change you today.”

Pause.

“I am willing to understand you.”

Sit quietly for another minute or two.

When you are ready, open your eyes and journal.

You might write:

• What am I acknowledging?

• What have I learned about myself?

• What does this part of me need?

• How can I carry this awareness into my everyday life?

Tarot as a Mirror for Mindfulness

One of the beautiful things about mindful Tarot practice is that there is no requirement to find a definitive answer. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can do is simply sit with a question. We live in a world that encourages us to solve everything immediately.

Tarot can offer something different.

It can give us permission to pause.

To breathe.

To observe.

To listen.

Sometimes, when we stop trying to find the answer, something much quieter begins to speak.

The Tarot can become a doorway into that stillness, a visual meditation on the inner landscape, inviting us to explore the places within ourselves that are illuminated by consciousness and those that remain beneath the surface.

Mindful Tarot meditation is not about emptying the mind. It is not about interpreting every symbol and it is not about getting the “right” answer.

It is about becoming present enough to notice what is already there.

Perhaps that is where the real magic begins.

A Final Invitation

Next time you reach for your Tarot deck, consider putting the guidebook aside for a few minutes.

Choose one card.

Take a breath.

Look.

Notice.

Feel.

Listen.

And before asking:

“What does this card mean?”

ask yourself:

“What is this card awakening in me?”

You may be surprised by what you discover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Tarot cards be used for meditation?

Yes. Tarot can be used as a visual and symbolic focus for meditation. Rather than interpreting the card or using it for divination, you can simply observe the imagery, colours, symbols and your own emotional and physical responses. This creates an opportunity to slow down, become present and develop greater self-awareness.

How do you meditate with Tarot cards?

Choose a Tarot card and place it somewhere you can comfortably see it. Take several slow breaths and spend a few minutes simply observing the card. Notice what attracts your attention, what emotions arise and whether you experience any physical sensations. Try to observe without immediately deciding what the card means. Afterwards, journaling about your experience can help you explore anything that arose during the meditation.

Can Tarot meditation be used for shadow work?

Yes. Tarot can provide a symbolic mirror through which we can explore aspects of ourselves that may normally remain outside our conscious awareness. During a shadow-work meditation, rather than asking what a card predicts, you might ask what it reveals about your feelings, reactions, fears, patterns or qualities that you find difficult to acknowledge.

The aim isn't to judge or eliminate these aspects of ourselves, but to approach them with curiosity and compassion.

What should I do if a Tarot card makes me uncomfortable?

Don't immediately dismiss the card or assume that something is wrong. Instead, become curious about your reaction. Ask yourself: What specifically makes me uncomfortable?

What feeling does this image bring up?

Does this quality remind me of something I reject in myself or others?

What might this reaction be trying to show me? Sometimes discomfort can be an invitation to explore something beneath the surface. However, you should never feel obliged to continue an exercise that becomes overwhelming. It is perfectly acceptable to pause, ground yourself and return to the practice another time.

Do I need to know Tarot meanings to meditate with the cards?

Not at all. In fact, deliberately setting aside traditional Tarot meanings can sometimes make the practice more interesting. Instead of beginning with “What does The Moon mean?”, for example, begin with “What do I notice when I look at this image?”

Your personal response to the card becomes part of the meditation.

You can always return to the traditional meaning afterwards and consider how it relates to your experience.

How long should a Tarot meditation last?

There is no set length. Even five minutes can be enough to create a moment of stillness. If you are new to meditation, start with five to ten minutes. As the practice becomes familiar, you may naturally want to sit for longer. The quality of your attention is more important than the amount of time you spend.

Can I journal after a Tarot meditation?

Absolutely. Tarot journaling is a wonderful way to capture insights that might otherwise disappear once the meditation ends. You could record the card you drew, what you noticed first, your emotional and physical responses, any memories or thoughts that arose and anything that surprised you. Try not to edit yourself too much. Sometimes the most revealing observations are the ones that initially seem insignificant.

•♡• May your path be illuminated, your intuition trusted and your cards always reveal the wisdom you seek. Until next time… welcome to The Guilded Veil •♡•