While creating Unfinished Business, I thought a lot about using the Tarot to communicate with those who crossed. I usually use Tarot and oracle cards to dive inward, but exploring the world of traveling outward beyond the veil fascinates me. Tarot cards, with their intricate symbolism and profound messages, have long been revered as a powerful tool for introspection and divination, but talking to my deceased mom? You may be like me and wonder if the Tarot can also be a bridge between our world and the spirit realm. In this post, let's go into using Tarot for séances, guiding you on communicating with spirits safely and meaningfully with an emphasis on safely.
Can You Communicate with Spirits Using Tarot?
The Tarot's rich history intertwines with esoteric and spiritual traditions. Some believe that Tarot cards can indeed tap into energies beyond our perception and open a portal to the spirit world. That is why, now and then, I receive a fear-based reply to my Facebook and Instagram posts. Some Tarot decks, like my Unfinished Business: A Ghostly Tarot, are designed with this spiritual communication in mind, bringing a new dimension to Tarot readings.
These decks, coupled with a reader's intuition and respect for the spirit realm, can facilitate genuine communication. Many seasoned Tarot readers and mediums share captivating stories of receiving clear, insightful messages from the other side during readings, further solidifying the belief in Tarot's capability for spirit communication.
How to Communicate with Spirits Using Tarot?
Setting the Environment: Before initiating any spiritual communication, preparing your space is crucial. It's all about getting into the right headspace. Opt for a quiet, undisturbed area where you feel comfortable and safe. Lighting candles and incense can also help set the mood and purify the space. For the record, my favorite incense is from Sea Witch - Quoth the Raven. Actually, everything they create is delightful!
Let's talk about the candles:
White Candle: Lighting a white candle is often believed to invite positive energies and benevolent spirits into the séance. Their light represents the illumination of the unknown or the unseen, aiding in clearer communication with the spirit realm. Placing a white candle on your table will create a protective barrier, warding off negative energies and ensuring that the séance space remains sacred and safe.
Black Candle:
Black absorbs and neutralizes negative energies. By lighting a black candle, you will banish any harmful energies from the séance space, ensuring a clean slate for communication. In addition, the black candle will bring grounding energies. A séance can be an intense spiritual experience, so a black candle helps to anchor the participants to the physical realm and keep them centered. Similar to the white candle, the black candle also offers protection but in a different manner. It acts as a shield, absorbing or repelling any malevolent spirits or negative energies that might seek to intrude upon the séance. No unwanted house guested allowed! Finally, in some cultures and practices, black is associated with mourning and honoring the dead. Using a black candle in a séance can be a way to show respect to those who have passed on. These spirits are guests in your house.
Tarot Spreads for Spirit Communication
Using Tarot spreads can enhance your connection with the spirit realm as they help you focus on the matter at hand. For instance, a simple three-card spread could represent:
- The spirit's identity or essence.
- Their message for you.
- Guidance or advice from them.
Or, try this five card Séance spread:
The Central Card (The Heart): Represents the main energy or essence of the spirit trying to communicate.
The Card to the Left (The Past): This card offers insights into the spirit's past or a particular message related to its previous experiences or existence.
The Card to the Right (The Present): This card sheds light on the spirit's current energy, message, or intention for the séance.
The Card Below (The Foundation): This card provides grounding information, helping you understand the foundation or basis of the spirit's message.
The Card Above (The Guidance): This card, situated on the top, brings forward any advice, blessings, or lessons the spirit wishes to convey for the querent's journey ahead.
Using this five-card cross spread provides a more holistic understanding of the spirit's communication, giving both context to their messages and clear guidance.
The Role of Intuition
Spirit communication is subtle. While the cards provide symbols and meanings, your intuition is the conduit through which spirits communicate. Trusting your feelings, images, or impressions that arise during the reading is vital. Keeping a journal can also be beneficial, allowing you to jot down any messages or sensations you experience during the séance.
How to Safely Use the Tarot to Communicate with Ghosts?
While Tarot can be a wonderful tool for spiritual communication, it's paramount to approach the process cautiously and respectfully.
Grounding Techniques: Grounding ensures you remain connected to your physical surroundings. Simple visualization exercises can be effective, like imagining roots growing from your feet into the earth. On a side note, I find this exercise soothing, any time it is needed.
Setting Clear Intentions: Begin your session with a clear, respectful intention. It's akin to making a polite phone call, ensuring you connect with benevolent spirits willing to communicate for the highest good.
Protective Rituals: Before starting a séance, it's advisable to invoke protection. This can be achieved by imagining a white light surrounding you or by placing protective crystals like black tourmaline around your reading space.
You may also want to create a protective barrier. The use of salt, especially sea salt or Himalayan pink salt, is believed to purify and ward off negative energies or malevolent entities. When conducting a séance, protection is of the utmost importance to ensure a safe and positive experience. Side note: If your fur babies like to lick the salt, it may be best that they go outside or in another room during this exercise.
If you've cast a salt circle for protection during a séance, it's vital to properly close it afterward. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to close a salt circle:
Thank the the spirits and guides before you break the circle, it's polite to thank any benevolent spirits or guides that may have come forward during the séance. This can be as simple as expressing gratitude for their presence and guidance.
Next, verbally state your intention to close the circle and end the séance. You can say something like, "This circle of protection shall now close. I thank the spirits and guides for their presence. This séance is now complete."
You will now want to physically close the circle. Starting from the point where you began casting the circle, slowly and deliberately erase or sweep away the salt in a counterclockwise direction. As you do this, visualize the protective energy being drawn back into the ground, signifying the circle's closure.
After breaking the circle, it's essential to ground yourself. This helps in reconnecting with the physical realm after engaging with the spirit world. Simple grounding exercises can include:
- Taking deep breaths.
- Eating a light snack.
- Touching or holding onto a grounding stone like hematite or black tourmaline.
- Once again, imagining roots growing from your feet and anchoring you deep into the Earth.
It's generally not recommended to reuse the salt from a protective circle, as it may have absorbed negative energies. Instead, consider returning it to the Earth by burying it outside, or if you're near a body of water, you can dissolve it there. This helps in neutralizing any energies the salt may have absorbed. Not that I would ever do this, but if you have a really horrible neighbor, sprinkling it on their front lawn may prompt them to move...
Closing the Session: Always end your séance by thanking the spirits for their messages. Visualize a door closing or any lingering energies being swept away, ensuring no residual energies remain. You don't want any unwanted house guests!
After a séance, it's a good practice to cleanse the area where the ritual took place. This can be done using sage, palo santo, or any cleansing incense.
Avoiding Obsession: Balance is key. Engaging too frequently with the spirit world can be draining. Take time to recharge and ground yourself after séances.
Tarot can serve as a bridge to the spirit world when approached with respect, intent, and some healthy precautions. Whether you're a seasoned Tarot enthusiast or just beginning your journey, my goal for creating Unfinished Business: A Ghostly Tarot was to offer invaluable insights and connections, enhancing your spiritual journey.