Yoga and Tarot: A Mindful Path to Inner Wisdom
Both yoga and tarot are ancient forms of self-exploration. One is a body practice and one is a spiritual practice, but they both lead you to recognize yourself better and live more intentionally.
Here's how these practices fit together naturally:
1. Stillness Precedes Clarity
As yoga encourages us to land into our breath, a tarot reading must begin with presence. When we rush into questions with a distracted mind, we get cloudy directions. Try this:
· Sit for one minute before pulling cards, just as you would settle before entering a yoga pose.
· Allow your breath to steady your thoughts. Clarity arises in your experience when you are not reaching for an answer.
2. The Body Knows First
We learn from yoga to listen to the body and what it's sensations are, tightness, ease, resistance, etc.
Tarot encourages us to notice those feelings and draws attention to the emotional and mental patterns we might be normally blinded to.
If the reading triggers tightness (like a clenched jaw or tight shoulders), stop! Your felt experience is saying something.
As in an uncomfortable yoga pose, just sit with the uncomfortable feelings/messages. Often times, those feelings point to the growth you need.
3. Non-Attachment to Results
In yoga, we can practice without imposing a "perfect" pose. Similarly, tarot also functions best if we don’t attach rigid fixation on what we expect.
Instead of approaching tarot with a "What will happen?" mentality, instead consider asking, "What do I need to understand?"
Trust the process, whether it’s a supported stretch, or if that card took an unexpected turn.
4. Daily Check-In
Just as a two-minute stretch in the morning determines your day, pulling a single card can help you regroup and focus. You might ask:
What energy do I want to carry today?
Where do I need to show gentleness or boldness today?
5. Integration is Important
At the end of each yoga practice, we rest to allow the practice to settle into our body and mind. After each tarot reading, take a moment to:
· Offer up one sentence on what resonated for you.
· Take note of how your body is feeling; if it feels lighter or heavier.
· Allow your insights to help you in ways other than just thinking about what the insight was.
The Commonality
Both yoga and tarot, confirm that: Truth is not out there, it’s within. One modality quietens the noise so that you can listen to yourself, and the other offers a language for your intuition.
Consider trying to do them together. After your next yoga class, pull a card while your mind is clear. You may be surprised with what comes up when both your body and your insight move together.
Click here if you are thinking about how to do a tarot reading or are thinking of getting one for yourself.
Have you ever noticed the connecting threads of movement and intuition? Please share below. 🌿