I'm back from a thrilling but exhausting conference in Boise, ID. So far 2025 has been a year of pendulum swings. It seems like my response mechanism swings wildly from one extreme to the other.
Honestly, I'm not digging it, but I suppose there is something I need to learn from all this.
Jumping off the Tarot treadmill
intrigued and exhausted a "winning" combination
We think tarot expands awareness—but what if it’s secretly limiting it?
Argh! I just realized I’ve been doing daily draws wrong for years.
Here’s my tried and true method:
Draw1 or 2 cards each morning
It's okay to use questions or a spread deck as a focal point
Jot down initial thoughts
Next day: Reflect on how the cards showed up for you
Why do I recommend this?
It keeps you engaged with the cards all day - you don't just pull and forget
It’s easier to connect cards backwards to known events than predict the future
So what’s the problem?
Help, I’m stuck in my reality tunnel!
What’s a "reality tunnel"? (Thanks, Robert Anton Wilson and Cosmic Trigger) A reality tunnel is the subjective lens we mistake for "reality." Like a fish not noticing water—or your social media feed recycling the same ideas again and again - a reality tunnel is the sum total of your beliefs and expectations.
My wake-up call: Life felt rote. Predictable. Even with freedom, I craved more juice. Then it hit me --
My tarot practice had become a self-fulfilling prophecy.🤦♀️
By returning to the daily draw and recording what happened like a dutiful scribe, I was REINFORCING my current reality tunnel.
Time to remix! (Temperance vibes)
Mountain Dream Tarot by Bea Nettles
I’m not ditching daily draws (I teach this in my Tarot Breakthrough Masterclass!).
Instead, I am trying out:
Setting intentions from the cards
Still reflecting the next day—but looking for synchronicities and winks from the Universe around my intentions
Daily Draw June 15 Wildwood Tarot
From my daily draw notebook:
Stag equals right action.
Guardian equals inner realignment. Face fear and deal with insecurity.
Empowerment versus bondage
The Guardian card reminds me of Luke entering the cave in Star Wars. The stag has an axe and can fight the guardian.
Intentions:
Wouldn’t it be great if the next right action just appeared?
I release my fears and face my insecurities
I don’t know where this inner strength came from. It just showed up.
I get very clear on the next right action.
Reflections:
Nip and tuck with emotions but I did okay
Lunch with mom
Pool with Zonky. Sat in the hot tub during a thunderstorm (that was something new!)
As you can see, nothing earth shattering was revealed with this first pull, but I'm going to keep it up!
Beginner advice? Just start!
page of pentacles Everyday Witch Tarot
The best way to learn Tarot is to start a conversation. Don't get all caught up in reality tunnels and the ideas presented here. If you are just starting out, the daily draw will serve you just fine.
Pull 1-2 cards daily and record your thoughts and observations
Reflect on the intersection of the cards and your day before bed or the next day
Build your personal card meanings as you build your practice
Don’t overthink it! After 30+ years with tarot, I am just sharing my experience. After that much time, you need to mix it up every now and then!
Your turn: Ever used tarot for intention-setting? Hit reply—I’d love your stories!
When you're ready, here's how I can help:
Free Stuff: how to stop googling definitions, free card download, easy beginner spreads, a spread deck...
Pay what you can store: Cracking the Tarot Nut e-book, quick and dirty intro to all 78 cards, Tarot Spells mini-guide