First things first, if you’re a tarot-y-type person and you haven’t taken my fun little survey yet, head over here and do it! It’ll take ten minutes. I’m trying to find out more about the ‘alternative generation’ of tarot readers — queers and edge-walkers and all you crazy cats.
Okay.
I’ve had a whole load of emails in my inbox this past week asking me for a Thanksgiving tarot spread. You wanted a spread which would help you navigate those tricky times that we all must gather with our families and eat and hang out together. For many of us, [XYZ-family-gathering] is a joyous, fun, or at worst, tolerable event. For others, it’s downright painful or unpleasant.
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Here’s a tarot spread to help you look at the energies around your dinner table and help you deal with whatever is getting you down.
This one is for Thanksgiving, but also Christmas, Eid and any other holiday, festival, wedding, party or celebration where families get together and you feel like you need a little extra help to get through.
If you’re new to tarot or you’re not familiar with doing full tarot spreads, start with a simple ritual to centre yourself and clear your mind. Light a candle if it helps, say a prayer if that’s your thing, or simply close your eyes, sit comfortably and breathe for a full minute, counting your breaths. You do you, ‘k? No-one can tell you how to approach your tarot cards, but a clear mind and calm heart helps a lot.
Now shuffle your cards, for as long as you like. As you shuffle, think over the last time your family gathered together, and focus your intent on something positive — whether that’s building a better relationship with such-and-such, or getting through Thanksgiving without going nuts, or finding the best way to respond when so-and-so does that thing you find so offensive.
When you’re ready, cut your deck, then lay out your cards in the following positions:
Card positions:
1. You
2 & 3. The *stuff* that surrounds you at family gatherings
This could be people who impact on you, energies which affect you, reactions you feel, or a big messy mixing bowl of all of it.
4. How to respond
This card shows you an energy to channel when you feel those difficult feelings.
5. What not to do
Seriously, this ain’t gonna help right now.
6. Hold on to this / your safe place
This is your grounding point, a place, person, thing, internal quality. It can never be touched or taken away by anyone in your family. This is yours alone. Hold onto it for strength.
7. Something to be thankful for
Even when times are tough, there is always a reason to have gratitude. Remembering this can be really helpful.
8. If all else fails
Make a swift exit and do this instead.
When you’re reading your cards, remember there are no right and wrong answers. The cards mean what they mean to you — whether you’re looking up the meanings in books, thrashing them out with a friend, doing meditation or visualisation or simply gleaning visual clues from the images on the cards. It’s all right and it’s all good.
If you need to, keep a card in your pocket or handbag when you go to dinner. It can really help you to hold fast to that strong, guiding energy if you have your ‘safe place’ or ‘gratitude’ card close by. When grandad makes another homophobic joke or your sister does *that thing* that makes you feel so small, you can visualise that card and know how strong and awesome you are.
And if you need extra help, try Dori Midnight’s Boundaries in a Bottle or my very own Secret Soul Shield to create a protective mist around you!
Try it out for yourself, and if you want to, share your reading with us!
What’s getting you down, and how are you gonna deal? What’s your safe place this Thanksgiving? How did your reading make you feel?
