Repeating Cards In Your Readings, What Does It Mean?

Repeating Cards In Your Readings, What Does It Mean?

repeating cards in your readings

If you read Tarot regularly for yourself, you may have noticed repeating cards popping up. Repeating cards in your readings is very common, but they can be hard to decipher for yourself. 

I always imagine that repeating Tarot cards are shouting at me. Like when you write something in all caps to make a point. But, it really depends on the context of the reading. 

Below, I’ve pulled together some common FAQs to help you decipher what repeating Tarot cards means for you.  

What do repeating Tarot cards signify? 

If you’re thinking ‘Why do I keep getting the same Tarot cards?’ then there may be something that you are avoiding or that is still to be processed. 

When we think of Tarot as energy, it becomes easier to understand why certain cards are hanging around. A card holds a certain kind of energy and if it keeps showing up time and time again, it means that the energy is still there. 

If you interpret the card as something negative, then it could mean you’re yet to process or overcome this energy. 

If you interpret the Tarot card as something positive, it may need a bit longer to come to fruition or it may need to hang around for a bit longer for your benefit. 

When you get repeating cards in your readings, make a note of them. Make sure to really dive into them through journaling, to better understand what messages are trying to be delivered. 

What does it mean if I get repeating numbers in a Tarot reading? 

Numerology is one of the key theories we use to interpret the Tarot cards. Messages trying to be delivered through numerology will often appear as repeating numbers. Think about angel numbers like 1111 and what that signifies. 

In the Tarot it means something very similar. All twos for example may be interpreted as big decisions needing to be made or even a better balance to be struck. 

Example: 

Getting a Two of Wands, a Two of Swords and Two of Pentacles could suggest a need to better balance mind, body and mental well-being.  

Treat your repeating numbers in a Tarot reading in the same way as angel numbers. It can help you to interpret them more clearly. 

Another example would be if you got all Aces in your reading all at the same time. Aces equal one in the Minor Arcana, meaning that they represent 1111. You can apply the angel number’s properties to your reading and see what you discover. 

 

 

What does it mean if I get repeated Major Arcana cards in each reading? 

The Major Arcana cards represent the major archetypes we encounter on our journey through life. If a specific archetype keeps appearing for you, it is a powerful presence in your life right now. 

The archetypes usually show up when something needs to shift. It might be something within ourselves or something within our material world. We’re never the same after encountering an archetype. 

I like to visualise the archetype on the card standing in my way. It will block me from moving past, which gives me the opportunity to ask why. I can spend some time with just that card and journal with it, finding the answers as to why this archetype is refusing to move. 

What does it mean if I get repeating Minor Arcana suits in my readings?   

There are a few different ways that the Minor Arcana can repeatedly show up. It may be in the form of suits, numbers or a single specific card. 

The most common is the suit. Getting the same suit time and time again in your readings shows you where your energy is sitting. 

  • If you have an abundance of cups, your energy is sitting in your heart space 

  • If you keep getting swords, then your energy is in your head space 

  • If you are getting more wands, then your energy is in your sacral and solar plexus space 

  • Finally, if you continuously get pentacles, then your energy is firmly in your root chakra space

You may get the same Minor Arcana card time and time again. This means that there is some sort of challenge or lingering energy that needs to be dealt with. 

Think about all the reasons why something may hover over us. It may be waiting, it might not be able to pass us by for some reason or it may be watching over us to keep us safe. 

Whenever you get a repeating Minor Arcana card ask yourself ‘Why might this be hanging around right now?’.

Think of repeating cards as house guests. If this card was a person who knocked on your door, what might they want? 

Are they welcome or unwelcome? Why is that? Start to dig into your relationship with that card’s energy in order to find the answers. 

The very best way to understand repeating cards in your readings is…

Tarot journaling. Keep a written record of all the readings you do and make sure to check back in with old readings to see if anything is reoccurring. 

You will never remember everything you experience in your readings. Memory is fickle, but the written word is concrete. It can more accurately portray information as it was at that exact moment. It also means you can look back on readings and find new meanings behind them. 

To help with this, make sure to take a look at my digital Tarot journal. My Tarot journal has been designed with weekly readings in mind and incorporates monthly check-ins too. It’s the perfect way to start and create a continuous Tarot reading practice.

The Swords Tarot Cheat Sheet

The Swords Tarot Cheat Sheet

A Minor Arcana Cheat Sheet: The Swords

One of the things I love most about the Tarot is how much there is to learn. However, it can be overwhelming. That’s why I thought I’d put together some cheat sheets for the Tarot cards. Today we start with the Swords Tarot cheat sheet. 

Below you’ll find a full-sized infographic that offers you all the information on the swords you need. 

What are the Swords in Tarot? 

The swords are one of the four minor arcana Tarot suits found in a traditional deck of Tarot cards. Within the swords Tarot suit, you will find a total of 14 cards. These range from pip cards (numbered cards) to court cards (page, knight, queen and king). 

The swords rule over our mental space. They can be linked with the top three chakras covering the crown, third eye and throat chakra. Knowing this helps us to visualise whereabouts in the body this energy sits. Giving us a better idea of what types of situations and actions the cards are referring to.  

The swords are also the element of air within the Tarot cards. This means that they can perfectly represent our intellect, mental processes and communication. Something that the first three chakras also have power over. 

What do the Tarot swords mean?

Below is a very brief overview of what each of the 14 Sword cards means within the Tarot. To find out more detailed meanings, you can find all of these cards and more in my full Tarot directory.

  • Ace of Swords: Offers a fresh dose of mental energy. This could be a new idea, a new mindset or a form of communication.

  • Two of Swords: The duality of the mind. It aligns with decision-making and needing to listen to the inner voice for guidance.

  • Three of Swords: Building mental resilience and strong lines of communication. It is an energy of growth and learning.

  • Four of Swords: Reflection and introspection. The stability of the four offers a stable footing for deep self-exploration and discovery.

  • Five of Swords: The humanity of intellect. It helps remind us of the complexities of being a sentient being with access to reams of information.

  • Six of Swords: The achievement of air. Having a mental breakthrough, a eureka moment. A card of success and realisations.

  • Seven of Swords: The spiritual connection with the physical mind. Understanding and being open to divine guidance in spite of the rational mind.

  • Eight of Swords: Long-term stability within the intellectual world. Forming healthy communication, thought process and mindfulness.

  • Nine of Swords: The abundance of intellect. Often linked with anxiety and overthinking. Allowing too much air energy to have control.

  • Ten of Swords: A need for a reset. Often linked with burnout and mental distress. A need to replenish the self or find a new challenge.

  • Page of Swords: Being open and ready to absorb new ideas and ways of thinking, communicating and planning. The novice of air.

  • Knight of Swords: Passionate communication or trains of thought. Not thinking things through and acting on un-fleshed-out ideas. 

  • Queen of Swords: The nurturer of intellect. Focusing on ideas, plans, and strategies and allowing them the room and sustenance to grow.

  • King of Swords: The intellect of the mind. Pure information, ideas and communication. Often without substance.

Sword tarot cards often get a bad rep as they can often be read negatively. However, there’s a lot you can glean about the self from the sword cards. Swords represent our very essence. The thoughts we have day to day, the inner dialogue we listen to. 

Never underestimate the power of a Swords Tarot card.

The Swords Tarot Cheat Sheet: View It Here

How To do a Tarot Reading On Yourself

How To Do a Tarot Reading on Yourself

How To do a Tarot Reading On Yourself

One of the hardest things about Tarot reading is knowing how to do a Tarot reading on yourself. You would think it would be easier, but oh no. The more you have invested in the outcome, the harder it is to see the truth. 

This doesn’t mean you can’t do readings on yourself, it just means a different approach is needed. It means that you may have to put some pre-reading work in, to get the clearest and most objective reading possible. 

To help you out, here are a few of my top tips for reading for yourself. 

Tip 1: Check in with your current energy

Tarot effectively reflects your energy back to you visually. Whatever you’re thinking and feeling – whether it be subconsciously or consciously – are illustrated in the cards you pull. 

If you sit down to do a reading and you feel frazzled or burnt out, you’ll find it really hard to read. This is because there’s so much energy buzzing away without direction, even the cards can’t make sense of it. 

 

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Tarot effectively reflects your energy back to you visually.

 

Similarly, if you feel emotionally delicate then doing a reading could send you spiralling even deeper if you interpret the cards negatively. It’s best to make sure that you are in as neutral a place as possible. This allows you to avoid any bias and see the truth of things without those rose-tinted or doom-tinted glasses.  

Tip 2: Decide what you want to get out of the reading

Sitting down to do a Tarot reading on yourself without a goal in mind, is like trying to read a book with no plot. You have to know where your end point is, and where you want to get to. Only then can the Tarot cards create a journey for you.  

 

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Sitting down to do a Tarot reading on yourself without a goal in mind, is like trying to read a book with no plot.

 

This is why asking questions of the Tarot cards is so popular. You’re giving the reading a structure, which helps to create a narrative. Without it, all the messages seem jumbled and hard to decipher.  

Tip 3: Think metaphorically instead of literally 

This one took me a very long time to absorb. It doesn’t just apply to readings for the self, it also refers to reading for others. 

The cards are manifestations and sometimes personifications of the energy we find in the universe. When we take them literally, this becomes more prediction than interpretation.

 

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The cards are manifestations and sometimes personifications of the energy we find in the universe.

 

Thinking of the characters and scenarios pictured on your Tarot cards as metaphorical can be a game changer. Suddenly you start to better understand the guidance and stop looking for the dictation. 

We interpret Tarot cards. We are the ones that take the information they offer us and create something the conscious mind understands. Not the other way around.  


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Tip 4: Pay attention to energetic balances

Our conscious minds are very good manipulators. However, it can’t change the facts of the four elements, which is why it’s so helpful to keep them in mind when reading. 

 

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The elements provide facts that the conscious mind can’t easily dispute.

 

Integrating the correspondences of the element to the cards can help you better see balance and imbalances. For example, you may think you’re approaching a situation from a very air-based, strategic position. However, the cards say otherwise. The cards show more wand cards, which means you’re actually approaching things from a purely impulsive POV. 

The elements provide facts that the conscious mind can’t easily dispute. I’ve found focusing on these energy balances really helps me to step out of my own biased way of thinking.   

Tip 5: Choose a simple spread and focus on deep dives

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is thinking that the more cards, the better the reading. Choosing a spread that focuses on 2-3 cards in detail is much better than focusing on the surface-level meanings of 10+ cards. 

 

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Choosing a spread that focuses on 2-3 cards in detail is much better than focusing on the surface-level meanings of 10+ cards. 

 

When we use smaller spreads we give ourselves more room to breathe. We allow for space for each card to have its moment, rather than jumping from one card to the next as quickly as possible, losing meaning in the process. 

Tip 6: Journal your Tarot readings

Off the back of that previous point, make sure to journal alongside your readings. If you struggle to journal when reading Tarot, why not try using my Tarot Journal which you can find in the shop? 

 

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Journaling alongside your Tarot readings allows you time to dive deeper into their meanings.

 

Journaling alongside your Tarot readings allows you time to dive deeper into their meanings. You can really jot down all the thoughts, feelings, ideas and inspirations the cards offer you. Plus, it gives you a clear record of previous readings to refer back to. 

Tip 7: Take action on the guidance given to you

Finally, the bit everyone misses. Take action on your readings. 

Use the information and guidance the cards have helped you gather. There’s no point doing a reading if you’re only going to ignore everything it offers up to you. 

 

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There’s no point doing a reading if you’re only going to ignore everything it offers up to you. 

 

This is where the Tarot journal comes in handy. In your journal, you can jot down bullet points of things you want to do or take action on, off the back of the reading. It’s a great way to work on goal setting and achievements. Especially if you have a passion project you’re working on or a soul-led business. 

Knowing how to do a Tarot Reading on Yourself is a Game Changer

Many people will learn to read Tarot for other people and that’s fantastic. But, knowing how to do a Tarot reading on yourself is something that can transform you. It gives you back a sense of personal power that we often struggle to reclaim. 

It can take some getting used to and you might have to find a new groove with your readings. It is possible though and I couldn’t recommend it more.

What Are the Minor Arcana Cards in a Tarot Deck?

What Are the Minor Arcana Cards in a Tarot Deck?

What are the minor arcana cards in a Tarot Deck? Well, they are the cards that make up the other 56 cards in a standard 78-card Tarot deck. These minor arcana cards are split into four groups or suits. Each suit has its own properties and by reading the suit we can get a better idea of what the card means. 

To help you better understand what the minor arcana really is and how to use it, here are some ‘need to know’ tips. 

The Elements and the Minor Arcana

With the four suits of the minor arcana come the four divine elemental energies. These are as follows: 

  • Water = Cups

  • Air = Swords

  • Fire = Wands

  • Earth = Pentacles/Coins

By understanding which element is paired with which suit, we get a better idea of its energy. We can start to better understand the context of the card and its impact on our situation. 

 

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Knowing the elements of the minor arcana cards allows us greater insight into their area of expertise.

 

For example, say you are currently at a crossroads and need to know which avenue to take.

  • A sword card may suggest that the decision needs more thought or strategy behind it. Swords are the elemental energy of air, which means they rule our mentality, intellect and communication. 

  • A wands card may ask us to take a leap of faith and do what feels right, just do something. This is because wands are the element of fire and rule our personal power, actions and creativity. 

  • A cups card may ask us to follow our intuition and do what feels right in the moment. This is because cups are the element of water and therefore rule our emotional and intuitive selves.  

  • Finally, a pentacles or coin card may ask us to stop overthinking things and choose the safest option. This is because pentacles are the element of earth and rule our stability, material world and safety needs. 

Knowing the elements of the minor arcana cards allows us greater insight into their area of expertise. It is what separates their energies from each other. 

Want to find out how to use Tarot cards in a variety of different ways? Click here to find our more.

The Court Cards and Numbered Cards

Within any of the four Tarot suites, you’ll find the cards run from Ace to 10 and Page to King. This is reminiscent of the Tarot cards days as a simple card game. Knowing what the minor arcana cards in a Tarot deck are, means also understanding their history. 

In the very early days, the Tarot had ‘trump’ cards which are now the major arcana running from 0 to 21. The minor arcana had similarities to a standard deck of playing cards however. This means that each of the classic suits – hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades – were transformed into: 

  • The Cups = Hearts

  • The Swords = Spades

  • The Wands = Clubs

  • The Pentacles/Coins = Diamonds

Along with the suits, the Tarot also adopted the courts. These became the pages, knights, queens and kings. Just lie the numbered or ‘pip’ cards, the court cards also adopt the elemental energies of their respective suits. 

However, these court cards also contain a second energy. They are dual energy cards. This means their dominant energy is that of their suit, but there’s also the court energy which influences the direction of the suits energy. 

  • Kings = Air 

  • Queens = Water

  • Knights = Fire

  • Pages = Earth

When we read the court cards of the minor arcana, we have to acknowledge their duality. So, for example, a Queen of Wands will be the emotional aspect of our personal power and creativity. She may suggest a need for creative expression or to reclaim personal power that’s been lost. 

Another example would be the Page of Pentacles. This is still a dual energy card, but teaming earth with earth. 

This simply means that he is an extremely grounded card. His energy is heavy and he suggests a need to get right back to basics. To explore your very foundations and do a full survey of where there may be cracks. 

Minor Arcana Means Minor Lessons

One of the main things to understand with these cards is that they are the smaller baby steps. They require smaller adjustments and shifts to make a difference. Compared to the major arcana which are all about big life altering energies. 

The minor arcana are what we face day to day. It is the smaller lessons we learn in life. This is why we have more of them in a Tarot deck than we do of the major arcana. We face these things every day, whether it be consciously or subconsciously. 

Allow the major cards to set the tone or the theme of your readings. Use the minor arcana to build the meat, the action and plans that lead off the reading. 

Want to learn more about the individual minor arcana cards? Make sure to take a look at my free Tarot directory
If you’re looking to really get stuck in with the world of Tarot, why not check out my other freebies, courses and workshops?

How to Use Tarot For Self-Reflection

How to Use Tarot For Self-Reflection

Knowing how to use Tarot for self-reflection can blow personal development wide open. We are so disconnected from the self in these modern times, Tarot allows us to come back home to who we are at our core. It illustrates the soul. It shows you what you can’t see. It allows you access to the deepest parts of your psyche. 

But, how do you go about interpreting the cards? What do you need to be aware of and what are the practicalities of it? Do you need a daily draw? 

Use the Major Arcana to Understand Your Reactions 

The first 22 cards of a Tarot deck are the major arcana. These cards are the archetypal energies we come across as we move through life. These archetypes can make us face aspects of ourselves, ask questions and help us see the reality of a situation. 

You can use the major arcana for self-reflection by stepping toe to toe with its energy. Challenge it. Think about what you would do if this energy was a physical being in front of you. How would you confront it? What conversations would you have? Would your opinions differ or align? 

When we use the major arcana in this way, we can start to see how we would react. For example, you have just been offered two different jobs, both of which will take you down two different paths in your career. For guidance, you pull The Hermit major arcana card. 

The Hermit in this instance could be asking you whether you are thinking about what will benefit more than just your bank account. It may help you realise that there is actually a very clear and obvious answer to this tough decision. You go with the option that not only makes you feel like you’ll have a purpose but also the one that supports you in all areas of life. 

Maybe one of these options offers you more flexibility with your time, allowing you the freedom to pursue more personal interests. Maybe the same option is in a sector that interests you more. 

The self-reflection that comes with the major arcana is the reflection of our options. We can easily become blinded by tunnel vision. Something often created by fear, doubt and limiting beliefs. The archetypes in the majors, therefore, come up to us to help us confront those things and move past them. 

Use the Minor Arcana to Plan and Execute Your Actions 

When using Tarot for self-reflection, we can use the minor arcana to pull a plan together. After the major arcana has shown us the truth of our reactions, the minors can help us see what actions we’re willing to take. And, more importantly, which ones we aren’t. 

Too often people use self-reflection as a tool for procrastination. Endless introspection does nothing to move us forward or allow us to grow. It’s the actions we take after these moments of reflection that really get the work done. 

The minor arcana helps us reflect on our plans, strategy and actions. It helps us understand what to do and in some cases, why we’ve already done what we’ve done. 

The four key elements, air, fire, water and earth, are the tools of creation. So there’s no wonder they are present within the minor arcana in the Tarot. Laying out these four tools for us, we can get a better idea of what tools we’re most drawn to. 

If we use the example from above about the job decision, we can now apply the minors to it. Doing so, we are offered a number of different tools we can use to get the job done and get that job accepted and underway. Which tool you decide to use can say a lot about you as a person. For example (and these are just my feelings, yours may be different):

  • If you feel more drawn to the fiery energy of the wands, you are a person of action. You don’t like to wait around or dilly-dally, you want to get shiz done. 

  • If you feel more drawn to the gentle energy of the watery cups cards, then you will probably lead from the heart. Making decisions based on how they make you feel and what your intuition is telling you to do. 

  • If you feel more drawn to the gusty air cards of the swords, then you are a planner and strategist. You’ll never take action without having a roadmap first to go off.

  • If you feel more drawn to the very stable and comfortable earth energy of the pentacles, then you’re not a risk taker. You like to use the skills you’ve already mastered and stay in your lane. 

Not only do your feelings towards the minors allow you to self-reflect on what type of person you are, but they can also identify imbalances. For example, if you are more drawn to the air energy of the swords, but in the past, this approach hasn’t worked that well for you, there may be a need to rebalance and use more grounding earth energy this time.  

Use the Court Cards to Step Into a Different Perspective 

As well as the major and minor arcana cards, you can also use the Tarot court cards for self-reflection. The way that I read the courts is as dual energies. This is based on Tarot reader Melinda Lee Holm’s teachings. 

When we’re sitting down to use the Tarot for self-reflection, we are coming to the reading already embodying one of the court cards. Should we get a court card in our Tarot reading, then we have to then ask the question “Is this me now? Or is this who I should be?”. 

Really immerse yourself in the energy of the card and see how it fits. A bit like trying on a new coat. Does it feel comfortable and familiar? Then it might just be a perspective and approach you are used to embodying. 

If it doesn’t fit quite right, it may be something you haven’t yet explored. Sometimes allowing ourselves to experience these new perspectives can help us see new ways to approach something. Sometimes it just confirms our original ideas and strategy. 

How to use the Tarot for Self-Reflection: A Tarot Spread

Tarot spreads are a great way of offering context and structure to your reading. So, to help you better understand how the Tarot can be used for self-reflection, here’s a ready-made spread for you. 

You will need to cut the deck and split out the majors, minors and court cards.

  • Your first card will be the major arcana card. This will tell you what archetypal energy you are dealing with or moving through right now.

  • The middle card will be your minor arcana card. This reflects your actions back to you so you can better understand them.

  • The last card on the right is the court card. This shows you the perspective that you are taking and can help you understand how to see things differently in order to find solutions.

How to use Tarot for Self Reflection Tarot Spread

How To Use Tarot Cards

How To Use Tarot Cards


Tarot cards are a tool. They can be used to better understand our own psyche, explore our subconscious and be mindful of the conscious. When you pick up a deck of cards – like any tool – you need to know what you plan to use it for and what your ideal outcome will be.

Imagine picking up a hammer. You probably won’t get much use out of that hammer if you don’t have a project in which to use it. You may even end up thinking the hammer is useless and giving up on it. We need a project to use a tool and the same applies to Tarot.

When it comes to using Tarot, we are the project. It’s ourselves that needs work and using this tool will help us with this work. As a Tarot reader, I become a sort of contractor for the self when I work with clients. I come in to assess what needs to be done, and then I grab my tools and get to work.

How do you make tarot cards work?

The more receptive you are to hearing guidance and suggestions from the cards, the better they work. All the guidance the cards offer comes from divine guidance and subconscious understanding. If we are too close-minded to believe in divine guidance, we’ll struggle to read the Tarot.

Similarly, if we can’t be vulnerable and allow our subconscious to speak, then making the Tarot cards work will be tricky.

When people ask me how to read Tarot cards, being an open book is the number one suggestion. Sometimes being honest and vulnerable with yourself is harder than being vulnerable with others, so this is where many people get stuck.

Can you read your own Tarot cards?

Yes, you absolutely can read your own Tarot cards. In fact, that’s one of the primary ways I use my Tarot cards.

Reading for yourself is tricky though. Sometimes it’s easier for someone else to read your cards for you because they can tell you what you need to hear. When you do a reading on yourself, your brain will often try and spin things so they sound more like what you want to hear.

This is why you have to build the skill of stepping outside of yourself. To become an impartial and objective judge of your inner world.

All you need in order to do a Tarot reading on yourself is a spot to relax and meditate, a journal and of course your cards. The key to self-readings is to make sure you and your subconscious mind are as relaxed as possible.

The more relaxed your subconscious mind is, the easier it will be to give it a voice through the cards. Then, you’ll be able to communicate seamlessly with all the different parts of your psyche.

How to use Tarot cards for the first time

Whether you want to break in a new Tarot deck, or you are picking up a deck for the first time there are plenty of ways you can prep.

One thing that I love to do – and this is down to personal preference – is to sleep with the deck under my pillow before I use it. If you’ve got thin pillows then this may be less than ideal. In this case, you can just pop it by the side of your bed.

This helps you to connect the energy of your deck with your own energy. Sort of like creating a new bond, you’ll be able to swap energy and become more closely connected with it.

I always advise cleansing your Tarot deck before you use it as well. A deck can pass through many hands before it gets to you, so cleansing it just helps to give you a blank slate to draw from. Once your energy is shared and cleansed, you can get going with your reading.

For a new deck, you’ll want to give the Tarot cards a really good shuffle. The deck will come in chronological order so we want to mix things up as much as possible to ensure we get a good selection of cards. Once you’ve shuffled to your heart’s content, spread out your cards and get going with your reading.

When not to read Tarot cards

There isn’t really a good and bad time to read Tarot cards specifically. However, there are times that can offer you clearer or more organised readings.

Making sure your mental state is calm and ready to receive information is always best. As I mentioned before, putting yourself into meditation and allowing that subconscious to come forward always offers the best readings.

If you already feel frazzled, or like you can’t focus on anything in particular, it may be best to avoid reading. This is because you can end up just making yourself more frustrated and confused. I always find that my readings are pointless when I’m all over the place. A better use of time is taking care of yourself. You don’t need more information from the cards, you just need to destress and regroup.

If you’re as in love with Tarot as I am and want to know different ways to use Tarot cards, then you can take a look at my annual Introduction to Energetic Tarot course. Or, if you miss the deadline, why not take a look at some of my Tarot workshops and free masterclasses?

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How to Cleanse Tarot Cards

How to Cleanse Your Tarot Cards

How to cleanse your Tarot cards. What's the trick? Are there good ways and bad ways?

Cleansing your cards is essential before use as your cards can hold stagnant energy that might mess up your readings. To get the best out of your cards, give them a little cleanse using the methods below.

WORDS: Cat Crawford

IMAGE: Karly Jones, Studio Kealaula

Knowing how to cleanse Tarot cards isn’t something that is often taught to Tarot beginners. Most of the time, you have to feel out for yourself. This is because how you cleanse your own Tarot cards is based on personal preference. It’s based on what feels the most cleansing to you.

The good news is that are plenty of ways you can cleanse your cards.

The main thing to keep in mind is how the energy of the Tarot cards feels to you and how you feel in yourself. It’s no good using a technique that doesn’t make you feel like something has shifted.

To help you find out how you should cleanse your Tarot cards, here are some things I’d like you to try.

Cleanse Your Tarot Cards With Smoke

One of the easiest ways to cleanse your Tarot cards. Using smoke from herb bundles or smudge sticks that include things like sage or rosemary will do the trick.

All you need is to burn your herbs, whether it be a bundle, Palo Santo, or via loose incense. Then grab your Tarot deck and slowly run the deck through the smoke plume. Make sure to allow the smoke to fully wrap itself around the cards.

This is also very therapeutic to watch. Really pay attention to how the smoke moves around the Tarot cards. Where does it meet with the cards, and where does it appear to be repelled?

When I cleanse Tarot cards I like to hold them in the smoke for 1-2 minutes depending on how I feel. I like to try and tap into the energy of the cards and intuitively decide when the deck has been fully cleansed.

Cleanse Your Tarot Cards With Crystals

how to cleanse Tarot cards with crystals

If working with smoke doesn’t appeal to you then cleansing your Tarot deck with crystals could be the ticket.

There are a few ways to do this. My favourite is getting a piece of clear quartz or selenite and popping it on top of the deck before use. You can leave it for an hour or overnight depending on how deep of a cleanse it needs.

Some other crystals that are good for cleansing Tarot cards are Black Tourmaline and Citrine. Black Tourmaline is a great sponge for negative energy, so it can suck up all that badness before you pick up your deck again. Citrine is another great energy cleanser because it replaces negative energy with positive, joyful energy.

Another way you could cleanse your Tarot deck with crystals is by using crystal grids. This is a good way to also add in more specific types of energy whilst you’re cleansing. For example, create a grid using rose quartz to instil loving energy in your deck.

Cleansing it in this way can also help you set intentions for your reading, if you’re doing a reading about career, you may choose the money attracting Pyrite, or if you’re looking to get over a break up, a heart healing emerald could be ideal. 

Cleanse Your Tarot Cards By Tapping

When it came to figuring out how I cleanse Tarot cards, tapping was the first technique that really felt right. I do this before I use my deck without fail. It’s quick, efficient and great for daily cleansing.

My go-to tapping technique for cleansing my Tarot cards is to use the heel of my hand. I simply give the deck three knocks and I’m good to go.

What this does is knock the stagnant energy from the deck. You’re using kinetic energy to replace the energy that is being held in the cards. The reason we want to do this is that the leftover energy can confuse our readings. We want to be able to have a good, clean slate before we dive back into a new reading.

Cleanse Your Tarot Cards Using The Moon

We’ve all heard of cleansing our crystals with the moon, but how do we cleanse Tarot cards with the moon? Well, the same exact way.

Which moon you use for cleansing is up to you. I prefer new moons because they represent new beginnings. A completely new cycle from which to start afresh.

Some people prefer a full moon to cleanse. It all depends on which phase of the moon you feel is the most cleansing for you. For me, I much prefer using the full moon to recharge my Tarot deck.

I wouldn’t advise putting your deck outside like you would crystals. Weather and dirt could end up damaging your cards and we don’t want that.

*Tip: If you’re looking to work with your cards and the moon phases more closely, make sure to check out my annual Tarot Diary. I include how to work with the moon through Tarot and Oracle card readings in there, so you can build your own lunar card readings. 

Tarot Diary 2024 - Moon Phases

Cleanse Tarot Cards Using Visualisation

The final way to cleanse Tarot cards is visualisation. This is another of my favourites. All you have to do is visualise a soft white light entering your deck and cleansing it of all the energy it is holding.

It is best, however, to make sure you are in a deeply relaxed state before you start the visualisation. This is just so you aren’t transferring any negative energy to your deck.

If the soft white light isn’t working for you, think about something that feels cleansing to you. Maybe one of the elemental energies that we often find in the Tarot cards themselves. Maybe it’s a trickling stream or a gust of wind. Imagine it moving through the Tarot deck and carrying away all the stagnant energy.

Where to start your spiritual journey?


where to start spiritual journey

I remember back in the day when I was just starting my own spiritual journey I thought ‘how do you know where to start your spiritual journey?’.

I took one look at how many different avenues I could go down, got scared and retreated. From then on I was living in a constant cycle of near starts but not actually getting very far.

That’s when I decided to start a Book of Shadows. A Journal that would keep track of everything I learned on my spiritual journey. I started with absolute basics like the wheel of the year, the different sabbats and how to set up an altar.

Of course, this is all from a witch’s point of you. But, where do you start your spiritual journey outside of witchcraft? To be honest it’s not too dissimilar. Instead of writing down the witchy stuff, you can start with the basics of spirituality.

Everyone’s journey is unique to them, but I thought I’d help out those of you who are right at the beginning of your journey. So, here are my top tips on knowing where to start your spiritual journey.

Where to start your spiritual journey? From the beginning…

Most people fall at the first hurdle because they want to get to the exciting stuff right away. The problem with that though is that the stuff that we label exciting or mystical needs a foundation on which to make any sense.

It starts with you. Your spiritual journey relies on you knowing exactly why you want and need to be on this journey. Grab a journal now and answer these three questions:

  1. How do I think this spiritual journey will help me live a better life?

  2. What is my main motivation for wanting to start a spiritual journey?

  3. What is my goal for this journey? Where do I want it to take me?

I highly encourage you to start a spiritual journal to help you keep track. Beginning with these three prompts will instantly set you on the right path. It can also help you better understand what you need to look for within the spiritual world.

A lot of the time we feel lost and overwhelmed by all the options because we don’t know what we want from the spiritual journey itself. Your intention is really all it takes, once you’ve set that then things start to line up and become clearer.

Focus on the self

A spiritual journey is about understanding your soul’s place within the universe. To understand how your energy affects the things around you. How the mind, body and soul are intrinsically linked and all three need as much care and attention as the others.

Your spiritual journey is about you, so start by pinpointing areas that could benefit from some spiritual guidance. For me, it was my confidence. My confidence levels were one of the biggest causes of my anxiety and once I decided to work on that part of me, everything else started to fall neatly into place. I gained a sense of direction, I saw new opportunities to explore new tools and theologies.

For you, there may be a limiting belief that you want to investigate further. You might want to do some shadow work to uncover the root cause of that belief. You may keep a journal where you track your progress and make notes of any ideas and realisations you uncovered.

The way you see the world and others starts inside of you. If you are constantly judging yourself, then you will always judge others. If you’re unhappy at home, then that will carry into other areas of your life. If you are in a terrible relationship then you will have a negative view of relationships as a whole.

Have you ever heard of the phrase ‘charity starts at home’? The same applies here. Spirituality starts at home, from within you.

The tools do not make the journey

The spiritual community has seen a huge boost over the last few years. We’ve now got more spiritual influencers, authors, podcasters and coaches than ever. We’re living in a spiritual renaissance. However, with this comes the usual issues with the likes of social media and public representation.

I follow a lot of witchy, spiritual women who I love, but I also recognise when a photo is staged for Instagram and when props are just that, props.

When you first start your spiritual journey you’ll probably look to those with more experience as inspiration. That’s fantastic and highly encouraged by me. However, know that in order to live a spiritual life all you need is yourself and the courage to keep peeling back your own layers.

Tools like Tarot or Oracle cards, crystals, altars, and the tangible material objects we often see grace our feeds, these are not essential. You could do a ritual with one candle or a hundred candles, crystals and a bonfire. It doesn’t matter. Your tools are not the heart of your spirituality, it’s your intention that counts.

Choosing your tools with intention

If you do want to have tools and objects surrounding you as you move along your spiritual journey, then they need to be chosen with intention. The reason I got so invested in Tarot cards was that I discovered that they were the perfect tool to help me tackle issues relating to my mental health. They helped give me support with my anxiety. They helped me make clearer and more confident discussions at a time when everything In my life seemed volatile.

If you want to start using crystal energy in your spiritual practices, then you need to know why that is the perfect tool for your work. Imagine a painter trying to paint but they choose a stapler instead of a paintbrush. The same applies to someone on a spiritual journey. If you don’t know why you’re using something then don’t use it.

Some beginner tools I’d recommend are:

Aim to find beginner-focused resources for any tools you want to investigate. You’ll find that the more you learn about your tools, the more new tools you’ll be introduced to. I didn’t know much about astrology before I started working with more advanced Tarot concepts. Trust that you’ll be introduced to the right tools when you need them most.

Knowing where to start your spiritual journey

A spiritual journey isn’t all love and light, there are periods of shadow, darkness and sadness. It is about becoming emotionally aware, to a point where you can fully embrace the good and the bad in equal measure.

Never shy away from the difficult conversations you will inevitably need to have with yourself. The shadow self often holds the most nourishment for us.

If you still feel like you need a bit of help getting started on your spiritual journey, why not take a look at my coaching package? I offer free discovery calls so you can feel confident that I’m the right coach for you. So drop me an email and let me know if you’d like to book a call.

How To Start Your Spiritual Journey


As a spiritual coach, I am often approached by women who are looking to take a step into spirituality. They may want to take better care of their well-being or find a way to disconnect from being the ambitious business owners they are. But, the majority of them are looking for divine support. The feeling of not being alone on the journeys they have chosen.

It’s not easy knowing where to start with this spiritual journey. How do you even begin to be a more spiritual person? To help you take that first step, I thought I’d over 8 ways you can start your own spiritual journey. Once you’ve started you’ll start to see more avenues you could explore.

Everybody’s spiritual preferences and needs are different. One thing that interests one person may bore another. Choose something that not only interests you and makes you want to know more, but also helps you feel the way you’ve always wanted to feel.

1) Connect with your inner world

Essentially you’ll do this no matter what form of spirituality you choose to follow. Traditionally spirituality was closely linked to religion, but now we use the term to describe someone who is seeking a deeper meaning from life.

To start connecting with your inner world, I recommend starting a meditation practice that is consistent and turns the everyday focus inwards to pay attention to feelings, intuition and inner thoughts. It’s only by knowing what’s going on in the conscious mind and subconscious mind that we can work on personal growth and ensure we’re getting exactly the care we need.

2) Connect with your outer world

Mindfulness will help with this. Bringing your focus to the world around you by practising gratitude, connecting with the physical body, and connecting with nature.

When we connect with our outer world more we start to notice how we no longer covet things. We start to become more content with our lives, and what we have and let go of what we don’t have. If you’re someone that regularly lives inside a daydream or is always in a state of want, then this could be a great place to start your spiritual journey.

3) Connect with the divine & spirit

A remnant of the more traditional use of spirituality. Connecting with the divine energy or with spirit is something that can help you feel supported by a higher power. Whether you believe in one god, no gods or multiple gods, connect with divine energy can help us find the confidence to do what you feel most called to do.

Some people choose to connect to a god/s, and many modern witches will call upon deities as a personification of whatever energy they need support with or are looking to bring into their lives. This isn’t for everyone, but if you do feel a connection to a higher power or a divine force moving through you, then this could be an ideal topic to look into.

4) Connect with a practice

The way I got started with spirituality was through Witchcraft. Many label Witchcraft incorrectly citing it as a religion, but it’s a practice. Witches believe in different things, there is no one way to be a witch or practice your craft.

Creating a consistent practice and making an altar space dedicated to spiritual work and activities was a lifesaver for me. It became something familiar – no pun intended – and my brain started to recognise spaces and habits and preemptively put me into ‘spiritual mode’ before I even lifted a finger. This is a good place to start for those that love to be crafty and feel more relaxed and connected to themselves when they are doing something productive.

5) Connect with the chakras

The theory of chakras comes from ancient India, found within the Hindu Vedas, and is most commonly used within Eastern practices such as Yoga and especially Kundalini Yoga. Essentially the chakras are the seven main energy centres of the body. These energy centres lie within different areas of the body and manage their respective energy flow.

Each of these centres helps to keep our energy in balance and flowing through the body smoothly. The better the energy flow, the more balanced and at peace we feel. The chakras appear across a number of different spiritual journeys and topics. From crystal healing and meditation to Yoga and even the Tarot.

6) Connect with the universe

Similar to connecting with the divine, you can also start by connecting with the universe. Think about activities and subjects like manifestation and divination. Each of these relies on trust and belief in the universe to guide you in the right direction.

When you start to actively connect with the universe, you submit to the fact that you are not in control of fate. Not to say you hand over your free will, but you do hand over some responsibility for the trajectory of your life to a higher power. A power that is formed on synchronicity, symbolism and sacred patterns.

7) Connect with the body

Similarly to connect with your outer world, you could start your spiritual journey by getting more connected with your body. Doing this can help us calm the mind and ground ourselves in the present, leading to more awareness of the self and creating space for more abstract thought and downloads from that higher power.

There are lots of ways to connect to the body spiritually. Whether it’s Yoga, walks in nature or self-massage. Even practices like Reiki, breathwork and sound healing can help you find a new connection with your body.

8) Connect with different energies

If you’re interested in energies, the energies found within you, around you, divine energies etc. then looking at things around energy healing could be a good place to start your journey. Many beginners of spirituality start with the world of crystals, as each type of crystal projects a different type of energy depending on how it was formed and its chemical makeup.

You can even start simply by learning about lunar energies, the lunar cycle and how to use the different energies of the moon throughout each month.

If you still need some help and guidance on your own spiritual journey, make sure to check out my Soul Tarot Coaching sessions which uses the guidance of the Tarot cards to help uncover solutions, clarity and direction. Or, if you have a quick question about anything in this blog, drop me an email!

Guide + Free Workbook: The Meaning of Saturn Return & How Can it Affect you?

What is the meaning of Saturn Return? How does it affect us and why is it one of the most well-known astrological events in our lives?

Anyone over the age of 30 will tell you that there is a period before the big 3-0 that feels like a complete quarter-life crisis. You have no idea what you’re doing with your life, you can feel the years slipping away and everything you thought you knew about yourself and your life just feel false.

It’s such a fun time.

It’s probably no coincidence that I started reading Tarot and practising Witchcraft more intensely around the age of 28. I felt completely adrift in my own life, I had no confidence that I was in the right career or even living in the right location. It was like just when I’d put down the final piece of the puzzle that is my adult life, another version of me came along and through all the pieces into the air and then walked away.

Download the FREE Saturn Return Workbook

What does Saturn Return mean?

The planets in our solar system each have their own cycles – how long it takes them to do a full orbit of the sun. Even the sun and the moon work on cycles, the sun has a 12-month cycle which is why we have seasons and of course, the moon works on a 28-day cycle.

Saturn has a cycle of around 28-30 years, meaning that’s how long it takes to do a complete orbit of our sun. When we’re born, Saturn will be in a particular place in the sky, so when we talk about Saturn Return we’re talking about Saturn completing its orbit and returning to the same place as when you were born.

Think of it like Saturn was there to welcome you into the world and then it went on holiday for 28-30 years and now it’s back to make you question everything you thought you knew.

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Saturn Returns usually happen between ages twenty-eight and thirty and fifty-eight and sixty. Those are the ages at which you lose your illusions and mistaken ways of thinking to take great steps forward. If this time is used well, you can take a quantum leap.
— Suh Yoon Lee

The properties of Saturn

Each of the planets rules over a certain kind of energy. This is one of the ways we can read astrological birth charts, assigning specific properties to the planets to give their placements some context.

Mercury rules over things like travel and communication, Jupiter rules over our generosity, expansion and fortune and Saturn rules over our limitations and responsibility.

This means that when we’re born Saturn will gift us a certain way in which we see what we’re capable of, and what is required of us in the world. But, when it returns it comes back with new ideas that challenge all of these things. It asks us whether all of these limitations we’ve put on ourselves are actually valid.

This is why we often feel like we need to completely unravel our own lives and start again when we reach our late 20s.

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I feel as I were disintegrating and “growing up”, whatever that means, simultaneously.
— James Agee

How can Saturn Return affect you?

Your Saturn Return will be unique to you, but some core things to watch out for are:

  • Questioning your soul purpose

  • Feeling lost and confused about your future

  • Feeling the need to sell everything you own and run away from life

  • Feeling like you need to become someone else for a while

  • Questioning your career path or field of study

  • Questioning what goals you have for the long-term future

To name but a few. Essentially you feel like burning your life to the ground and starting again from nothing. I find the easiest way to describe a Saturn Return is to tell my own story. For reference, I’m about to turn 32 so my Saturn Return has been and gone, but I now see exactly what it was and why I had to go through it.

Exploring my own Saturn Return

I was around 27 and living in my own flat in the centre of Manchester. The perfect location for a 27-year-old to be, with plenty of pubs, clubs and things to do. I had a job that was a very short walk from where I lived, I worked with people I loved and I was paid a good wage.

I started thinking about saving for a mortgage and then one day that idea seemed like I was giving myself a prison sentence. Completely out of the blue might I add. I started thinking about my 30s, what I would want to achieve where I would want to be and I realised that I wouldn’t be happy if everything I had at that moment was it for the rest of my life.

I was sitting on my uncomfortable rental sofa drinking my second cup of coffee back to back when I decided I needed to do something with a purpose. I wanted to work with a charity that meant something to me so I could feel like I was benefiting the world. I started looking at mental health charities because it was a cause I was and still am very passionate about. I flicked through endless ‘race for life’ races, 5ks, 10ks, sponsored this and sponsored that but none of them felt big enough.

Then I came across a huge (and costly) challenge. Walk the Great Wall of China for charity. I’d never stepped foot out of Europe and I didn’t know anyone that would accompany me, but before I knew it I was booked on and my participant pack was on its way to me. That was the turning point for me. The point where my Saturn Return grabbed me and strapped me in for the ride.

From then on I didn’t feel like I had any control over where I was going or what I was doing. A week before my 28th birthday I had a panic about turning 30 and how many doors would close for me regarding things like working holidays and cheaper travel visas. So within an hour of thinking to myself ‘I wish I’d lived abroad at least once’ I was signed up for a working holiday in New Zealand.

In the space of just 3 months before and after my 28th birthday, Saturn Return had kicked down my door and said “Ok, biatch. It’s time you stop procrastinating and planning and started doing something“. I was powerless to resist. It was like I had no say over what was happening and where I was going, I was just doing what Saturn wanted me to do.

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And this is the part where you find out who you are
— Unknown

What did Saturn Return want?

I’d love to say that all that exciting stuff made me into this amazingly cool new person, but it didn’t. What it did do was teach me a lot about myself, what I needed in my life to be happy, what I didn’t need and what my purpose was moving into my adult years.

I’d also love to say that those were the happiest years of my life, but again, that’s not how Saturn Return works.

Were both China and New Zealand an amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity absolutely. Was I the best version of myself during those times? Absolutely not. I was a mess of a person, completely out of control. My mental health was dire whilst I was living in New Zealand and as much as I loved living in that amazing country, being so far away from family and friends took a much bigger toll on me than I had ever imagined it would.

I had always assumed that I was a completely independent person who loved their family but didn’t need them close all the time. I was wrong. That was one of the biggest lessons Saturn Return taught me.

The important thing to remember though is that if Saturn hadn’t pushed me into those situations I would never have learned those lessons. I needed to strip everything away so I could experience who I was in the rawest and most vulnerable state possible. To do that, I needed to be removed from the things that I desperately needed to be happy but couldn’t appreciate.

When I came out the other side I started my own business and went freelance so I could have maximum flexibility to live my life to the fullest. I now have a business that I love, I have variety in my work which keeps me motivated and excited to wake up every morning. I get to see my amazing friends who I’ve known since I was 4 years old, I get to spend time with my family regularly and I have plenty of time for all my creative hobbies. It all turned out pretty great if you ask me.

Will I always feel so content, of course not! But I’m 100% in a better place than I was before my Saturn Return.

This time it’s personal

You might think you’re a pro at inner work, that you are self-aware and know exactly who you are, what you stand for, and what or who you need, but I promise you if you haven’t gone through your Saturn Return, you’re in for a bumpy ride.

I thought I was self-aware before but Saturn comes in to humble you. Is it comfortable? Absolutely not. Is it necessary? Undoubtedly.

It’s nothing to be afraid of, even though it isn’t the best years of your life, the lessons learned and the trials you go through during this time bring you out into a place that feels like a breath of fresh air. You feel like you’ve been reborn and you feel older, wiser and more grounded.

When you’re going through your Saturn Return it’s like you’re being carried by a strong current downriver. It’s better to just relax, sit back and allow yourself to be carried away. Trying to fight or resist will just make things feel harder.

To help you get your head around Saturn Return and do some tasks to help you better understand what’s going on in your Saturn Return right now, I put together a free workbook. You can find the form at the beginning of this guide. In this, we also go into a bit of detail on how your birth chart can help you focus on this journey.

If you are currently facing this pivotal moment in your life and need a bit of support, however, then I highly recommend my Soul Tarot Coaching sessions where we can work 1:1 to help you find clarity and direction.