Healing
with Tarot
By Geraldine Amaral
How to Use the Powerful Tarot Archetypes with the Ancient Chakra System
One of the things I love the most about working
with the 78 card Tarot deck is how versatile it can be.
For example, the Tarot can be used for creative visualization, for
meditation, for introspection and self-understanding, for personal empowerment,
for divination, for spiritual development, for building and developing
intuition, and for fostering creativity. It
can also be used in conjunction with other esoteric tools and systems such as
Feng Shui, crystals, the I Ching and
astrology. Like these systems, the
Tarot is a way of exploring energies
and vibrations. In particular, these
systems help to reveal the unconscious and energetic processes of the human
psyche. These tools help us to go
beyond our rational, linear way of thinking, guiding us to a symbolic and
supernatural perception of life. In
this piece, I offer a way to link Tarot with the Chakra System.
The foundation of the Chakra System is that the body
contains many centers of energy. These
energy centers, or vortexes, are known as Chakras (“Chakra” is a Sanskrit
word meaning 'spinning wheel of energy or disk of energy') and these points are
located in the body to help us process the universal energies that are around
and within us.
These centers, found in various points on the human body also
correlate to levels of consciousness, archetypal elements, developmental stages
of life, colors, sounds, body functions, and much, much more.
There are seven major energy
centers found in the physical body and they also correlate to major nerve
ganglia branching out from the spinal column. The
seven Chakra points are:
Crown Chakra
Third Eye Chakra
Throat Chakra
Heart Chakra
Solar Plexus Chakra
Sacral Chakra
Root/Base Chakra
Each Chakra has its own different function for your well-being. Many believe that these centers are instrumental in our physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual well-being -- all aspects of life in
order to create a more wholistic being.
Corrine
Kenner, in The 2006 Tarot Reader, wrote about using the Chakra system and
Tarot. She outlines a way to
coordinate the Chakra points with the Tarot.
She provides the specific cards that best matched the meaning and energy
of the Chakras. In Tarot for Yourself, Mary K. Greer offers a similar method for
relating these two systems although in Greer’s system she focuses more on
using the Chakra points to determine the causes of physical illness.
In her approach, the combination of Tarot and Chakra “can help you
discover the psychological source of your illness showing you which areas of
your body need to be brought back into balance.
. . . When your Chakras become ‘clean’ they become smooth conduits
for the flow of psychic energy. When
‘dirtied’ by stress and bad habits, or cluttered with old emotions and
unfinished business, they block the smooth flow of energy and cause dis-ease.”[1]
I have added my own interpretations of the matching energies of the Tarot
cards and the Chakra points and I encourage anyone familiar with the Tarot to do
the same. The best cards for you and
your energy are the cards selected by you!
Now that
we know the different Chakra points and what they represent, the next step is to
the pull out the Tarot cards that hold a similar meaning and energy to each
point. I have indicated the cards
that I believe are the best fit, but again, feel free to make your own
selections. Below is a brief description of
each Chakra and the Tarot archetype that matches the meaning and energy of the
point.
Starting at the Crown Chakra, which as we now
know represents Divine Guidance, pull out the Hermit card from the rest of your deck (the Star card would also be
another good option).
Next is
the “Third Eye” Chakra, associated with intuition and psychic
ability. Pull out the High
Priestess card from your deck.
Next is
the Throat Chakra, associated with communication and speech.
A good choice here might be the Magician
or the King or Queen of Swords.
The
fourth Chakra, the Heart Chakra is associated with love and emotions.
For this you could use the Lovers card
or the Knight, Queen or King of Cups.
The Solar
Plexus Chakra is found in the chest area and is
associated with one’s
personal power. For this
you could use the
Emperor card, the Strength card or
even the Chariot card, depending on how you define your personal
power.
The Sacral
Chakra is next and represents sexual energy, creativity and vitality.
The Empress card is a good
choice here as would be the Queen of Pentacles or even the Devil card.
The Base
Chakra represents our connection to the material world or our material
existence. For this, try using the
King or Queen of Pentacles, the
Emperor, or the World card.
To explore an individual’s ability to give and
receive, 
If we
were to lay this configuration out as a spread, it might look like this.
You can now lay out these cards as indicated below.
Tarot/Chakra
Correspondences
û
- Crown Chakra
The
Hermit
û
- Third Eye Chakra
The
High Priestess
û
- Throat Chakra
The
Magician
û
- Heart Chakra
The
Lovers
û
- Solar Plexus Chakra
Strength
û Ace of Cups
û
- Sacral Chakra
û
Ace of Swords
Receiving
Empress
Giving
û
- Base Chakra
Queen
of Pentacles
The Tarot and Chakra Reading
To
utilize the correspondences between the Chakra system and the Tarot system in a
reading, you will need two decks and a large space (perhaps a large table or
even the floor). Lay the cards from
one deck out as shown above with the Hermit card at the top and the Queen of
Pentacles at the bottom.
You
should take the second deck and divide it into piles as follows:
one pile for all the Major Arcana cards, one for all the Pentacles, one
for all the Cups, one for all the Swords, and one for all the Wands.
Keeping
the cards you have already placed in the Chakra configuration, your new reading
cards will be placed next to these.
The new spread will look like this
Tarot/Chakra
Correspondences
û
- Crown Chakra
û
The
Hermit
û
- Third Eye Chakra
û
The
High Priestess
û
- Throat Chakra
û
The
Magician
û
- Heart Chakra
û
The
Lovers
û
- Solar Plexus Chakra
û
Strength
û Ace of Cups û
û
- Sacral Chakra
û
Ace of Swords û
Empress
û
- Base Chakra
û
Queen
of Pentacles
Beginning
at the Crown Chakra, take the Major Arcana pile, thoroughly shuffle, breathe and
focus on the Chakra and then select one card and place it right next to the
Hermit card. This card shows you the
current theme in your spiritual journey.
Since
the Wands suit is most closely associated with intuition, for the third Eye
Chakra, shuffle the Wands pile and select one card from it and place it next to
the High Priestess. This represents
information about the development of your
intuition.
For the
Throat Chakra, shuffle and choose from the Swords cards since Swords represent
communication skills. Place this
card next to the Magician – it represents your ability
to communicate clearly and effectively.
For the
Heart Chakra, shuffle and choose from the Cups suit.
Cups represent love and emotions and this card shows you the status
of love and relationships in your life.
For the
Solar Plexus Chakra, your personal power, choose from the Majors again.
Place this card next to the Strength card, it shows you how
you manifest your power.
For the
Sacral Chakra, choose again from the Wands suit, since this suit can also
represent creativity, growth and how we animate ourselves.
Place this card next to the Empress, it represents your creative
potential.
For the
Base Chakra, choose from the Pentacles suit since this suit portrays our earthly
connections and our level of mastery over the material realm.
Place this card next to the Queen of Pentacles, it shows you the state
of your financial or health matters.
For the
ability to receive, choose from the Pentacles or Cups suit.
This card shows you how well (or not so well) you are able to receive
from others and from the Universe. Place
it next to the Ace of Cups. For your
ability to give, choose from the Swords or Wands Suit and place it next to the
Ace of Swords. This card gives you
information about your ability to act and to give to others.
This is
your Tarot reading, based on the Chakra system.
If there are cards that are not clear to you, you can always pull another
card from the appropriate pile for further clarification. Also,
if possible, leave this lay-out on your table or altar.
Note any further interpretations and insights that come to you.
Sometimes a Tarot spread can become your own personal “mandala” – a
design that you can meditate on and allow to penetrate deeply into your
consciousness. See what happens.
Tarot and Chakra on the
Body
If you
would like to take this spread to the next level, you can give a Chakra reading
utilizing these cards by actually placing them on the body of a querent (“querent”
is the person who is receiving the reading, also known as the “questioner”
or “seeker”).
Begin by
having your querent lie down on the floor, perhaps placing a nice blanket
underneath him or her. Light a
candle, do some breathing and centering. Begin
by having the querent focus on their connection to the divine, in their Crown
Chakra. Below is a guided meditation
that you can use in this process.
Crown Chakra
Now
I want you to focus your attention to the Crown Chakra which is located at the
top of your head. This is the spot
that connects to God or Spirit, however you conceive it.
I now place the healing light of the Hermit here.
Know that the light of Spirit radiates to you and through you from this
powerful light of God. Feel it now
as it radiates from the top of your head down through your neck, shoulders,
chest, arms, hands, fingers, stomach, pelvis area, legs and feet.
This represents that great love and protection that Spirit has given you.
This light is available to you now and for the rest of your life.
To feel its power or to tap into it, all you need to do is look at your
Hermit card. The
Hermit affirmation: The
light and love of Spirit surrounds me now. I
am safe, protected and healed by the love of God (the love of the Universe).
The World is my teacher and all my life experiences show me the Divinity
within me.
Third Eye Chakra
Now
I want you to focus on your Third Eye, in the center of your forehead.
This is the center of your intuitive ability.
I now place the High Priestess here.
Let her show you how to access your own intuitive abilities, the vast
power within you that allows you to hear the inner voice, the small voice within
that knows all that you need to know. The
High Priestess Affirmation: I
am an intuitive perceptive person. I
trust my intuition and know that I have the answers within me to all that I seek
to know. I am open to the wisdom
within.
Throat Chakra
Now,
please focus on your throat area. This
is your Throat Chakra, and is the place where communication is found.
I place the Magician here and you can feel his ability for clear
communication penetrate your throat. The
Magician’s affirmation for you: I
communicate effectively. I speak
with clarity, power, and wisdom. I
create magic when I use my inherent gifts and talents.
Heart Chakra
Now
please focus on the area around your heart, the Heart Chakra.
This is where you allow love to come in to your life.
It is also where you allow yourself to love others.
Here we place the Lovers card. Allow
the angel of love depicted in this card to come into your heart and know that
you are greatly loved by those angelic, supernatural forces around you. The
Lover’s affirmation for you: I
am a loving and caring woman/man. I
am open and receptive to giving and receiving love.
I am worthy of abundant love. I
forgive myself and others for past errors and judgments.
Solar Plexus Chakra
Now
please focus on your solar plexus area, right between your breast bone.
This is the center of your personal power.
I place the Strength card here as a symbol of your capacity for personal
strength, compassion, and ability to confront adversity with love and
determination. Allow the power of
the lion and the compassion of his master to enfold you in their gifts.
The Strength card’s affirmation for you:
I am a woman/man of character
and strength. Yes, I am strong,
confident and able to express my power with ease.
I claim my personal power now.
Sacra Chakra
Now
please focus on your sacral area. This
represents the seat of your sexual energy and your creative power.
I place the Empress here so that she can show you the abundance of the
universe for accessing your creative and sexual power.
She is the source of fertile and abundant ideas. The
Empress affirmation for you is: Magnificent
creativity resides within me. I am a
vital, sensual, and grounded woman/man. I
deserve abundant pleasure in my life.
Base Chakra
Now
please focus on your feet, the Base Chakra.
This is where you ground yourself and this is your connection to the
material world. Here I place
the Queen of Pentacles, the symbol of your ability to live in the world, to
generate money, health and material success.
Let her be your model. The Queen of Pentacles affirmation for you:
I am balanced and centered. I
use all my resources, including time, money, and my body wisely.
I am also generous, nurturing and supportive to others. All
aspects of my life are filled with prosperity.
Now
I place the Ace of Cups in your left palm. This
expands your ability to receive love, friendship and money.
Yes, you deserve these things and the open cup shows you how to open
yourself to the many gifts that await you now.
The Ace of Cups affirmation:
My heart is open as I willingly
embrace the good that the universe has for me.
And
last, I place the Ace of Wands in your right hand, the hand of action.
This card demonstrates your ability to act in clear and proactive ways,
demonstrating your sense of causation in this world. The
Ace of Wands affirmation for you: I
am responsible for what I cause. I
accomplish things easily and effortlessly and I often enjoy the feeling of
completion and resolution.
Now
allow your querent to lie quietly on the floor in order to embrace the energies
of the cards placed on his/her body and to allow the healing gifts of each Tarot
image to penetrate his/her heart and mind.
After
about five minutes have gone by, you can remove the cards from his/her body and
help him/her to get up. Give him/her
time to express any thoughts or feeling they might have about this process.
This can
be a very evocative experience. When
used alone, the Tarot and Charka systems are each wonderful mechanisms for
exploring the unconscious energetic processes underlying health and healing.
But when used together, the
power and effect of each tool is amplified.
Insights and transformations may occur on many levels. The
“laying-on” of the individual Tarot cards on each Chakra point on the body,
along with the corresponding affirmation, can be profoundly uplifting and
healing. This is because the
vibrational quality of each card, along with its corresponding affirmation,
creates a healing resonance in the body, mind and spirit.
As you allow the energies of the cards placed on your body to be absorbed
into your being, they release the healing power of each Chakra point.
Be prepared for some insights and transformations in each Chakra area.
References:
Mary
K. Greer, Tarot for Yourself,
Newcastle Publishing co, Inc, North Hollywood, CA, 1984.
The
2006 Tarot Reader (with
multiple authors), Llewellyn Publishing, St. Paul, MN, 2006.
[1]
Greer, Mary K., Tarot For Yourself, Newcastle Publishing co, Inc, North
Hollywood, CA, 1984, p. 160.