Tag: mindfulness

Audio: Practicing Mindfulness with the Tarot

practicing mindfulness with the tarotMindfulness has become quite a buzzword in recent years.

The term was first coined by Jon Kabat-Zinn and describes the process of “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally.”

It’s not about emptying your mind or suppressing thoughts; it’s about becoming a detached observer, simply being aware of physical sensations and how your mind wanders.

The purpose of practicing mindfulness is to reduce stress, over-thinking and improve overall wellbeing.

Research has shown that regular practice of mindfulness actually works.

If you are learning and working with the Tarot, you are also practicing mindfulness, perhaps without realising.

Practicing mindfulness with the Tarot is a powerful combination to boost your mental and spiritual wellbeing, and with regular practice can heal and transform your life.

A simple one-card draw can create a mindful moment of reflection and contemplation.

But you can also combine the one-card draw with a mindfulness meditation.

This is an easy way to learn mindfulness and include it in your daily spiritual practice.

Beginner’s Tarot Mindfulness Meditation

  1. Take a seat in a quiet place and make yourself comfortable.
  2. Ground yourself by taking a deep breath (slowly inhale and exhale) and repeat until you feel calm and focused.
  3. Draw or choose a card from your tarot deck. Observe the image without judgement for a few minutes. Don’t think about its possible meanings. Just explore its colours, shapes, symbols.
  4. Remain still and focus your sensations. Close your eyes and observe how your clothes feel on your skin and where you feel pressure on your body from where you sit.
  5. Spend a few minutes on what you can hear. This could be your breath, a clock ticking, music somewhere in the backround, traffic noise etc.
  6. Reflect on what you have just experienced. You have focused on an object (tarot card), sensations and sounds, which has given you a break from your preoccupations. Perhaps you have learned something new about the tarot image you just have observed.
  7. How do you feel? Over time, this mindfulness meditation can be a nourishing way to refresh and clear your mind.

As you can see, this is an easy introduction to practicing mindfulness with the Tarot and should not take longer than ten minutes.

Listen to this meditation on Soundcloud:

If you find yourself stressed, overwhelmed or over-thinking, then take a mindful moment with your tarot deck, sit back, relax and connect with the cards at the same time.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

The Magic of Doing Nothing

the magic of doing nothingMany people live busy lives full of errands, commitments and self-imposed recreational activities such as sports, social events and travelling.

Perhaps they want to give the impression how fun and interesting their lives are, and they believe that an admission of doing nothing could damage their reputation.

I’m doing nothing sounds a bit like I’m being lazy.

Doing nothing makes some people feel guilty, as doing nothing is a bit of a taboo in our society.

If you do nothing, you’re a lazy waste of space.

But of course, there is nothing wrong with doing nothing.

Doing nothing means you don’t have any commitments.

You don’t need to rush anywhere.

You have time for yourself, and can do what you like.

And these are the times when magic happens.

Suddenly you aren’t busy, which can make you feel a bit lost.

Good.

Feel lost and savour that moment. Make yourself comfy on the sofa and put your feet up. Close your eyes and relax.

Listen to the silence, or listen to the radio.

Look out of the window with your cat.

Make yourself a cup of your favourite beverage and savour it in peace without any pressure of having to dash off soon.

See how your plants grow in your house or in your garden. Smell the flowers.

There is absolutely nothing you should do. The time for commitments and errands and work will come back again later.

But not now. Enjoy the moment. It will give you strength when you remember it later with fondness.

Suddenly you decide to look through your book collection or some old photos.

You may just decide to have a bath.

Or light some candles on a gloomy, rainy day.

Maybe you are thinking of leaving the house for a walk. Or you might just stay in.

Meditate.

Write in your journal. Doodle.

You see, even though you think you are doing nothing, you are actually doing something.

In those moments when you surrender to the bliss of nothingness, you are resetting your brain. Unconsciously, you are looking for inspiration.

Cosmic Journaling Oracle Cards
Cosmic Journaling Oracle

Rather than letting the outside world with all its activities influence your thinking, you are taking back control.

Your brain has to adjust to standing on its own two feet, using imagination and jumpstarting your creativity. You begin to generate ideas, like you want to tidy up your messy desk, or you want to bake a cake.

These ideas spark your passion and enthusiasm.

Once you have decluttered your desk, it looks inviting. So you sit down and start writing or crafting or whatever you normally do at your desk.

Doing nothing can ccontribute towards wellbeing and growth. It relieves tension.

Give yourself permission to do nothing.

You will feel so much better afterwards. Don’t feel guilty. You will have done more good by doing nothing than you think.

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

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