This blog, 78 Magickal Tools, is about using tarot in ritual and magick. I believe that the only limits on what tarot can help us do are the limits we impose ourselves.

 In my posts I like to give ideas of ways to use the cards with the hope that you, the reader, will be inspired to discover and create even more ways to incorporate the cards into your spiritual practice.

The ritual ideas I am going to share with you will work best if you adapt them to your own traditions and beliefs to create a full ritual. Rather than using my ideas as a script, use them as an example and inspiration to help you create a meaningful and powerful Samhain ritual with tarot.

Invocations

For this ritual you may use multiple decks. One deck can be used on the altar to invoke and honor the elements, deities and ancestors. Another full deck will be used for the meditative journey.  You may have each participant use their own deck for the divination if you prefer.

Remember there are tarot decks available that are specifically themed in ways that might be helpful, such as Goddess Tarot or Ghosts and Spirits Tarot.

You may use the four Aces to represent the Four Elements and to invoke new energies into the New Year. You may use the four Kings to represent the Four Elements and to honor the year that has past.

You may place cards on the altar to invoke specific deities and to honor and invoke loved ones in spirit. For instance, the Empress would honor and invoke a mother or grandmother, or a Mother Goddess. The Ten of Pentacles traditionally honors all family ancestors. From the Court you can choose cards to represent your loved ones in spirit.

If you are using more than one deck you may leave those cards of invocation on the altar. If you are using only one deck you can place them back into the deck after you finish your invocations.

The Journey

This will be a meditative journey into the land beyond the veil, to a meeting place where you will be guided by your loved ones in spirit. A priest, priestess or leader will begin the meditation with breathing, grounding and raising energy. Once the group is ready the journey will begin.

Each part of the journey is guided by a particular tarot energy. As the leader begins each part of the journey, s/he will take the card, hold it high and then pass it around the circle. As the card makes its way around the circle its specific energy will be strengthened within the circle.

(Let the leader speak words such as these to guide the journey.)

The Fool

Here we are, ready to begin our journey. None know what lies ahead. Tonight we will journey to a place where few living people ever venture. Tonight we will reunite with our ancestors. Let us begin our journey without fear. Let us move boldly forward, and celebrate our ability so to do.

(When the Fool returns to the leader, the leader will hold the next card high, and then pass at around in the same fashion, speaking words such as these.)

The High Priestess

The High Priestess guides us to look within, to find the sacred within ourselves. This is a journey a foreign land that is only accessible when we start by journeying within. As you breathe, let the High Priestess guide you into the depths of your own subconscious to the place where your dreams, hidden memories and psychic knowledge reside. It is here you find your immortal self, that part of you that is able to make this journey.

The High Priestess gives you one pomegranate seed – the fruit of the land of the dead. This will allow you to safely journey to this hidden realm and back again.

(You may pass out actual pomegranate seeds or simply visual them, as you prefer.)

Death

Now it is time to cross into the next world. Death comes and extends his hand to you. Are you able to make this transition? Is your need to connect with your loved ones great enough that you are willing to make this journey? If so, take his hand and walk with him now.

The Moon

Now we come to the place of shadows. Who is here to meet you? Take a moment in silence to explore what is in this place for you.

(When the Moon is returned to the leader, let the group have a few moments in meditation.)

The Divination

Each person may receive a message from their ancestors during the meditation. They may also receive a message in divination. Let each person use their own deck, or pass around a whole deck letting each person draw a card.

When each person receives the deck they may draw a card and spend some time with the image. The image may speak to them through the traditional meaning of the card, through the inspiration of the image or simply by opening the mind and heart to communication from spirit.

The leader may encourage contemplative conversation and sharing within the circle about the cards that have been drawn, the messages that have been received and the experiences with the meditation.

 In ritual, tarot is a tool of invocation, meditation, divination and spiritual communication. What better time to let tarot assist us in ritual than Samhain?

 

May the blessing of the harvest, the opportunities of the New Year and the wisdom of the ancestors be yours!

 

 Christiana