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Kerykeion

Keeping a Tarot Journal #

Why Journal? #

A tarot journal is the single most effective tool for deepening your practice. It:

  • Creates a record of readings you can return to
  • Reveals patterns in cards, themes, and your life
  • Develops your interpretation skills through reflection
  • Tracks your growth as a reader over time
  • Deepens relationship with specific cards

Without a journal, readings pass like dreams—vivid in the moment, forgotten by next week. With a journal, they become a map of your journey.

What to Record #

For Each Reading #

The Basics:

  • Date and time
  • Question or topic
  • Cards drawn (including positions and reversals)
  • Spread used

Your Interpretation:

  • What each card meant in its position
  • Overall message of the reading
  • Key insights or “aha” moments

Context:

  • What was happening in your life
  • Your mood or state when reading
  • Any significant current events

Optional Additions #

  • A sketch or photo of the spread
  • The deck used (if you have multiple)
  • Moon phase or astrological weather
  • Time spent on the reading

Journaling Methods #

Physical Notebook #

Pros:

  • Tactile, connected to the ritual of reading
  • Easy to sketch spreads
  • No digital distractions
  • More private

Cons:

  • Harder to search
  • Can be lost
  • Not easily organized

Digital Document #

Pros:

  • Searchable
  • Easy to organize and tag
  • Can include photos
  • Backed up to cloud

Cons:

  • Less ritual feeling
  • Screen time
  • Potential privacy concerns

Hybrid Approach #

Use a physical notebook for initial recording during readings, then transfer key insights to a digital document for searchability.

Reflection Techniques #

Immediate Reflection #

Right after the reading:

  • What’s my first impression?
  • What card speaks loudest?
  • What confuses me?
  • What do I resist hearing?

Next-Day Reflection #

Return to the reading the next day:

  • Does anything look different now?
  • Have any cards “activated” in my life?
  • What did I miss initially?

Periodic Review #

Weekly or monthly:

  • What cards appeared most often?
  • What themes recurred?
  • What predictions or insights proved accurate?
  • Where was I wrong, and why?

Tracking Patterns #

Card Frequency #

Note which cards appear repeatedly:

  • Your “stalker” cards—cards that follow you—have special messages
  • Absent cards may indicate avoided areas
  • Suit dominance reveals elemental patterns in your life

Thematic Patterns #

Track recurring themes:

  • Same issues appearing in different readings
  • Same relationships coming up repeatedly
  • Cycles of energy (expansion/contraction, action/rest)

Accuracy Tracking #

For readings about future situations:

  • Note your prediction or expectation
  • Return later to assess accuracy
  • Learn from both hits and misses

Card Study Pages #

Create dedicated pages for individual cards:

Card Name: [Traditional meaning]

Personal Associations:

  • What does this card mean to you specifically?
  • Personal experiences where this card appeared

Imagery Notes:

  • What do you notice in the artwork?
  • Symbolism that speaks to you

Readings Where It Appeared:

  • Date, context, position, meaning in that reading

Over time, these pages become a personal tarot dictionary.

Sample Journal Entry #

Date: February 2, 2026
Question: What do I need to know about my creative project?
Spread: Three Card (Past-Present-Future)

Cards:

  • Past: Eight of Pentacles
  • Present: The Fool
  • Future: Three of Wands

Interpretation:

  • Past (Eight of Pentacles): I’ve put in the work. The foundation of skill and dedication is laid.
  • Present (The Fool): I’m at a leap point. Time to take the risk, trust the process, begin the adventure.
  • Future (Three of Wands): If I leap, expansion follows. I’ll be looking out at wider horizons.

Overall Message: The preparation phase is complete. Now is the moment to take the risk. The reward is expansion and wider reach.

Personal Notes: This resonates—I’ve been hesitating to share my work publicly. The cards are saying the skill work is done; now it’s about courage.

One week later: I did share my work. Response was positive. The Three of Wands energy is real—I’m now connected to opportunities I couldn’t see before. The Fool leap was worth it.

Common Journaling Practices #

Daily Card #

Draw one card each morning. At day’s end, note how it manifested.

Weekly Review #

Each week, note the week’s cards, themes, and lessons.

Monthly Summary #

Tally card appearances, dominant suits, major themes, and growth observations.

Annual Reading Journal #

Keep an annual “Year Ahead” reading in a special place; return to it monthly.

Tips for Consistency #

  • Make it easy: Keep journal where you read
  • Make it brief: Even quick notes are valuable
  • Make it routine: Attach journaling to your reading ritual
  • Be forgiving: Gaps are okay; just begin again

What Journaling Reveals #

With consistent journaling, you’ll discover:

  • Your signature cards: Cards that appear for you regularly
  • Your blind spots: What you tend to miss or avoid
  • Your growth: How your interpretations have deepened
  • Your life patterns: Themes that weave through time
  • The cards’ reliability: Which interpretations prove accurate

A tarot journal is a mirror reflecting your practice back to you. Start where you are, with whatever format works. The value isn’t in perfection but in showing up, recording, and returning to what you’ve recorded.

The journal is a conversation with yourself across time. Begin it.