Tarot, the Shadow and the power of the Metaphor

The subconscious layer is foreign in function and in content, it is rarely obvious, yet its influence is great so much so that old memories, past feelings and stored fears can still play an active yet hidden part in a person’s day to day life. The key to understanding or attempting to look are these obscure facets of our personality is taking moments to pause, slow down and ask oneself a series of questions, in essence you're using your conscious mind and intellect to draw out information from deep within to get a chance to observe more closely the inner workings of one’s mind. This awareness creates in itself a small change and with intention and efforts to dislodge unnecessary “content”, restructure old ideas or completely replace old ones with more helpful and uplifting ones, real impactful change then can occur from the inside out. This can become a practice, one that serves the purpose of internal wellbeing and overall awareness of the self.

The shadow being the umbrella term for the darkest and deepest pits of our psyche is also synonymous with the everyday behind the scenes wiring and mechanics. From there every occurrence we experience gets absorbed into its domain, just as we are constantly living and submissive to fleeting moods and shifting activities and attitudes, our lives change, our interactions surprise us, the shadow is also in a way a never-ending part of us, constantly in motion and surfacing (usually its rear end) at interesting moments. It’s a work always in progress, always has something to say, to show or to rebuke. The shadow typically lays dormant away from the light of consciousness and therefore acknowledgment, the shadow also has the capability to suppress and restrict one’s potential, one’s capacity for love and psychological growth. Working in tandem with the shadow can mean the difference between living in spaces that inspire fear and woe versus feeling safe and secured within oneself and with one’s chosen decisions. There is nothing to fear when looking inwardly to find answers about who you are and ask why, how, what or when.

Actively meditating (not exactly literally) on what we’re feeling or trying to understand about ourselves relative to a specific situation is all that is required other than patience and consistency to unlock mysterious parts of oneself and to begin the unwinding process. This can look in a myriad of ways, for example journaling, seeing and speaking to a therapist, talking to oneself, or even using tarot to enter the realm of the subconscious through imagery and archetypes (alongside journaling, tarot is part of my practice to stay in touch with my shadow from time to time). Even when seeking to connect with a therapist or currently having sessions with one, asking yourself questions even just to ponder can have a beneficial effect for the individual, taking an active role in your process that feels good and gradual puts you at the helm of your internal world. This practice is called a practice because just like any other skill it requires effort and in this case trust, accuracy and personal insights that come from observance and the discipline to enact/accept these insights.

Tarot being the universal all-encompassing structure and sacred tool that it is fits perfectly in between all the cracks and crevices of the human experience and nature. It can be used as a bridge to close the gap between the external and internal worlds, the seen and unseen parts. Its format lays down the perfect foundation to dissect personal experiences through the use of traditional meanings and personal intuitive insights. There are 78 cards that reflect common human interactions, occurrences and archetypes and layered upon layers of deeper symbolism all contained within each and every card. It’s a useful tool for storytelling and capturing the energetic essence of the “story” being told through the cards. It’s all a giant metaphor that gives way to the heart of the matter.

Tarot can be used in any and every way an individual pleases to, I however do believe intention is important when using tarot to access the shadow, it’s such a personal and meaningful way of connecting with oneself and using art, stories and the power of the metaphor to create a clearer picture and to imagine possibilities. This is an art and a skill and for those interested in tarot and in shadow work it’s worth a try and the investment of learning and studying it, alternatively getting a reading from someone who values introspection and wellbeing can also provide insights into the shadow self and conscious self. Tarot makes a fantastic companion when traversing through the shadowy landscapes of the psyche and effortlessly allows one to plunge into the depths and soul of a story, of an emotion, of a person or of a fear, it leads to acknowledgement and illumination, bringing light to darkness. Tarot targets the shadow layer of energetic unconscious material.

In due time I will be offering tarot readings for clients, specifically catered for shadow work and self-improvement, I’m working behind the scenes to create a format that resonates and aligns with my intentions and works well with clients, much love Jorge!