Writing With Tarot Cards

Beginning, Middle, and End

A three-card spread can be used to decide your books beginning, middle, and end. Although I had already begun writing The Tale Teller, I wished to give this spread a go, in search for extra clarity and inspiration.

Beginning

Eight of Pentacles - 

Upright: Apprenticeship, repetitive tasks, mastery, skill development

The card from the Shadowscapes deck displays a green background, with purple in the top right corner. It reminds me of a forest or woodland, with the purple representing a night sky beyond the fading light nestled between the trees. The only action is the single spider working on his web. It is a quiet peaceful scene, but the concealed figures within the bark of the tree seem almost like a foreshadowing for the unknown life within The Tale Teller. 

At the beginning of my book, this peaceful scene is present, though the changes are beginning to take place, with a foreshadowing of much more to come. I feel the illustrations of this card fits the concept already planned for the early chapters, and inspires me to continue with this idea.

As events unfold in the beginning of the story, our main character will use the skills suggested. He will use his stories to distract himself, and gain what little money and food he can. He lives a rather repetitive life, but a need to master his finer skills will come as challenges present themselves and he longs to stay true to his craft. 

Middle

Ten of Cups

 Upright: Divine love, blissful relationships, harmony, alignment  

This card shows two lovers, wrapped together in an embrace. The sun shines upon them, and the ocean depths seem to hold no danger or fear. They are in harmony with the fish surrounding them. 

I cannot help but think of my main character's love interest of sorts, and the differences I'd like for them to place aside by the middle of the book. I'd like a peacefulness to be present, forgiveness, and an understanding alignment of sorts. I didn't plan for the divine love, or blissful relationships this card represents, or to ever see my rather straight-faced private main character tangled with this young woman how the characters are pictured here. 

It is a concept that fills me with caution, but one I shall think over and consider. I feel such qualities, in a more private emotional sense, would be fitting for all characters involved in my book. Though, as I'm a believer that a character will write their own story, I shan't be surprised if such a scene is created. 

The family life and home sometimes perceived with this card again fit with my vision. The home of his 'love interest' is one my main character had always felt at home in. By the middle of the book, I wish for him to know that her home is still the warm comforting space from his memories, and that he is always welcome there.

End

Six of Wands

  Upright: Success, public recognition, progress, self-confidence. 

Here we see a man stood atop a grey beast, curled into a fetal position in defeat. The man stands with his arm raised, holding a crown of leaves in one hand, and a weapon-like staff in the other. He stands proud, victorious, and filled with a pride and self-confidence. Around him is a golden mist, with the branches of dead twisted trees, which are beginning to show the first signs of life. 

I don't wish to give away too many spoilers -though by now I feel that this book is to be unavoidably filled with them- but through the illustrations of this card, I immediately am reminded of the remote west of my fantasy land. 

Perhaps this card tells of a triumph over the dead dust-land of the west, as a new life is breathed into it, shown through the leaves of the crown, and the leaves sprouting from the tree behind the man.  Although my main character does not seem the sort to seek public recognition, I feel he would be unable to avoid it, if successfully able to bring this new growth and creation to this area of the country.

In researching the meaning behind this card, I learnt that within the Rider-Waite deck, this card pictures a man riding a white horse, which signifies strength, and "the successful progression of an adventure." Again, this corresponds with my plans for the later chapters in the book.

Conclusion 

I can't help but be surprised at the alignment of my own vision and that of the cards. Although differences can be found, mainly within the 2nd card, I do not find it to be ill-fitting to the story, or confusing as to how the meanings could be implemented. 

I'm looking forward to continuing with, and completing The Tale Teller. I am curious as to how the novel will span out, and if these cards foretell the future of how the story shall be.