How I'm Using Tarot Cards for Recovery from Childhood Trauma

At the beginning of 2021, I started a new form of self-care: using tarot cards for recovery. Specifically, I am learning how to read tarot cards to help me heal from the effects of childhood trauma. I don't necessarily believe that tarot cards can tell the future, but I do believe that interpreting tarot cards requires a strong sense of intuition, and that's what I hope to build by using tarot cards for recovery.

Tarot Cards for Recovery: Learning to Trust Myself Again

The main reason I'm using tarot cards for recovery is to help me trust my own intuition. As a highly sensitive person (HSP), I have a strong sense of intuition. I can read a room immediately, and I experience gut feelings about almost everything.

However, because I experienced childhood trauma in the form of consistent invalidation, belittlement, and gaslighting, I struggle to trust my intuition. I used to be told that my feelings were wrong, and as a result, I never know which feelings are actually right. I tend to rely on others to confirm if what I'm experiencing is allowed.

That's why I started reading tarot cards. I saw it as a way to learn to trust my intuition again. I could look at the cards and interpret them as I saw fit without needing anyone else's approval of my interpretation.

What I've Learned from Reading Tarot Cards for Recovery

I've only been reading tarot cards for two months now, but I've learned quite a lot in that time.

Despite my fears that I am irrational, overly emotional, and make every situation about me and my emotions, I am actually skilled at noticing how my emotions affect a card reading and using those emotions to gain a better understanding. Emotions and logic are tools, and both can be useful. This is something I've known intellectually for a long time, but reading tarot cards helps me truly accept that reality.

I've also learned that I don't need help nearly as much as I think I do. When I bought my tarot deck, I thought for sure I would need to look up the meaning of every card all the time. In reality, however, I only look up the meanings of cards occasionally because I do trust myself and my interpretations.

How to Start Reading Tarot Cards for Recovery

If you're interested in reading tarot cards for recovery, it's simple. All you need is a tarot deck and a notebook. Draw a card and journal about what the card means to you. Look at the symbolism in that card for clues as to what it could mean, then use the card as a jumping-off point to explore other topics when you're journaling.

If you have other unique tools for recovery, please share them in the comments.