Quarantine: the new normal that no one saw coming. Each day there are new reports of COVID-19 spreading, economic collapse, and civil unrest. This is an immensely stressful time to be living through. It’s tough when there are no quick solutions to these problems and great uncertainty about what life will look like after the pandemic.
With all the chaos in the world, you can forget to ground yourself in the present moment. It is easy to get lost in the constant stream of bad news, people’s opinions posted on social media, and your own concerns about what is happening.
If you are struggling with anxiety, isolation, and fear during this time, embracing the wisdom of the Tarot can help you guide you through. Read on to learn more about how you can use the Tarot to cope with life in quarantine, and to cope with quarantine anxiety.
The Journey of the Major Arcana
The Major Arcana of the Tarot tells a story of spiritual evolution for humanity from division to wholeness. The 22 cards that comprise the Major Arcana all hold great wisdom in themselves, but when they are viewed in sequence, there is a unified tale of how humanity evolves. This wisdom portrayed in the Major Arcana cards universal and comes from the intuitive field of the subconscious. The imagery on the cards is meant to activate inner knowing within you so that you can successfully navigate the stages of transformation.
You might be anywhere on their journey ranging from the Fool (0) to the World (22). It certainly feels like the world is going through a Tower moment of great uncertainty and structures tumbling. The quarantine can become a wonderful time to truly delve into the mysteries of the Major Arcana on a deeper level. The timeless knowledge of these 22 cards can be your ultimate guide to successfully navigating these turbulent times so that you emerge renewed, assured, and thriving.
Calling on the Elements of the Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana also can offer you much insight during the time of quarantine. The Minor Arcana, comprised of 56 cards, is divided into 4 suits: Wands, Swords, Cups, and Pentacles. The 4 suits of the Tarot represent the 4 elements in the natural world: fire, air, water, and earth. To maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle, the Minor Arcana in the Tarot reminds you that it is important to connect with these elements on a daily basis.
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9 of Swords
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4 of Swords: Dealing with Hurt
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Ace of Cups: Discovering Joy Within Self
Wands (Fire): The wand cards in the Tarot symbolize passion, courage, and creative energy. Activities that get you moving and motivated will help you to connect with fire – do what makes you feel lit up from the inside. Physically, you can bring fire into your life by dancing, exercising, burning incense, and cooking.
Swords (Air): The sword cards in the Tarot symbolize intellect, curiosity, and communication. Activities that are mentally stimulating will help to connect with air, such as puzzles, games, and reading. Physically, you can bring air into your life by opening windows to freshen up the house, going for a walk around your neighborhood, and doing calming breathing exercises.
Cups (Water): The water cards in the Tarot symbolize intuition, emotions, and cleansing. Activities that are soothing and healing will help you to connect with water, such as creating a misting spray to rejuvenate your space, releasing your emotions therapeutically, and connecting with loved ones. Physically, you can bring water into your life by taking a bath, watering your plants, and spending time near a body of water.
Pentacles (Earth): The earth cards in the Tarot symbolize material resources, the body, and supportive energy. Activities that are nurturing and grounding will help you to connect with the earth, such as learning about crystals, doing home renovations, shopping for necessities, cooking, and managing financial affairs. Physically, you can bring the earth into your life through gardening, walking barefoot outside, and caring for your body (massages, facial masks, moisturizing lotions).
Using Tarot to Guide You Through Quarantine Anxiety
While there are many tarot spreads to predict the future or decode the past, during quarantine it is best to use the tarot to help you remain in the present moment. The future hangs in limbo for everyone and the yearning for assurance can lead your mind obsessing about possible outcomes. It might be tempting to search for answers about the many “what ifs,” finding strength and resilience in the now is what’s most important.
Keeping your questions focused on how you can make the best out of the present situation will open you up to new avenues of healing during this unique time. Making it through quarantine is a day-by-day process. It’s best to not plan too far in advance and rather focus on steps you can take in the short-term to bring happiness, inner peace, and fulfillment into your life. Now that you know how the Major and Minor Arcana can be useful, you can practice these spreads.
1: Daily Major/Minor Pair:
Go through your Tarot deck and divide the cards into Major and Minor piles. Every morning in quarantine, pull one Major tarot card and one Minor Tarot card. The major arcana card gives insight into your spiritual lesson for the day. The minor arcana card indicates which element you can connect with to understand the wisdom the major arcana card is teaching you.
2: Weekly Three-Card Spread:
Create a spread to see what is most important for you to focus on for the week. Separate the Major and Minor arcana into two different piles. Shuffle both piles. Pick one Major arcana card and place it in the center. This represents your lesson for the week. Pull two Minor cards and place one on the left and one of the right. The card on the left signifies what challenges you will have to overcome this week. The card on the right signifies what you can do in order to stay present and focused. Remember to focus on the elemental quality of the Minor cards, in addition to their traditional meaning.
Guest Author Bio:
Mary Cole is an astrologer and tarot reader with over twenty years of experience. She learned how to read tarot from her mother and has used the guidance divined from the Arcana ever since. Mary performs in-person readings and has developed a free online tarot reading platform. She believes tarot can illuminate paths that other schools of thought cannot. You can connect with Mary via her website.
