I recently found an interesting method to develop a spec fiction storyline, tapping into the rich symbolism of dreams. After I read an article by Karen Hollis on using The Tarot to interpret dreams, it quickly occurred to me that this could be a useful technique for fantasy writers. I’ll briefly explain her method and work through an example with one of my own dreams.
The procedure may be done with any Tarot deck that you feel comfortable with, but it’s important that you are familiar with the meaning of the cards. I’ll use my Mystic Dreamer deck, which I have connected to for a couple years. When used for dream interpretation (rather than divination), The Tarot cards are used like prompts for triggering connections that help you understand what you experienced in the dream state.
5 Steps for
Dream Interpretation with The Tarot
- Write down the dream exactly as you remember it. Divide your dream into segments that make sense to you. You might call each segment a ‘scene.’ Be brief and simple. One or two sentences are all you need.
- Shuffle the Tarot deck that you prefer to use to inquire about the dream.
- Pull cards for each segment of the dream as shown in the vignette.
- Read the sentence aloud, and interpret the Tarot card as it relates to the sentence you wrote for each scene or segment.
- Piece together the meanings of the cards to form a story of what your dream may have meant.
My Sample Tarot Dream Interpretation
Vignette
Before my mother passed and was staying at an assisted
living facility, I had many dreams and nightmares that my counselor had me record
and use for therapy. This was one.
In the dream, Mom passed away while I watched. Slowly, her
lifeless body came back to live and started to move, with strength and agility.
She sat on her bed and talked coherently, but not fully in connection to my
presence. It was as though she knew I was there, but couldn’t hear me. Her mood
shifted wildly from happy to violent. Her moodiness scared me and I edged toward
the door. When she became upset, I left and she followed. An alarm started to
go off as I left the locked memory unit of the facility. My mother easily
opened the door, which she was unable to do when alive. Residents and staff were
running everywhere and screaming. When I got outside, an aide called my
mother’s name. I turned to see my mother turn into a wolf, snarling with teeth
bared and looking directly at me. The aide screamed and ran back inside for
help. I was left alone with my mother as a fierce wolf. She edged toward me,
growling. In a panic, I did the only thing I could think of to save myself. While
the wolf crouched to attack, I slowly reached down. I moved with caution to not
upset the wolf’s spirit and rubbed the ears. Grudgingly, the wolf
calmed…between intermittent growls. I was no longer in danger.
My Dream Segments & Tarot
Interpretation
Scene 1. I’m in my mother’s room in
the assisted living facility as she passes away and comes back to life, experiencing
violent mood swings.
Card Drawn: reversed King of Cups
Interpretation- I deny problems or issues that
my mother displays rather than addressing or accepting them and move away.
Card Drawn: Temperance (major arcana)
Interpretation – On the card, a woman sits peacefully in the midst of rapids of a stream. Despite chaos around her, she remains calm and carefully pours water from one chalice to another. In my dream, I remain perfectly balanced and centered, even though residents and staff members are running in all directions and screaming while an alarm sounds.
Scene 3. Outside of the assisted living facility, my mother transforms into a snarling wolf, ready to attack me.
Card Drawn: Tarot Card – reversed King of Wands
Interpretation – I view my mother’s illness with dementia as a demanding and impatient tyrant, who is prone to emotional upheaval, with periods of pouting and jealousy as well as serious anger issues.
Card Drawn: Tarot Card – Ten of Swords
Interpretation – On this card, a woman crouches on a stony beach, ten swords stabbed into her back all along her spine. She looks like she has been trying to get up or just unwilling to fall all the way to the ground. Sunlight shines through the clouds over a still and peaceful ocean, symbolizing calmness of emotions that seems at odds with the destruction on the beach. This card says, in no uncertain terms that, finally, it’s over. In my dream, I have fought through my frustrations in dealing with my mother’s ravaging illness and merely accept her life as it is, finally knowing that I cannot change her situation.
Analysis of the storyline
Although I’ve worked with the tarot deck I used (Mystic Dreamer) with uncanny insight for a couple years, I’m always amazed at the connections the cards draw for me. I was actually considering turning this dream into a paranormal short story, but I struggled with the internal conflict. After this tarot exercise it’s now clear to me!
Obviously, this method is useful to work through personal issues, which my dream was filled to the brim with. On that note, I was further impressed how the tarot cards added the exact meanings my counselor posed when I worked with her.
I know many writers work from dreams and keep a bedside notebook just for that purpose since dreams are easily forgotten once you’re fully awake. This method of dream interpretation seems like a fantastic way to connect the dots of the dream action to create a compelling emotional storyline.
Do you get writing ideas from your dreams? Do you ever attempt to interpret your dreams?
References:
Tarot by Arwen I took an extended workshop with her about helping writers read the tarot. I highly recommend her courses.
Karen Hollis http://readingsbykaren.com
Catharine Chapman – Decoding Your Dreams with Tarot
DeterminingDream Meaning with Tarot
Tarot & Dream Interpretation (Special Topics in Tarot) by Julie Gillentine
Cross-posted at http://speculativesalon.blogspot,com
Cross-posted at http://speculativesalon.blogspot,com
4 comments:
That's awesome, Marsha! My wife and I do a Tarot reading almost every morning or whenever we have a specific question to explore. I find Tarot a great way to delve into my true feelings about the question at hand.
I almost never remember my dreams, and when I do they make no sense, so they play virtually no role in my writing. However, the technique you describe here sounds fascinating.
Hi Daniel! I was surprised how well the cards added meaning to supply the internal conflict. I'll definitely use this method again. Thanks for stopping by.
I really enjoyed this. And I am going to try it. Sometimes I do know what my dreams mean. I had a dream more like a nightmare of driving off a really high bridge. I interpated it to mean I was going no where fast it related to my job. Thanks again for writing this.
Hi Mary! Some dreams are easier to understand while some seem like a set of disconnected images like my example. The latter type usually hits me as a series of very vivid images without connections. This technique helps build the storyline around the pictures.
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