A Ramble About “Practice” (on TarotTube)

[@ladysmall9853]

I have ADHD. There are a LOT of, "whelp, THAT didn't work, " type things I'm my life.

[@thrivingselfcarerenee]

Same for me too!

[@restingwitchfacetarot605]

AuDHD here and same. Even with just witchcraft in general, not just tarot

[@pyenygren2299]

Oh the joy and frustration of ADHD. 😅 😢

[@Blu-skies]

Weird coincidence. Last night I was thinking about my practice - how my time diving deep into each of my decks has diminished a lot. I have so many new decks I only looked through a couple of times. So I decided to let go of having to read and study one deck before moving on to the next. Decided to create a new book, lay out all the Tarot decks I wanted to explore this spring on a table and do this: study the Fool from each deck, read the associated guidebooks, and write notes/thoughts in one creative journal labeled "Spring 2023 - Faeries". And then I'll move on to the next card. I'd color-code for each deck, add a table of contents, and so on. This way, I get to explore multiple decks in the same category. By the end of Spring, hopefully, I'll complete this journal and move on to other group of decks. Thank you for sharing. Your journals are creative and beautiful.

[@shiruGT]

love the idea! i wanted to do something along those lines and i might take inspiration from you❤

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

That such a fantastic idea! I love that you are making your practice work for you in a way that’s fun for you. I think that’s the goal. 🥰

[@khan7459]

I love this idea! I don't have so many decks that this would be "necessary", but I have a couple I don't use that often, because I more and more tend to grab a few favourite decks. I think this could be the perfect project to go through all my "decks that feel neglected" in 1 run, and see which are redundant, which stand out, or which fall flat in comparison.

[@clareozcbear2640]

I sometimes think, am I lazy, am I unmotivated or just disorganised. I realised this year that sometimes my brain just works the way it works and thats ok. We all have our weird little ways and its great to be inspired and try new things. But its also ok to fail or fall by the wayside or give up or intentionally release whats not working. We are sometimes just too hard on ourselves

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

That we are! I am always working on giving myself permission to let go of the things that aren’t working for me, in whatever way that happens. I figure if I lose interest in something, that’s the universes way of saying, it’s not time for that lol. 🥰

[@clareozcbear2640]

@@DawnMichelleTarot yes exactly! I saw a similar sort of video from Kelly Bear giving ourselves permission to change what we previously thought we were ready for and let that happen another time or not at all, just by realising how we work (or how our crazy brains work 😂) 😘

[@whalesong813]

This was so interesting and beneficial. My practice (like many) is ever evolving. I've never had a problem letting go of a process that wasn't working for me. Though to be fair, not finishing books is hard for me, lol. At the moment I'm back into I-Ching, Dice divination and bibliomancy. I've drifted back to creating spreads again and experimenting with questions to ask. I know myself and I'll drift back to tarot, eventually. My Dad was a muscian, I never remember him saying "I'm going to practice now, it was always I'm going to play". In a way that is what I do, try to have fun, learn, and grow- I play.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I love that! What a wonderful perspective your Dad has! I have trouble not finish books too (or movies, movies as the worst for me! I’ll watch the worst movie in the world all the way to the end just to finish it!) But I’ve learned to let go of the things that aren’t working. I like to think of it as the universe telling me, not now. 🥰

[@whalesong813]

@@DawnMichelleTarot I'm that way with movies too.

[@Lisa_Papez]

I love my ever evolving, changing, transforming practices!! They are the core foundation of the spiritual and personal development work that I do. Loved hearing your expanded check-in on your practices!! :)

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I think it’s so cool to be able to let things change and evolve. What’s that saying about if your not moving you’re just standing still? And how boring would that be! 😆

[@katrina8393]

Another excellent video. Thank you so much! As an Aries, I was once told that I enjoy starting things and find it very difficult to finish things. So true! I’m really working on getting some projects wrapped up and this is inspiring for me (and so many others I’m sure).

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I have that issue too. I love to start new things, not always great on the follow up. It’s ok, keeps life interesting. 💚

[@Christa.Chronicles]

LOVED this video!! Such a great idea to showcase the things that aren’t working or are just waiting for later!😁

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

We all have them, we just never talk about them. Being human should be the new normal! 😆💚

[@FloraSprout]

Amazing video, such important things to talk about. You're right that what we see on the internet isn't always the full picture. That isn't even a bad thing, authenticity is great but not at the price of your privacy or balance/happiness. It's easy to get caught up in a "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality when consuming content. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Oh for sure. It’s definitely important to maintain boundaries online with what we share as well as remembering that we’re never seeing the whole story. Such a good point! 🥰

[@M155ABYSS]

This is great. It’s good to remember that we aren’t being graded. Your tarot practice (any personal growth practice really) should be for you. If it’s a hassle or a chore, what’s the point? Not that a discipline should always be easy, but there should be a larger goal in focus. At least that’s how I approach it.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Yep, totally agree! We are the only ones that set any sort of expectations for ourselves. 💚

[@GMarieWrites]

Thanks Dawn - you voice a lot of what I would say also. My own practices are very limited as I try not to overcommit, and yet as a creative person myself I need some things to chew on. I have a number of tarot projects on hold for later. Lots of food for thought.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you enjoyed it. It’s hard to sometimes let things go when you want to do all the things, but it’s an important part of the process for sure. 🥰

[@joycjean845]

Your set-up is beautiful. The cloth, the books, even the nail polish.

[@nereol9165]

Thanks for sharing this. The idea of "practice" has to do with a mastery or completion is funny to me. To me it's the opposite. Praticing tarot and witchcraft and being a witch in gereral to me is about learning and growing and studying. And that never ends. Sure, we can grow in certain parts of our practice, I can study a specific tarot deck or work with a specific deity. But there are always more layers to it, as soon as we learn something else. (Like learning astrology, decans, i ching, symbolismn of plants and animals and so on and layering it on top of tarot and seeing a card, the symbolisimn in a different way after that.) I struggle with my tarot/witchy practice lately and I think it kinda is cause I wanna do it along with a journal. And if I don't have time to journal I just won't do it at all. I think first of all, I need a jorunal that actually is just a bullet journal, just taking notes, giving myself permission that not everything has to be pretty. And then I need to do more stuff just to do it - not to record it. If that makes sense. As much as I love to journal, to make junk journals, to write with my hands - I don't need that all the time. And it's good to see someone else with so many unfinished journals and projects :D I have so much journals, not just for tarot/witchy related stuff, that are unfinished. That is fine, I know that. Still good to see it in this video. :D And for what it's worth - I'd like to see how you actually make a reading, notes and put it in your journal later. :)

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am the Queen of Unfinished Projects! 😆 It sounds like a bullet journal might be just what you need right now. That’s always my fall back method. When I get too into the weeds with things, I’ll generally strip it away and go back to very basic bullet journaling, no frills, just doing the work. I’d be curious to know if you try it, how it works for you! And yes, there’s no end-game or winning at practice hehe. 💚

[@thrivingselfcarerenee]

You could always take some pics or a quick video to document what you're doing for yourself and then journal it later when you have time.

[@cosmic.creeper]

I love this mishmash videos of what’s going on, what’s been left and future plans. It would be lovely to do all the things, but as you say, entirely impossible lol. 🥰🖤

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Maybe if I had a few more hours in the day, or just became a complete hermit and never left my office lol. But then that wouldn’t make for a very fulfilling life either. Ah, the struggle is real. 😁

[@isabel-bluesapphire]

This was a really useful video. I am just like you with my poor brain not being able to focus on all the things I want to do or that I've started. I wanted to learn about playing cards too - bought a book, new deck, notebook and got no further. Want to learn Lenormand....guess what....unread book, journal and deck sitting waiting. Thanks for sharing your processes and experiences xx

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I can totally relate to that! Maybe you’ll eventually get back around to it. That’s usually how it works for me. I’ll cycle eventually lol.

[@MarleneTheresa]

This is so helpful. I also feel like becoming aware of these things helps with our own self awareness. Certainly does for me. ❤

[@MysticEmzie]

I really appreciate this video. I have been giving myself a hard time lately as I feel I haven't done enough in regard to my practice. Made me remember that I need to stop taking things so seriously, and if some things dont work out, then that's okay.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

For sure, I find it’s best when I just relax and let it flow naturally. 💚

[@thrivingselfcarerenee]

This was such a great video! It can be hard to not feel guilt or shame when stopping doing something that's no longer working. Loved everything in this video. 💖

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Thank you so much, I am so glad you enjoyed it. 💚

[@shiruGT]

i started journaling this year and found i prefer to digital journaling. so i have a bunch of journals and stuff lying around not getting used. it makes me sad but it is what it is. maybe in the future i have something else i can do with them. or maybe when my girl is older i can gift her all the things and she can try it out. i really appreciate these kind of videos. thank you❤

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I so want to be a digital journaler but I get too caught up in the design aspect of it. It’s such a great medium though because it’s so flexible. 🥰

[@paperstorycraft]

Thank you so much for this. I have so many on hold projects. I’m trying to figure out if I need or want to continue those projects. And absolutely yes to chicken scratch. I have a school notebook I carry around just to write everything in. The cost is low, there’s no pressure and if I get messy it’s okay. I save the creative fun parts for my creative journals. But having a separate simple notebook allows me to focus on the notes and study first.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Chicken scratch notebooks are the best! 😁

[@TarotMagpie]

This was such an interesting video! Personally, I've always used 'practice' as an umbrella term for anything tarot-related. It's not really spiritual for me, so maybe my perspective is a little different, but I try to think of it like any other hobby when I'm getting overwhelmed or I'm no longer interested in a practice I started. I've accepted that I'm consistently inconsistent and I will always cycle back round. Thanks for sharing 💖

[@soulfullivingwithheather]

Loved this take. Really important to let ourselves off the hook. 😊💚

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you enjoyed it! 🥰

[@AmethystAscensionTarot]

Beautiful and beautifully said. Thank you for sharing with us. ❤

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Thank you, I am so glad you enjoyed it. 🥰

[@WhitsundayOracle]

All great perspectives and insights. I think as you noted practice can be very personal. In the context of YT, I refer to “tarot in practice” as the practical application of tarot cards in a reading, though of course it extends beyond that into ritual, meditation etc but I just don’t want to share those aspects as they are rather private and personal to me. And I love your emphasis on YT as not being real life 😆 “hot mess” would adequately describe my tarot room most days haha. Thank you 😊

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Oh my goodness yes, like sometimes people forget we’re human too and life is just messy in general hehe. I enjoy being able to share the real side of practice whenever I get the opportunity. I think it’s an interesting conversation for sure! 🥰

[@dragorsi]

Very well said. I stopped saving tag videos I want to do on a list because I simply don't have time to do them right now and the list kept growing and made me feel really bad about things. Thank you for sharing every project mentioned! ♥

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Always trying to play keep-up is definitely the road to burnout! I do what I can and let the rest go. 🥰

[@dragorsi]

@@DawnMichelleTarot yeah, I deleted bunch form my watch list because I don't have that much time :/ It sucks but maybe in the future I'll have a different schedule where I'll be able to watch more. ♥

[@JennaZouros]

This video is very useful Dawn. I feel that everyone’s practice is deeply personal and is always evolving, and your right there are things that work for us personally, and there are also things that don’t work for us, and nobody is perfect. Thank you for talking about how we see these practices on KZbin and on social media and they are maybe ascetically beautiful or it’s just something interesting that we want to try, but we get intimidated by it because the way it’s shown is just perfect. I agree with you Dawn, that we should do what works for us, and that it’s ok to try things and go that doesn’t work for me and abandon it because that’s how your practice grows, as you learn what works for you and what doesn’t work for you. I come from a background in Early Childhood Education (I’m no longer in this field) and one thing I would always tell the children in my classroom is that there’s no one perfect way to do things, if one way doesn’t work for you then it’s ok to try it a different way because that’s how we learn and grow. On thing they taught us in university is that we are all different, we all have different learning styles and there are different types of intelligence. For me personally, I’m not a creative person, however I love to write, so my practice looks like me, sitting with my tarot deck and meditating on the message, what does it mean?, what work do I need to do?, what can I learn?, and, where can I go next? I then use a digital journal and I write down what I just meditated on. One of the ways that I was able to learn the meanings of the tarot cards was actually through stories, my first deck was the Mystic Faerie Tarot, and through the stories within the guidebook written by Barbra Moore (one of my favourite tarot authors) I was able to learn the meanings of the cards without too much difficulty. I then went on to learn the story of the fools journey which helped me understand the progression that happens through the tarot.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Yes! I love that. There’s no one perfect way. That’s so spot-on! I love writing too and some of my favorite journals as the ones where it’s nothing but writing! 🥰

[@kelvynmartin8688]

Thank you Dawn, I really appreciate you keeping it real. Makes me feel calmer about trying things and then allowing myself to redirect myself in a different way. I have my mother voice ..who sit in my head saying. You like starting things don't you but you don't always carry through all the way..do you. Of course I drown her out by telling her ...yes I am so different to you Mother. I am Me. But knowing there are others out there in the real world. Stoping and starting and just enjoying the process of their own lifes...makes my heart sing. Thank you so much sweet lady. Terri from Australia 🦘 🇦🇺 💜

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I think there’s a lot of us like that and nothing wrong with it! We just want to explore and try, but not everything works out. That’s life in general in my experience too hehe. 💚

[@truecolorstarot]

As usual, I loved your video. I do appreciate your design aesthetic. Also, I think a new journaling video would be great. Thank you 🙏 for sharing this beautiful video.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I did one showing the journals I’m currently using but I’ve added doing a full reading and journal entry to my list of videos. Hopefully that will be helpful too. 🥰

[@JessicaandtheMoon]

This was lovely. So affirming 😂 I have a LOT of part done things too and seeing you with them too makes me feel better. I liked how you used the bujo parallel to describe these. That makes a lot of sense to me. Got me wondering about how the categories are for me ❤ It was fun just being nosy at all your various journal too 😍

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Oh yes, I have lots of stuff I haven’t finished! 😊 For whatever reason the bullet journal method just clicks for me, I use it for a lot of things. 🥰

[@EmilysTarotandMagick]

Really enjoyed this Dawn - I definitely feel like this resonates - so many projects and not enough time. Really great to talk about it 😊Xx

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you enjoyed it. I’ve got more ideas than time for sure these days. 🥰

[@optimalwellnessyoga]

Thank you for putting this out there! It is wonderful to see one’s reality normalized. I definitely resonated with what you said about digital journaling. I like it for the ease of doing it anywhere, especially when pain levels are high. But then I spend days creating digital washi and stickers to use. I have a journal and bag of stuff like your Alice bag from the rune study. I think I got 4-6 runes in there and then life. I will do a rune deep dive at some point and I may continue in that journal or I may not. My decan walk keeps hopping from being in synch to not. I just left space for the third decan in Aries (oddly enough that’s my birth decan) in my notebook and jumped back on it for Taurus 1. I think I’ve done all the first pass reading for the second Taurus decan but haven’t recorded it in the journal yet. I always blame my Aries sun for all the unfinished projects. No doubt that plays a part in abandoning projects but I know I struggle to give myself grace and permission to skip a piece or to be behind and that self-judgement is probably the bigger reason I abandon things. I keep thinking I should give videos another go ad there are so many great thought provoking discussions going on in Tarot tube that I feel drawn to contribute to. But, I made a handful of videos at the start of the pandemic and even have unedited footage for another video or two and haven’t touched it since! Thank you again! - Kristi

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I think project bouncing is pretty common in our community too because we’re a bunch of curious people who want to learn all the things! 😆

[@tanyaabel1543]

Loved this video. Super helpful and reassuringly honest, which is so rare on social media. Thank you. I would love to see your whole process from “chicken scratching” to “sacred journal”, think that would be so helpful and reassuring, especially for newbies. Absolutely agree with the joy of being surrounded by books, can never have too many, although my husband would disagree 😂😂

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

That’s a wonderful idea, I’ll add it to my list! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching. 🥰

[@oysterbay9]

I love your rambling so soothing

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Aw thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 💚

[@GigiStarling]

I love your videos because you talk so honestly about your practice. I also love your creative tarot journals. Very authentic video, thank you!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Thank you so much, I am so glad you enjoyed it. I think it’s important to show all the sides when can. There’s the pretty parts we see online and the messy everyday bits. It all makes up practice for me. 💚

[@straycat4427]

this is such a great topic! I struggled with meeting tarot where I thought I was expected to......deep dives, depth years, journaling, making pretty books, doing readings for others, spending hours and hours watching tarot tube.....all the things for various reasons I either didn't want to do or tried and didn't get much out of. It gave me a considerable amount of anxiety. Slowly I realized I had to make tarot meet me where I was. Tarot gets usually an hour or maybe 2 hours a day with me. I pull cards, photograph them, think and read on the cards and succinctly write the reading and post it on IG. That's pretty much all the time I have to give. Like you said, most of us have alot of other things to attend to in our day. Speaking of aesthetics......I want to say how visually pleasing today's video is. I LOVE your tarot cloth! I would love to know where you purchased it. Everything from your gorgeous green nails, to the decks and books you have chosen.....it's all so gorgeous. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into your videos. I thoroughly enjoy the time I spend watching you!!!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Yes, having your practice meet you were you are is the ultimate goal (and challenge!) Aw thank you so much, the mat is beautiful. It’s a desk mat I found on Etsy. Funny enough, I think we’ll only see it in one other video cause it actually was too busy for me and gave me anxiety when I worked with cards on it. I’m such a simple, boring girl, I like things plain Jane hehe. 🥰

[@DerekJohnThomas]

That was wonderful. Thank you. I'd love to see the steps you take to get a reading into that gorgeous journal as you mentioned. ❤

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you enjoyed it. I will add that video idea to my list! 💚

[@alexandriadesrameaux7208]

This is a wonderful video but I am a new person to tarot. So I would love a video on how many ways of using tarot to help with your problems or a bad day. I am struggling on how can I use tarot in my spiritual journey. I feel I need it but how and what form. I don’t know enough about tarot . I am learning about tarot but your videos helps me a how lot.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

That would be a great topic to discuss, I’ll add it to my list! 🥰

[@thrivingselfcarerenee]

I deal with chronic illness and am mostly homebound. I've had lots of "bad days" over the years. One way I've found super helpful is to pull an Oracle card for a message or topic and read the accompanying book entry. Then I pull 1-3 Tarot cards asking what else I need to know about that topic or message. That's helped me on so many "bad days." 💖

[@alexandriadesrameaux7208]

@@thrivingselfcarerenee Thank you so much. I will try this out today. Maybe it will help me now.

[@wannieh]

that design you're using as a backdrop is stunning, is it a cloth? I'd love to know where to get it, I love me some pretty mushrooms! 🍄

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

It’s a deck mat actually, found it on Etsy. 🥰

[@Bunnykisses1000]

I did an actual zoom course with Christine PYne Towler for TOTHL..it made my head spin!!! The concepts were sooooo over my head. I love the deck but doubt i will study it further.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Wow I bet that was amazing!! 🥰

[@annelyle5474]

I would love to see your process, if you have a reading in the near future that's not too personal! I do something similar with my readings: a simple pen-and-ink journal where I note down my initial impressions, then a bunch of pretty journals with printouts of scanned cards plus some stickers or collage or other artwork. The second step is still an important part of my practice, though, as it gives me the opportunity to reflect on the original reading and maybe expand on my initial thoughts, plus it's a handy visual record of the decks I used, especially since I have subsequently destashed a few of them.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

There might be a few in the Weaver playlist, but I’m planning on doing one publicly as well soon. 🥰

[@Lunarclaireity]

Thanks SO much for posting this one!!! Was immensely helpful hearing your insights, practices, etc. ❤ (and of COURSE, extremely relatable and ‘well put’) ALL around 😉. *sigh** the amount of things I’ve started… it’s a bummer for sure 🙈 but hey, we’re all a work in progress, as is/are our practice(s) 😂❤🤷‍♀️ SUPER INTERESTED in watching how you work through reading(s) FYI!! Those always ALWAYS my favorite videos 🤚 🥰

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I’ve added that too my list and I’ll try to get one done for us this month! 🥰

[@Lunarclaireity]

@@DawnMichelleTarot 👏🥰🤗

[@daveymcteer6804]

Thanks. So good

[@wren1019]

💙

[@perrieraurore5455]

Thank you for these words 😊 you re exactly right ! We don't have to put pressure on ourselves and have the perfect journal, the perfect timing for reading etc... As a Virgo/Virgo, control freak, it has been really hard to free myself from this. But since 2023, I feel like... "It's ok if I'm not perfect" 😅 so, thanks for sharing and your video gave me new ideas though 😊

[@cheapwitch]

I'm also a Virgo/Virgo and can confirm that the struggle is real 😅

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I’m always reminding myself “it doesn’t have to be perfect!” 🥰

[@rebekahcadman2892]

What is inner temple work?

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

It’s a bit a visualization technique where you create a place of sacred space in your mind. Some people also interact with it as space on the astral plane as well. It’s often attributed to modern witchcraft but the practice is actually much older than that.

[@Realmisskrose]

Me as someone who views my tarot pracitce and my faith as two different things and yet throws the divination book on to my trb in the hopes that maybe I'll get back into trying to start an italian folk magic practice.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Ooh that sounds exciting! I just kinda follow wherever the muses (or spirit or my inner voice) draws me. 🥰