Gratitude and Tarot: Finding Meaning in the Major Arcana
What is your relationship with gratitude? Is it something you journal on nightly, or rather a distant memory that tends to surface around the holiday table, one where Americans will partake in the ritual of stating what we are grateful for while looking at one another over copious amounts of food? Or maybe it's in-between, with the "I just have to just get through this week and then I'll have more time for myself," thought loop swirling in your head and when you're finally in your soft sweats and fuzzy socks, sinking into your favorite chair as you feel the hot cup of tea in your hand, closing your eyes, grateful for the moment of peace. This type of gratitude comes from the idea that we know this moment is fleeting, because soon enough, we will be whipped up into the tornado of checklists and must-dos and, if we are blessed, fun-to-dos. 🙂
Having a gratitude list, writing down three things in the morning and three things at night while you sip your matcha. This practice has created quite the presence in the wellness world over the last few years. The idea of gratitude surrounds us with the promise: "If we practice gratitude, we will feel happier, more at peace, more calm." While these are advantageous side effects of this practice, I wonder…why do we do it? And what is gratitude really?
At its core, it's the state of being thankful, but there's more to it than that. Gratitude researcher Robert Emmons describes it as having two parts: first, recognizing that there are good things in the world, such as gifts and benefits we've received, and also, acknowledging that the sources of this goodness is outside of ourselves. It's about appreciation, recognizing something as valuable to you and understanding that it came to you freely. The word itself comes from the Latin "gratis," meaning free. Gratitude is fundamentally about connection and recognizing our interdependence with others and the world around us. But I would argue there's a secret third part: recognizing that nothing lasts forever.
I believe we practice gratitude because one day, we will no longer be able to... sip tea from our favorite mug, breathe in mountain air, listen to the morning chorus, watch a night filled with stars and write our gratitude list 🙃 Gratitude exists because all of these moments, the good, the regular, the beautiful, will one day pass us by, whether through our own passing (not to be morbid!) or because something within or without will have shifted. It's this awareness of impermanence that makes gratitude so powerful, so necessary. We practice it not just because it feels good, but because we know that nothing lasts forever. Hello Buddhist teachings 👋
And so gratitude is sitting with what is and finding the sparkle in it. Within so many experiences, even difficult ones, can we find something to hold onto? This isn't about downplaying the horrific circumstances that we as inhabitants of this earth experience and witness daily, but rather a living reflection on finding something to steep us into a feeling of ease even when things feel hard.
I had intended to pull out cards from the Tarot that highlighted the theme of gratitude, and as I laid down the odd conglomeration of cards that naturally occur after so many readings, I found I could see how gratitude plays into each one. If we are able to see each card as a wise teacher, then each teacher has a lesson on gratitude for the moment. Below is my interpretation of the gratitude found within each card of the Major Arcana. And while I think it's a bit of a trope, these were for sure channeled through me. :) After writing them I couldn’t help but marvel at each card’s individual voice, some direct, some poetic, some therapeutic and some a bit cheeky. Enjoy!
Thought provoking cards from The Star Seeker Tarot
0. The Fool: I am grateful in the knowing that the opportunity to reinvent myself is available to me at any time.
1.The Magician: I have everything I need to make my own unique magic which no one can ever take from me or replicate.
2. The High Priestess: I know, and know so deeply, and if I ever have a shadow of a doubt, I can test my knowing with action to give my psyche the feedback needed to lean into my intuition and psychic gifts.
3. The Empress: I can hold space and create in a nurturing, beautiful, and loving way that isn't just for the benefit of others, but also for me. My gift is in loving in the way I need to be loved.
4. The Emperor: I have earned my knowledge with great dedication in the school of life, allowing me to throw back my shoulders with confidence and set firm and loving boundaries.
5. The Hierophant: Having the wherewithal to discern whether what I have been "taught" or conditioned to believe still aligns with my values is a gift.
6. The Lovers: I am learning that if it is not a "hell yes" then it is for sure a "no." And "no" is a complete sentence. Please and thank you.
7. The Chariot: Do not throw so much as a pebble in my path because I have been gifted drive and focus, and don't need that to trip me up. Also, if it doesn't feel like home, I know the direction I'm heading is not for me (hey! It can get foggy out here sometimes!
8. Strength: I am grateful for all of the experiences I have had in my life that allow me to pull on herculean strength when needed. I remember that insecurities are loud, but confidence is quiet.
9. The Hermit: I am grateful for my own wisdom. Sometimes the wisest person you can ask is yourself, and the gift is knowing when to take a break, cancel engagements, and go within, whether that's in a comfy spot or for a walk around the block.
10. Wheel of Fortune: I am changing, this is changing, all of it changes. The good, the bad, and the in-between.
The inner work of the Tarot as depicted by Nicky Ferrada’s The Star Seeker Tarot
11. Justice: We are often in a rush to fix, to change. Sometimes the practice is in the acceptance of what is, not as we would like it to be.
12. The Hanged Man: The beauty of the waiting room allows me to process all the wisdom I have gathered over time, and while I may feel urgency, know that this position is not for all eternity. Remembering: pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.
13. Death: I am grateful for transformation and rebirth. When wI allow the ego mask to melt away, I are left with "Who am I actually?"...and that's where the real work begins.
14. Temperance: I am grateful for the reminder that all parts of me hold equal weight. Everything in moderation; my roles in family, friend circles, community, work, spiritual groups, and all the liminal spaces I exist in deserve balance, not hierarchy.
15. The Devil: I am grateful in the acknowledgement of my truest essence, the part I have tucked away, my shadow side, for they are my greatest teacher. I ask myself, where may I have given my power away lately? Cause I'm walking into the shadow and calling it back!
A connection to something bigger than ourselves, the final row of the Major Arcana from The Star Seeker Tarot
16. The Tower: I give gratitude to moments of upheaval, the sting, the burn, as I sob relentlessly. But when the storm has passed, I know it had to come down so that something stronger could take its place, and I will remember the lessons.
17. The Star: Thank you for the stillness and the healing, a gentle moment that allows me to identify with my life's purpose.
18. The Moon: I am grateful for the courage to face the unknown, even when it's terrifying. "What the hell is down there at the bottom of the ocean?" might be the question, but the willingness to enter the dark night of the soul is where the unimaginable treasure lives.
19. The Sun: Coming out on the other side is no easy feat; I worked HARD to be here, and now I stand in all of my shiny brilliance. This is the sparkle, and I'm grateful to be standing in my sunshine with enough to share, as you never know who might need some of this light.
20. Judgement: When your body, mind, and heart are all in sync, all that's left is to physically make THE move. I am grateful to have reached this grand trine of synchronicity, even if the action needed may take some time.
21. The World: I am grateful for the completion of cycles, for the endings that make space for new beginnings. I've done the work, learned the lessons, and now I get to stand here and say "I made it", before the whole beautiful mess starts again.
And lastly, I'm so grateful to you for reading this! Gratitude, like the cards themselves, is deeply personal, what resonates for one person might look completely different for another.
How do these speak to you through the lens of gratitude? I'd love to hear your thoughts, interpretations, or which card's lesson is felt most deeply. Drop a comment or send me a message.
In gratitude,
Kati 💛