How to Start a Tarot Journal (And Why You Should)

You shuffled the deck. You pulled the cards. You felt something — a spark of recognition, a twist of confusion, or maybe just the quiet hum of possibility.

And then... you moved on. The cards went back in the deck. The reading faded into the blur of your day.

Sound familiar?

If so, you're missing the most transformative part of tarot: the reflection. And that's exactly what a tarot journal is for.

Why Journal Your Readings?

Tarot isn't just about the moment you flip a card. It's about the patterns that emerge over weeks, months, and years. A journal turns isolated readings into a living map of your inner world.

Here's what happens when you start documenting:

You notice recurring cards. That Ten of Swords showing up every Monday? That's data. That's your subconscious waving a flag.
You track your growth. Reading your entries from three months ago reveals how much you've shifted — even when it doesn't feel like it.
You deepen your card knowledge. Writing about a card in the context of your life cements its meaning far better than memorizing a book.
You build a personal tarot language. Over time, cards develop meanings unique to you. The Eight of Cups might "officially" mean walking away — but in your journal, it might always show up when you need rest.

What to Write in a Tarot Journal

Don't overthink this. There's no wrong way to journal a reading. But if you want a starting framework, here's what works:

The Basics

For every reading, capture:

Date and time — Context matters. A Monday morning pull hits different than a Friday midnight session.
The spread you used — Even if it's just a single card draw.
Which cards appeared — Including reversals. This is your raw data.
Your question or intention — What were you asking about? What was on your mind?

The Reflection

This is where the magic happens:

First impressions — What did you feel when you saw the cards? Write it down before you look anything up.
Card meanings in context — How does the "textbook" meaning apply to your specific situation?
Connections between cards — How do the cards in your spread talk to each other?
Personal associations — Does this card remind you of someone? A situation? A feeling?
Action items — What is this reading asking you to do?

Over Time

As your journal grows, periodically review and note:

Which cards keep appearing (your "stalker cards")
Which suits dominate your readings
How past readings played out — were the cards right?
Shifts in how you interpret certain cards

Tips for Staying Consistent

The biggest challenge with tarot journaling isn't starting — it's keeping going. Here are some tricks:

Start Small

A single daily card pull with three sentences of reflection is infinitely better than planning an elaborate Celtic Cross journal that you never actually write in.

Make It a Ritual

Pull a card with your morning coffee. Journal for five minutes before bed. Attach it to a habit you already have.

Don't Judge Your Writing

This isn't a literature contest. Bullet points are fine. Fragments are fine. "This card confuses me and I don't know what it means" is a perfectly valid journal entry.

Use Tools That Remove Friction

If opening a notebook feels like a chore, try a digital journal. The best journal is the one you'll actually use.

Getting Started Today

Here's your homework (yes, really):

Pull one card. Any card. Don't think too hard about the question — just pull.
Write three things: What card you drew, what you felt, and one sentence about what it might mean for your day.
Do it again tomorrow.

That's it. Three days in, you'll have the start of something. Three weeks in, you'll start seeing patterns. Three months in, you'll wonder how you ever read tarot without journaling.

Your practice deserves to be documented. Start today.