Writers often seek new methods to spark their creativity, and one unconventional yet deeply inspiring tool is the tarot deck. While traditionally used for divination and personal insight, tarot cards can be a powerful instrument for storytelling, offering a structured way to generate characters, plot lines, and themes. By tapping into the archetypal images and symbolism of tarot, writers can unlock unique story ideas and develop narratives rich in depth and meaning. In this article, we’ll explore how to use a tarot spread to brainstorm story ideas and how each card can lead to a compelling and intricate plot.
Understanding Tarot as a Creative Tool
A tarot deck consists of 78 cards, each packed with symbolic imagery that taps into universal human experiences. These cards are divided into two main categories: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana, with 22 cards, represents life’s larger themes and turning points, while the 56 Minor Arcana cards deal with more specific, everyday events and emotions. Each card can be interpreted in numerous ways, allowing for immense flexibility in storytelling.
When using tarot for story development, it’s important to view the cards not as fortune-telling devices but as creative prompts. The goal is to interpret the cards’ imagery, symbolism, and inherent themes in a way that inspires fresh narrative directions. A tarot spread—a specific arrangement of cards drawn from the deck—can serve as a structure for generating characters, conflicts, and resolutions within your story.
Choosing a Tarot Spread for Storytelling
There are many different tarot spreads, but a simple spread that works well for developing story ideas is the three-card spread. This layout allows for a balanced exploration of character, conflict, and resolution—three essential elements in any narrative. The three cards drawn from the deck can represent:
The Protagonist (Character): Who is the main character of your story?
The Conflict (Challenge): What challenge or obstacle does the protagonist face?
The Resolution (Outcome): How does the conflict resolve or evolve, and what is the ultimate outcome?
Of course, depending on the complexity you seek, you can expand this spread to include more elements, such as supporting characters, setting, plot twists, and the protagonist’s motivation. However, a three-card spread is an excellent starting point for crafting a concise story idea.
The Three-Card Spread in Action
Let’s explore how a three-card tarot spread can inspire a story.
Step 1: Drawing the Cards
Shuffle the deck and ask a simple question related to your story, such as, “What is this story about?” or “What challenges does my character face?” Then, draw three cards from the deck, placing them face-up in the following order: the first card represents the protagonist, the second represents the conflict, and the third represents the resolution.
Let’s imagine the following three cards are drawn:
The Fool (Protagonist)
The Tower (Conflict)
The Star (Resolution)
Step 2: Interpreting the Cards
Now, we interpret each card as it relates to the story idea.
The Fool (Protagonist): The Fool represents new beginnings, innocence, and a journey into the unknown. As a protagonist, this card suggests a character who is naive but full of potential. Perhaps this character is embarking on a new adventure, unaware of the dangers ahead. They could be an eager young traveler, a dreamer, or someone who leaps into situations without thinking of the consequences. This character’s optimism and curiosity could drive the story forward.
The Tower (Conflict): The Tower is one of the most dramatic cards in the deck, symbolizing sudden upheaval, destruction, and chaos. As the central conflict, this suggests that the protagonist will face a major, unexpected crisis that shatters their world. The conflict could be anything from a natural disaster, a personal betrayal, or a sudden loss. The protagonist’s life as they know it is destroyed, and they must figure out how to survive and rebuild amidst the ruins.
The Star (Resolution): The Star is a card of hope, healing, and renewal. It represents calm after a storm and the possibility of a brighter future. As a resolution, this suggests that despite the destruction caused by The Tower, the protagonist will find hope and a path forward. Perhaps the story ends on an uplifting note, with the protagonist discovering inner strength and a sense of purpose they never knew they had. The journey has transformed them, and they emerge wiser and more resilient.
Step 3: Crafting the Story
With these interpretations, a basic story idea begins to form. The Fool as the protagonist could be a young, carefree traveler who sets out on a journey, eager to explore new lands. Along the way, they encounter The Tower—a cataclysmic event that destroys the world they thought they knew, forcing them to confront their vulnerabilities and grow up quickly. Finally, with The Star as the resolution, the story could culminate in the protagonist finding hope and guidance, perhaps through new alliances or personal revelations, as they start to rebuild and move forward.
This three-card spread has given us the foundation for a character-driven story that includes a major challenge and a hopeful resolution.
Expanding the Tarot Spread for a Deeper Story
While a three-card spread is useful for outlining a basic story, you can expand the tarot spread to create more complex narratives. For example, consider a five-card spread that includes:
Protagonist: Who is the main character?
Motivation: What drives the protagonist?
Conflict: What obstacle or antagonist does the protagonist face?
Climax: What is the turning point in the story?
Resolution: How does the story conclude?
Alternatively, a Celtic Cross spread, traditionally used in tarot readings, can be adapted for storytelling. This ten-card spread provides insight into different aspects of the narrative, such as the protagonist’s internal and external challenges, their past experiences, and future developments, all of which can help flesh out the plot and deepen character arcs.
For instance, you might draw cards that explore the protagonist’s hidden fears or unresolved traumas, the influence of secondary characters, or a key event in their past that shapes their current motivations. Each card in the spread can represent different elements that add layers to your story, transforming a simple narrative into a richly textured one.
Using Tarot to Create Characters and Settings
In addition to plotting, tarot cards can be invaluable for character development and world-building. Each card in the deck represents different personality traits, emotional states, and archetypal roles. Drawing a card for each character can help you flesh out their motivations, strengths, weaknesses, and relationships.
For example, drawing The Magician for a supporting character might suggest someone resourceful and skilled at manipulation, while The Hermit might inspire a character who is withdrawn or searching for wisdom in isolation. Similarly, tarot suits can be used to define personality types or factions within a fictional world: Cups for emotional and intuitive characters, Swords for intellectual and analytical ones, Pentacles for grounded and practical individuals, and Wands for passionate and adventurous souls.
Conclusion
Using tarot cards as a storytelling tool offers a unique way to explore new creative ideas. By incorporating tarot spreads into the writing process, you can tap into the rich symbolism and archetypal themes of the tarot to inspire characters, plot twists, and emotional depth in your stories. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or someone facing writer’s block, tarot can provide the structure and inspiration needed to craft compelling narratives. The beauty of tarot lies in its interpretative flexibility, allowing each card to be seen in myriad ways, leading to endless possibilities for storytelling.
