How to stop being bossed around by your subconscious

1031 words

A friend of mine recently broke up with his girlfriend of one year.

Why?

She wasn’t the right one.

How long had he known this?

Six months.

In reality, he knew she wasn’t the one in the back of his mind from the very beginning. It took the first six months for the idea to filter from his subconscious into his thoughts. It took a further six months for him to finally take action.

You’ve probably had a similar experience — where you knew something was true intuitively, but you've waited ages before making the right decision, agonising over pros and cons while knowing deep down what you really want.

What if I told you there’s a way that you can talk directly to your subconscious mind and reveal your own intuition? Become aware of your own thoughts the moment they’re born in that dark ward in the back of your mind.

I wouldn’t want you to make the same mistake as my friend, wasting time in relationships you know you don’t want to be in, waiting to make the change you’ve always wanted to make.

So, I’ll teach you a little bit about Tarot cards.

Imagine that your soul is a bright light that sits in the centre of your chest. It radiates a brilliant aura — except this aura is in a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we cannot usually see, like infrared or ultraviolet (UV). We know the light is there, but we can’t observe it.

Now think of the Tarot cards as mirrors. They each reflect the light from your soul and convert it into visible light in the process. The signal reaches your eyes and is processed by the brain. Your interpretation of the card is the reflection of a part of your soul. The Tarot cards have acted as a passageway between your soul and your mind.

Tarot cards are the letters of the language of the soul.

Whether you believe in the spiritual quality of the cards or not, they are a hugely powerful psychological tool. Tarot will reveal your thoughts long before your subconscious will.

Here are the steps to using Tarot to interrogate your subconscious.

1. Research Tarot cards, particularly the Major Arcana.

I’m afraid there’s no way around it. If you want to determine your future, you’ll have to do a little bit of work upfront. Thankfully, the meanings of the cards are quite intuitive. After all, the cards' symbolism relies on tradition, art and imagery from throughout Western (and sometimes Eastern) cultures.

Pay specific attention to the Major Arcana, the first 22 cards in any Tarot deck. They are the more interesting part of the world of Tarot. In sequence, they represent the path to spiritual awakening. Heady stuff I know, but you’ll be well on your way sooner than you think.

There’s no need to go overboard here, just get an idea of what you’re getting into. Really, you only need to know enough to move on to step two.

2. Find a set of cards that speaks to you.

Assuming that you would like to perform your own readings, you will need your own deck. It is more traditional to be gifted a set rather than buy one, but your secret is safe with me.

When you are browsing, observe the imagery of the cards. Do they resonate with you? Can you start to see meaning in the ancient symbols and decorations? Rely on your intuition. Don’t be impatient, and wait for a set of cards that speaks to you. Once you feel that you have found one, act immediately.

Some sets of cards come with guide books. You can search meanings online if you need to, but to gain in-depth understanding, invest in a guide book that relates to your specific set.

3. Consult the cards.

Start with a question. Is there anything in your immediate future worrying you? Something that keeps you up at night or invades your thoughts throughout the day? Your career, your relationships, your health? Your hopes and dreams? Identify what’s bothering you and phrase it as a question.

Don’t ask what you should do - the decision is ultimately your own. Ask what will happen if you make one decision or another.

‘What will happen if I stay with him?’ is a valid question. ‘Should I stay with him?’ is not.

4. Draw card(s)

Shuffle the cards any way you wish. With your question in mind, place your dominant hand on top of the deck. Consider your question with depth, sincerity and emotion. Then, let the question go out of your mind and spread the cards out on the table in front of you, face down.

Pick up whichever card speaks to you and flip it over.

5. Interpret the meaning.

You will no doubt be staring at the card and, make no mistake, the card is staring back into you.

If you know the general meaning of the card, you will start to form thoughts about how it relates to your question. If your mind is blank, simply refer to your guide book or do an online search for the card’s general meaning. Many guide books also include descriptions that will help you relate the card to areas like wealth, health and relationships.

Now that you understand the meaning of the card, specific and surprising thoughts will start to flow.

6. Reflect on the answer.

By this stage you should be feeling, ‘I’ve been telling myself this for a while now.’

You’ve known for a long time now that you need to start taking dance lessons to ignite your relationship with your partner.

You've spent months or years thinking about stepping at work to take on the leadership role you’ve been telling yourself you’re not ready for.

Whatever you’re hearing from your subconscious, make your own decision. Determine your own future.