Poetry of the Tarot

Symbols, synchronicity and the soul

Dear Reader,

Why I was first drawn to Clarissa, I’ll never know.

I remember stepping into the shop and pulling back the heavy black curtain to find her sitting at a table in the back room, smiling warmly. I was nearing my thirtieth birthday, nervous and desperate for guidance on a life-changing decision I was making. The moment she laid out her gilt edged Tarot cards, time seemed to pause – it felt like magick spreading across the table. Our consultation lasted almost two hours, and I remember feeling amazed by the depth of her intuitive, uncannily accurate reading. It was revelatory!

Over the next ten years, I returned to her twice more. Each time, I felt held, contained by her presence – this archetypal, witchy-looking woman adorned with large gold earrings. Both visits came during times of upheaval, when life felt overwhelming and decisions weighed heavily, and I was seeking clarity in the chaos. Yet, as the crises resolved and life regained its balance, I gradually forgot all about her.

Five years after my last visit, I crossed paths with Tarot again through my new partner, who owned several decks and had herself been reading for years. I remember the first time I held the cards – an enigmatic moment. The images felt both strange and familiar, their connections elusive yet intriguing. At the time, the excitement of our new relationship swept me away, and I didn’t dwell on the Tarot until we had moved in together a year later. There was something here for me, though I couldn’t quite grasp what it was. I clearly recall how my hands would buzz as I held the cards – a synchronistic moment that hinted at a deeper connection waiting to unfold.

When living together, I stumbled upon one of her Tarot books and decided to attempt a simple three-card spread. It was all a bit disappointing really - I didn’t understand the cards, and the reading felt ominous. A heart pierced by knives and a burning tower left me unsettled and frightened, though The Star as the outcome card remains etched in my memory. It was my first encounter with three Major Arcana, but at the time, I had no idea how significant it was. Relying solely on the imagery, I felt uneasy and disoriented. The reading seemed wrong no matter how I interpreted it, so I hastily gathered the cards and put them back in their box.

Twenty-one years later, I’m happy to say our relationship is thriving, though our second year together brought immense challenges – death, heartache and eventual rebirth. During those turbulent times, I found myself turning to the Tarot often, seeking solace in moments of sorrow and stress. Strangely, it took me years to realise just how often I reached for the cards; it became an almost instinctive practice. Insights came sporadically at first, as I struggled to truly connect with their meanings. It felt like years of quiet attunement were needed before I could fully step inside a card and understand its essence.

Over time, this began to shift. I started using the cards not only in difficult moments but also in times of joy and calm. Gradually, I grasped their basics and noticed subtle interactions – the way they seemed to look at or away from one another. Leaving a spread out for a day or two allowed rich conversations to unfold between the cards, revealing layers of meaning I hadn’t seen before.

Five years later, I joined a women’s Jungian Dream Group, where we delved deeply into Jung's Archetypal work and explored our dreams in great depth. Sitting in a circle, sharing and analysing, something powerful clicked deep inside – the archetypes spoke directly to my soul, guiding my journey forward. Around this time, my relationship with the Tarot began to shift as well. The symbols within the cards became more vivid, their voices growing insistent, almost urgent. Weekly readings became a ritual, and for the first time, I began documenting them. Until then, I had never written down my readings – or my dreams – but now I found myself reflecting and musing for days over their meanings, uncovering connections and insights I hadn’t noticed before.

Around this time, I discovered a tarot reader on YouTube, and it was another revelatory moment. Her deep knowledge and insights into the Tarot fascinated me, and I eagerly watched her videos. For my birthday that year, my partner gifted me a reading with Kelly-Ann. Like Clarissa, her reading was incredible – profoundly moving and deeply intuitive.

Several months later, something extraordinary happened. As I turned over the Queen of Cups, I distinctly heard the words, 'Write a poem for me' – a moment of synchronicity that brought the archetypal symbols to life in my creative process. Then, the next Queen called, and the next, until I had written a poem for each of the four Tarot Queens. It felt like pure synchronicity – especially as Kelly-Ann’s business at the time was called 'The Four Queens’.

And so began my 'Poetry of the Tarot' series – a journey that deepened my connection to the cards' symbolism in profound, unexpected ways. Each image spoke directly to my psyche, conveying truths that words alone could never fully capture. As I progressed, I found myself writing a poem for each card in the Major Arcana, not knowing where this creative path might lead.

Without further ado, here’s my first ever tarot poem, written in 2015. In the third verse, I reflect on this Queen’s reverse position to uncover deeper insights.

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Queen of Cups

As I turn over the outcome card
there she is, my beautiful goddess
Persephone, in her dual aspects,
maiden and queen of underworld.
Pouring her love into empty cups,
divining heavenly rich fountains,
for when her cup is placed to lips
eternity flows through to the heart.

With my shepherd’s simple flute
I play, while she writes her verse,
love surging with all her heart.
My beautiful true love, to whom
I cannot ever lie or ever fool,
for her instincts are impeccable.
She who defines her own space.
She who upholds her own soul.

In her dark mysterious nature
my shady queen overprotects,
smothering her weary children.
Forever wearing rose spectacles,
her heart seeing far but needing,
at times, to watch with eyes too.
Yet how I love my queen of cups
with her heart upon the throne.

Beautiful to all senses and seers,
dreamer of wondrous dreams,
my lady is the deepest reflection
at the bottom of the mystic lake.
A hand mirror of clear allegory,
a pool and interplay of curved,
reflected light that ponders deep
upon the cavernous layers of soul.

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If you have yet to embark on a journey with the Tarot, it’s a dance of insight and mystery, where archetypal symbols speak to the soul and reflections stir the heart. My complete 'Poetry of the Tarot' series is nestled within my second poetry collection, The Shepherd’s Daughter, spanning pages 27 to 81 – from 'The Fool' to ‘The World’. Creating this series was an extraordinary alchemical experience that transformed both my understanding of the Tarot and myself.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences if you have connected with the Tarot too. How has this symbolic journey spoken to your soul or shaped your path? Or perhaps, has a particular card ever resonated with you in a profound or unexpected way? For me, turning over cards like The Empress or The Star always brings a smile, their energy a gentle reminder of beauty, hope and growth.

Yours in words, Deborah

If my words strike a chord and you feel inspired to dive deeper into my poetry or explore my essays on Jungian thought, I invite you to visit: The Liberated Sheep