Corrine Kenner specializes in bringing metaphysical subjects down to earth. She's a certified tarot master and the author of ten books.
Corrine was born in Minnesota and raised on a farm in North Dakota. In her late teens and early twenties, she lived in Brazil and Los Angeles, where she earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from California State University. For the first part of her career she worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, and media relations specialist. Now she lives in Minneapolis with her husband, a software developer, and their daughters.
Corrine offers tarot classes and writing workshops on a regular basis, both in person and online. For more information, visit her website at corrinekenner.com.
C O R R IN E K ENN E R
Also by Corrine Kenner
Crystals for Beginners
The Epicurean Tarot
The Ma'at Tarot Workbook
Simple Fortunetelling with Tarot Cards
Strange But True
Tall Dark Stranger: Tarot for Love and Romance
TarotJournaling
Forthcoming
The Wizards Tarot
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
How to Use This Book xv
PART I: TAROT
ONE. Tarot Basics 3
TWO. How to Read the Cards 15
THREE. Classic Spreads and Layouts 23
PART II: THE WRITERS TAROT
FOUR. Character Creation 37
FIVE. Astrology and Tarot 59
six. Storylines and Plot 69
SEVEN. Tarot Journeys 85
EIGHT. Setting and Description 95
NINE. Breaking Writer's Block 103
TEN. The Tarot Card Writing Coach 113
PART III: A WRITERS GUIDE TO TAROT CARDS
The Major Arcana
0. The Fool 122
1. The Magician 126
2. The High Priestess 130
3. The Empress 135
4. The Emperor 139
5. The Hierophant 143
6. The Lovers 147
7. The Chariot 151
8. Strength 156
9. The Hermit 160
10. The Wheel of Fortune 164
11. Justice 168
12. The Hanged Man 172
13. Death 176
14. Temperance 180
15. The Devil 184
16. The Tower 188
17. The Star 192
18. The Moon 196
19. The Sun 200
20. Judgement 203
21. The World 206
The Minor Arcana
The Suit of Wands 212
The Suit of Cups 240
The Suit of Swords 268
The Suit of Pentacles 296
Conclusion 325
A Glossary of Tarot Terms and Symbols 327
Index 353
his book was born in November 2006. It started as a short feature article for National Novel Writing Month-a web-based annual event in which thousands of people worldwide playfully commit to writing a full-length novel during the month of November. The organizers simply asked me an open-ended question: how can you write a novel using tarot cards to guide you? My answer ran all of four hundred words.
After that initial exchange, I decided to elaborate on the ideas and suggestions I had offered to eighty thousand writers on the NaNoWriMo website. First I simply assembled and reviewed my notes. Then I turned those notes into handouts for my own writers group. Before long, I had compiled a detailed outline for the book you're holding now.
I didn't invent many of the techniques and ideas in this book. Instead, I've simply combined old ideas in a new way. This book applies the precepts of tarot reading to standard literary principles and shows how closely they're linked. In fact, tarot reading and storytelling dovetail seamlessly, both in theory and in practice. There's a surprising similarity, for example, between standard tarot spreads and the classical story structure that Aristotle first described. There's also a remarkable parallel between the Fool's Journey through the cards and the Hero's journey concept, popularized in our time by Joseph Campbell and now a literary model for many modern-day storytellers.
Not only can you use the tarot to brainstorm and develop story ideas, you can use it in the later steps of the writing process, too: from finding a publisher to publicizing and promoting a finished work. In fact, this book can serve as a complete course in fiction writing, as well as a comprehensive reference for writers who are just becoming familiar with a tarot deck.
If you're like most of the people reading this book, you're probably already enthusiastic about writing. You may have studied fiction and literature at the college level. With any luck, you've completed a story or two of your own. And at this point, you probably have a compelling new story idea trying to break free-and you may even dream of writing the great American novel. You'll get the most from this book if you're a short-story writer, novelist, screenwriter, or playwright-but poets, diarists, essayists, and writers of creative nonfiction can also glean inspiration from these pages. Even writers who make a living in the corporate world can use this guide to add polish and flair to their written work.
Here you should find just enough information to encourage you without overwhelming you with detail. My goal is to kick-start your creativity without confining you to rote mechanical exercises or condemning you to a strict writing regimen. In these pages you'll find a wide range of resources: simple spreads and layouts, card descriptions, and explanations of the symbols, myths, archetypal imagery, and astrological references that are built into most standard tarot decks. You'll also find inspiration for your writing practice, writing prompts, and ideas to incorporate into your work.
Feel free to explore, experiment, and entertain yourself, and let me know how well this guide works for you-especially if you're using it to write a novel in thirty days.
Corrine Kenner
Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 2008
'irst of all, I'd like to thank the writers and tarot enthusiasts who tried the techniques in this book and offered suggestions and ideas for bringing the cards to life in story form.
I'm especially grateful to the members of the first Tarot for Writers Workshop in Minneapolis: P. J. Doyle, Charlene Jaszewski, Carol Perkins, Andie Ryan, and Pam ThiltgenHester. I'm also fond of four online workshop participants who helped me develop the materials for this guide: Denise Alleva, Susanne Fritzsche, Ann Livingston, and Cynthia Tedesco.
My thanks go, as well, to John Carlson, Michael Gerleman, and Denise Hesselroth, who offered their comments on my early drafts, and to Melani Weber, who contributed the subplot development technique in chapter six.
I'm thankful for the advice of Lisa Finander, the developmental editor who suggested that I personalize this book with my own writing experiences. I'd also like to thank three editors at Llewellyn: Rebecca Zins, who showed enthusiasm for the guide even when it was barely more than an outline; Mindy Keskinen, who suggested structure and formatting improvements; and Connie Hill, who edited the manuscript. I also appreciate the work of Kevin Brown, who designed the cover, and Joanna Willis, who designed the inside pages.
And of course, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my husband, Dan-whose unwavering support makes it possible for me to write-and my daughters Katherine, Emily, and Julia, who make it fun.
ost people think of tarot cards as a fortunetelling device-but they're also an excellent tool for writing and creative thinking. Writers from John Steinbeck to Stephen King have used tarot cards for inspiration, and Italian novelist Italo Calvino went so far as to call the tarot "a machine for writing stories."
Calvino was right. An ordinary tarot deck can help you break through writer's block, serve as
a source of creative inspiration, and give you insights into your characters' past, present, and future. Tarot cards can help you generate new material or breathe new life into a project you've already started.
Backstory: A Literary History of the Tarot
Tarot card readers and storytellers share a long, rich history. The tarot itself has existed since the 1400s, when Italian royalty used tarot cards to play a trick-taking game called tarocchi. Their decks were hand-painted works of Renaissance art-and the cards were a treasure trove of symbolic images that incorporated a wide range of literary and mythological figures.
In fact, some of the cards might have been based on the work of a poet named Francesco Petrarca, known in English as Petrarch. His fourteenth-century masterpiece the Trionfi was an allegorical account of human existence. His descriptions of Love, Chastity, Death, Fame, Time, and Divinity dovetail perfectly with the images in early tarot decks. The cards themselves inspired poetry, too. As early as the sixteenth century, some tarocchi players used the cards to compose impromptu sonnets about each other, called tarocchi appropriate.
In modern times, W. B. Yeats seems to have based some of his poems on tarot imagery. In his case, the connection between writing and tarot goes both ways. In fact, some experts think Yeats' poetry actually inspired some of the imagery in modern tarot. Yeats was a friend of Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith, who created the bestselling Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck in 1909. He probably discussed tarot symolism with them before they designed the cards.
The tarot's reach extends far beyond poetry. Some writers have based entire novels on the cards. In 1932, Charles Williams wrote The Greater Trumps-a fantasy novel that involves a magical tarot deck and a set of corresponding figurines that spin in a perpetual dance of life. In 1969, Italian author Italo Calvino used tarot decks to devise The Castle of Crossed Destinies, a fable about travelers who find themselves stranded in a forest, mysteriously deprived of the power of speech. They share their stories by laying out tarot cards; the book is illustrated with the cards they use.
During the late 1970s, Piers Anthony produced a three-volume set of novels set on the faraway Planet of Tarot, where the cards come to life: God of Tarot, Vision of Tarot, and Faith of Tarot. At least two collections of tarot-inspired short stories have been released: Tarot Tales and Tarot Fantastic, published in 1996 and 1997 respectively, both feature sixteen stories by a variety of authors-all based on the magic of the cards. And, of course, some writers use tarot cards to structure their stories. When Francesca Lia Block wrote The Hanged Man in 1999, she opened each chapter with a card. Lynn C. Miller followed suit with The Fool's Journey in 2002.
A Machine for Writing Stories
There is no better brainstorming device than a deck of tarot cards-and this book will show you how to turn those cards to your advantage. Tarot for Writers will guide you through every stage of a writing project, from conception to execution, and later through the rewriting and editing process. You'll even learn how tarot cards can help you market, publicize, and promote your work.
But first, you'll need to get your hands on a deck of tarot cards.
All Hands on Deck
You can use almost any tarot deck with this book, as long as it's a standard pack of seventy-eight cards. Those cards should consist of two parts: the Major Arcana, which is Latin for "greater secrets," and the Minor Arcana, or "lesser secrets." The Minor Arcana should have four suits-typically called Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles-and each suit should have ten numbered cards and four Court Cards. Make sure the deck you choose has scenic illustrations on every card. If you're new to tarot, avoid decks that illustrate the suit cards of the Minor Arcana with patterned designs instead of pictures.
This book is illustrated with cards from Lo Scarabeo's Universal Tarot by Roberto De Angelis. It's a modern version of the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot-which will also work with this guide. The Universal Tarot is published in Italy by Lo Scarabeo and distributed in the United States by Llewellyn Worldwide. You can find the deck in bookstores or online at llewellyn.com.
Tips and Hints
This guide can certainly be read straight through, from beginning to end. A simple once-over will give you a comprehensive course in reading-and writing-with tarot cards. If you prefer, however, you can skip around. After all, no one expects tarot readers to keep the deck in order. Instead, they shuffle-just as you should feel free to riffle through the pages of this guide. Before long, you're bound to land on an image or idea that inspires you. You can even combine and recombine the suggestions in this book, just as you would lay out several cards in a spread. Feel free to play. After all, tarot cards had their start as a game-and they're still a lot of fun to work with. As you explore tarot as a tool for your writing, try the following techniques.
Divide the deck. If you're a beginning tarot reader, try your first few exercises with the Major Arcana cards. Just set the four suits of the Minor Arcana aside. You can work with them later, when you're comfortable with the basic principles of shuffling, spreading, and reading the cards.
Practice on real people. While you're feeling your way through the deck for the first few times, try some practice readings for friends and family members who can give you feedback.
Take a chance. Tarot cards introduce an element of chance to your work. Try to stay open to all the possibilities they offer. Let the cards fall where they may, and allow the "fickle finger of fate" to help you learn and grow as a writer.
Synchronicity and serendipity. In addition to being lovely words, synchronicity and serendipity can be a creative writer's best friends. Let meaningful coincidence and accidental discovery whisper in your ear.
Don't get too literal. Most of this book's examples and writing samples are based on traditional tarot interpretations. If you're wondering where any symbol or reference came from, check the card descriptions in part three. When you write, however, don't feel locked into a technical analysis of the cards. You can interpret the cards in any way you like; no one will be checking your work for accuracy. Unless you tell them, most of your readers won't even know that you're getting ideas from a tarot deck.
Work with a group. Tarot cards truly come alive when you use them with other people. Find a group of fellow writers so you can all brainstorm and experiment together.
Prepare to be spooked. Tarot cards have a way of revealing secrets, even when you use them casually. Don't be surprised when a random draw of the cards starts to tell your own life story. Either incorporate it in your fiction, or clarify your question and start over.
Write it down. While it might seem obvious, this is a book about writing, so you'll need to record your thoughts and observations on paper. Even though it's tempting to move quickly from one card to the next, make sure you keep a written record of all the cards you work with and the ideas they inspire.
Practice makes perfect. You'll find ideas for your writing practice and prompts throughout this book. In general, the "Writing Practice" notes present thoughtful, detailed suggestions for your work. The lists of "Writing Prompts," on the other hand, simply offer jumping-off points to get your pen moving on the page.
Write quickly. None of the practice suggestions or prompts should take long-especially on your first draft. If your writing seems to be moving in slow motion, you're thinking too hard. Relax and let your intuition-and your imagination-take control.
Create your own cards. If you plan to spend a lot of time on a story or novel, you might want to design a custom deck for the project. You can draw your own version of the cards, or assemble a collage deck from magazine photos.
How This Book Is Organized
Part I: Tarot 101. The first three chapters of this book cover everything you need to know to start working with tarot cards. You'll discover how the structure and organization of a standard tarot deck can help you interpret every card. You'll also learn some basic spreads and layouts, along with step-by-step instructions for real-and fictional-tarot readings.
Part II: The Writer's Tarot. The real heart of the book comes next, where you'll find a wide range of techniques for writing with the cards. You'll discover how tarot cards can help you with story development, character creation, plot, setting, and description.
You'll even explore ways to boost your success at editing, revising, and promoting your work.
Part III: A Writer's Guide to Tarot Cards. Finally, you'll find a handy reference guide to all seventy-eight cards in the deck, designed to jump-start your writer's imagination.
Your Future Is in the Cards
Until now, tarot cards have been the domain of mystics and seers. Once you read this book, however, you'll realize that the cards are equally at home in the hands of a writer.
After all, writers are fortunetellers, too. Writers have the mysterious ability to envision a possible future-as well as the power to describe it so clearly that it flickers into existence. Writers see the shadows of an alternate reality, and then bring it to light with the power of their words. Like the ancient oracles of Delphi, writers can peer into the human soul and communicate essential truths to an audience of readers. And writers, like tarot card readers, can seamlessly weave together the past, present, and future.
If you're ready to add tarot cards to your writing practice, all you need to do is turn the next page ... face up.
"Millions of miles away, a star exploded in a supernova of light and heat. Celeste looked up briefly from the lakeshore where she had been collecting her thoughts. She shuddered involuntarily, and blamed the wind."
-WRITING SAMPLE BASED ON THE STAR CARD
s a writer, you already know what it's like to hold the power of creation in your hands. With a few strokes of a pen, you can forge a universe or start a galaxy spinning in space. You can mold brave new worlds and planets, complete with mountains, plains, and seas. You can even establish nations and cities, and populate them with culture and history. Like a living god, you can determine the future of an alternate reality.
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