Tarot, Talismans, and Deities Oh My! Spirituality Can Actually Be...Therapeutic?
Ivy Griffin
Spirituality. Often when folks see this word they will associate it with religion. Maybe they think of a god, or multiple gods, goddesses, deities, perhaps they think of prayer, or the after life, heaven, hell, they might associate it with morality, good vs. evil etc. Because of these associations. spirituality can be controversial, it might be uncomfortable for some, or even offensive, others might feel intrigued or drawn to it. Some may say it is only used for magical thinking. But however we feel about it, we can't deny the fact that the topic of spirituality seems to be woven throughout human life, and is currently trending more and more. And while this writer can’t prove that any kind of spirit world or other realm exists she can say that spirituality can be therapeutic and furthermore can be especially helpful to highly sensitive people (HSP). If we can let go of the dogma, the expectations, the institution of religion, the threat of morality etc. and can look at spirituality from the lense of “ that which we cannot see”, or curiosity, it can lead us into a world of supportive practices that are not just helpful to the soul (whether or not you believe in that sort of thing) but can also be helpful to our mental health. And while culture and religion are often intricately tied to spiritual practices you can actually create your own spiritual practice without these things ( and I don't mean through cultural appropriation).
Many people who come into therapy will experience racing thoughts, intrusive thoughts, negative thoughts of self, ruminating thoughts, or obsessive thoughts. When we are engaged in a spiritual practice where we intentionally practice prayer or meditation we challenge these difficult thought patterns and practice cultivating new ones. When someone is engaged in an act of prayer, or meditation they are:
Taking the time to practice intentionally thinking new thoughts
Intentionally observing their thoughts and building awareness of these things
Practicing gratitude
They also may be envisioning a world where things could be better and generating a sense of hope.
Through this practice we develop new thinking habits that might be rooted in curiosity, acceptance, hope or compassion, all supportive tools to manage mental health and combat catastrophic thinking and thoughts of impending doom. Sometimes people might use spirituality to develop deeper meanings, this is also very akin to the coping skill of creating positive reframes or helpful narratives to support us in processing something difficult or profound. Daily, weekly, or even monthly rituals such as a daily tarot reading, a church service, a guided meditation, or a moon circle can provide our life with structure, routine, something to look forward to, something that is predictable, consistent and grounding.
If we engage in rituals with others we cultivate a sense of community and camaraderie, combating loneliness and isolation. And while spirituality does not have to include gods, deities, or saints etc. making connections to things outside of ourselves that inspire us or intrigue us can provide us with something to focus on or work towards. These entities or symbols can provide us with thoughts of comfort and protection. They can serve as helpful metaphors and symbols in our lives that also provide a sense of meaning. Now I’m not definitively saying that this is magic and that a quartz crystal, or the icon of a saint, or talisman will actually protect you but they can inspire the thought of feeling protected and that thought can actually support you feeling more confident, more calm and more secure, all things that can be supportive to our sense of safety and emotional well being. When we are feeling secure, confident and safe we make better choices that better serve us, versus making ill informed or even desperate choices out of fear, loneliness, despair. A tarot reading can provide us with helpful archetypes, promote our curiosity and self reflection. Imagery on the tarot can support us in bringing our unconscious thoughts and feelings into conscious awareness so that we might work with these and better understand how they are impacting our lives.
While these spiritual tools can be supportive to everyone, they can be especially helpful to the highly sensitive person. When an HSP is flooded with feelings due to their extra sensitivity to the world around them holding a talisman in your hand for grounding, utilizing signs, symbols and metaphors to create connections and develop a narrative of your experience and seeking support in community through meditation, song and intentions can all be helpful in an overwhelming and overstimulating world. Through creating meaning from your experiences it can provide a sense of power and control and can provide tools to support navigating this life. Regular rituals provide a sense of structure and routine, stability and predictability which can help with regulation. Even the highly sensitive atheist can engage in many of these spiritual practices and experience the benefits of creating meaning, making connections and practicing curiosity. So the next time you might be experiencing deep sadness, or intrusive thoughts, or deep worry try lighting a candle, pulling a tarot card, saying a little prayer to your deity of choice, or the universe, or the infinite possibility and see how the divinity within might be helpful to your mental health.
Best,
Danielle Kardum, LMFT #114847
https://thrivetherapyandcounseling.com/danielle-kardum
916-287-3430