Tarot for Scholars
The Fool. The Hermit. The Queen of Swords. How can the richly resonant cards of the classic tarot deck help you unlock the unique creative power of your scholarship?
On December 16, I invited Margy Thomas, founder of ScholarShape, to join me for a conversation and workshop on "Tarot for Scholars." This two-hour Special Event was based on our shared fascination with the ancient wisdom and modern metaphorics of the tarot, which has led us to launch a new Substack newsletter, also called Tarot for Scholars.
Here’s WriteSPACE Event Manager Amy Lewis’ personal account of this special event:
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What happens when scholarship meets intuition? At this WriteSPACE Special Event, Helen and Margy delved into a rich exploration of how tools like tarot cards can help scholars navigate both intellectual and personal challenges.
Their conversation underscored a powerful truth: academia doesn’t have to be rigidly analytical. Tools such as tarot and oracle decks, lunar writing guides, and creative prompts can offer scholars new ways to engage with their work and themselves, encouraging a balance of structure and spontaneity, discipline and intuition — a balance that in turn can lead to more authentic and impactful scholarship.
One aspect that stood out for me during the discussion was the contrast between Helen and Margy’s perspectives on tarot. Helen expressed a touch of scepticism, viewing tarot cards as thought-provoking intellectual tools rather than as divinely guided. Margy, by contrast, shared her profound belief in the mysterious universal forces at work in her life. This interplay between their views enriched the conversation, demonstrating that you don’t need to take a firm stance — whether as a mystic or a sceptic — to benefit from the wisdom of tarot.
So, whether you’re curious about integrating these tools or you already use them in your academic life, here’s an open invitation! I encourage you all to check out these three great resources:
1) Watch A Scholar’s View of Tarot. This 35-minute video offers an overview of tarot, providing a foundation and context for the 78 single-card videos that Margy and Helen will publish for their 2025 Tarot for Scholars Project.
2) In the second hour, Margy led us through a hands-on workshop with freewriting prompts about specific tarot cards and our writing. To try her prompts for yourself, you can watch the workshop video in the WriteSPACE membership area.
3) For those completely new to tarot, Margy recommends Susannah Conway’s courses, including:
‘Daily Guidance’: A shorter introduction to tarot and oracle cards, ideal for beginners.
‘78 Mirrors’: A comprehensive six-week course designed to foster a deep connection with the tarot.
‘Tarot for Your Inner Child’: A course that explores creativity and healing.
An enormous thanks to Helen for hosting this fascinating special event and to Margy for introducing us to the exciting world of tarot. I look forward to seeing you at the next WriteSPACE Special Event!
WriteSPACE and WS Studio members can find the recording of the Special Event in their Video library.
Not a member? Register to receive an email with a link to the video of the first hour.
Better yet! Join the WriteSPACE with a free 30 day trial, and access our full Library of videos and other writing resources as part of your membership plan.