What Your “Higher Self” REALLY Wants You to Know (it may surprise you!)

38 Comments / June 2014, Tarot spreads, Tarot Tips / By /

Do you ever wonder what your “higher self” is trying to tell you?

Well guess what? Messing around with your Tarot cards is one of the best ways to find out!

But before I get to the real juice, I just want to say this – I really, really despise the term “higher self”. It sounds so snooty!

Whenever I hear that term, I get this picture of a much snobbier version of myself, reclining on a cloud, turning my nose up.

So from here on out, I will instead refer to the “Inner Self”. I like that phrase better, as it doesn’t sound so hierarchical and holier than thou. Plus, it just sounds more intimate and mysterious – like a deeper, truer part of myself.

Okay, so back to Tarot!

Our Inner Self communicates to us through symbols. We encounter symbols all the time – in dreams, waking life and of course in Tarot cards.

If we actively engage with those symbols, we can discover some fascinating things about ourselves.

Now what if you were to think of your next Tarot reading as a letter from your Inner Self to you?

A letter that is direct, to the point and maybe even a little bitchy!

Here’s an example of what I mean…

Me: “Inner Self, what lovely message do you have for me today?”

Inner Self: “OMG! I’m so glad you asked! You need to ____________ and __________ and for God’s sakes, stop __________________!”

When I did this exercise last night, this is what I got:

tarot-reading-hezicos
Hezicos Tarot by Mary Griffin

I felt the message was pretty clear: “You need to make a decision and embrace being an outsider and for God’s sakes stop pretending to be helpless!”

I found this Tarot exercise worked best when I limited my interpretation to one statement/sentence per card. This forced me to really feel for the essence of the card, rather than get all brainy and over-thinky about it.

Now, it’s your turn!

Shuffle your Tarot deck and as you lay out three cards, do so knowing that this is a letter from your Inner Self. As you turn your cards over, see if you can fill in the blanks:

“You need to _________ and _________ and for God’s sakes stop __________!”

Tip: Forget about the traditional card meanings and pay attention to the symbols that show up, the body language of the figures and of course, the overall feeling essence of the cards.

In the comments below, feel free to share your cards and your interpretation – I can’t wait to read it!!!

38 thoughts on “What Your “Higher Self” REALLY Wants You to Know (it may surprise you!)”

  1. Lison Lacharite

    Hi Kate! I know it’s an older post and I was looking for higher self tarot spread and found this on your blog. I drew the the knight of wands-judgment-materialism (devil)
    So what my higher/inner self is trying to tell me I need to follow my passion and to answer my “calling” and for god’s sake stop being scared that you aren’t capable because you feel less than.

  2. Divya

    Hi,
    I am new to this site. However I am reading Tarot Cards for quite some time now. Thanks Kate for this excercise. Here are my cards!
    I got 9 of pentacles reversed, 10 of cups reversed and 2 of cups.
    My Inner Self wants to tell me that I shouldn’t indulge in spending on myself too much. Nor to be more emotionally attached with my family members. (This is because of the reverse nature of cards).
    My Inner self specifically wants me not to expect matching of views from my husband.

    Regards
    Divya

    1. Kate

      Hi Divya – and welcome!
      I’m happy you had fun with this exercise and thanks so much for sharing your reading 🙂
      Kate

  3. Talia

    I love this! For today, I got 3 of Pentacles, Queen of Swords, Queen of Cups. I take it to mean, given my life right now, “You need to take pride in your work, keep speaking your truth even when it makes others uncomfortable, and for God’s sake, stop putting the emotional needs of others ahead of your own.”

  4. Brie

    I got the Emperor, the 9 of Cups and the 9 of Pentacles from The Enchanted Tarot deck.

    The message: I need to be more disciplined and really embrace happiness and for god’s sakes, stop fretting so much about material things!

    (Eerie magical side note: I’ve pulled the 9 of Pentacles in 4 straight personal readings, all from different decks!)

    Thanks, Kate! This was fun 🙂

  5. Babbette

    Hi Kate, I’m in the UK. If I register for the webinar, will the link to watch later be accessible out the US please?

  6. Sarah Dawn

    Hi Kate,
    Great exercise! I loved your cards. Here was what the Smith-Waite Tarot had to say to me:
    Me: “Hi Inner Self, what lovely message do you have for me today?”
    Inner Self: “OMG gurl! I’m so glad you asked (I’m imagining this in a Ru Paul voice btw)! You need to embrace that you have the right and authority to create what you want and need, materially speaking (King of Pentacles) and once you get those things you need to enjoy them without shame or guilt (Ten of Pentacles) and for Goddess’ sakes, stop approaching life from a perspective of winning or losing, you don’t always have to win, there doesn’t always have to be a winner, its not always a competition. (Five of Pentacles)!” 🙂

    This was actually a pretty profound reading and super accurate, so thanks again.
    Best Wishes to you my dear,
    Sarah

  7. Aparna

    The Star – The Tower – Death Rx.
    The message: You need to have faith and accept the big, irrevocable changes in your life, and for Gods’ sake, stop trying to resist endings!

    🙂 Rather accurate, I think.

    This is my first time commenting (I think), but I love your blog, Kate! 🙂

  8. Cher Green

    Kate, wonderful exercise. 🙂 I used my Mystic Dreamer Tarot

    I got Queen of Cups, 9 of Wands (reversed), Page of Swords (reversed)
    My inner self has informed me that I need to (relax and listen) and (let my guard down) and stop (being so cold and shut off).
    I went one step further and asked for an advice card – 3 of Wands – Look beyond, there’s much to see.

  9. teresa

    Using Hanson-Roberts Deck (it is just what was handy)

    I need to believe (title card got mixed in there and says To All Believers, just going with it) and approach life with the wonderment of a child, with joy, like it’s an adventure like you did when you were a child, and for God sake, stop feeling sorry for myself and carrying around all heartaches of the past, it is time to heal (three of swords).

    Cool exercise Kate, and I am surprised at how easy the messages came to me.

    2. Kate

      Thanks for sharing your reading, Teresa 🙂 I am always amazed how easy this exercise is, too. It forces you to be succinct with your interpretations, I think.

  10. Teresa

    Great exercise Kate! Thank you, I plan on using this daily!
    My cards 8 cups, Knight of pentacles, The Sun.
    My inner self is saying to me, You need to move on your future awaits your intuition is strong.
    Trust the journey, take the journey you will have what you need.
    For Goddess sake stop doubting your gifts, your potential, your creativity and ability. The future is bright if you trust in your own instincts.

  11. Aki

    My cards were:
    the world/reversed, the lovers/reversed, the high priestess

    Message is:
    Stop to aim for the perfection, it rather makes me emotionally unbalanced and overwhelmed by the feelings as a result. The clean, smart, and decent is not the goal..!

    Hm, actually, I’m not so sure this is what the lovers/R means..
    The reversed cards are tricky!

  12. Bella

    The Chariot, 6 of Cups, Queen of Pentacles

    I need to believe in my drive to achieve what I want and share the talents I’ve been given, and for God’s sake, get out of your comfort zone.

    I hope I got it right… it feels like this is what’s telling me. I did it twice and both times I got the Queen of Pentacles as the last card… The tarot is trying to tell me something important!
    🙂

    1. Kate

      Bella, you totally nailed it! It’s challenging when you get a positive card in the “stop this” position, but I really like how you saw it.

  13. steph

    I got 7 of earth, 3 of earth and 2 of air.
    I need to have patience and be a team player and for God’s sake stop pretending there is no problem! Haha how fun was this exercise?!

  14. Tammy

    8 pentacles-4 chalices-Princess of wands(Wheel of the Year)
    Work hard
    Ask for what you want(no matter what deck, this is the meaning for me)
    Stop doubting yourself. It’s coming.

  15. Indie

    Two of Wands-The Star-Five of Wands

    I need to plan… and not to be worried since I have the intuitive ability and the divine ability to work towards the right direction and I need to stop engaging in too many fights with my own ideas and sort of stop resisting them! 😀 Makes total sense to me at this point of time!

    -Indie

  17. SueM

    LOL I got three cups 4 cups and magician. On the weekend at a fair someone said to me let your hair down, have fun stop being so serious etc etc.
    this is fairly closel Party, party, party, take what’s on offer and for God’s sake stop procrastinating. (about reading Tarot card’s for other people)

  18. EG

    Some help needed, Kate. 🙂

    I got 8 OF WANDS-THE EMPRESS-STRENGHT.

    I think I got the message, but would be delighted to know your opinion.

    1. Kate

      Okay, EG, here’s my take on it:
      You need to hurry up (8 of wands) and create something (Empress) and for god’s sakes stop trying to be all stoic/martyr! I’m not sure how I got “martyr” out of the Strength card, but I did.

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