How to Interpret any Dream Symbol with Tarot and Oracles Cards

Agnes Pelton, Untitled, 1931. Oil on canvas, 36 3/16 × 24 3/16 in. (91.9 × 61.4 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art

Following last week’s blog of the Review of the Alcheringa Oneiromancy Deck, I decided this week to write about a simple and effective Dream Practice to dive deeper into the symbols of your unconscious, using Tarot or Oracle Cards. Of course, this practice is best done if you already have knowledge of the tarot. But if not, don’t worry, there are plenty of easy to use and interpret oracle decks you can use with the same technique I will describe below.

To first begin this practice, if you have not already, establish a dream recording practice. By taking note of your dreams – wether it is jotting down quickly its symbols and concept, or writing it down in every details – it will help you bring awareness to them, nurturing them, inviting themselves to reveal their essence to you. Your dreams are in constant communication with you – and by taking the time to establish this relationship, you invite in more insights. To create a strong relationship to your dreams requires consistency. The very best way to do that is therefore to every morning, either writing or making a voice memo of that dream. Make sure to take note of the specific symbols you are curious about or that call you forward to investigate more deeply. Then – I invite you to note down the feelings, or the ‘’emotional charge’’ that accompanies the symbol. By acknowledging your feelings about this symbol – you open yourself to a personal, unique meaning, that is not dependent upon external resources such as a dream dictionary. You become your own resource, your own guide and messenger. This will help you truly connect to the personal medicine this symbol or dream has for you, and feel a sense of deeper understanding of your own psyche.

When you feel comfortable with this first practice, then it is very fun to dive deeper with some tarot or oracle cards. It will help you find new connections, interpretations and explore the meaning of your dream symbol. I invite you to first hold the vision in your mind of this dream while shuffling your cards, asking for deeper guidance to come through about the specific dream symbol you are inquiring about. You can also use these prompts to ask questions to your cards:

What perspective is this dream inviting me to consider?

What feeling is this dream stirring in me?

What is the meaning of my dream? What message does it have for me?

What is my unconscious revealing to me?

What is my dream inviting me to reflect on from my awake state?

What action am I being led to take?

What am I invited to let go of from this dream?

Feel free to pull 1 card per question, or simply let yourself explore 1 or 2 questions that resonate with you, drawing more cards for clarity. Let this be an organic conversation between yourself and the cards! Remember, this dream symbol is personal to you – there is no right or wrong ways to interpret the personal symbols of our inner landscape. Let yourself ask the question that come up in your exploration process.

Another way to dive deeper is to answer those questions yourself, using automatic writing. In this process, you write without interruption, letting yourself be in complete open awareness to receive the answer. Let yourself write until it feels complete – you might be surprised by the answers you come up with, once you open yourself to your own inner guidance and wisdom.

This process will invite you to find new connections and to have deeper understanding of your own unconscious. It will help you feel connected to your inner feelings, the hidden desires and creative life of your inner symbols. I hope it helps you!

Here are a few recommendations of decks and books I recommend! As for decks, while you can use any tarot deck you prefer, I personally enjoy the voice of the Fountain Tarot because of its very clean, calm image that feels melancholic like a dream… I also enjoy the Alcheringa Oneiromancy Deck which I reviewed last week, check it out here for more information! I also really love the Road to Nowhere and Iris Oracles by Mary Elizabeth Evans which are perfect to explore the inner child, shadow and unconscious realm with their free spirited imagery. As for books, Man and his Symbols by Carl Gustav Jung is a great book to discover more about the dream world and the unconscious as seen by the pioneering spirit that Jung was. The other book I recommend is Lucid Dreaming: Plain and Simple by Robert Wagonner and Carole McCready which gives you many techniques to invite in more awareness of your dream time, techniques of interpretation and healing through your dreams – I highly recommend this one!

Let me know down below, what symbol are you exploring with this practice?

And what guidance did this process give you?

With love,

Mary Iris Jane