Unleashing Your Inner Storyteller: How Tarot Can Transform Your Writing Process

By Chris Lilly

Chris Lilly is a certified tarot reader for authors and screenwriters. His approach leads to faster project completion and a deeper connection for them to work with their craft, not on their craft.

When was the last time you lost track of time in a writing session and were oblivious to your surroundings?

Early on in my writing career, I encountered a notion that said: writers prefer having written over the act of writing itself. I didn’t understand that at the time because I was blossoming with ideas that I just had to get out of my head/fingertips. Now, being a multi-passionate person, this statement seems to grow more and more relatable.

There are a number of things that (might) prevent a writer from actually writing, be it real life/state of the world stuff, personal relationships, writer’s block, fear… and the list goes on and on.

However, in my experience, even with all these reasons/distractions, once I’m actually in my zone, I lose track of time, and can go for hours.

So, how do writers get over that hump to just start writing to their heart’s content?

My personal prediction, in addition to the list above, is that writers, including myself, have a hard time just with the act of writing because of self-imposed pressure and comparing themselves to their colleagues. What I’ve found, for me at least, is that I need to trick my brain and make writing fun before I actually sit down to write.

And how do I do that?

🥁Tarot cards!

Now, wait! I understand that there’s a stigma about how they’re “evil;” however, I view them as self-growth, acceptance, and kindness tools and have developed a deeper understanding of myself and my creative journey with them.

While I can do and believe in the power of a personal reading/consultation, I’ve specialized my practice to help writers, well, write. At the time of this writing, I’ve collected about 75 decks (and counting, yes, I’m obsessed) because if a writer comes to me who is writing a mermaid story, mermaid images will be way more beneficial for them rather than Steampunk images. Another writer might need images of vampires for their story — of which I have a few. Dragons, Role Playing Games, Kids, Pirates… the list goes on and on.

So, let’s say you’re stuck staring at a blank page with no idea what to write. As writers we’re well-acquainted with the three act structure and should be using the senses — sight, smell, sound, taste, and feeling (both physically and emotionally) — to keep readers engaged, right?

So, for example, this is what I do. Using the three act structure, I have the writer choose a deck that most aligns with their project, and pull three cards: one for Act One, one for Act Two, and the last for Act Three. From there, by tapping into my own intuition, I can weave all three cards together to tell a full story — beginning, middle, and end — using what I see, smell, taste, hear, and feel (both physically and emotionally). I can even use the individual card meanings, colors, numbers, and symbols to generate writing prompts for writers and and their projects.

And that just gives us (you) a first draft. It may not be good or even make sense, but that’s what the editing process is for. Now we (you) have at least something to work with and you’re not stuck on a blank white screen.

From here, you can tap into your own intuition and voice as a writer and use or not use anything the cards are trying to tell you. Even if another writer used the same spread and got the same cards, I bet their story would be completely different than yours.

Cool, huh?

This is only the tip of the iceberg as tarot cards can be used in millions of different ways with writing. You can create characters, create problems for your characters — and solutions to those problems — speed up your writing time without sacrificing quality, and more, but I don’t want to overwhelm you anymore than I have.

PS — If you’re interested in forming your own relationship with tarot cards cards:

1. You don’t have to be gifted a deck to start using the cards. Feel free to buy yourself a deck that inspires you and if it closely resembles the world you’re writing/ creating, that’s even better!

2. Tarot is not a closed spiritual practice.

3. You don’t have to know/memorize the meanings of the cards to use them.

If you’ve made it this far and are not crosseyed, thank you for your time and attention and I look forward to supporting you in losing track of time and your surroundings while on your writing journey/career path.

If you’re interested in learning more about where else you can take this and build on it, here are some suggestions:

1. Visit my website and book a session with me HERE. (Of course I had to plug myself.)

2. Watch my videos and posts on my social media profiles, HERE.

3. Join my Patreon community HERE where you’ll receive weekly writing prompts. (I’m always open to making changes to the tiers. These all depend on what the Patrons want/need to enhance their writing experience/journeys.)

4. Have a look at my Just Us Guys webseries HERE

Chris is a passionate writer and entertainment enthusiast whose love for television dates back to his childhood, with fond memories of iconic shows like Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. After graduating college in 2006, he took a leap of faith and relocated to Los Angeles with dreams of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. It was a pivotal moment during the series finale of Charmed in 2009 that sparked his realization of being a writer, leading him to enroll in screenwriting classes at UCLA Extension. Since then, Chris has embarked on various creative projects, including the creation and production of a web series titled Just Us Guys.

Chris is a multifaceted individual whose journey in the entertainment industry took an unexpected turn amidst the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Feeling the weight of isolation and uncertainty during the tumultuous year, he turned to podcasts for solace and stumbled upon Writing Excuses, a discovery that would reignite his passion for creativity.

Inspired by Mary Robinette Kowal's mention of using tarot cards to combat writer's block, Chris delved into this practice wholeheartedly. By March 2023, he had amassed over 55 themed tarot decks and was eagerly awaiting acceptance into the Certified Tarot Advisor program from Biddy Tarot.

Determined to share his newfound skill and assist fellow writers in overcoming obstacles, Chris offers personalized readings and remains open to new experiences. Beyond his tarot pursuits, Chris is a SAG-AFTRA actor, an active member of the Fans of MuMo, and a dedicated learner of American Sign Language.

Currently, he is channeling his storytelling talents into self-publishing short stories, showcasing his dedication to his craft and his commitment to sharing captivating narratives with the world.

I first heard Chris on the Biddy Tarot podcast and knew I had to get in touch with him to introduce him to YOU, and to dive in to what he does!

What an amazing way to get started writing by using a Tarot deck! To just get some words and ideas down on that page.

Be sure to have a listen to Chris on his podcast episode 👉 BTP182: Tarot For Creative Writing With Chris Lilly, Certified Biddy Tarot Advisor

Also make sure to follow him on all his platforms and keep a look out for his monthly Tarot and Energy readings for all the different writing genres on Instagram.

And watch this space as we are hoping for the stars to align 💫 ie: timezones and lives to match up between AUS and US so we can have a chat live with Chris to learn even more!

Julia xxx