How to grow a garden
Introduction
The secret of creating and growing a physic garden lies in the wisdom of the Tarot deck. The 22 Major Arcana cards represent universal archetypes, while the 56 Minor Arcana cards reflect the daily ways these archetypes manifest in life. Together, they form a treasure chest of hidden knowledge—secrets about ourselves, our choices, and the energies that flow through us.
The word Arcana comes from the Latin arcanum, meaning “secret.” The Tarot deck is like a Roman chest filled with mysteries waiting to be uncovered. When you begin building your own physic garden, the Tarot becomes your guide—a key to unlocking and interpreting the hidden truths of your inner world.
Growing Your Own Physic Garden
The most important rule in creating a physic garden is that there are no rules. You are guided by your intuition and the symbols of the cards.
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The Sun represents joy, energy, light, glory, and vitality.
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The Moon reflects mystery, emotions, dreams, fear, and intuition.
As you create your physic garden, observe every image in the deck, project your own questions onto it, and interpret what each card reveals. But be cautious—don’t see only what you wish to see. True insight comes from balancing openness with honesty.
Tarot and the Evolution of the Physic Garden
Throughout history, many styles of physic gardens have evolved through Tarot practice:
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The Renaissance reignited interest in esoteric wisdom, leading to new Tarot decks.
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Antoine De Gebelin, an 18th-century Freemason, popularized the 78-card Tarot deck.
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Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith created the Rider-Waite deck, clear and easy to interpret.
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Aleister Crowley’s Thoth deck, rich with alchemical symbolism, became one of the most influential in the 20th century.
Choosing the right deck is essential. Select one whose imagery speaks to you, resonates with your energy, and feels natural for your readings.
Rituals for Your Physic Garden
Caring for your Tarot deck is part of cultivating your physic garden:
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Store your cards in a special place.
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After each use, return them carefully to clear away energy.
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Before and after readings, perform a ritual (especially if working with resistant or negative energy).
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Always begin by tapping the deck to awaken it, then draw cards intuitively.
How to Create Your Physic Garden
The foundation of your physic garden lies in the questions you ask and the interpretation of the cards. Some prefer open readings, others focus on specific questions. Both paths lead to insight.
Each card carries three key elements:
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Name – Represents ideas, people, or archetypes.
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Number – Holds mystical significance connected to stars and universal energies.
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Imagery – Symbols and pictures that evoke feelings and intuition.
Your responses to these qualities reveal truths about yourself and your path.
Practical Methods to Grow Your Physic Garden
There are many ways to practice and develop your Tarot garden:
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One-card answers: Ask a simple question, pull one card, and reflect on its meaning.
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Open readings: Draw cards without a specific question for general insight.
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First readings: Start simple to strengthen intuition without overwhelming complexity.
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Storytelling: Build stories around card imagery to deepen your understanding.
Over time, you’ll discover how each spread reflects not only hidden truths but also your emotions, relationships, and choices.
Daily Practice
To truly grow your physic garden, make Tarot a part of your daily life. Pull one card in the morning to set the tone for your day. With practice, you’ll learn to interpret more complex spreads and uncover hidden layers of meaning in your relationships, choices, and spiritual journey.
Your physic garden grows with each reading, each reflection, and each story you weave with the cards.
