Talismans — “A Card of Your Own”

Card of the year

It’s usually worked out from your date of birth and the year — or the current year, if you want to know which card the year will run under. Or you draw it as an intention card for the year.

A card to lean on

This one people usually choose themselves: they draw a card with a question like “what energy will support me right now?” or pick the one from the deck they feel most drawn to. Sometimes the same card really does start repeating in readings — and then a person takes it as a personal symbol of that period.

The card that keeps coming back

This is the version I like best. You don’t have to assign yourself a card on purpose. Sometimes a certain card starts turning up in different readings, situations, thoughts, images. Then you can stop and ask: “Why does this card keep showing up in my life right now?”

Keep it close

After that you can keep it close: make it your phone background, put it by your desk, carry it with you, or just use it as a symbol of this period. Not because the card will change anything by magic, but because it becomes something to look at that brings you back to a certain state or question.

Not forever

And one more interesting option: don’t choose the card forever. It can be “yours” just for this stage of life. In a few months, draw a new one — and see what’s changed.

How the calculation works

Here it is on a client’s date of birth.

Day of birth → first card 01 → 1 — the Magician

Month of birth → second card 07 → 7 — the Chariot

Year of birth → third card 1 + 9 + 9 + 2 = 21 → the World

Full date of birth → main card 0 + 1 + 0 + 7 + 1 + 9 + 9 + 2 = 29

29 is more than 22, so we bring it down into the range of the Major Arcana:

29 − 22 = 7 → the Chariot

And if you add the digits, 2 + 9 = 11 → Justice.

That gives two options, and we looked at both, going not only by the numbers but by the events of his life.

My card

My own card is the Chariot.

For me this is one more chance to look a little deeper at my life, at what I do and at everything around me. And once again to see the hand of God in it.

And today, looking at the card, I suddenly noticed a Shiva lingam on the Chariot.

And I immediately remembered a story.

Long ago, well before India and tarot came into my life, someone asked me:

“Tahmina, why is there Shiva everywhere around you? Why did you choose him?”

And I answered:

“Who am I to choose God? I believe God chooses us.”

Some people see the divine at work in their lives, the hints and signs, and some people just don’t notice them.

I notice.

And I thank God for this chance.

That’s why tarot is coming into my life so naturally, too. Clearly and with interest. As if from that depth of myself that I get to know a little more every day.