Circle of the Hearth Tarot Ritual
By Adrianne

Items Required
Bower 
Tarot Suit representations on the altar – pentacle, sword, wand, cup
A new set of tarot cards
Pouch for seer
Tokens for each person
Two baskets for the tokens
Music and CD player
Cushions to sit on for the meditation

Parts
HPS	Circle Cast 
HPS 	Ritual 

Cakes and Ale	

Seer 	l

P1	Air Quarter and Sword
P2	Fire Quarter and Wand
P3	Water Quarter and Cup
P4	Earth Quarter and Pentacle

The Ritual
Circle Cast, Quarter Calls, Central Invokation, Witches Rune

HPS	Tonight we will be performing a ritual to explore the major arcana of the tarot. 

It is said that the tarot will not tell us anything we don’t already know, but will instead give understanding and insight into ourselves not previously known or seen. 

Knowing that, the tarot can be explored as a representation of our life’s journey, from birth through the challenges of life to old age, reflection and death. Through changes and challenges. From despair to hope, to the attainment of the goal. From the beginning to the end and back again.

One way of exploring the tarot and how it relates to our life is to follow the journey of the Fool and the archetypes he meets in his journey through the major arcana.

The Seer brings to life the journey of the Fool, and acts as the bridge, the gateway between the symbols of the cards and ourselves. The Seer brings into this world the insights contained within the cards.

Tonight we look through the eyes of the Fool as we journey to the Seer to seek an insight, a word, a thought or symbol represented in the cards of the major arcana to guide us on life’s way.

To do this we will prepare our Seer to act as the gateway between the tarot and our inner selves. We ask our seer to come forward.

Seer steps forward

HPS	Will you act as the voice that brings to life the visions contained within the cards? Will you stand on the edge of the cliff with the fool and share the vision that you see?

Seer	I will

HPS picks up the tarot cards from the altar and passes them through the elements consecrating the cards and then passes them around the circle.

HPS	These cards are the gateway for the Seer to bring forth wisdom and insight, they are the link between you and the Seer. Connect with the cards and bestow a blessing on them as they pass through your hands. 

When the cards come back to the HPS she takes up her wand and draws an air invoking pentagram over them and then says

HPS	Blessed by our circle
The circle of life is contained within the cards
The cards circle the Seer
And the Circle contains all of life

HPS removes the major arcana and places them on the altar. She holds the four suits ready to give them to the Seer as he is blessed by each person.

P1 steps forward and blesses the Seer with the sword.  HPS then gives the Seer the suit of pentacles cards and he places them in his ouch.

P2 steps forward and blesses the Seer with the wand. HPS then gives the Seer the suit of swords cards and he places them in his pouch.

P3 steps forward and blessed the Seer with the cup. HPS then gives the Seer the suit of Wands cards and he places them in his pouch.

P4 steps forward and blesses the Seer with the pentacle. HPS then gives the Seer the suit of cups cards and he places them in his pouch.

HPS says to the Seer	

	You are equipped with the four foundations of the tarot.
You are blessed by the elements
	You are blessed by our circle
	Blessed be your journey

She then takes the Seer to be seated in the bower.

The HPS returns to the altar and then takes the Major Arcana cards and says:
	
See yourself standing on the edge of a cliff. You stand here looking into the clouds of the distance, seeking an insight into your spiritual journey. As the cards pass through your hands allow yourself to connect with the cards and ask them to give you insight into an aspect of your spiritual journey.

HPS passes the cards around the circle. 

HPS then wraps the cards in black material and takes them to the seer who is seated in the bower and says: 

HPS	Take this gift that will open the gateway to insight, blessed by this circle and infused with our energies. Share with us your visions of our inner selves that we may grow and learn.

Seer takes the cards and unwraps them and begins to connect to them and the energies of the people who have held them.

HPS then takes up a basket of token and hands them out saying:

HPS	Approach the edge of the circle, exchange this token for a card and perhaps some words from the Seer. When you are finished take your place again in the circle, sit,  and meditate on the card and words you have received. Peer through the gateway of the card, explore it’s imagery and symbolism. 

Music is played as people visit the Seer

When everyone has visited the Seer, the HPS goes to the Bower and says to the Seer:

HPS	Thank you for opening yourself as our gateway and for sharing what you have seen. Return now to this world, step away from the edge of the cliff, close the gateway behind you and come once again back to our circle, your body and this time and this place.

The Seer takes up the basket of tokens and goes with the HPS to the altar where he places the tokens. 

The HPS says to the Circle:

When you are ready, open your eyes, feel yourself fully in your body, and when you are ready, stand up.

Check how everyone is feeling. If anyone wants to discuss their card or thoughts, now is a good time.

We thank the Seer for acting as the gateway to wisdom and insight and we keep close to our hearts the visions and words we have seen and heard. Blessed Be. 

HPS and Seer perform cakes and ale

Farewell quarters, close circle.