Yawn!

　　We’ve all been there, some more than others. A restless night not only contributes towards crankiness, irritability and an excess of caffeine as we glug down coffee in an attempt to stay awake, but it also wreaks havoc with our metabolism and cortisol levels; the latter two can lead to weight gain, even more grumpiness and, more alarmingly, pounds that shoot straight to the middle and lump us with visceral fat which can give us all kinds of health problems.

　　Enter the Tarot to save the day (is there anything these nifty, colourful little things cannot do?) Just as Tarot can help you find your dream partner or figure out what career you’re best suited to, the cards can also help you discover methods that are particularly beneficial for you when it comes to falling asleep at night.

　　As many will testify, lack of sleep can have a detrimental effect on both our mental and physical state; the consequences of broken sleep or simply being unable to shut off an over-active mind can take their toll, which is why we need as much help as we can get. Read on to learn more about a Tarot spread that can help you sleep better!

　　

Bedtime Tarot to Help You Sleep at Night

Some sleuth work is necessary here. The Tarot cannot turn around to you and say “Well, you need to avoid this and do this instead,” or reveal to you the answer to your problem in a clear and concise voice. Instead, it is up to you to deduce what the Tarot is trying to tell you from the cards. Remember, the Tarot is giving you information from your subconscious. Your subconscious already knows the answer to your question; the Tarot is simply a useful messenger, relaying information from your subconscious mind to your conscious mind.

　　This particular Tarot spread focuses on sleep, reasons for why there are problems with sleep, and what you can do to improve your sleep. You can certainly adjust the spread if you want to or even create your own Tarot spread for it, but it may be easier to start off with this one for now and see where it takes you.

　　

How to do the Sleep Spread:

Shuffle the cards and ask the question, “What can I do to improve my sleep?” Once shuffled, lay them out in the following order (the text that appears next to the number represents what that specific card means in the reading):

　　Why am I having sleep problems? – 2 CardsWhat can I do to end my sleep problems? – 3 CardsWhat is stopping me from improving my sleep? – 1 CardAs you can see, the questions are designed to get to the root cause of your sleep issues – particularly the final card which may reveal to you a hidden meaning as to why you aren’t able to sleep well at night. For example, let’s say you know you should switch off electronics an hour before bed or you know natural sleep remedies like lavender tea can aid you in sleeping – but something stops you from taking necessary measures to act; or you act on them, but you still can’t sleep.

　　So, let’s say I did this reading and pulled the following cards:

　　Why am I having sleep problems? – 9 of Swords and 7 of PentaclesWhat can I do to end my sleep problems? – 8 of Pentacles, the Sun, and the Fool What is stopping me from improving my sleep? – The MoonLet’s go through this reading.

　　

Why am I having sleep problems?

So, judging by the 9 of Swords and the 7 of Pentacles, I would immediately think that my sleeping issues are related to money.

　　The 9 of Swords – often known as the ‘dark night of the soul’ card is a card of anxiety and stress.The 7 of Pentacles is a card of frustration – perhaps my money situation isn’t going well. Perhaps I am in debt and can’t find a way out. Perhaps there are things I need to do financially and money simply isn’t appearing.

　　However, the 9 of Swords is also a card of making a mountain out of a molehill. Most often, the problem is never as bad as the person thinks it is. But in their mind, especially at night when there is more time to think – and worry – all sorts of monsters and horrors can transpire in the dark recesses of the mind.

　　

What can I do to end my sleep problems?

There are two cards from the Major Arcana in this section, so I can assume my subconscious has an urgent, powerful message for me. In this reading, I would interpret the Sun and the Fool as being positive and optimistic.

　　”Be happy!” shouts the Sun.“Have faith!” shouts the Fool.The 8 of Pentacles is a card of focus and diligence, the knowledge that if one works hard towards something, they will get results in the end.It appears that my sleeping problems are very much a direct result of my conscious mind spiralling out of control, keeping me awake with anxieties about money; but my conscious mind also needs to understand that if I maintain a positive outlook and have faith in my own abilities, working hard to make money and rectify the issue, than there will be no need for these worries anymore.

　　

What is stopping me from improving my sleep?

The final card, the Moon, represents what may be stopping me from improving my situation. I would interpret the Moon in this context to be about confusion and feeling lost. I may feel so paralyzed with terror about my situation that I’m stuck in limbo, not knowing which way to turn. So instead, the worry just goes round and round in circles, anxiety eating away at me every night, leaving me sleep-deprived each day. This is where the Sun comes out to clear things up and remove the uncertainty of The Moon. Where the Moon is frightened and unsure, the Sun is positive and certain, promising that when the dawn breaks, all will be well.

　　So, as the problem is created in the mind, it is up to the mind to fix it. Fortunately, our mind is pretty brilliant at turning on itself and managing to rectify issues it conjures up. Mantras and positive affirmations are a great way to veer in the direction of a more positive frame of mind. Writing down the positive aspects of my situation can also be very helpful; focusing on the goal itself is likewise beneficial. If I wake up every morning and repeat to myself multiple times, “Everything is going to be OK. It will get better” then eventually I will start to believe it. There are so many things I can do to strengthen the positive and weaken the negative: I can talk with a trusted friend or loved one about my anxieties; I can harness the use of crystals such as amethyst and citrinewhich are great for conquering stress and encouraging positive thought; I can meditate and perform yoga, both of which can help align my internal energies and bring me to a state of calm and soothing.

　　

Concluding Thoughts…

If you have been struggling with sleep deprivation and been in despair about how you might tackle this issue, just remember that whatever it is, it can be conquered and dealt with. Using the Tarot in this way can help cast a shining light on your situation and, with any luck, lead you to a place of peace, well-being and uncompromised snoozing!

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