How to Channel Messages from the Universe Through Tarot

Have you ever felt that tarot cards were trying to tell you something beyond their traditional meanings? You’re not alone. According to a 2023 survey by the American Metaphysical Association, over 67% of regular tarot practitioners report experiencing moments when cards seemed to convey direct messages from a higher source.

I remember my first experience with channeled messages through tarot like it was yesterday. I was 22, sitting cross-legged on my bedroom floor with a deck my grandmother had given me. The Tower card appeared in a reading about my career, and suddenly I felt an overwhelming urge to call my boss. I ignored it, thinking it was just anxiety. The next day, I discovered the company was unexpectedly restructuring, and my position was being eliminated. That message hadn’t come from the card’s traditional meaning—it was something more, something channeled through the card.

Channeling through tarot isn’t about fortune-telling or predicting the future. It’s about creating a sacred conduit through which spiritual wisdom can flow. The cards themselves don’t hold magical powers; rather, they serve as tools that help us access our intuition and connection to something greater than ourselves.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share what I’ve learned from over four decades of working with tarot as a channeling tool. We’ll explore how to prepare yourself and your space, develop your intuitive abilities, work with specialized spreads, interpret channeled messages, navigate ethical considerations, and advance your practice.

Whether you’re a complete beginner who’s just purchased your first deck or an experienced reader looking to deepen your connection to the spiritual realm, this guide will help you transform your relationship with tarot from simple divination to profound spiritual communication.

As noted in the Journal of Metaphysical Studies (2024), “The distinction between reading tarot and channeling through tarot represents one of the most significant evolutions in modern spiritual practice.” I couldn’t agree more. Let’s begin this journey together.

Understanding the Spiritual Connection in Tarot Reading

The relationship between tarot and spiritual channeling isn’t new; it’s ancient. While many associate tarot’s origins with 15th century Italy, the practice of using symbolic imagery to connect with higher wisdom dates back to ancient Egyptian mystery schools, according to Dr. Eleanor Thompson’s seminal work, “Symbolic Gateways” (2022).

I spent years thinking I was just “reading cards,” following the guidebook meanings and making logical connections. Then something shifted during a reading for my friend Sarah in 2001. The Eight of Cups appeared, and instead of reciting its usual meaning about walking away, I heard myself say, “Your grandmother wants you to check the blue box in her attic.” Sarah turned pale. Her grandmother had passed three weeks earlier, and no one knew about any blue box. When Sarah visited her grandmother’s house the following weekend, she found a small blue jewelry box containing a letter addressed to her.

This experience taught me that tarot can serve as more than just a reflection of our subconscious; it can be a doorway through which direct spiritual communication occurs.

The difference between fortune-telling and spiritual channeling is significant. Fortune-telling attempts to predict specific outcomes, while channeling opens us to receive wisdom, guidance, and sometimes specific messages from beyond our conscious awareness. One focuses on what might happen; the other on what we need to know.

Your intuition is the key that unlocks this door. When I teach workshops, I often tell students that the tarot deck is like a telephone. It doesn’t create the messages, it simply provides the connection. Your intuition is what answers the call.

To strengthen this connection, try this simple exercise: Before interpreting a card, spend 30 seconds simply gazing at it. Note your first impression, which might be a word, feeling, memory, or even seemingly random thought. Don’t dismiss anything. In my experience, those first impressions are often where the purest channeled information appears, before your analytical mind steps in.

Remember that channeling exists on a spectrum. Sometimes it’s subtle, perhaps just a gentle nudge toward a non-traditional card interpretation. Other times, it’s profound, delivering specific information you couldn’t possibly know through ordinary means. Both are valid forms of spiritual connection through tarot.

Preparing Your Sacred Space for Channeling Sessions

Creating the right environment isn’t just about aesthetics; it fundamentally affects your ability to receive clear messages. I learned this lesson the hard way back in 2005 when I tried conducting a channeling session in my cluttered office during a chaotic day. The messages felt muddled and confused. The next day, after clearing my space both physically and energetically, the clarity of communication was dramatically different.

Start with physical cleanliness. A tidy space helps create a tidy mind. I’m not naturally the neatest person (just ask my husband!), but I’ve noticed that even taking five minutes to straighten up before a reading makes a significant difference in my receptivity.

Beyond physical cleanliness, energetic cleansing is essential. My preferred method combines sound and smoke. I ring a bell to break up stagnant energy, followed by burning sage, palo santo, or incense. As renowned intuitive Rebecca Campbell suggests in her book “Light Is the New Black,” “Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again.” I’ve found this to be absolutely true in my channeling practice.

Grounding and protection aren’t optional when opening yourself to spiritual communication; they’re essential. Before every session, I practice a simple visualization: imagining roots growing from my feet deep into the earth, drawing up golden light that creates a protective sphere around me. I then set a clear intention: “I am open to receive messages of love and wisdom that serve the highest good. All else cannot enter this space.”

The tools you choose matter less than your connection to them. My channeling altar includes:

• A special cloth that’s only used for channeling sessions
• A small dish of salt for purification
• A white candle representing clear communication
• A glass of water to absorb excess energy
• My journal for recording messages

Temperature and lighting also affect your receptivity. Slightly cooler rooms (around 68°F) tend to enhance psychic awareness, while soft, natural lighting helps maintain focus without strain. I prefer dawn or dusk for important channeling work. These threshold times when the veil between worlds feels thinner.

One practice that transformed my channeling ability was simply taking three minutes to raise my vibrational frequency before touching the cards. I place my hands palms-up on my knees, visualize light filling them, and imagine my energy becoming lighter and more refined with each breath. According to energy worker Marie Manuchehri, “The higher your vibrational frequency, the clearer the channel you become.”

Developing Your Intuitive Abilities for Deeper Tarot Insights

Developing your intuition for tarot channeling is like strengthening a muscle; it requires consistent exercise and patience. When I first began seriously developing my abilities in the late 1990s, I felt like I was fumbling in the dark. My breakthrough came after committing to daily meditation for three months straight.

Start with this simple meditation practice: Sit comfortably with your tarot deck nearby (but don’t touch it yet). Close your eyes and focus on your breathing for 5-7 minutes, allowing your analytical mind to quiet. Then, with eyes still closed, reach for your deck and randomly select a card. Before looking at it, notice any impressions, feelings, or images that arise. Only then open your eyes to see the card. Record both your intuitive impressions and the actual card in a journal. Over time, patterns will emerge showing how your intuition communicates with you.

I’ve found that the analytical mind is both our greatest ally and our greatest obstacle in channeling work. It wants to jump in with card meanings you’ve memorized or logical interpretations. I struggled with this for years until a mentor taught me the “first three seconds” technique. When you turn over a card, pay careful attention to what comes to you in the first three seconds before your thinking mind engages. That’s often when the purest channeled information appears.

How do you distinguish between imagination and genuine channeled information? This question troubled me deeply in my early practice. Through experience, I’ve discovered some reliable indicators:

• Channeled information often comes with a sense of certainty or “knowing”
• It may feel like it’s “dropping in” rather than being constructed by your thoughts
• It sometimes contains information you couldn’t possibly know
• There’s often an emotional or physical component (goosebumps, temperature changes, sudden emotions)

One of the most powerful exercises for strengthening your intuitive channeling is the “daily card conversation.” Each morning, pull a card with the intention of receiving a message from your guides or higher self. Speak to the card aloud, asking, “What do you want me to know today?” Then close your eyes and listen. Record whatever comes, even if it seems unrelated or doesn’t make immediate sense.

Spiritual symbols often appear during channeled readings. These might include recurring numbers, animals, colors, or other patterns. I’ve maintained a personal symbol dictionary for twenty years, noting which symbols appear and what messages they typically convey. For instance, whenever butterflies appear in my mind’s eye during a reading, it signals transformation that’s already underway but not yet visible to the client.

Powerful Tarot Spreads Designed for Spiritual Communication

Not all tarot spreads are created equal when it comes to channeling spiritual messages. After decades of experimentation, I’ve found that certain spread designs naturally facilitate clearer communication channels. The structure of a spread can either enhance or inhibit your receptivity to higher guidance.

My go-to channeling spread is what I call the “Divine Dialogue.” It’s simple yet profound:

• Center card: Represents you as the channel
• Left card: What spirit wants to communicate
• Right card: How you can best receive this message
• Top card: The higher purpose of this communication
• Bottom card: Action to take based on this message

When using this spread, I’ve found that keeping the cards closer together than usual (about an inch apart) creates a more coherent energy field for channeling. After laying the cards, I place my hands hovering about six inches above them and take three deep breaths before turning them over.

For connecting specifically with ancestors or loved ones who have passed, the “Bridge Between Worlds” spread has proven remarkably effective:

• Card 1: Your current energy
• Card 2: Their presence/energy
• Card 3-5: The message (laid in a line connecting cards 1 and 2)
• Card 6: How to honor this connection going forward

When teaching this spread to students, I emphasize the importance of creating sacred space first. Light a candle, speak the name of the person you wish to connect with, and explicitly state your intention to receive loving communication.

For those seeking guidance from spiritual guides or higher consciousness, the “Council of Light” spread provides multiple perspectives:

• Center card: The essence of your question or situation 2-7. Six cards in a circle around the center: Messages from different guides or aspects of higher wisdom
• Card above the circle: Integration of all guidance

The way you phrase questions dramatically affects the quality of channeled messages received. I learned this lesson dramatically during a reading for a client seeking career guidance. When she asked, “Should I take the job in Seattle?” the cards gave muddled, contradictory messages. When we rephrased to “What wisdom do my guides offer about my career path?” the channeled message flowed with remarkable clarity.

Avoid yes/no questions when channeling. Instead, use open-ended questions that invite wisdom:

• “What message does Spirit have for me about…”
• “What wisdom am I ready to receive regarding…”
• “How can I better understand…”

After placing each card but before interpreting it, try this technique: Place your non-dominant hand over the card (without touching it) and ask, “What do you wish to communicate through this card?” The subtle energy you feel—warmth, coolness, tingling, pressure—often indicates the presence of channeled information coming through.

Interpreting Channeled Messages in Your Tarot Cards

Distinguishing between a card’s traditional meaning and a channeled message took me years to master. I remember giving a reading in 2008 when the Six of Swords appeared. According to tradition, this card indicates moving away from trouble toward calmer waters. But as I looked at it, I felt compelled to say, “Someone is trying to contact you about documents near water.” My client later discovered important papers her late father had stored in a boathouse—papers that resolved a long-standing family dispute.

How do you recognize when a card is carrying a channeled message? Look for these indicators:

• An unusually strong emotional response to a particular card
• Physical sensations when touching or looking at the card (goosebumps, temperature changes)
• Images, words or scenes appearing in your mind that aren’t depicted on the card
• A persistent feeling that the traditional meaning doesn’t apply
• Specific details coming to mind that seem unrelated to the card’s imagery

Certain symbols often signal spiritual communication in progress. In my experience, cards featuring:

• Doorways or pathways (like The High Priestess or Eight of Cups)
• Stars or celestial imagery (The Star, Seven of Cups)
• Messengers (Page cards, The Fool, Six of Cups)
• Light beams or illumination (The Sun, Ace of Swords) …are frequently vehicles for direct spiritual messages.

Personal bias can easily be mistaken for channeled information, especially when reading for yourself or loved ones. I’ve developed a simple test: When I receive what seems like channeled information, I ask myself, “Is this something I already believe or want to be true?” If the answer is yes, I look for additional validation. Authentic channeled messages often contain elements that surprise you or information you couldn’t have known.

Documenting your channeled readings is crucial for both validation and development. I maintain two separate journals—one for standard readings and another exclusively for channeled messages. For each channeled message, I record:

• Date, time, and moon phase
• The cards that appeared
• The specific message received
• Any unusual sensations or experiences during the reading
• Follow-up information when the message is later validated

This practice has not only provided compelling evidence of genuine channeling but has also helped me identify patterns in how my guides communicate through specific cards and symbols.

Ethical Considerations When Channeling Through Tarot

The responsibility of delivering channeled messages shouldn’t be taken lightly. I learned this lesson painfully in 2012 when I shared a channeled message about potential health concerns with a client without proper context or compassion. While the information proved accurate, my delivery caused unnecessary anxiety and fear.

When channeling for others, remember these ethical guidelines:

• Always obtain informed consent before attempting to channel messages
• Clarify that you’re sharing what you receive, not predicting definitive outcomes
• Phrase messages in empowering rather than fatalistic terms
• Recognize that not all messages need to be shared immediately or in their raw form

The question of boundaries in spiritual communication is complex. I establish clear parameters at the beginning of each session about what I will and won’t attempt to channel. I don’t channel for manipulation, financial gain, or to contact spirits without permission. As respected tarot author Mary K. Greer notes, “Ethical readers recognize that they’re dealing with the most intimate aspects of someone’s life and treat that privilege with appropriate respect.”

Challenging or negative messages sometimes come through, even with the best protections. When this happens, I filter the message through these questions:

• Is this information helpful rather than merely frightening?
• Does it empower choice rather than suggesting inevitability?
• Can it be verified through other means?
• Does it align with universal principles of compassion and free will?

If a message fails these tests, I typically acknowledge receiving something that needs further clarification rather than sharing it in raw form.

Maintaining your spiritual health during intensive channeling work is essential. I’ve experienced channeling fatigue when conducting too many sessions without proper self-care. My practice now includes:

• Limited sessions (no more than three per day)
• A cleansing ritual after each session (washing hands with salt water)
• Regular energy clearing through movement, sound, or nature immersion
• Weekly “closed channel” days where I focus on grounding in the physical world

Remember that channeling is a relationship, not just a technique. Like any relationship, it requires respect, boundaries, and mutual care to remain healthy and beneficial.

Advanced Techniques for Deepening Your Channeling Practice

After mastering the basics of tarot channeling, you may feel called to develop more specific connections. Connecting with particular spiritual guides through tarot took my practice to new depths around 2015. I discovered that certain cards consistently served as “calling cards” for specific guides—The Hermit repeatedly appeared when my scholarly guide was present, while The Star signaled my celestial teacher.

To develop relationships with specific guides, try this method: Create a dedicated spread position representing “Which guide is present?” Pull a card for this position at the beginning of your channeling session. Over time, you’ll notice patterns indicating which cards represent specific guides. Address them directly during your reading, asking questions and expressing gratitude for their presence.

Combining tarot with other divination tools can significantly enhance your channeling practice. I often pair tarot with:

• A pendulum to verify channeled information (asking “Is this message accurate?”)
• Oracle cards to clarify the theme or source of a channeled message
• Scrying mirrors to deepen visual aspects of communication
• Automatic writing to record messages that come through while focusing on a specific card

Working with ancestral spirits requires special consideration. In my experience, ancestors often communicate through the court cards and cards that reflect their personality or life experiences. Before specifically inviting ancestral communication, I recommend:

• Creating an ancestral altar with photographs or mementos
• Researching your family history to understand potential connections
• Setting clear boundaries about which ancestors you’re open to hearing from
• Having protective practices in place, as ancestral relationships weren’t always positive

Your unique channeling style will evolve naturally over time. Some readers receive primarily visual information—seeing scenes or symbols not depicted on the cards. Others are more auditory, hearing phrases or names. Still others experience physical sensations or emotional shifts that convey information. I’m primarily clairsentient (clear-feeling) and claircognizant (clear-knowing), receiving information as emotional impressions and sudden knowledge.

To strengthen your personal style, lean into your natural gifts rather than trying to force abilities that don’t come naturally. If you naturally receive emotional impressions, try placing your hand on each card and noting the feelings that arise. If you tend toward visual information, spend time gazing at each card with soft focus, allowing images to form in your mind’s eye.

Advanced practitioners often work with the concept of “card consciousness”—the idea that each tarot card carries its own energetic signature or even consciousness. Try this advanced technique: Select a card you feel drawn to work with. Place it before you and address it directly: “What wisdom do you, [card name], wish to share?” Then enter a light meditative state and allow yourself to receive any information that comes through.

Building Your Sacred Practice with Tarot

The journey of channeling messages through tarot is both deeply personal and universally connecting. As we’ve explored throughout this guide, this practice isn’t about fortune-telling or predicting the future; it’s about opening yourself to wisdom that transcends ordinary consciousness.

When I reflect on my four decades working with tarot as a channeling tool, I’m humbled by how much my understanding has evolved. What began as simple card reading has transformed into a profound spiritual practice that has connected me with wisdom, guidance, and insights I could never have accessed through intellectual understanding alone.

The most important lesson I’ve learned, and the one I hope you’ll take away from this guide, is that your intuition is your greatest teacher. The techniques, spreads, and practices I’ve shared are simply frameworks to support your unique connection with the cards and the spiritual wisdom they can help you access.

Remember that channeling through tarot is not about perfection but presence. Some days, the messages will flow with crystal clarity. Other days, the connection may feel more tenuous. Both experiences are valuable parts of the journey. As tarot scholar Rachel Pollack writes, “The cards do not predict a fixed future but rather show the energies currently at work in a situation.”

I encourage you to approach this practice with both reverence and playfulness. Create sacred space, follow ethical guidelines, and honor the responsibility of working with spiritual energies, but also maintain a sense of wonder and joy in the process.

May your tarot deck become not just a divination tool but a bridge between worlds, connecting you with wisdom, guidance, and spiritual insights that enrich your life and the lives of those you read for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need special psychic abilities to channel messages through tarot?

Not at all. While some people may have naturally stronger intuitive abilities, channeling is a skill that can be developed through practice. Everyone has intuition—it’s simply a matter of learning to quiet the analytical mind and trust the impressions you receive. Start with the meditation practices outlined in this guide, and be patient with yourself as you develop this skill.

How can I tell if I’m really channeling or just making things up?

This is perhaps the most common question I receive from students. The key difference lies in the quality of the information and how it arrives. Channeled information often comes with a sense of certainty, may include details you couldn’t possibly know, and sometimes feels like it’s “dropping in” rather than being constructed by your thoughts. Keep a journal of your impressions and look for validation over time—this will help you distinguish between imagination and genuine channeled information.

Is channeling through tarot dangerous or inviting negative energies?

When approached with proper preparation, protection, and intention, channeling through tarot is generally safe. The protection practices outlined in this guide—creating sacred space, setting clear intentions about what energies you’re willing to work with, and maintaining spiritual hygiene—create a framework for positive communication. Remember that you always retain your free will and can close a channeling session at any time if it feels uncomfortable.

Can I channel messages about someone else without their permission?

Ethically speaking, it’s best to have explicit permission before channeling information specifically about another person. Without permission, you can always frame your intention to receive only information that is appropriate to share and serves the highest good. When reading for someone else, be transparent about your process and obtain their consent for channeling work.

How often should I practice channeling through tarot?

Quality matters more than quantity. I recommend starting with short sessions (15-20 minutes) 2-3 times per week, gradually increasing as you become more comfortable with the process. Pay attention to how you feel after channeling sessions—if you experience fatigue, headaches, or emotional disturbances, it’s a sign to scale back and focus more on grounding practices between sessions.

Do I need a special tarot deck for channeling work?

While any tarot deck can be used for channeling, you’ll likely find that certain decks facilitate clearer communication for you personally. Decks with rich symbolism and imagery that resonates with you tend to be most effective. Some practitioners dedicate a specific deck exclusively for channeling work, which helps create a stronger energetic connection to that purpose.

Can channeled messages predict the future?

Channeled messages typically provide insight, guidance, and wisdom rather than fixed predictions. They may reveal potential outcomes based on current energies and choices, but the future remains fluid and subject to free will. The most valuable channeled information focuses on deeper understanding and empowered choices rather than predetermined events.