Cartomancy and Mermaid Magic, by Leeza Robertson
(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)
I have a confession to make. When I sat down to write The Book of Mermaid Magic, it was never, ever meant to have tarot in it. This was meant to be a stand-alone book that would allow those who find themselves mermaid-curious a chance to wade into the shallows and explore the watery world of the mermaids. I wanted to provide them a space to just explore, play, and maybe even hear the call. If you are reading this article, you might have heard the call of the mermaids. It doesn’t matter if you live near the water or find yourself landlocked.
The mermaids call to all those who crave depth, flow, and magic in their lives. Some people, like myself, might be more reluctant to acknowledge they have heard the call. It took me a few years before I would truly accept my own mermaid calling, and maybe you too are shy about admitting the pull you have towards the mermaids.
In many respects, this is why I wrote the The Book of Mermaid Magic: to help others answer their own personal mermaid call. You see, the call is not the same for all of us. For some it might be to walk a more devotional path, like the Ocean Priestess. Others might find their draw to the mermaids to be more playful, like the energy of the sprites. Then there will be those who just know they have a mermaid heart. What I have learned while working with these magical beings is that there is a place and space for all of us. So no matter where you live or who you are, there is a mermaid just waiting to connect with you.
Which brings us back to the tarot and how it ended up worming its way into this book. You see, this Book of Mermaid Magic manuscript was finished. Fully complete and submitted, and I thought I had done a really good job of bringing the many different beings of the mermaid pantheon together. I was quite happy with how we weaved moon magic and chakra healing throughout the chapters. After six months of deep and wide research, I felt like we had a really solid book ready to send out into the world for mermaid lovers everywhere.
That was not the case.
Apparently the book was just missing a little something. One thing that would bring it all together. The very thing I had avoided at all costs to include in the book. Yep, you guessed it: tarot. Isn’t it funny that no matter how much we say no to something, if we are meant to experience it or have it, it will happen anyway. No matter how much I didnt want it, tarot ended up in the pages of The Book of Mermaid Magic anyway.
So now I was left with the task of weaving the tarot through an already finished manuscript. You might be wondering why someone who created a Mermaid Tarot didn’t want to include it in her own book about mermaids. Here’s the thing: there are loads of mermaid lovers out in the world who do not read tarot. In fact, many of them don’t know how to use tarot, and I did not want that to be a barrier for them when it came to this book. Which means I needed a work around—one that was slightly more inclusive.
This is how the cartomancy sections of this book were created. Not every mermaid lover knows tarot, but most of them do sling the odd oracle card. So I thought, what better way to start your mermaid magic adventure than with a special spread? If you have my beautiful Mermaid Tarot, go ahead—pull it out and give it a shuffle. If you are more of an oracle deck person, find a deck that you think would work well with the mermaids, and give it a little shuffle. For those of you who have no decks and don’t even know what cartomancy is, relax, I got you. Just grab your journal and a pen and use the prompts and questions below to journal with.
Before we begin any sort of divination or sacred practice, it is a good idea to just take a moment, pause, and breathe. Be present in this moment. Let all the outside noise just drift away. Drop your shoulders, unclench your jaw, and focus on the here and now. If you feel moved you might even wish to recite the following: “Mermaids I am here, present and aware, ready for you to share your wisdom, guidance, and divine grace.”
If you are using cards, pick them up and give them another shuffle, but this time imagine an iridescent light flowing into them, around them, and through them, connecting your deck to the energy and light of the mermaids. If you are journaling and not divining, then imagine this light curling around your pen and infusing itself into the pages of your notebook. Take a few steady breaths here and then begin the move to the spread/prompts.
Card One: What do the mermaids want me to understand at this point in my human journey?
Remember that you are here on this physical plane having a journey, to which there will be many twists, turns, and oftentimes surprises. Don’t presume that just because something has never happened that it won’t, or even that just because something has always been one way that it will stay that way. The mermaids know that journeys can both flow and stangnate, so open yourself up to receive some guidance about where you are right now.
Card Two: What blessings do the mermaids want me to open up and receive?
Not all blessings will initially put a smile on your face. We humans seem to think that blessings are meant to bless us with good fortune; however they can just as easily bless us with things we may not seem at the time to want, or situations we don’t feel ready or capable to deal with. So, be mindful of what comes up here, as this blessing might need time to unfold.
Card Three: What do the mermaids want me to release at this time so my journey can flow towards my highest and greatest good?
When considering the word “release,” you can also say, “reframe” or even “rewrite.” It is also good to remember that releasing happens in layers and not all at once. So, if you are working on a belief or habit, just be mindful that it might take some time to rewrite. If what you are releasing is an emotion or a situation, be kind and gentle with yourself as you take the first step at reframing your identity without this in your life. Whatever comes up here is just the beginning of a process, one that you can continue to work through as you spend more time with the mermaids.
Now that you have all of your cards out in front of you, you might consider picking up your journal and going deeper with the information you have gathered. For those of who you already journal, consider exploring what you have written at a deeper level. I find journal work tends to leave a lot to unpack, so take your time and don’t rush the process.
When you feel the work is complete, just say a short thank you to the mermaids: “Mermaids, thank you for spending time with me and giving me this wisdom and guidance to help me on my journey. Until next time we speak again, we are now complete.”
Now, of course, if you want to go further and wider with the mermaids, grab your copy of The Book of Mermaid Magic and dive in! There is so much more to explore.
Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2022. All rights reserved.