Notelets on Nurture #12

Turning to the magic of tarot for branding + business

Welcome back to Notelets on Nurture, an occasional Sunday series where I invite a guest to share advice or support on topics that can nourish our creativity.

Today sees us embrace some fun and play as we explore how the magic of tarot can help us unfurl the creative challenges, decisions and questions we face.

Approaching my 40th birthday, I wanted to bring some focus to a particular creative goal. For a decade, life had thrown me curveball after curveball, so despite feeling hopeful about my future, I was also untethered.

I had recently discovered

Claire Amritavani Brown

, the writer behind The Moon Shed, and was so drawn to her approach that I asked for a reading, a small gift to self. Soon after, I received the most supportive and surprising 60-minute deep-dive as an audio recording.

Claire’s interpretation, which accompanied an image of the six-card tarot spread, was deeply meaningful and delivered in a gentle and calming way. I felt safe and held as I put pen to paper, listening intently while quietly unravelling, and my writing dream felt like a real possibility again.

Looking back, I have always found hope and healing in crystals and journaling, grounding myself in oracle and tarot-inspired rituals that helped me return to my own deep knowing. The moon has been a constant, as have the stars.

At times, I felt silly for devoting so much energy to these practices, but in retrospect, I can see the beauty in having something to lean on. Meaning came to me in these forms, and I would explore readings with friends, finding light in the shade.

It’s been a few months since I first lit a candle, opened my journal, and immersed myself in Claire’s words. And it felt even more powerful the second time around. I observed connections and messages I hadn’t previously noticed and a renewed sense of harmony in head and in heart. This weekend, it feels like I’m landing after an unsettling time.

“If you have a deck of tarot cards, a journal and a pen, you have everything you need to create space for yourself in a busy world…”

—

Claire Amritavani Brown

Tarot for branding + business

Have you considered using tarot to build your business or harness your creativity? Just as the cards can provide clarity in other aspects of life, I believe tarot can offer a helpful and playful opportunity to nurture us on our creative path.

How to use the tarot spreads

Today, Claire has shared a series of three-card spreads, each offering support as you step forward in your life and work. These spreads may help you focus attention, consider what’s working with and against you, or offer the time and space to make choices.

It is a simple opportunity to gain insight, and I enjoy a spread like this for reflecting on the past, honouring the present and considering the future. I also use it when exploring strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. Or when I need to invite an element of curiosity to a particular decision.

As you delve into one or more of these spreads, or use the prompts for straightforward journaling, you might enjoy the backdrop of my Springtide playlist—a deep and dreamy mix that I adore. This time last year, when I was a little over a week away from meeting my littlest, I listened to it most days. And I recently added songs by Freyr, The Paper Kites and Thony. Enjoy!

Three-card tarot spreads for business
by Claire Amritavani Brown

Choose three cards from your tarot deck and arrange them horizontally from left to right. Then interpret them with the following prompts.

For heart-led next steps if you’re seeking direction

1. What feels aligned in my business at present?

2. What am I being called to offer my community?

3. What steps can I take to feel more at home in my work?

For an authentic voice in storytelling

1. What archetype or character represents my brand?

2. How can I express this more fully through my messaging?

3. What key narratives could I share with my audience?

For seasonal care to support business health

1. What season is my business currently in?

2. How can I tend to myself in this phase?

3. Who can I lean on for support in this season?

For unblocking creatively and moving forward

1. What obstacles am I facing in my creativity?

2. What practices can rejuvenate my energy?

3. What potential new direction could there be?

For avoiding burnout and supporting your needs

1. What are the warning signs when I’m getting burnt out?

2. What boundaries do I need to put in place?

3. What would help me feel supported right now?

For a quick creative pep talk

1. A card to remind me of my strengths

2. A card to remind me why clients love my work

3. A card to cheer me onward

Claire Amritavani Brown

, a practising buddhist, has been taking a heart-centred approach to tarot since 2016. The cards have been key to helping her navigate life and work with more clarity, kindness, and a touch of magic.

If you’re looking to deepen your connection with yourself or strengthen your inner confidence, subscribe to The Moon Shed or follow Claire on Instagram. You can also book a reading.

Have you turned to tarot to support you in your life or work? What other creative practices help you to navigate change? If you choose one of these spreads, perhaps you can tell us how it served you!

A gentle season of strategy

Have you considered joining my Brand Seasons membership here on Substack? Now is the time to embrace an annual subscription and access seasonal branding resources, monthly branding clinics and monthly co-working sessions where we turn our to-dos into ta-das!

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing the following branding resources with you:

• Brand archetypes - a little fun and an opportunity to explore your brand personality

• Brand audit - a resource to help you uncover where focus is needed in your business or creative practice

• Brand plan - create your own short and sweet brand sheet to accompany your checklist

And if you’re curious to learn more about my approach, you might like this article about intuitive brand strategy, which I wrote for my branding column at The Author Stack with

Russell Nohelty

.

As a free subscriber, you can enjoy articles and essays exploring the rhythms of our creative lives and work and listen to my branding and business podcast.

If you’re ready to craft a brand that feels like home and access exclusive insights and resources, consider upgrading to join my Brand Seasons paid community. Here, I support you with a gentle, nurturing, and playful approach to brand strategy, styling, and storytelling. I’d love to welcome you!