You’ve probably tried all the classic tricks to stay motivated in your workouts… setting a playlist, finding an accountability buddy, downloading a fitness tracker that reminds you (guilt-trips you, really) to move. But what if your next surge of workout inspiration came from something a little more mystical? Enter tarot cards—the centuries-old deck often used for self-reflection and guidance.
Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. Tarot isn’t about fortune-telling in the “you’ll meet a tall stranger” sense. It’s about perspective. The cards act as mirrors, reflecting back what you already know deep down but maybe need to hear in a new way. And if there’s one thing every gym-goer knows, it’s that fitness is as much mental as it is physical. Some days, getting under the bar or lacing up your sneakers isn’t about strength, it’s about mindset.
So why not use tarot as a tool to kickstart that mindset shift? Think of it as another way to spark intention and focus before your workout. Just like you wouldn’t hit a set of squats without a warm-up, you don’t have to hit the gym without a mental cue to guide your energy.
Pull a Card, Find Your Flow
Imagine this: you shuffle your tarot deck before heading to the gym and draw a single card. Instead of scrolling Instagram for motivation or relying on caffeine for courage, you let the card set the tone for your session.
- Pull the Strength card? Time to channel patience and inner grit, perfect for slow, controlled lifts or yoga poses.
- Draw the Chariot? That’s your sign for a high-energy cardio session or a sprint workout.
- Flip over the Hermit? Maybe today calls for a solo, meditative stretch session instead of a packed group class.
Tarot isn’t telling you what to do—it’s nudging you toward how you might feel about doing it. Sometimes, that shift is all it takes to get moving.
The Fitness + Tarot Parallels
Here’s why tarot works surprisingly well as a workout motivator: fitness and tarot share a lot of themes.
- Progress is a journey. Tarot follows an archetypal cycle (known as the Major Arcana), and fitness is no different. Everyone starts somewhere, and every step along the way teaches you something.
- Mindset is everything. Whether you’re interpreting a card or tackling a PR, your frame of mind determines your outcome.
- No two days are the same. Tarot pulls vary depending on the moment, and so does your training. Some days you’re the warrior, some days you’re the healer. Both matter.
When you frame your workouts as part of a bigger story—like pulling a card for guidance… you can actually lean into the ebb and flow instead of fighting it.
Meet the Fool in the Gym
Every deck starts with one character: The Fool. He’s the first card of the Major Arcana and represents new beginnings, curiosity, and the willingness to take the first step without knowing the outcome. Sound familiar?
Think about your first workout. You didn’t know what you were doing. Maybe you grabbed a weight that was too heavy, or you showed up to a class where everyone else seemed way more advanced. It felt clumsy, maybe even embarrassing, but it was necessary. You can’t start a journey without that “Fool energy.”
Even seasoned athletes channel this archetype. Every time you try a new program, experiment with a different movement, or set an ambitious goal, you’re stepping into the unknown. And while experience gives you tools, there’s always that leap-of-faith moment. That’s The Fool in action—reminding you that bravery and progress often look a lot like beginner energy.
How to Try It Yourself
Curious about weaving tarot into your workouts? Here are a few ways to experiment:
- Pre-Workout Pull: Shuffle your deck, draw one card, and let it inspire the theme of your workout. You don’t have to force a literal connection—just let it color your mindset.
- Weekly Spread: At the start of the week, pull three cards to represent your energy across your workouts, push, pull, and recover. Use the cards as reminders when motivation dips.
- Mindset Reset: If you’re in a rut or plateau, ask the cards, “What energy do I need to bring to my training?” Use the pull to spark a new approach.
- Recovery Ritual: Tarot isn’t only about go-go-go. Pull a card post-workout during your cooldown or stretch. It can help you reflect and integrate the mental benefits alongside the physical ones.
You don’t need to be a tarot pro. Even reading a quick description of the card you pull can unlock fresh motivation.
Why This Works
It might sound “woo,” but there’s psychology behind it. By pulling a card, you’re creating a ritual, something science shows can increase performance and focus. Rituals reduce anxiety and give meaning to effort. They also help you enter a state of flow, where your brain feels more engaged in the task at hand.
Plus, tarot is flexible. The imagery and archetypes give you something to interpret, which means your mind is actively looking for ways to apply it to your workout. That process alone can flip the switch from “I’m not in the mood” to “Let’s see how this plays out.”
Final Rep
At the end of the day, tarot won’t do the squats for you (sadly). But it can give you a fresh lens to approach your training. Fitness is about more than muscle; it’s about showing up, again and again, with intention. Tarot is just one more tool to spark that intention, and maybe even make the grind feel a little more magical.
So the next time you’re dragging your feet before a workout, skip the endless scroll for inspiration. Shuffle the deck, pull a card, and let the universe be your workout buddy. Who knows? Your next PR might just be in the cards.