This past summer I again participated in the Poetry Postcard Fest. I found some beautiful postcards on the Internet based on the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck and ordered them to use to inspire the 31 poems I would send to the poets on my list.
The idea of the Postcard Fest is to write a poem a day in August (although this year we could begin in July which I did), inscribe them on postcards and mail them to my set of poets. I had people all across the country from Florida to Chicago to Massachusetts to California and Canada and a couple fairly close by as well.
My process mixed my psychic side with my poetry. I would read the name of the intended person, meditate and then select the card Spirit sent me for them. Since all of the other poets were strangers (except one), this was quite interesting for me. Then I examined the card closely to decide which aspect of it would drive the poem. It could be the ancient meaning of the card. It might be the illustration of the central image. A couple of times it was the number. Quite a few of the poems were inspired by something in the background or another small detail.
It is not easy to write a poem a day or even every other day. I tried not to be too critical. These were meant to be brief, intuitive pieces. If I wanted to, I could revise and expand them later. Forcing myself to create primarily through quickly received words and images rather than thought, was liberating. I do this with all poems to an extent, but the postcard practice was even more specifically ‘channeled.’
I was generally very pleased with what came through! One person actually sent me a card later telling me how much she appreciated the postcard and the poem and how much they helped her. She said she kept the card pinned to her bulletin board as a daily reminder. What a wonderful affirmation! This was one of the poems that I thought was the most successful.
I also received beautiful, inspiring postcards. Some of the poets created the art for the cards they sent. And I loved each little poem meant just for me, mailed often from hundreds or thousands of miles away. The poetry postcard event is always a highlight of my poetry year.
Using the Tarot as an inspiration, I was reminded not to write about the card as much as through it. Tarot is a Portal into higher and collective consciousness. Anything including nature or memory can be such a gateway. I am so thrilled my August experience once again helped me to expand and fall in love with my poetry practice.