(Tarot Prompts for Writers)
Keep the image and meaning of The High Priest in mind as you develop a story. But go beyond the card — it’s just a tool to prompt story ideas. Leap from whatever emotions or thoughts the card inspires in you. Pen a wise tale.
First line prompts
- It bothered him, even after all these years, the way they kneeled so trustingly before him.
- The line of supplicants extended well past the churchyard.
- I have a bit of wisdom to share with you.
Continue the scene for another 500 words, in any direction you wish to take it. Change to third or first person or switch genders as you see fit. Make this an opening to a longer work or a complete flash fiction.
Character Prompt
Your protagonist has a lifetime of wisdom to share, a lifetime spent pondering the ways of humans and the nature of the soul and the rules one must follow to lead a good life. People are always asking him for advice, always paying obeisance, but there’s often fear in their eyes. He suspects they’re never truly honest with him. They fear his power. He seems to see right into them, into all the ways they’ve gone wrong.
Think about the High Priest and the ways that others see him. Create a character who has spiritual knowledge and institutional power — and imagine his story in a time when cultures clash. New religions have come into his world, competing with his old ways. How does he cope?
Consider the character’s exterior (species/gender/age/abilities) and interior (temperament/interests/beliefs/fears). Think about his history — how did he come into this position as spiritual leader? Did he go astray in his youth or has he always followed rules? Does he really lead the institution or is he a figurehead? How will he rise to the demands of the day?
Now show that character to your reader.
Planners can write a character sketch and a diary entry, maybe about something he recently witnessed that bodes ill for the future.
Pantsers can write a scene of the character interacting with supplicants, maybe discussing a crime against a believer of the new religion.
Thematic Prompts
Wisdom of the ages.
A shepherd leads his flock.
An ancient book of scripture is discovered.
Freewrite for five minutes on any of these themes. Wax poetic. Shine your wisdom on it.
Happy writing!
Images on this page are by the following artists:
Banner, left to right: Marseilles deck engraved by Nicolas Conver; Dragon Tarot illustrated by Roger and Linda Garland; Tarot Balbi by Domenico Balbi; Gilded Tarot by Ciro Marchetti; Radiant Rider-Waite deck illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith; Druid Craft deck illustrated by Will Worthington (also featured alone in mid-page).
Catherine Austen 