by K.G. Strayer

Most of our prompts here have begun with a Tarot pull to inspire your writing, but this one will reverse that ritual.

Begin with a simple exercise you may have written from before: a how-to poem. Write a poem that describes a routine you have developed as a result of COVID-19. Treat even the most small, ordinary acts, as something you must describe as a step-by-step process.

After you have written a draft of your poem, pull one Tarot card. Look up the traditional meaning and directive of this card. Then, change the title of your poem to “A Spell for ________,” with the word in the blank somehow relating to the card.

Imbue your everyday acts with a layer of magic. Even the very smallest reframing can transform surviving into living.