Tarot mythbusting
In anticipation of tomorrow’s 30 Days of Tarot starting (you can sign up by becoming a paid subscriber below), I wanted to write a short post for those who plan to join in or are considering so.
Today I want to break down some myths that I often find hold people back from being successful at reading tarot cards, whether due to popular myth or just misconceptions about what tarot actually is.
Tarot is not evil. The cards are a reflection of information you pull from within, and can be used with other spirits with whom you commune, but they are not inherently evil, bad, or wrong. They do not open portals and they do not summon anything.
You do not have to be gifted your first tarot deck. I personally believe this is a leftover of gatekeeping mentality in the divination and psychic community to discourage new readers interested from learning in order to keep the power concentrated with the ‘few.’ You can and should purchase your first deck. There are many thousands to choose from at this point and the one you choose should feel comfortable and aligned with you. If you would like a recommendation on a good first deck, let me know. I currently own over 250.
Tarot is not just divination. While yes, we can use the cards to predict possible future outcomes, they are also extremely effective at showing us parts of ourselves we are otherwise unable to see. They are one of the best tools for introspection and self-growth. It is also one of my favorite tools for journal prompts and writing exercises.
Tarot decks do have personalities. The more you handle different decks, the more you will notice this. When choosing a deck, if one that you pick up or look at just doesn’t vibe with you, don’t buy it. Similarly if one feels familiar and welcoming, it is usually a sign that you will get good readings and develop a great relationship with that particular deck.
You do not have to have an elaborate preparation ceremony in order to read the cards. If you like drama and ceremonies, have at it. Cleanse your space with smoke and incense, cast a circle, pray, ceremonially bathe, fast for a week prior, whatever floats your boat. You can also just sit down and literally pull a card in your living room on a Tuesday night. How you read cards is entirely between you and your cards.
You can let others handle your deck. This one has a caveat in my opinion. You can let others you are reading for handle the deck. I prefer to have the querent (the person who is asking the questions) be the one who shuffles, and that necessitates that they handle the cards. Outside of that, I do not let others just play with my cards. Other people’s energy can imprint on your deck and its not a big deal if that happens, as it is relatively simple to cleanse a deck. If you plan to read for others, consider buying more than one deck and keeping one that you’ll only ever read for yourself from.
You do not have to be a psychic to read tarot. Just as tarot is not all about divination, it does not require that the reader possess profound psychic talents. I will argue that all humans do have psychic abilities, and some have simply suppressed them over time but can re-connect with them and develop them, the skills involved in reading the cards are intuitive (which is related to psychism), and you do have intuition, so don’t worry!
Hopefully that clears up some myths that you may have heard about tarot. It is such a fantastic tool for getting to know yourself and seeing all the potential you have within.
If you have not already signed for 30 Days of Tarot, which starts tomorrow, you can subscribe below to receive those lessons each day!