The Tarot is a marvelous tool for self-knowledge and self-illumination. It is always willing to show you where you are in your personal process. A Tarot reader can turn every or any event in your life into a lesson on the path of evolution. The Tarot enjoys showing you the inner meaning of events so that every event can be seen as an interaction with the spirit. With a Tarot reading, you can participate in your own evolution, therefore growing quicker, finer, and achieving illumination because the Tarot is a means to move along the path of self-realization.
Many skeptics believe that Tarot reading is totally subjective and warn those who try to understand the messages the Tarot reveals, or harness its revelatory insights as a guiding influence, that they are wasting their time. Unfortunately, those possessed of such a “Tarot negative” mindset are generally the same people who ascribe to the belief that if you can’t see something, measure it, or explain it in logical, finite terms, then it likely isn’t true.
By the same token, those who approach the Tarot as if it were a quantifiable scientific diagnostic tool–such as an X-ray, an MRI, or a psychological profile test, and expect it to be some kind of “psychic roadmap” to foretell the future, or a source that will neatly catalog the solutions to all of life’s problems–are doomed to disappointment and frustration.
Tarot Perception vs. Reality Check
While the Tarot can shed critical insight into past and present events and illuminate possible and even probable outcomes for current situations, Tarot readings are neither a magic bullet nor a foolproof almanac to forecast the future.
This is where the naysayers will chime in with their satisfied chorus of “I told you so’s.” However, one “logical” argument I’ve often come up against when discussing the accuracy, or more likely, the inaccuracy of the Tarot is the conundrum of why, if the Tarot is to be taken as a true barometer of past, current and pending reality, don’t the same cards come up again and again when someone concentrates on a particular question at hand?
Mathematical probabilities aside, a Tarot reading, like the weather, is impacted on a moment-by-moment basis by changing external forces and shifting conditions. Even with the most advanced scientific equipment available, weather forecasting can be remarkably inaccurate, especially long-term. The further out from an event, the less likely the weather conditions on any given day are going to reflect a forecast that was made weeks or even months earlier. And yet, those who are contemptuous of the Tarot hold up the cards’ ephemeral and changing nature as “evidence” that the messages they divulge cannot and should not be taken seriously.
Consistency Trumps Redundancy
Ironically, even with thorough shuffling and the passage of time, cards can and do repeat themselves in progressive readings for the same person. While every card appearing in the exact order, repeatedly, is the stuff of bad occult novels and horror films, those who find themselves truly connected to a particular reader and firmly focused on an issue without distraction will likely see patterns emerge.
Rather than being static, these patterns are influenced by the querent’s changing attitudes, perceptions, and actions. As new probabilities are brought to light, possible outcomes evolve.
Getting Attuned
I sometimes equate a Tarot reading to a musical composition. While the notes remain the same— the placement of the cards in a spread and their generally accepted meanings do not change—every time someone interprets a reading, they bring something new to the piece, just as every musical performance has its own distinctive flavor and variations.
The physical and emotional well-being of a player and the atmospheric and social influences that surround them all directly impact each individual performance. Now factor in the possibility of improvisation, something like adding a jazz riff, or blending in new harmony, sampling a reference track to play in tandem or counterpoint to something familiar, or maybe even hearing a favorite piece of traditional music played on a totally unexpected instrument, like Bach on a banjo–and the possibilities for variation become limitless.
When music is played live, it’s filtered through the experience of the musician, as well as impacted by the level of their passion and talent–and at the concert level, by the persuasive forces of the conductor and the synergy of the audience and fellow musicians. Unless something is pre-recorded, no matter how often you listen to the same piece, you’ll never hear the exact same thing twice, and so it is with the Tarot.
The Tarot is nothing to fear. Even if you are not ready to fully embrace the Tarot as a way to find or confirm your path in life, it can be interesting to learn the interpretation of each card. Contact a psychic or card reader today to experience your first reading.
The comparison between Tarot reading and musical composition is intriguing. Both seem to draw heavily on the subjective experience of the interpreter, which adds layers of meaning to what might otherwise be static symbols or notes.
The analogy to weather forecasting is quite apt. Like weather predictions, Tarot readings can offer guidance based on current conditions, but are not absolute certainties.
Indeed, relying on Tarot as a definitive answer to life’s challenges is unrealistic, much like depending entirely on a long-term weather forecast. Both are subject to change and interpretation.
The concept of Tarot as a means to understand one’s interaction with the spirit and life events is fascinating. It’s important to remember that interpretations can vary widely, much like any form of art or music.
The article presents a balanced view of Tarot reading, acknowledging both its insights and its limitations. It’s refreshing to see a discussion that doesn’t dismiss the practice but also doesn’t claim it as an infallible tool.
I appreciate the emphasis on Tarot as a tool for self-reflection rather than a magical solution to all problems. It places the responsibility on the individual to make sense of their own journey.