What Do Tarot Readings Mean?

Tarot cards are a powerful tool that can provide insight into one’s past, present, and future. They offer stories about life, challenges, relationships, and more. A Tarot reading is not about predicting the future but about the present, which can be empowering. Tarot cards are 78 bits of the human experience, and every card can have meaning to any situation. They can be used as higher guidance to pick clues and reveal the intricate connections between all of us.

Tarot readings are humbling rather than ego-boosting, showing readers the intricate connections between all of us. They help navigate life’s twists and turns and make the best choices for themselves. The art of finding meaning lies in the card design, tapping into an internal conversation between the reader and themselves. All cards in the Tarot are tools to help access our intuition by showing images that trigger something in our subconscious.

The Tarot is a book of wisdom, with each individual card representing an energy or situation in life. There are no bad cards, as they are meant to guide readers through life’s challenges and provide guidance on how to tackle problems and overcome obstacles. Download our free PDF guide to master tarot card meanings and spreads today to learn how to read Tarot cards easily and confidently.

What is the science behind tarot?

Tarot cards, a tool with a long history dating back nearly 700 years, have been used by people to predict the future and understand their inner issues, desires, and motivations. The major arcana of Tarot is believed to be based on the Egyptian hieroglyphic book of Thoth, also known as the book of Tarot. The use and interpretation of Tarot cards can be divided into two explanations: paranormal and nonparanormal.

The paranormal explanation claims that Tarot cards reveal hidden motives, portray opportunities, and offer a reflection of a person’s inner processes, providing clarity regarding questions or conflicts. The nonparanormal explanation argues that the entire phenomenon of Tarot cards can be explained by examining two simple psychological effects: the Barnum effect and “cold reading”.

Many standard Tarot decks follow the same 78-card structure, which is divided into the minor arcana (56 cards) and the major arcana (22 cards). The major arcana represents the main themes of human life, such as love, death, spirituality, acceptance, etc., while the minor arcana represents subtle mysteries of life.

The popularity of Tarot cards has continued to flourish, even in western societies, as it provides insight into how using the cards can influence our thought processes and mental state. Occultists believe that the cards reveal information about the quality of a moment for an individual, rather than predicting the future as if it is fixed. By creating more awareness about the meaning of a specific moment, clients can gain important insights and drive them to take control of their own lives and make changes that will be beneficial in the long run.

The nonparanormal explanation examines the use of Tarot cards through the lens of psychological effects, with the Barnum effect being the most emphasized. This effect suggests that vague predictions or general personality descriptions, such as those offered by Tarot or astrology, have specific applications to one’s unique circumstances. Cold reading, a set of deceptive psychological techniques, involves the use of sharp observational skills and a good memory when examining a client. Cues such as a client’s clothing, physical characteristics, and manner of speech can reveal valuable information that a reader can use to inform their statements regarding the topic of their reading.

Are tarot cards against Catholic religion?

Tarot cards and fortunetellers are practices that aim to discover the future, but only God knows the future. The Catholic Church teaches that God can reveal the future to prophets or saints, but a sound Christian attitude involves putting oneself in the hands of Providence and giving up unhealthy curiosity about it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church prohibits all forms of divination, including horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, omen interpretation, clairvoyance, and mediums, which conceal a desire for power over time, history, and other human beings, as well as a desire to conciliate hidden powers. These practices contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear owed to God alone.

People seeking guidance from tarot cards, Ouija boards, and fortunetellers may be dabbling in something forbidden by God, as they may open themselves up to demonic influence. The only way these practices can be “real” is if a demon works through them, giving false guidance about the future. This “real” practice is a real danger and can negatively influence us.

Is there any truth to tarot cards?

Early French occultists claimed that tarot cards had esoteric links to ancient Egypt, the Kabbalah, Indic Tantra, or the I Ching. However, scholarly research reveals that tarot cards were invented in Italy in the early 15th century for playing games, and there is no evidence of significant use of them for divination until the late 18th century. The belief in the divinatory meaning of the cards is closely associated with a belief in their occult properties, which was propagated by prominent Protestant Christian clerics and Freemasons.

From its uptake as an instrument of divination in 18th-century France, the tarot went on to be used in hermeneutic, magical, mystical, semiotic, and psychological practices. It was used by Romani people when telling fortunes and as a Jungian psychological apparatus for tapping into “absolute knowledge in the unconscious”, a tool for archetypal analysis, and even a tool for facilitating the Jungian process of individuation.

Is it good to get a tarot reading?

A tarot reading can help clients build confidence in making quality life decisions and find inner wisdom from past, present, and future situations and challenges. The session begins with the reader picking 10 cards from their pack, followed by discussions about the cards. The reader’s accuracy is impressive, as she can provide insights about past events that are impacting the client now. Although the session may be a bit confusing due to the use of other cards from her pack, the accuracy of the reading is impressive.

What do Tarot cards do to you?

Tarot cards are not fortune-telling but coaching tools for personal discovery and self-care. They highlight past experiences, validate current situations, and suggest future possibilities. Tarot provides a glimpse into the energetic landscape, allowing individuals to make the best decisions for themselves moving forward. It offers agency, not prophecies. Interest in tarot, along with astrology and numerology, has grown significantly in recent years, with social media providing a surge of divinatory and personal growth content.

However, learning to read tarot cards can be daunting due to the vast literature and rules surrounding the art form. Rachel Howe, a Brooklyn-based artist, Reiki healer, and tarot reader, believes that anyone can read tarot, and the rules have been used in the past to protect the art form. Now, anyone can read tarot, making it an appealing and healthy way to gain a stronger sense of personal agency.

What not to do when reading tarot?

Reading Tarot cards can be a powerful tool for self-discovery, but it’s important to avoid making mistakes. Some common mistakes include pulling out the deck immediately after a challenging encounter, choosing the wrong spread, adding too many clarifiers, looking up too many card meanings, and reading about others’ feelings or motives. Additionally, doing multiple readings on a topic in one sitting can lead to frustration and confusion.

Tarot cards and other divination techniques won’t work if you aren’t in a clear state of mind. While it’s possible to read for yourself if you have a preferred outcome, it’s crucial to be in a neutral, calm space to accurately read for yourself. The worst time to do a Tarot reading is when you most want the answer, as this can lead to a more confusing and frustrating experience. Therefore, it’s essential to be in a neutral, calm space when reading for oneself.

What not to do with tarot?

Reading Tarot cards can be a powerful tool for self-discovery, but it’s important to avoid making mistakes. Some common mistakes include pulling out the deck immediately after a challenging encounter, choosing the wrong spread, adding too many clarifiers, looking up too many card meanings, and reading about others’ feelings or motives. Additionally, doing multiple readings on a topic in one sitting can lead to frustration and confusion.

Tarot cards and other divination techniques won’t work if you aren’t in a clear state of mind. While it’s possible to read for yourself if you have a preferred outcome, it’s crucial to be in a neutral, calm space to accurately read for yourself. The worst time to do a Tarot reading is when you most want the answer, as this can lead to a more confusing and frustrating experience. Therefore, it’s essential to be in a neutral, calm space when reading for oneself.

What religion do tarot cards come from?

This literature review examines the relationship between Tarot cards and New Age religion, emphasizing their function in the contemporary study of the New Age movement.

Do tarot cards predict the future?

Tarot can help make big decisions, but it cannot predict the future. Michelle Tea suggests beginners start with a three-card reading from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck. Growing up, her family often relied on tarot for tough decisions, such as discussing a brother’s breakup or deciding whether to drop out of school. The deck’s iconic Rider-Waite-Smith cards can be used to guide readers through these situations.

What does a tarot card reading tell you?

Randomly drawn Tarot cards can provide insight into one’s life and choices, but they do not provide specific guidance or future outcomes. Carl Jung’s principle of synchronicity, which explains the guiding forces in the universe, is a possible explanation for the phenomenon of synchronicity. He believed that quantum mechanics could explain this phenomenon, as it explains the relationships of particles and their random interconnectivity. Some believe that Tarot cards could show paths and patterns, helping us understand the meaning in guiding energies.

However, according to quantum mechanics principles, once you see the possible outcomes in a Tarot reading, you change the probabilities. While Jung did not study Tarot, he was interested in I Ching, another divination tool, and suggested that synchronicity could be an explanation for how I Ching might work for divination. Overall, Tarot cards can provide valuable insights into one’s life and choices, but they do not provide specific guidance or predictions.

What are the benefits of tarot readings?

A Tarot reading is a powerful tool for self-reflection, clarity, and personal growth that can positively impact various aspects of life. It helps gain clarity and perspective, supports decision-making, explores key life areas, identifies patterns and blocks, enhances self-awareness, fosters emotional and spiritual well-being, deepens relationships, and empowers the path.

A couples date night tarot reading offers a unique and meaningful way for partners to connect and explore their relationship in a deeper way. It provides an opportunity to understand each other better, fostering empathy and connection. It also offers insights into relationship dynamics, highlighting strengths and areas for growth.

Improving communication is another benefit of a Tarot reading. It can reveal underlying issues or emotions that may not have been openly discussed, facilitating healthier communication. A couples reading can help identify common goals and values, providing a clearer path forward as a team.

Creating a memorable experience is another benefit of a couples date night reading. Sharing a tarot reading is a fun and engaging way to spend quality time together, making it a perfect date night activity that goes beyond the ordinary. Overall, a Tarot reading is a powerful tool for self-reflection, clarity, and personal growth that can positively impact various aspects of life.