Why Tarot Reading Is An Exercise In Futility?

Tarot cards, despite their popularity, can be a self-defeating activity. The act of seeking answers and guidance from external sources can hinder personal growth and self-confidence. Tarot card readings can help address or overcome self-sabotage by recognizing and acknowledging patterns or beliefs that contribute to self-defeating behavior. They provide insights and can help with self-awareness, clarity, creativity, and intuition.

The Major and Minor Arcana, which reflect the collective unconscious, are important to understand. Tarot cards can help identify and overcome 30 types of self-sabotage that hold individuals back from achieving their goals and happiness. By understanding the history, theories, and effects of Tarot cards as a tool for self-reflection and mental health, readers can access their intuition and inner wisdom, rather than predicting the future.

Tarot readings are not only about intuition but also show up in the exact right order to get the point across. The cards make us think about issues from different perspectives, allowing the critic to masquerade as our authentic self by using past experiences that haunt us. This critic keeps us in a weakened, vulnerable state where we can create problems and self-defeating behavior.

The use of Tarot cards during lockdown is a popular form of play and experimentation with the idea of the self, packed with ritual, narrative, and symbol. However, the reliability of reading tarot cards depends on whether Andy has good reasons to believe it is reliable about the topic, while reading crystal balls is not. If we have malicious or evil intentions, the tarot can guide us to self-destruction.

In conclusion, Tarot cards offer valuable insights and can help individuals overcome self-sabotage and improve their mental health and well-being.

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.

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 tarot a form of therapy?

Tarot cards may not be a viable alternative for those seeking therapy for specific mental illness and trauma due to lack of research into their therapeutic potential. While they offer self-reflection and new perspectives, they lack the scientific foundation, professional guidance, and empirical evidence to be considered an alternative to therapy. Additionally, many Tarot readers lack qualifications or training, leaving more room for malpractice and potential bias.

As a self-taught Tarot reader, some people bring up emotions and issues that might require a more traditional medical approach, such as a clinical psychologist. Instead, they offer a community-based warm space to air out emotions, rather than diagnosing or providing medication.

Do tarot cards really work?

Tarot readings can be an empowering and insightful tool for self-discovery and future direction. A professional tarot reader can help you understand your goals and desires, providing insight into your situation and guiding you towards the best actions for your love life, career, or other questions. They can also reveal the motivations of others and predict potential outcomes of decisions. A good tarot reading can provide clarity and help heal anxiety.

However, it is crucial to prepare thoroughly for your first reading to fully benefit from the experience. A good tarot reading can provide valuable insights into your future and help you make informed decisions.

Why don’t tarot cards work?

The interpretation of a tarot card depends on the questions asked, card combinations used, and spreads used. Standard card meanings may not be suitable for a specific context. It’s important to ask “How can I interpret this card in this specific reading?” instead of “What does this card mean?” This approach is not taught in courses like my Tarot Foundations program, which covers all 78 tarot cards.

What was the original purpose of tarot?

Tarot cards were initially used for entertainment and diversion, but their use evolved over time. In the 18th century, Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Alliette wrote a book linking tarot cards to divination, assigning meaning to each card based on astronomy, elements, and the Egyptian Book of Thoth. He also assigned a specific order and spread to the cards, now known as Etteilla, which is associated with the origin of tarot card readings for divination. This shift in style and usage of tarot cards has influenced the modern interpretation of divination readings.

What tarot card means corruption?

The term “hermit” is derived from the Greek word “ermos,” which signifies solitude and seclusion. In its original context, it was used to describe a person who lived in solitude, exhibiting prudence and circumspection. However, in later times, the term acquired a more negative connotation, denoting treason, dissimulation, roguery, and corruption. In contrast, when written in reverse, it can signify concealment, disguise, policy, fear, and unreasoned caution.

What is the psychology behind Tarot cards?

Tarot readings involve the use of symbolism, intuition, and the human psyche to access the collective unconscious and deeper layers of awareness. This process aligns with psychological concepts like archetypes, symbolism, and narrative therapy, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and symbolism in shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world. Three factors contributing to transformation following a tarot session include positive expectations, the placebo effect, and the belief in the effectiveness of the treatment. This optimistic outlook can lead to real improvements in well-being.

Are Tarot cards mysticism?

Tarot cards, originally used by Italian nobles and aristocrats as playing cards, evolved into a cornerstone of mysticism and spiritual exploration. They were initially used for skill, strategy, and luck in a game called “tarocchi”. However, they also had hidden potential for unraveling life’s mysteries, divining the future, and exploring the human psyche. Italy played a significant role in this transformation, with the Visconti-Sforza deck, created in the mid-15th century for the Duke of Milan, being one of the earliest surviving tarot decks. The deck’s intricate imagery and symbolism hint at a deeper, more mystical purpose, yet to be fully revealed.

What did Carl Jung say about tarot cards?

In his concept of “Individuation,” Jung suggests that the Tarot can be utilized as a tool for personal growth and self-development. This is achieved by enabling intuitive knowing in the conscious mind through the accessing of subconscious information.

Is tarot good for mental health?

Tarot readings have been demonstrated to be beneficial for some individuals, as they encourage intentional reflection on life themes, circumstances, and self-perception, which may in turn lead to improvements in mental health.