Tarot as a Tool for Living
I’m a tarot reader. Even though I have been reading tarot professionally for almost twenty years, I don’t always announce this to everyone I meet. There are certainly lots of people who are open to tarot these days, but many, many more who are not.
One typical reaction I get from some people when they find out that I read the cards is a shake of the head, an involuntary step back from me (as though I might be some sort of poisonous spider) and a statement along the lines of “I’d be afraid to find out what’s in my future!” Whereupon, depending on whether or not I have the time or inclination, I launch into my elevator speech about what else tarot can do besides telling the future.
The truth is, tarot could use some re-branding. Lots of people think it’s a parlor game or the ‘work of the devil’. If people have even heard of tarot cards, they often classify them as woo-woo mumbo, or they think tarot is only good for fortune-telling. And everyone seems to be keenly aware of the Death card! It’s the card most likely to be shown in television or the movies when there is a tarot-reading scene, accompanied by a dramatic blare of music.
But tarot, when properly wielded, is more about the power of the cards for self-realization and personal growth. Part of that power lies in how the question is asked. Let’s say a querent (person receiving a reading) is interested in moving in a new direction career-wise. With this imaginary little scenario in mind, I pulled some cards at random: the five of swords, the six of swords, and the ten of wands.
The five of sword shows a scene right after a battle. The victor holds a few swords and we see figures in the background who’ve apparently lain their swords down and walked away. The six of swords shows six swords neatly arrayed in the bow of a small boat. Two figures are in the boat being ferried by a third as they cross water that is turbulent on one side and calm on the other. The ten of wands shows a figure bent under a heavy load of wands who nonetheless persistently moves forward.
If we ask “What’s my future?” of this spread, we could predict that the querent would move forward and experience renewal, but with some strife and almost overwhelming hard work. If instead we ask, “What can I do to manage my career change?”, the perspective of the reading - using the same cards - shifts. Card one for the five of swords could be advice to first think strategically and see oneself as the victor. Card two - the six of swords - could be telling the querent to gather their thoughts and maybe even accept help in moving forward, but make a definite plan for moving in the desired direction. Card three could be reminding the querent that they have what it takes to go the distance, despite the heavy load.
Do you see the difference? Both readings are valid, but the second version gives us more power over the outcome. This is what tarot can truly be; an empowering tool to help us navigate the journey of life. Even the death card can be advice that the old way is gone forever and can remind us to focus on renewal. The next time you work with your cards, try focusing on what you can do to meet your future head-on and see if it doesn’t empower your readings!
