Tarot has been a part of my life for such a long time that I forget that it’s not also a part of other people’s lives. It seems that most people are aware the cards exist and have seen them used in movies and on TV. Some go to a fair or a party and on a lark they get a reading. If they get a good reader, they will catch on that there is more to this than a deck of cards. Some of those folks come back. Some will get freaked out and never come back. There are those who know very little but believe they know enough to dismiss the whole business as evil and they want no part of it. Those people aren’t reading this blog so we can forget about them.
When I read for walk-ins at the shop I get at least one customer a day who has no real idea why they want a reading or what the point is but they pay for one and sit down across from me anyway and there are those who are curious but haven’t gone this far. This is for them.
A tarot reading is information but it is information the way Google is information: it gives the best results with a question or at least a topic. I can pull cards and tell you what they say but without a question or topic there is no context.
If I pulled these cards for a romance question the interpretation could be that money is an interfering factor in the progress of your relationship. If this were for a job interview question I would say the client did well at the interview, they would offer the job at good money, and she would have cause to celebrate. The question matters.
A tarot reading can give you a different perspective. When you are contemplating something in your life and spending a lot time thinking about it, it’s helpful to get another view of the situation. The cards are not invested in your preferences or your choices so the messages they give are frequently indifferent to those things. Sometimes this is just what you need to get a fresh look at your circumstances. Sometimes it will piss you off. Both things are useful.
A tarot reading can help you make decisions. When faced with two seemingly good ideas tarot can help give you clarity. The cards will ratify the decision you want to make but for some reason didn’t let yourself. This will make you feel good about that decision. It feels like validation. What’s also interesting is when the cards say the other decision is better. If you are disappointed by the outcome of the reading you might not be too happy with the tarot but you will know how you really feel about the decision in front of you.
Next time you’re at a fair or come across a shop with a reader, you will have a better idea of what to expect if you choose to have a reading. Be sure to have a question or topic and remember it’s information and advice. What you do with that is entirely up to you.