What is the Tarot?
Tarot has become one of the most recognized tools in modern spirituality, yet its origins and true purpose are often misunderstood. At its core, tarot isn’t about predicting the future! So no matter what you’ve read or heard online, please know that Tarot is about reflection, insight, and connecting with your own inner wisdom. That TikTok influencer who told you your ex is coming back, holding up a Tarot card as proof? Nope. That’s nonsense. Don’t let the misuse of this tool discourage you from actually using its powerful reflective energies!
A Brief History
Tarot cards trace their history back to the 15th century, when they were first used as parlor and card games in Europe. Over time, spiritual practitioners began to recognize the symbolic power in the imagery of the cards and started using them as a means of divination and self-reflection. What began as a simple deck of playing cards evolved into a spiritual tool for personal growth and intuitive guidance.
A Mirror for the Soul
Each tarot card represents a unique archetype, or a symbolic image or idea that reflects a universal aspect of the human experience. When you draw cards, they act as mirrors for your current situation, emotions, and choices. Rather than dictating your fate, the cards help you explore what’s already within you. Tarot doesn’t tell you what will happen. You ask a question, focus on the question, shuffle and pull cards, and it helps you understand the energies at play so you can make empowered decisions. In this way, tarot becomes a conversation between your conscious self, your intuition, and your spiritual guides.
Guidance, Not Prediction
Contrary to common belief, tarot is not meant to predict the future. The future is not fixed! It’s something you actively create through your choices and actions. Instead, tarot offers insight into the present moment and the possible directions your energy is moving toward. The cards can reveal patterns, highlight unseen influences, and bring forward the messages your guides want you to receive. Through this guidance, you gain clarity to navigate your path with more awareness and confidence.
The Energy of the Cards
Major Arcana: The Major Arcana cards represent significant archetypal energies, or major themes or life lessons that shape your spiritual journey. They speak to transformation, growth, and the cycles of life that lead to greater self-awareness. Each Major card has a unique meaning for its upright and reversed position.
Minor Arcana: The Minor Arcana cards reflect everyday experiences, thoughts, and emotions. They represent the ideas, actions, and decisions that shape your daily life and influence your broader path. Each Minor card has a unique meaning for its upright and reversed position.
Together, the Major and Minor Arcana create a complete map of human experience.
Reading Tarot with Intention
A tarot reading should never be approached with fear or negativity. The purpose is not to predict doom or misfortune, but to bring understanding and empowerment. Every card, no matter how it appears, carries a message meant to support your growth. Reading tarot with an open heart allows your guides to communicate through symbols and intuition. When approached with respect and intention, the cards become a sacred tool for personal reflection and spiritual connection.
There is an abundance of free Tarot reading resources online. After you find a deck, start learning one card at a time, practicing different methods of shuffling, cutting, and pulling, alongside your journal. Don’t rush your process! We don’t believe in teaching any one specific way of using tarot; it’s truly unique to the individual, and you won’t discover your preferred method without practice. You can also hire a professional Tarot reader, but be careful. There are amazing practitioners out there, and my article on psychics will help you make an informed decision.
The images and archetypes within each tarot card invite you to look inward, trust your intuition, and align with your higher self. Through tarot, you gain perspective, connect with your guides, and participate in the ongoing creation of your own story.
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~ Noel (Spiritual Rookies)