About 6 months ago I bought my first tarot deck and since the moment I picked it up for the first time it’s had a huge influence. I know that for a lot of people tarot seems like hocus pocus, either a complete scam which preys on the vulnerable or something reserved for witches or at least those who love a cloak. While I am a proud cloak (thanks Elizabeth Suzann) wearer, tarot for me is about reflection and intimacy.
The wonderful Sarah Hughes wrote a piece for the Guardian about the rise of tarot lovers like me, who are new to the cards and using them as a tool for focus:
“People are clearly looking for other ideas, and I think tarot allows us to consider where we fit in the universe. It works as somewhere you can go in with a problem and come out feeling clearer and better about the world.”
Sarah’s article is far more articulate than I could ever be, but I also want to share my own story. I think hearing it first person makes a difference. I also just love talking about things I love.
I can’t lie, I was initially drawn into Tarot because of the beauty of the cards. There’s a deck out there in every style imaginable. My first tarot loves were the slightly more old fashioned ones which draw on religious imagery and medieval aesthetics. But my deck is Caitlin Keegan’s Illuminated Tarot which is bright and bold, something altogether more modern. Then you’ve got decks like Adam JK’s which strip the illustrations back to their purely symbolic form.
Whatever your preference, you can’t deny that tarot decks are works of art. Not only that they’re works of art you’re encouraged to interact with, to engage with, to make your own meaning out of over and over again.
That’s why I love them.
For me, Tarot isn’t about predicting the future. It’s not a magic 8 ball or Bill and Ted. It’s a visually engaging lens through which you’re encouraged to make your own meaning.
Currently, I do a daily reading with a single card. I like to use that reading as a bit of motivation for that day. I end up shaping how I reflect on what’s happened with the card in mind, trying to see how my story could be a part of that universe.
Now, I know some people would see that as me trying to force the card to come true. But it doesn’t matter if it’s “true”, whatever that may mean, for me. What’s more important is that it gives me a new perspective with which to look at my day. It gets me out of my head and out of my set brain paths. As someone who suffers quite seriously with anxiety, that’s pretty much magic for me.
I also like to do bigger readings when I start a project, or I just want to do some more reflection. Again these readings for me are about trying to look at my plans in a new light. They’re proved to be a source of inspiration. Using the cards also helps me dig to my underlying fears or motivations far quicker than just thinking to myself. They push me to find solutions and to confront my real demons.
So, that’s why Tarot is an increasing force in my life. Expect it to become an increasing influence in my artwork as well.
But for now I just want to learn more.
I’ve been so curious about tarot for so long now! One of my besties collects decks (I’m pretty sure she has something like 30+ decks) and used to use them regularly, but has sort of fallen out of it recently. I’ve never really looked deeply into how they work so for me they’re just surrounded by this layer of mystique.
I do love your explanation for how you fell in love with tarot, and it makes me even more curious about exploring tarot myself. It’s so easy to just accept the day’s events as they are without any real reflection sometimes. Having a tool to help change your perspective and give yourself a moment to actually stop and think about the day’s events and how they’re shaped by the things around you, I think that’s a pretty positive thing.
I’m curious, has the card you pulled ever negatively affected your day? Like it has ever made you fear something you might not have been thinking about otherwise?
I can definitely see myself becoming a deck collector! There are so many lovely ones out there, I’ve got my eye on at least 3 more.
I’ve yet to pull a card that’s made me feel any more negative, but they have made me more aware of the things that are already on my mind and encouraged me to confront them a bit more if that makes sense? I picked the 9 of spades the other day (the thoughts that keep a person awake, a struggle to make sense of events) and it pushed me to reflect on why I’d been feeling worried.