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Astrology Tarot New Age (Home) / Tarot
What IS the Tarot?
How does the Tarot work?
WHY does the Tarot work?
What kind of information can I obtain from a Tarot reading?
What kinds of questions should I ask?
Can the Tarot tell me WHEN something will happen?
Is a Tarot reading always right?
What does it mean when the reading doesn't seem to answer my question?
Will another reading give me the same information?
Anything else you think I should know about this?This is a very complex question -- whose answer is often controversial. I will keep this answer brief, simple and factually correct, but I invite those who are interested in more information to research it either in libraries or online yourself.
The origins of Tarot date back into the 1400's where it first appeared as a book containing pictorial concepts of major symbols common to the religious and spiritual teachings of many different cultures. It further described various personality types and recognizable life experiences encountered in the process of personal growth and evolution.
In time the pages of this book were disassembled into what became the 78 cards of the Tarot deck. In this form, they could be shuffled, rearranged, randomly accessed and otherwise manipulated -- at which point, it seems, an understanding emerged -- somehow to someone -- that certain patterns of distributing cards in response to questions, dilemmas or requests for "hidden" or unknown information ... would often result in an uncannily intelligent description of how certain future events were likely to unfold.
Thus the Tarot gained its present popular reputation for being a predictive tool, a forecasting prop, and / or a fortune-telling device. It certainly has general applications as such a possible source of knowledge and information. But in truth, the Tarot is a symbolic representation of the process of human life -- as each of us in time experiences it.
It is broken into two (or arguably three) different sections. The Major Arcana contains the archetypal symbols (vast transpersonal and spiritual patterns that underlie and support human growth, behavior, perspectives and experience) that are found in the lore and religious underpinnings of every known culture. The Minor Arcana contains elemental descriptions of human events, involving self-definition and awareness, emotional involvement and creativity, intellectual development and the use of one's conscious mind, and practical achievement and the establishment of structures in the material world of physical reality.
The Minor Arcana also contains the Court Cards -- sixteen distinct "personality types" found in the human beings all around us. Centuries later, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, based on the work of the great Swiss psychotherapist Carl Jung, has become a standard fixture in contemporary psychology -- and also depicts sixteen personality types, remarkably similar to those described in the Court Cards of the Tarot.
Another good and complicated question -- whose answer is likewise open to debate. Again, I'll try to keep things simple.
At its most superficial level, the Tarot contains cards which when randomly selected with a question, problem or request in mind and laid out in a pre-arranged pattern will tell a story to someone who knows how to "read" the cards. The story, properly interpreted and described, will often contain stunningly accurate information about the issue being considered.
This is perhaps the most controversial question we will consider here. I can only offer you the explanations that "work for me" . . . the answers I have reached over the years of my own study and involvement. If you prefer another explanation ... you are perfectly free to hold to it.
As part of his great life's work, Carl Jung, the Swiss psychotherapist I mentioned earlier, described what he believed to be the Collective Unconscious -- a vast repository of all human experience, a great theoretical "library" of information available to every member of the human race and containing infinite knowledge of the past, present ... and arguably again ... the future. We are all part of, connected with, and contributors to ... this limitless, creative source of wisdom and knowledge.
Jung also noticed and described a phenomenon he termed "synchronicity" ... or "meaningful coincidence." Simply put, he included, in his admittedly mystical interpretation of human psychology and experience, the observation, occurrence and "reality" of highly significant and coincidental events, experiences and sources of relevant information that repeatedly seemed to appear for the notice or attention of a person, especially one seeking answers or direction -- as if in response to the confusion or question itself. If this sounds like a form of "answered prayers," you'll get no argument from me.
Tarot then "works," in my opinion and experience, by combining these two extraordinarily subjective but nevertheless informative processes or phenomena -- the informed mind of the reader with its channel into the Collective Unconscious via the Tarot cards themselves (and the storyline it subsequently suggests) AND the sincere presence of the seeker -- requesting information or direction and thus inviting the arrival of synchronicities in response.
The answer thus achieved does contain information and meaning ... because there is intelligent order in the Universe which can be accessed and understood by a receptive and inquiring mind. After much consideration of the reason why Tarot works -- and it does to a remarkable degree -- and diligent study in a variety of academic disciplines, some of which only inadvertently support these concepts and this phenomenon, this explanation is my conclusion as to why Tarot works.
WONDERFUL question -- and one open to a great deal of misunderstanding by the myths surrounding and misapplications of this incredibly powerful tool.
First of all, Tarot reading is not fortune-telling. I urge you strongly not to treat it as such. I do not believe in predestiny, which is the basis of "fortune telling." Predestiny contends that the future is unchangeable and inevitable. I, however, believe devoutly in the factor of free will as a major force in the creation of an individual's destiny. The choices a person makes will, to a great extent, perhaps even exclusively, determine the course of his life and the challenges and rewards that come to him along the way.
Sometimes these choices are made on an invisible, subconscious level, where they are incredibly powerful and seem "fated" when the results occur ... but often they are made right out in the open and with conscious decisions driving them, and where the consequences, the results, of these cause-and-effect moments, and the chain reaction of events that produced them, are quite obvious.
Every one of us has moments in life where, as we look back, we can see clearly how different choices would have produced different conclusions, different circumstances. Some, we may view with tremendous regret; others with gratitude and relief. But usually there is no denying it was human choice -- our own or that of influential other people in our lives -- that set the eventual results in motion. This then is free will in operation, and it cannot be discounted in any sincere request to be prepared for what the future holds.
Even the concept of fortune-telling, therefore, is itself a myth -- because free will is an inevitable factor in the course of human affairs. Thus a Tarot reading will give one a picture of what events are forming, where the sequence is most likely to go, what the most probable result will be with the factors presently available or influencing the conclusion of the matter. But within that context, the Tarot can give an amazingly detailed wealth of information.
It can talk about possible events, influential attitudes, various people and other factors of significance in the matter. It can describe assets and liabilities -- both overt and hidden -- which might well be taken into account. It can talk about the most likely "next step" in the evolution of the situation ... and the more long term result. It can suggest things to emphasize, things to watch out for, and describe the "themes" or "lessons" an event is trying to help one address and learn. Used in this way, its depth and wisdom can indeed be quite astonishing.
For this reason, one profits greatly by giving special care and consideration to the question asked in the first place.
As a rule, you gain the most information from the Tarot reading by asking a broad, open-ended question -- one that encourages explanation and the delivery of available information. Yes-or-no questions can be a problem for the Tarot to deal with appropriately -- because of the limited choices available in that form, and, again, because free will is so consequential.
Thus, asking "What will happen if I marry X?" can give much more valid -- and valuable -- information than asking "Should I marry X?" or, worse, "Will X propose marriage to me?" (There could be tons of variables influencing X's choice in the matter!!)
As I will shortly explain, the Tarot can take on an astonishingly "human" voice in its responses -- much more like the response of a wise and perceptive counsellor than like the "toss of a coin." Whenever possible, give it its best chance to perform ... and inform. For this reason, I may suggest "rephrased questions" as part of your reading experience. Don't take it personally.
Also, do not ask compound questions. Keep them simple, direct, straight-forward and honest. In other words, don't ask, "Should I take job X or job Y?" (The Tarot may need to tell you ... "You won't be happy with either one. Keep looking," ... and it will have a terrible time making that clear with the way the question is phrased.) Instead, ask TWO questions ... "What will happen if I take job X?" AND "What will happen if I take job Y?" These questions open more channels of information and may prompt you to consider EVEN MORE options.
The answer to this is sometimes. In my experience, the Tarot can and does give information about when milestones or "turning points" in the development of a situation will most likely occur ... but because free will remains a continual factor in the picture from beginning to end, the timing of the choices needed to reach closure on an issue -- especially when other people are involved -- is much more tenuous than we might like.
The Tarot talks most eloquently about circumstances that exist and the most likely probabilities in its development. Indeed, certain events may have taken on a momentum and a schedule that can not only be predicted, but may be pretty hard to stop, all things considered. Therefore, the timing on something like that could be much more "certain" than in a situation where the deciding elements are still being assembled and the crucial choices are still incomplete.
You are certainly free to ask about the possible timing of events ... and I will include this information as a matter of course when the indications are strong enough to warrant a prediction. But it could very well be the "timing" of an event isn't set yet ... because the key ingredients in the final result are still coming together ... at their own pace, as always.
Ah, yes ... well, the answer to this one is ... yes, and no. Again, the Tarot talks about causes from the past, situations in the present ... and possibilities in the future. In my experience, with those things firmly in mind ... its wisdom, intelligence and advice can be almost eerie in its accuracy. And many things in life move in a predictable sequence toward the "most likely" resolution with the inevitability of a line of dominoes falling. But not always.
If you see a person walking toward a wall ... with his head down and his eyes closed -- not paying attention to where he is going, you can predict "He's going to run smack into that wall" -- and indeed, that prediction may come true ... if nothing changes in the meantime. But, if you shout a warning and the person looks up ... or if he suddenly recognizes his predicament by himself and makes another choice -- to turn, stop, or reverse his course, SOMETHING ELSE happens ... and the original prediction doesn't come true.
Such is the result of free will operating. The Tarot may have been very "on target" with a prediction concerning an event that needed some strong attention now ... and as a result of the warning, different choices were made and a different outcome manifested. Clearly in such an instance, the Tarot served its purpose well. But was it "right?" Well, ... yes, ... and no.
As a student ... and as a novice reader, this phenomenon was the most puzzling, discouraging and infuriating part of the process for me to deal with. It does happen this way sometimes ... and only through keeping written records of my own questions and experiences through the years -- along with the Tarot's responses, even at their most obscure and baffling was I able to see the pattern of what seems to be happening here.
There are actually a number of possibilities. First of all, your question may be invalid for some reason. This can be the most perplexing problem to grasp, especially in some cases that seem very cut-and-dried ... but your thinking, or your perspectives, or your intentions may be so off-target ... that there is no relevant answer. I have learned, therefore, that usually in the very obscurity of the answer, you will eventually see how the Tarot is trying to redirect your attention along lines you don't even know about and aren't even considering at the moment.
It may be that something else has to happen first, or some other issue must be addressed and resolved before your question even becomes legitimate. The Tarot will most likely then be describing these things in its efforts to give you the most helpful perspectives. Thus it may be dealing with preliminary information that needs better resolution or understanding before you can even get to the matter of your question.
It may also be that you yourself weren't fully focused on your question when you asked, thereby not creating the right environment for synchronicity to work its magic. It may be that "something else" is nagging at you in the cross-currents and inner mutterings of your mind ... and that "static" contains something the Tarot is trying to address instead of your more conscious question. (As I said ... at times the Tarot can take on an amazingly "human" voice with its responses.)
If the answer seems somewhat "off center" therefore, consider carefully what other issues in your life might be the subject of this information. What issues might be hiding behind the one your question appears to address? Is there some stronger background matter behind your question that needs a more comprehensive airing and understanding in order to see the true nature and circumstances of your concern?
Finally, it has also been my experience that the Tarot can show remarkable insight in choosing "something more important" in your life to discuss in place of the actual question you are pondering. Often the two will be related, but you may also profit more from receiving information about something else that is more urgent or more consequential than you may consciously realize. Again, I have found that a puzzling reading will often be using the opportunity to convey information about that.
Thus, when a reading "takes its own direction," consider very carefully what it has to say and what it is likely talking about, even if it exceeds or barely seems to touch on the matter of your actual question. This is likely a very valuable moment. And do keep the text of what your cards mean and what your reading provides. Sometimes I have learned that a puzzling reading assumes very understandable perspective from the distance of time and history -- and, indeed, sometimes, that's what it takes to appreciate the sense and sagacity of what a Tarot reading is trying to give you.
Again, the answer is ... yes, and no. Only with time and exposure have I come to understand how very "like another person" the Tarot can actually be. And "like another person" ... it seems to understand that it has a limited amount of time to convey all the information it possibly can about a subject or a question. Therefore, it will talk about the most important things first ... and subsequent readings on the subject will give more information, or information about different possibilities, or present additional perspectives ... but something "subordinate" to the initial theme of the answer.
Successive readings on the same subject -- especially those done very close together in time -- should always be viewed in this light. Thus a reading that describes lots of problems followed by one that seems much easier and more encouraging should perhaps be seen as telling you the most likely sequence of events and experiences and then another possibility that can be reached, often through heeding the initial information closely. (Remember what I said in Question #7 about listening to warnings and making different choices!!)
In the same way, a very upbeat and optimistic reading followed by a more cautionary one is usually saying ... "Don't get too smug and cocky. You could still stub your toe before you reach the finish line ... and here are the ways it could happen and here are the things to watch out for."
Also, when dealing with a very extensive matter, one consuming lots of time ... the Tarot will track "where things are at the moment," giving you snapshots of the progress, environment, and development of the issues that are working to influence the matter or bring it either into its next phase of expression, or to closure.
Used in this way, it is one of the best "advisors" I know to help you "stay current" on an issue, and to know what to expect next, and maybe what to do to wind up "where you want to go" ... when you have the ability to influence that kind of outcome at all.
Again, I believe "destiny" is a process always in the making ... and free will is not only a very real and ever-present factor, it is one that cannot be ignored.
Well, actually there are several "loose ends" I can think of to tie up here.
First of all ... ask what you want to know when posing your question for the Tarot's consideration. Be direct, clear, and honest. Don't try being subtle, or "cute," or sneaky, because I promise you the Tarot can outdo you on those points on the best day you'll ever have.
Related to this subject, however, be advised there are simply some questions I will not deal with. This is a personal matter, and we'll just have to work within these considerations. For instance, I will not help you spy on somebody. I will not answer questions clearly aimed at doing someone else harm. I know there are plenty of practitioners out there who will work along these lines, but I am not one of them, and I will not help you find one. If you're uneasy about asking something because you're afraid it "falls out of bounds" ... you probably should be.
Also, appropriate to mention here is this issue: When you ask a question, BE SURE you want to know the answer. I deal with this matter much more extensively in the next section. If you decide you want a reading, please read carefully my suggestions and advice describing points to consider and ways to get the most from your reading questions and information.
Finally, there is this: If you can think of another question I haven't yet adequately addressed, by all means -- ask!! You can e-mail me directly with concerns and queries using our Contact Us form, and within limits, I will be happy to answer.If you bring up points of information others might profit from knowing, I will certainly post additions to this list without hesitation.
We are all students and we are all teachers. And to make the most of our time in this life and the knowledge that is ours to process and share, we must always be willing to be both.
Most of the arguments to which I am a party fall somewhat short of being impressive, owing to the fact that neither I nor my opponent knows what we are talking about.
~ Robert Benchley ~
Born September 15, 1889
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