tarot cards have come into popular culture with he rise of new-age divination and spirituality. it seems like every woman now has crystals in her bra and carries around her tarot deck, and i’m so here for it.

the popularization of things normally associated with the occult and witches is really exciting. witchcraft has been part of cultures around the world since the beginning of written history. often, these practices we’re outlawed since they worked against the word of religion.

for me, divination is a direct link to the intuitive powers of the divine feminine. our patriarchal society has squashed intuitive thought, instead forcing logic to be the only thing that works. if it’s not within the masculine power, it’s generally deemed fun but not worthwhile. as society regains the power of feminine energy, healing modalities and sacred practices have come back with it.

although tarot cards do not have a long history in divination, they have been used in occult practice. they originated in europe as a playing card game, and then evolved into a magic practice. since then, they have been used in many practices.

this post covers the most commonly asked questions i have gotten about tarot cards and tarot readings.

1. how do tarot cards work?

   there’s not one definitive answer to this question. i am a firm believer that there are multiple answers to how the universe works, and you can tap into different practices and energies.

   in my opinion, tarot cards work through the idea that the universe gives you the information you need when you ask. this can be attributed to intuition, divine guidance, vibrations, spirit guides, or something else.

   no matter the source of magic, tarot readers use intuition to give accurate readings. when a card is meant for you, we know. the meaning of the cards is unique to each individual, and can change from reading to reading slightly.

2. should i get a tarot reading?

   if you’re being drawn to tarot, you should absolutely get a reading! if you choose an experienced reader, there’s nothing to fear.

   if you would like to get a reading from me, head over to my contact page or send me a message on instagram.

3. can tarot cards read the future?

   yes and no. tarot cards tap into the energy in the present moment. this energy can give hints about the future and provide guidance towards the best path.

   as we know from the law of perpetual transmutation of energy, things and energy are constantly changing. a shift in energy can change the outcome that tarot predicted. you are never stuck with what tarot predicts! you can change your circumstances by changing your energy.

4. does someone have to gift me my first tarot deck?

   it is traditional that you are gifted your first tarot deck, but it’s not required. i bought my first deck and we have a very strong bond.

5. what deck should i choose?

   there a million different decks to choose from! so many different colors, styles and artists.

   i would suggest starting with a rider-waite deck. this is the traditional deck, and it will make learning the meanings easier. there are tons of resources for the rider-waite and universal waite decks. if you feel repelled by these cards, don’t worry! use your intuition to pick.

6. what is the difference between tarot and oracle cards?

   tarot cards are a traditional set of 78 cards. although there may be artistic differences from deck to deck, the same cards will be in every tarot deck. for example, every tarot deck has a form of the fool, page of swords, king of wands, etc.

   oracle cards do not have the major and minor arcana structure, and take much more artistic liberty. they often carry their own unique meanings and symbolism. oracle decks normally come with a book that explains the meanings of each card.

   both tarot and oracle decks can be great for tapping into your intuition, but if you’re wanting to learn to read cards get a tarot deck.

7. i just got my first tarot deck! what should i do now?

   the first thing i do when i receive a new deck is cleanse it. i either set selenite on it for a few hours to clear any evergy it may have already absorbed during production and shipping, or i use smoke.

   after my deck has been cleansed, i like to shuffle it for a few minutes to feel into the deck’s energy. as i’m huffling, i take note of any emotions or memories that come up. i know i’ve connected with a deck when i feel grounded but in tune with myself. if you’re feeling negative energy, cleanse it again. if you still don’t feel great about using that deck, you may want to set it aside and gift it to someone else.

8. what is the best way to memorize tarot card meanings?

   i’ll let you in on a little secret: tarot reading is 70% intuition, 30% traditional meaning. how you feel about a card is way more important than the dictionary definition.

   when you first get you deck, grab a notebook and your deck. go through each card and jot down your initial thoughts about what the card means. then you can go back through and research the traditional meanings of the cards.

   instead of googling every card name, start learning that patterns of the cards. learn the fool’s journey, what each number and suite means, and get acquainted with court cards. this will make your readings easier than if you just tried to memorize each cards meanings independently.

9. why aren’t my tarot card readings accurate?

   there are two main reasons why your tarot readings aren’t accurate: you’re not connected with your deck, and you’re projecting what you want to see.

   if you’re using a new deck, you could still be in the process of learning how the cards read. take some more time to practice on your own, and use this spread to get to know your deck.

   it’s natural for humans to want to confirm our biases. tarot cards don’t fuck around. they tell you want you need to know, which may be painful or negative to hear. if you’re trying to warp and stretch what the cards are telling you into what you want, it’s going to make the reading inaccurate. go into tarot readings ready for the truth, not to be coddled.

10. what are the best resources for learning to read tarot?

    -biddy tarot has a vast library of modern tarot reading practices.

    -labrynthos is another modern tarot learning platform. i love the imagery they use, and they sell some beautiful decks.

    -ask a reader you know about their learning process.

i hope these answered cleared up the mysticism around tarot. if you have any other questions you would like answered, leaved them below and i’ll answer!

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