Every October, as superstition’s cloak grows thin and interest cranks up, somebody at a Halloween party is sure to ask: “Are Tarot cards evil?” When the air is filled with pumpkin spice and candle wax, and the internet buzzes with images of black cats and Ouija boards, interest in the darker side of divination spikes. The truth, though, is far more mundane and far less frightening. Tarot cards are not doorways to devil powers.
They are mirrors, psychological, spiritual, and deeply symbolic, that help us discover the patterns that shape our lives. I’ve been immersed in the Tarot my whole life, and I can say that their power lies not in darkness, but in reflection. The deck itself is inert except for the energy that we choose to put into it. When people ask, “Are Tarot cards evil?” they often confuse intent with the tool. A candle can light a sanctuary or start a fire; Tarot cards can illuminate or unsettle, depending upon use. Much of the fear about Tarot is based upon misunderstanding. The Early Church associated all forms of divination with trying to go beyond God’s authority. Later, Hollywood helped by representing fortune tellers as spooky figures with glowing eyes and mysterious threats. The stories are interesting, but they have very little to do with actual Tarot practice.
The cards do not summon spirits, nor do they predict doom. They speak in symbols, the same symbolic language our subconscious mind speaks in dreams. When you sit down with someone who is familiar with the Tarot, you’re not inviting beings into your realm. You’re talking to archetypes that represent universal human themes: love, loss, temptation, courage, rebirth. The Death card, for example, rarely indicates literal death. It represents endings, transformation, and the release of outdated beliefs. The Devil card has little to do with demons, it’s our addictions and illusions that we allow to dominate us.
These ideas are uncomfortable, but they’re hardly evil. They challenge us to evolve.
Of course, there are always a few who trivialise spirituality, particularly around Halloween. Pentacles and Tarot cards are available in stores with plastic skeletons, dissolving the line between entertainment and holy ritual. Religious voices complain that divination invites the devil, and sceptics claim it’s all fantasy. Both sides miss the Tarot’s purpose: it’s not magic, it’s not control, it’s about connection.
Fundamentally, Tarot is a conversation between interpretation and intuition. Each reading is a reflection of the energy of the moment. Whether you’re shuffling the cards yourself or visiting a recommended psychic, you’re having a conversation that makes you see things differently. You may call it divination; you may call it simply self-inquiry. Either label suffices, since it’s an ancient art of knowing, rather than invocation.
When other people tell us Tarot “opens demonic doors,” what they really usually mean is that it opens doors to what we don’t know. And yes, the unknown is frightening. But so is therapy, meditation, or prayer. Tarot’s strength is its ability to uncover suppressed feelings. It’s not darkness that comes in during a reading, it’s awareness. The cards simply give a language to what we already feel but have no words for.
Our tarot readers have dedicated decades to studying the history, symbolism, and psychology of every card. We approach the Tarot as a mystical art, not a parlour game. Through a psychic reading, you are guided through your own narrative with care and discrimination. Every card is an anchor, pointing towards awareness, empowerment, and sometimes the courage to do something differently.
The connection between spirituality and fear is as old as mankind. Fear makes us wonder about things we cannot comprehend. Information, however, turns fear into curiosity. If you know that the cards are merely paper and ink carrying centuries of human experience, the mystery changes shape. You start to wonder not “Are Tarot cards evil?” but “What can they reveal to me?” If you’re drawn to journey through this in safety and truth, our skilled psychics stand ready to counsel you. If you’re looking for advice through London psychic readings or prefer an online psychic session, our readers are well known for their compassion, talent, and discretion.
My father gave me the greatest gift of my life, and he gave it against his own instincts. He handed me a Tarot set as a small child and opened a door in my mind that never really closed. I won’t pretend my childhood was entirely rosy, but Tarot revealed an endless alternative universe of possibilities I could escape into any time I needed to.
He was a typical Irish navvy, a manual labourer who worked incredibly hard, and a devout Catholic. When Tarot took hold of me, and I became obsessed with Solitaire the Clairvoyant from Live and Let Die, Tales of the Unexpected, and Dr Terror’s House of Horrors, he struggled. There were a few Celtic tantrums, and a fair amount of extra rosary praying, when I started bringing images of the Devil into the house. The truth is he had a devil of his own living inside him, as we all do. That’s a story for another time.
My mother, on the other hand, was over the moon. I used to cycle into Glastonbury and sit around the Tor sketching archetypes for my first deck. She would always encourage me to give readings for her and her colourful circle of friends.
Tarot gave me a laser focus and a chance to mentally peek around corners most people never think to look behind. Reading the cards has been a constant source of joy, and today I feel genuinely fulfilled. Inner peace, and learning to love your inner child a little more every day, is about as precious a gift as anyone can hope for.
Who would have thought a journey like that could start with a few pennies spent at a car boot sale. Thanks, Dad, wherever you are. You are a legend.
Our readers have helped thousands of people find their way towards understanding in times of uncertainty. Tarot does not confuse. Tarot illuminates the landscape of your soul. What you read in the cards is a reflection of what is already within you, your fears, your desires, and the limitless possibility of change. The real question is not whether Tarot is bad. It’s whether you’re willing to confront yourself honestly when the cards are read.
Want to try a reading yourself? Our free tarot reading engine offers nine spreads in Paul O’Mara’s voice. If you’d rather speak to a real reader, our psychic readers are available now on 0330 201 9600, or +44 20 3898 0125 for international callers.
No. Tarot cards are a deck of symbolic images used for reflection and self-inquiry. They have no power of their own, good or bad; the meaning comes from the person interpreting them and the intent they bring to a reading.
Views differ by faith and denomination, and some religious traditions do caution against divination. Many people who use tarot see it as a tool for reflection rather than an attempt to contact spirits or predict fixed fate, which is a different question from whether any particular tradition permits it.
No. Tarot cards do not summon spirits or open doors to anything supernatural. The cards work through symbolism, the same way dreams do, prompting reflection rather than inviting anything in from outside.
Not literally. The Death card almost always points to an ending or transformation rather than physical death. The Devil card points to the habits, attachments, or illusions holding someone back, not to demonic influence.
It’s a personal choice rather than a requirement. Some readers cleanse a new deck as a way of making it feel like their own, through methods such as shuffling it thoroughly or leaving it out under moonlight, but a deck works perfectly well without any ritual attached.
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