Tarot is no longer simply the domain of tall dark strangers & journeys over water. Stepping in to a Tarot reading can help us heal the past & manipulate the present to manifest the future of our dreams. Tarot is also the perfect system to fully explore ourselves & our relationship to the universe. A journey in to Tarot is a journey that takes us ever deeper in to ourselves.
The archetypes of the Tarot are the building blocks of the human experience, The Fool, The Lovers. The cards themselves are mirrors of the subconscious & can be used in therapy to access the root of a memory or behaviour in a visual non judgemental way. You can visit my Tarot meanings list for a comprehensive list featuring each Suit & the Minor & Major Arcana. On my Tarot Rehab page you can step inside each card for a tarot meaning video of each archetype.
Tarot Misconceptions
You might imagine a strange ancient woman giving you cards (usually ominous ones) by candlelight, with a crystal ball next to her, when you think of a tarot card reading. Alternatively, you might imagine a shady establishment with a neon sign reading “Psychic.” Tarot card readings do not necessarily take place in a dark room with death or dreadful prophecies. Tarot aficionados and professionals agree that the practice can help you get greater personal insight and evolve as a person. You can test my free tarot readings in the comfort of your own home, if you like the experience you could progress to search for a tarot reader near me.
How Tarot Cards Can Help You Take Care Of Yourself?
Tarot as a self-care tool functions as a reflective modality that, through images depicting archetypal human experiences, can help us better understand ourselves, how we arrived to this point, and what path we’re currently on into the future. Imagine having a wonderful (and typically snarky) life coach who can fit in your purse and is always there to assist you figure out what’s going on in your life and what you should do about it.
Much of the strength of this spiritual tool comes from what you choose to do with it, just like any other spiritual tool. Tarot cards are equally at home in prayer as they are in meditation or transformational journaling. The cards, on the other hand, have a lot to offer as a self-care tool, even if they don’t have any spiritual or religious basis.
They tell the tale of what it is to be human, and since you’re reading this, you’re probably human, so seeing your life in a concrete form that can be investigated, questioned, and modified may be beneficial to you.
Why Tarot is Trending Again?
The magnificent Moorish Revival flourishes of the 17th-century Tuscan palazzo of Sammezzano were a suitable setting for Dior to unveil its 2018 couture collection – a fantastical fairytale of brocade and chiffon exquisitely embroidered with celestial patterns. Le Château du Tarot cast models as figures from a deck of Tarot cards, from The Magician and The Fool to The Hanged Man and Death, in a dramatic 15-minute video directed by Matteo Garrone.
Since joining the business in 2016, Maria Grazia Chiuri has been using Tarot’s rich allegorical imagery into her designs, with airy gowns and even Dior Maison dinner plates (£650 for four) recalling Christian Dior’s “superstitions,” which included having his cards read before each show.
But, beyond fashion, Tarot imagery is appearing in a variety of media around the world, from a heavy Taschen book on the subject to New York-based photographer Nicolas Bruno’s filmic reinterpretation of the deck, Somnia Tarot, to the Tarot-reading art installation by Guangzhou-based twin-sister duo Huang Shan and Huang He (on view at the Asia Society Triennial in New York until 27 June).
Business has been thriving at US Games Systems, a renowned publisher of tarot and inspiring decks since 1968. “Over the last few years, our deck sales have been steadily increasing,” says Lynn Araujo, editorial and communications director.
“During the pandemic, the surge has been considerably more significant. “Tarot and oracle cards are widely available tools for making sense of our changing lives and getting fresh insights,” adds Araujo. “We’ve had to quadruple several of our print runs because they sell out so fast.” It’s gotten increasingly popular. It is no longer considered occult to read the cards.”
Tarot was not always associated with the occult. The cards can be traced back to late-14th-century Italy and a bridge-like game known as tarocchi, which was played using swords, cups, coins, and batons, possibly pictures borrowed from Mamluk (Arab slave-warriors) playing cards that found their way into Europe via Turkey. The Italian nobility would spruce up their standard four-suit decks by commissioning additional sets of “triumph” cards with lavish allegorical pictures.
Where Do I Begin With Tarot Cards?
Getting a deck that you like is the first step towards a Tarot reading. (And, contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be given your first deck.) It should have at least 78 cards and follow a standard tarot framework (some modern decks add a card or two to reflect the creator’s relationships to Tarot and the world). The Rider-Waite Smith deck is the most popular Tarot deck, and it’s a fantastic place to start because it allows you to use many of the books and websites that offer card meanings.
Your deck will most likely come with a short handbook, but take some time to look at the artwork card by card before digging in. Keep a journal nearby and scribble down any thoughts, memories, or connections that an image inspires. When it comes to using Tarot for self-care, the personal connection you have with the cards is far more essential than the traditional meanings.
Tarot for self-care is about you and what you need to feel supported and empowered in your life, not about what other people think. Consider, “How do I want to feel?” What sort of questions can I ask to make me feel that way? And if you’re still unsure, use your deck as a reference.
