How Do Tarot Readings and Cards Work

Tarot cards and divination have been the centre of controversy for decades, with people often assuming them to be diabolic or somehow ‘evil’ in nature. Fortunately, it seems as though within the last few years, more people are becoming interested in spirituality and tarot cards.

Now, if you’re reading this, then you’re most likely wondering how tarot cards work - different people might tell you different things, it all depends on personal views and the spiritual connection someone has with their cards, but the simple explanation to this question is: Tarot cards are a device. They’re a means to an end, a tool to be used.

No, It Is Not ‘Fortune-Telling’

Tarot cards can’t tell your whole future with absolute certainty - what they actually do is give advice and insight into any given situation, relationship or problem. ‘Fortune-telling’ is a term that’s often used when it comes to tarot readings, but it’s a confusing and misguided term. People tend to think that whatever message the reading is trying to convey is definitely going to happen, especially if it’s ‘bad’. Hollywood films are to blame for this negative connotation of ‘fortune tellers’, as in many movies, a protagonist who has their ‘fortune told’ will choose The Devil or Death card and have something terrible happen to them. This is ridiculous, in my opinion, and has instilled decades’ worth of moral panic when it comes to the art of tarot.

The True Purpose of Tarot Cards

The cards tell you the most likely future outcome - this isn’t the only possible path you can take, and it’s not absolute. When provided with a negative reading it should serve as a friendly warning to change something in your life and prevent it from happening. Also - Death and The Devil aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ cards - there are no ‘bad’ cards! I believe that they both hold inherently positive qualities because Death can symbolise the end of something stagnant and harmful and the start of something new and joyful whilst The Devil represents freedom and self-discovery. 

Tarot cards don’t ‘tell your future’ - they are based off of your intuition and communicate, to you, what you need to do and what might happen to a relationship or situation. The drawn cards all influence each other to have one or several concrete meanings, a good tarot reader will take their time and use their intuition to see what the cards are trying to say. There needs to be a special connection between reader and tarot deck for the best possible understanding of its meanings. Tarot readings are a form of divination, which is the art of knowing the unknown. Pendulums and scrying also fall under this category. Divination picks up on the subconscious, spiritual network we are all a part of - every living thing shares a bond of sorts, and when Divination is used, it taps into this to bring accurate readings. 

When readings are done for someone else, your intuition picks up on their energy and this energy is then connected to your cards - linking them to the person and allowing them to tap into the knowledge of their life, past, present and potential future.