Tarot continues to gain popularity with enthusiasts claiming the practice can help individuals seek guidance and deal with life’s obstacles, big or small — but are the answers really in the cards?
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My personal Tarot journey
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Tarot is not something so new to me. A friend recommended I watch some readings on YouTube when I was experiencing the worst run in my love life two years ago. I watched a couple of videos and I remember resonating with some of the messages I heard. I kept up with the videos for a couple of weeks and even subscribed to some readers. I made it a goal in the beginning of 2019 to be more mindful and spiritual, but it wasn’t long until life got busy and I started forgetting to check-in with myself.
The arrival of COVID and the consequential time apart from others has seen people dedicating more time to self-care and wellness, and, for me, Tarot has become somewhat synonymous with that. In this ‘age of uncertainty’, individuals are being pushed to seek the guidance and comfort they can’t find in the physical world, and instead are finding solace in new-age practices such as meditation, sound therapy, and, of course, Tarot.
Enthusiasts say the new-age practices such as Tarot can be the perfect way to exercise spirituality and intuition, which is something that’s probably useful in times of isolation. The unfolding of tragic events in 2020 may explain why Tarot is having a moment in culture, even for those who shy away from the occult. A few weeks into my new ‘do everything from home’ routine, I’ve found myself clicking on Tarot reading videos on YouTube again. I even re-downloaded astrology apps that I used to check daily.
Taking it a step further, I decide to sit down for a reading with Toronto-based Tarot reader, model, YouTuber, and founder of LAMÈ spa, Pandora Saul.
Tarot Basics
The Tarot deck consists of 78 cards, each with different images and their respective symbols. Instead of the spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs we find on regular playing cards, the suits in a tarot deck are wands, swords, cups and pentacles. Each suit represents a fire, earth, water or air energy that entices the reader to formulate insights into one’s past, present or future, requiring some form of astrological understanding from the reader and the seeker.
The Rider-Waite deck is the most widely used set of cards by mediums. The deck is divided into Minor and Major Arcanas, each card presenting a detailed and theatrical scene containing fragments of allegory interpreted by the reader. Each reader has a different way of reading cards but typically, the middle card in the spread represents you in the narrative while the surrounding cards embody the obstacles or people affecting your orbit.
A New Age Community
Twenty-five-year-old pre-school teacher Julie Manankil, sits in front of her tapestry covered wall with lo-fi and ambient instrumentals softly playing in the background. She has only been practicing tarot for some months now, but her home has transformed into something like a new age sanctuary.
“I’ve actually always been interested in Tarot, I honestly just never had the courage to do it. Just like anything that’s new, it’s scary and you don’t want to get anything wrong,” she says.
Social media has been a powerful tool for cultivating and sparking interest in Tarot. Instagram feeds continue to flourish with pictures of elegantly laid-out card spreads, colourful and vibrant crystals and smoking sage. Additionally, members of the online community are eager to share their wisdom and knowledge with followers who are just getting started. The hashtag #tarotreadersofinstagram, has become somewhat of a global community where members give, seek and share readings. The mystical element of Tarot itself can initially draw you into the practice but knowing there’s a whole community behind you just might help solidify that choice.
Misconceptions
A tarot reading is said to provide guidance on various sectors of your life including work, finances, love and family. If individuals are specifically looking for some sort of fortune telling, they might be seeking answers in the wrong place. Tarot isn’t about predicting the future — it’s about reading the individual seeking answers. The visual images presented on the deck encourage us to dig deeper into thoughts and experiences our conscious minds can’t articulate too well. In a time when we’re anxiously waiting for the world to restart, Tarot can be a tool for self-reflection rather than definite prophecy, and how it is used is completely up to the individual.
“I would describe it [Tarot] as a divination tool into guidance and understanding yourself on a more intuitive level. Tarot really helps give us that physical clarity of the things we are experiencing – being in control of the way I navigate through life was kind of the end goal for me” Manankil says.
Related Reading
Should You Buy Your Own Tarot Deck?: Do you have a natural intuition and consider yourself an empath? Find out if Tarot is for you.
21 Tarot Card Basics For Anyone Who Wants To Learn How to Read Their Own: If you prefer it to be just between you and the cards, here are some basics to get you started.
Tarot reading is like a mirror — and the art of finding meaning is in the card design: The message of the reading is often found in the pictures we see on Tarot cards, learn how to identify it.
About the author
Michelle Ramos is a freelance writer and student journalist at Humber College. She has numerous bylines at local publications including Exclaim! and S/ Magazine, and dreams of one day launching her own magazine. Currently, she is pursuing a career as a lifestyle and culture writer. Follower her on Twitter @mxzchelle.
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