Who are you "speaking to" when you read the cards?

[Kristin]

When you read the cards, are you using your own intuition/speaking with your higher self?

OR

Are you asking some other Source (Ancestors, Spirits, Angels, etc) to come through?

 

I've been reading Tarot for 20 years and I always assume my own higher self is "who" comes through the cards. As if I'm just unlocking things already known deep in my subconscious. I'm not really trying to communicate or ask my questions of another Source.

 

But recently I was with a friend who did a ceremonial invitation to her Spirit Guides before reading the cards. And it was a shock to realize there are other ways of using Tarot cards! So now I'm curious how many people are asking guidance from another Source? If you are, who do you ask in particular?

[Little Fang]

It's going to be different for everyone! ❤ 

In my personal reading practice I connect to spirit and animal guides, as well as ancestors. 

[Mister]

A calm mind is my preference, not saintly-calm, just nicely quiet.

A late aquaintance of mine used to shake his deck in his big hands and blew on them with the query in mind.

He never felt the urge to explain himself as to what he was doing there specifically, though.

 

Some also feel that there is "something" guiding them, those I know asign the job to a bunch of spiritual fellows with a supportive vibe in one case, to their ancestors in heaven and earth in another, and to the universal spirit of the feminine and mother earth in a third.

 

I did not yet witness any of them performing a ritual, in that specific sense. And I guess it does not matter anyhow, for whatever belief it is one holds dear will most likely be the most helpful for them - if the awareness is boosted by your concentration or if insight is transmitted by your guides, it comes down to being a part of how you interpret the layout, and if doing a real ritual opens up the "space where you can read best", all the better. Handy, even. It gets the job done.

 

And it has flair.

[devin]

It's very boring, but I don't see myself as communicating with anyone when reading Tarot cards, higher self included.

 

Rather, I see it as squinting at a series of randomly selected cards with interesting drawings on them while trying to figure out what omens are contained therein.

 

Squinting at Omens. That would make a good book title.

 

EDIT: I should add that I can easily see how Tarot could be used to communicate with spirits and such.

Edited October 20, 2022 by devin

[Raggydoll]

Interesting topic 🙂

 

I don’t think I’ve ever thought of tarot reading as communicating with my higher self. Back when I started reading cards I was barely a teenager and I think I mostly viewed tarot as an unknown entity in itself. Since then, my spiritual practice has shifted and I feel very anchored in my cultural context (Norse heathenry). These days I use divination as a way of communicating with what can be best described as my ancestral spirit guide.
 

The Norse concepts around spirit guides, gods and ancestors are complex, and there isn’t really a clear separation between those things. Which means that gods are often seen as ancestors and a spirit guide can be both a god and an ancestor. And they can also take on an animal form. Not that those details matters for the sake of this discussion, but that is basically what I am communicating with when I read cards or use runes. My guide is also a facilitator and can connect me with other ancestors or entities, so certain readings will involve that type of facilitation or channeling. 
 

I do not have a physical ritual when I do readings but I do have a mental type of ritual where I connect and put myself in the right state. 

 

[devin]

Speaking of heathenry: In days gone by, examining random things (card draws, the weather, birds, chicken guts, drawing sticks, etc.) was seen as a way of identifying the will of the gods. Upon reflection, I suppose I view card reading in a similar way.

[Raggydoll]

7 minutes ago, devin said:

Speaking of heathenry: In days gone by, examining random things (card draws, the weather, birds, chicken guts, drawing sticks, etc.) was seen as a way of identifying the will of the gods. Upon reflection, I suppose I view card reading in a similar way.

Indeed. And that’s still my favorite and most used method of divination! 

[Eric13]

This is interesting.

When I first read the topic, I said to myself, "well I'm speaking to whoever Im reading for" But, I realize now that I've never actually had, or considered myself to have any spirit guides, or spiritual influences in that manner. I'm a spiritual kind of guy though. And seemed my own so to speak. But when it comes to readings, as Ive only done them for myself for the last couple of years now, I would have say Im only speaking to my own inner self. Answering my own questions in the moment without any influences from around me. 

[HOLMES]

I spoke to a known tarot reader advertising in the winnipeg new age paper when I was teenager talking about spirit guidance and the power coming from cards. 

He said to me " they are just pieces of cardboard" 

I was flabbergasted as it deflated me.

 

Then over times I saw post over time by some who said they don't use any spiritual guidance,  and I was taken back. 

How is that possible. ? 

I read one of the tarot and psychology book and no real spiritual ritual is in there. 

 

So I did soul searching, am I wasting my time doing my praying, and spiritual work, am i/u wrong ?

 

Well besides the thing it works for me personally and how I would feel not doing my ritual/ceremony before reading. 

 

I thought of the psychicvsmediumvsspiritualguides debate when receiving advice that they go through without tarot, oracles in various book

 

I didn't know a serious school discount anything that doesn't come from spirit.  Including psychic impressions, spirit guides. 

The medium book I read, and I forget who as I haven't read a medium book in ages . 

But he said he kept his psychic development sling with his mediumship so the spirits were able to show him stuff and so forth. 

 

That reminds me of how for years if it was in the guist of a card like death card for example I discounted,blocked my intuition. 

 

But it snucked in there for I was telling my friend of a positive meaning I got for the devil card in a medium reading. 

And she pointed out how one wouldn't see that in the devil card. 

I realized my impression overcame or evolved past the typical meaning of the card.

 

So.. who knows!!

All I know is when the energy is gone, I can't read the cards. 

I could try to force it but something is definitely missing. 

 

[Raggydoll]

Thats interesting @HOLMES, and I know what you mean. Aside from tarot readings I also perform psychic readings. Those do not involve any tools, so I know that it’s something more than the tool that brings the message.
 

I guess it also depends on what people consider a Higher self to be. Does the higher self know anything and everything? 🤔 Would the higher self know about other peoples past or future? It’s an interesting thing to think about and I find it fascinating to hear everyone’s thoughts and experiences. 

 

[DanielJUK]

Of course this topic is all about our personal beliefs, we probably all have different answers from our own personal experiences 🙂

 

I picked up the tarot as a total sceptic and atheist and I do think our spiritual beliefs are an important part of this. As I learnt and studied, I had more and more messages, for me and for other people, I even heard messages and had intuitive experiences. I always kept an open mind to whatever happened. My theory then was the messages were coming from myself and my intuition. But also in a way they came from outside me somehow. Jung believed in a theory of a collective unconscious where we are all connected by our unconscious and intuition.

 

But sometimes I have read amazing predictions and had things come up that I didn't know were going to happen or facts about strangers I was reading for. That can't come from me, I do think things are coming from an outside source but I cannot say what it is 🙂 . So maybe the answer to the topic is both, I cannot say! I am frequently surprised and personally don't know what is my source. But it made me find spiritual meaning and open up to my intuition and be more open-minded about everything.

[RunningWild]

I think I'm firmly in the camp of a "collective unconscious" myself.  It's all just there, like accessing a giant hard drive albeit one that can see past, present and future and seems to have no data size limitations.

 

For me there is no worshiping or praying to some deity or ancestor.  No rituals around the cards at all.

 

I would be the last person on earth anyone would accuse of being spiritual.

[Chariot]

I have no idea who I'm 'talking to' —or who or what is speaking to me—and that doesn't bother me.  I only know that tarot works amazingly well, at least most of the time—and I'm still learning techniques and gaining insight into the cards themselves and how to work with them.  I'm totally not religious and never have been, so I'm quite happy going through life not having a clue how the universe—or the tarot—works.  I am a big believer in intuition and instinct, though.  

I do have a few rituals I go through when I'm on my own, reading for myself ...but they aren't based on any beliefs. They are just used to settle me into 'reading' mode and to quiet my normal thinking processes.  Kinda like meditation.  However, I also read without any preparation whatsoever at times, and that also seems to work.  So I don't know.

I love my quieting rituals—dimly lit room, large table spread with my white tarot cloth, candles, salt lamps, certain kinds of music ...theorbo is my favorite at the moment ...and a little pot of tea.  (Tea is special for me as I rarely drink it at any other time ...normally I'm a coffee person.)  And I do have a process for shuffling the cards that I use every time ...mostly related to getting them completely shuffled, including reversals. And I always clear my deck afterwards by simply replacing all the cards in their original order.  But that's it.  

[gregory]

I look at the cards and say what I see. I don't see it as talking to anyone; if I am trying to describe what I'm doing the only thing I can think of is that I'm using the cards as a mirror to illuminate things round corners we can't otherwise see.

[Guest]

The Self that simultaneously exists omnichronically in this mutable timeline. Possibly my angels. 

 

Ananke sometimes.

[Misterei]

On 10/20/2022 at 7:54 AM, HOLMES said:

... tarot reader ... said to me " they are just pieces of cardboard" 

I was flabbergasted as it deflated me.

<<snip snip>>

 

Yes Tarots are just cardboard and ink the same way the Bhagavad Gita is just paper and ink. Or the Bible. Or Koran. The same way the Mona Lisa is just paint on canvas or a Stradivarius violin is just wood strung with cat guts.

 

Ahem.

 

I feel Tarot itself has an Intelligence. Not each deck per se (b/c decks are just paper and ink) but TAROT has been used by so many people for so many years. The classical images and symbolism have been imbued with meanings for 100s of years and connection to Human Collective Consciousness of symbology, dreamtime reality ... or whatever words we call it.

 

I feel myself in a conversation with The Wisdom of Tarot. Its intelligence. I have learned to speak and understand Tarot's language over 43 years of conversing with it and studying its grammar and syntax.

 

I ask for clarity and help from my "sprit guides" when I read ... but this isn't about Tarot. It's a ritual to help clear my ego out of the mix when reading for clients or even for myself.

[Rafa]

I certainly hope that the cards don't hold intelligence or spirit because I was awfully close to cutting them with scissors a while back out of frustration 😂. At this point in time, I believe that the cards are being drawn by my Higher Self... Though, I often close my eyes while listening to relaxing music and I imagine a person who I have conversation with and shows me when to draw and how to interpret the cards. I think this person is just an extension of my Higher Self.

[Chariot]

Some take a very Christian view of the Tarot—in fact, the RWS deck is replete with Christian-based symbols, which can actually be slightly bothersome to those of us who are not Christian.  We can figure out what the pictures 'mean' and can apply the meaning to readings, but we just don't feel the source.  Others take a very pagan view—or totally secular view—of where tarot wisdom comes from.  (And also design card decks to reflect these views.)  Others feel tarot wisdom is incredibly spiritual, invoking all sorts of other religions and philosophies.

These arcane 'sources,' when pushed at people as true and irrefutable, can begin to sound silly, and devalue the tarot to folks who might otherwise wish to try it with an open mind.   The same thing happens with astrology.  Esoteric mumbo jumbo often isn't a convincing advertisement for a system actually DOES work if you give it a try.  In fact, attempting to explain the unexplainable can have the opposite effect—because you can end up coming across like a spiritual fanatic, or like a complete doo dah.  There isn't a problem with having a specific belief ...but sometimes promoting it just doesn't work for others.

I always say, "I don't know why or how ...it just works for me."  Which is very true.  I do certainly listen to this 'voice,' or whatever it is, but I don't presume to know where it comes from, or who or what is pulling the strings.  "I don't know."  Three of the most effective little words in the English language...right up there with "I love you."

Me?  I'm just happy the tarot exists on 78 little pieces of cardboard with modified edges.  😀 Wherever the wisdom comes from.

Edited November 28, 2022 by Chariot

[Scarlet Woodland]

I honestly have no idea and never will, so don't really give it much thought any more. Theoretically the "collective unconscious" and "my own intuition" theories hold most water for me but in practice? I talk to the decks themselves. I have very animistic tendencies so instictively attribute individual intelligence and personalities to my decks.

 

When I hold and shuffle a deck for the first time I start to get a feel for it. Is it young and eager? Does it feel old and powerful? Is it sparky and ironic? Reticent and cold?

 

I'm probably just a nutbag but it works for me 😁.

[Mister]

3 hours ago, Scarlet Woodland said:

probably just a nutbag but it works for me

 

At the end of the day, seems that's all what is needed.

I specifically like the way you pointed out the differences between theory (what holds water) and practice (what you ultimately do to get a move on).

 

It reminds me of another friend, a strict atheist, who, when in crisis, does pray to the heavens on instinct.

Now that he got closer to lives winter, he said "Seeing that the world is in crisis whether I feel it or not, I might as well start to pray regularly."

That is his conclusion only, of course, and not mentioned here for the sake of some religious something-or-other, simply to complete the story.

[sedally]

I think of it as trying to connect with my higher self. 

[FindYourSovereignty]

On 11/28/2022 at 3:53 AM, Chariot said:

In fact, attempting to explain the unexplainable can have the opposite effect—because you can end up coming across like a spiritual fanatic, or like a complete doo dah.  There isn't a problem with having a specific belief ...but sometimes promoting it just doesn't work for others.

 

Yes, it feels like someone is trying to sell me on it and then I wonder if they even believe it themselves - like, who are you trying to convince here?

 

On 11/28/2022 at 3:53 AM, Chariot said:

I always say, "I don't know why or how ...it just works for me."  Which is very true.  I do certainly listen to this 'voice,' or whatever it is, but I don't presume to know where it comes from, or who or what is pulling the strings.  "I don't know."  Three of the most effective little words in the English language...right up there with "I love you."

Sure wish I had been encouraged as a youth to learn the phrase ‘I don’t know’ - so much freedom in these three words. 
 

On 11/28/2022 at 7:50 AM, Scarlet Woodland said:

When I hold and shuffle a deck for the first time I start to get a feel for it. Is it young and eager? Does it feel old and powerful? Is it sparky and ironic? Reticent and cold?

I do this, too. Every deck gets a personal cup of tea time with me while we get acquainted. 
 

It varies who I am talking with or if they are talking to me. Sometimes I feel it is Spirit communicating through the cards to me, other times I feel it is me talking to myself, and I do feel the cards have their own personality. I liken it very much to how I read a book. 
 

 

[Strength]

I have absolutely no idea who I am communicating with, if it is anyone at all. It's more like this flash of knowing. I wish I could believe more in the occult or supernatural, but I'm so scientifically minded, I don't feel I can without hard proof of existence.

[Aliki]

It really depends but I'm usually sure before i do a reading on who I'm speaking to it's either my higher intuitive self or just my intuition by itself either just on myself in general or a spirit guide like past loved one i like to think is around sometimes i may try to ask the deck itself especially if it's theme related to something ethereal and focus on who I'm speaking to related on its theme etc or just the deck in general especially to deck related questions like an interaction question with the deck it self or an opinion to something but it really depends on the type of reading I'll do my mood or if i just wanna chill with my tarot or if i feel i should ask something/someone specifically

i usually also feel on which of the above I'll speak to

 but i like to have more freedom/choices and experiment type of journey in general it's part of the learning process and how you learn what's working for you what you connect with etc so i like to have an open mind