Is tarot about guidance or fortune telling?

[Guest]

Lately, I have been feeling that Tarot is mirroring me and reflecting my subconscious more than telling me about the future.

 

I do understand that the future is not set in stone and that things can change according to our energies. But sometimes with the readings I feel hopeless because it mostly shows me what I want to see. If I dont want to encounter a situation and ask for the future outcome, the resultant card would be a No. If I do want to encounter the situation, the resultant card would be a Yes. And this is when I do the same reading twice, but a week apart. And in the end, I end up in a third situation.

 

I think what I am trying to ask if you can ever rely on the 'future outcomes' that tarot shows you? Is Tarot really about predictions or is it about reflecting your subconscious? If it is about predictions, how far into the future can it predict? If it is about the subconscious reflection, that what even is the point of Tarot other than getting clarity on your thoughts and feelings?

[GreatDane]

Deep question, Tan.  I can only respond with my own personal feelings and experience, obviously, but I majored in psychology.  I inadvertently got into tarot through psychology.  I learned from someone who came at it from a psychological viewpoint, at least partly, so I see it more as guidance.   For instance, would someone rather be warned to watch out for something that looks like it's coming down their path so they could swerve OR be told hey, you're getting mugged?  

Edited September 22, 2023 by GreatDane
wrong word

[Saturn Celeste]

17 minutes ago, Tan said:

If it is about the subconscious reflection, that what even is the point of Tarot other than getting clarity on your thoughts and feelings?

Confirmation and validation can be powerful results of a reading. 

 

I do know a few times I've had clients came back to me 6 months to a year later and tell me their predictions did come true.  I don't know, perhaps they had finally just evolved to get to that situation but it was nice to hear from them.  I never read for myself but I will in the near future because it will be something I need to conquer.

Edited September 22, 2023 by Saturn Celeste

[Arania]

The answer is yes. It is both. I had some really frightening divinations (not about myself though).

 

There is very seldom only one outcome. Things can change.

[Raggydoll]

Tarot can be used for both predictions and guidance, it all depends on how you phrase your questions! 
 

And yes, I have found predictions to be reliable enough, otherwise I wouldn’t keep doing them! But if you prefer guidance readings then go for that. I don’t often do predictive readings for myself, I typically ask for advice and guidance instead. 

[FindYourSovereignty]

In my early learning days, I recall sharing that I didn’t want to do predictive readings. The person was quite taken aback and now I can kind of see why, but in general, my readings tend to be around the current energy and self-reflection, whether for myself or the client. It is my belief that the current energy is a prediction of where the future is headed unless we take a look at it and then decide to make a change. When a reading validates for someone that what their intuition has been showing them or what they feel is happening is true, this is very powerful as @Saturn Celeste states, especially for the non-believer. I now recognize that we are making predictions all the time. I am predicting that someone is going to read my post, that I will be having dinner with my husband when he returns from work, that next week my granddaughter will be coming over to visit, and that next year we will have paid off the mortgage, etc. There are so many ways these predictions can come true, or not. But in this very moment, my energy is creating all of these possibilities to happen.
 

4 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

Tarot can be used for both predictions and guidance, it all depends on how you phrase your questions!

I believe this is the essential part of any reading followed by going back to the exact question with the card meaning to see how it all goes together.

 

4 hours ago, Tan said:

I think what I am trying to ask if you can ever rely on the 'future outcomes' that tarot shows you? Is Tarot really about predictions or is it about reflecting your subconscious? If it is about predictions, how far into the future can it predict? If it is about the subconscious reflection, that what even is the point of Tarot other than getting clarity on your thoughts and feelings?

Yes, both, varies depending on the question, but always has the opportunity to shift based on a personal energy shift; the point of Tarot for me is to breakthrough the barriers and stories we tell ourselves and get to the heart of the matter. To discover why what I do, think, feel and say today determines my future. When I have this awareness, I can then get the help I need to shift it or stay the course. It is a beautiful thing.

Edited September 22, 2023 by FindYourSovereignty

[DanielJUK]

If it's only reflecting your subconscious, perhaps you are not reading impartially enough. I know that I have had readings that have been brutally honest and bad and also really good! It's much harder to read for yourself than for other people. One idea is to pretend you are reading for someone else, what would you say to them and not for yourself which is affected by your personal bias. I would also get someone else to read for me or get a second opinion here from someone impartial.

 

And as everyone else has said, yes it is about both! Predicting is much more unreliable and tricky than reading for guidance in the present. It's also a lot easier to read for things that are measurable outcomes. For example which decision should I go with, a or b? or will I win the lottery in 12 months time? The present reading will give you a much more measurable result and I love doing predictive readings, it's my whole area 🙂

[Nemia]

It really depends on your personal reading style and your inclinations. It can also vary from reading to reading. 

 

I'm a cautious person and I usually prefer reflective readings - looking into root causes, and finding out where we self-sabotage or avoid certain challenges. My best self-readings have been about my childhood and negative emotions or residue from negative experiences (shadow work). 

 

In my personal opinion, tarot works like the Royal Prerogative of the British monarch: it can encourage, warn and give counsel, and if you heed the advice of the cards, you'll design your own outcome. 

 

For others, especially strangers, I do some predictive readings, too, because if you plot a course into the past, you see where the path leads or where it can lead if you don't adjust your course. Once you have had your predictive reading and then act accordingly, you can change the prediction, and that's how it should be. If an upcoming Tower situation can be avoided just by acknowledging that it's heading your way, then I'll be happy if the prediction didn't come true, and the reading has done its job. 

 

The only kind of readings that I really don't like: Other readings, or, like I call them, Private Eye readings. What does he think about me? Is he still dreaming about his ex? What does she hide from me? 

 

If a question you ask the tarot could be answered by the person in question, then first go and ask them. 

 

However, all other readings are okay in my book, and one great thing about the tarot is its flexibility. 

[Mister]

To me, "what it is about" depends more on the reader than the tool, for a lot does play into it, amongst that, your personal leaning/affinity/bias ("LAB", in short) will have a main influence in finding your own Whatsitabout.

 

Also, the line between predicition and guidance is blurry for sure - which is not a problem at all!

The only problem is to disregard either the one or the other in a general way.

 

Personally, I am quiet fond of @Nemia's last sentence up there, with a little adjustment:

34 minutes ago, Nemia said:

If a question you ask the tarot could be answered by the person in question, then first go and ask them. 

 

However, all other readings are okay in my book, and one great thing about the tarot is its flexibility.

In the adjustments up there, you see my LAB at play (understatement of the century - everything I write on here is soaked in it).

To me, it doesn't matter if someone turns to the cards before speaking to the person in question - which may either indicate me being low on ethics *cough* - Or!

Simply a difference in approach.

What does matter to me, though, is whether someone is able/strives to become able to implement the chance for change the tarot provides them with or not.

[Misterei]

6 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

Tarot can be used for both predictions and guidance, it all depends on how you phrase your questions!

I name them as Prediction spreads vs. Process spreads.

Prediction spreads focus on the possible outcome. They're exploring likely futures based on past and present. They can be quite accurate even with regard to dates ... as long as the reader isn't trying to "force" anything.

 

A Process spread is exploring an inner spiritual or psychological process. The outcome doesn't matter. Its all about the spiritual or emotional growth.

I'm very clear which type I'm doing from the start.

I generally do Process spreads for myself.

4 hours ago, DanielJUK said:

 It's much harder to read for yourself than for other people. One idea is to pretend you are reading for someone else, what would you say to them and not for yourself which is affected by your personal bias ...

Predicting is much more unreliable and tricky than reading for guidance in the present. It's also a lot easier to read for things that are measurable outcomes.

Yes. Reading for yourself requires some tricks like @DanielJUK mentions to stay neutral.

I avoid Prediction spreads for myself unless its something really important like putting an offer on a house or whatnot.

Otherwise I stick to Process spreads for myself. Even then I might have to pretend I'm "reading for someone else" to stay neutral };>

Tracking the results of Prediction spreads is an important learning tool. Different readers may excel at different types of spreads.

4 hours ago, Nemia said:

The only kind of readings that I really don't like: Other readings, or, like I call them, Private Eye readings. What does he think about me? Is he still dreaming about his ex? What does she hide from me? 

Yes. I don't do these. They're actually a form of psychic stalking as far as I'm concerned. A person asking this sort of question is in the grips of romantic obsession and I know I won't be able to help them. I don't feel right to take someone's money to indulge an obsession. Clients pay me to help them ... and the client asking this question ... I can't help.

[Guest]

18 hours ago, DanielJUK said:

If it's only reflecting your subconscious, perhaps you are not reading impartially enough. I know that I have had readings that have been brutally honest and bad and also really good! It's much harder to read for yourself than for other people. One idea is to pretend you are reading for someone else, what would you say to them and not for yourself which is affected by your personal bias. 

🙂

Omg this is a very true insight. I become very partial when I am doing the reading because I care so much about the outcome. I never realised this

[DanielJUK]

Being impartial is a very difficult skill! We all have our biases, perspectives and things that are sensitive to us. Often we see cards differently to us, than when we read for others. It's a good idea to step back and look at the cards and how you would read it for someone else. All of us sometimes need to get second opinions here, it's fine! 🙂

[Chabendis]

Personally, I feel that asking the guidance is much more better for me than predicting. And, If I ask the prediction (which still isn't written in stone) I want to be somewhat aware of the circumstances, situation or context where I'm asking. For example, "if I choose this job, how does the outcome look like...".

 

But, asking for predictions in life can also be clarifying and very helpful. I just feel that they (predictions of any kinds, especially concerning larger life pictures) can be a bit difficult to handle since it really asks for sort of complex or deeper understanding of that why.

[GreatDane]

When I am doing readings for others, more guidance.  What I see coming up on their path they are not yet aware of.  I don't believe things are written in stone.  Wouldn't it be better to tell someone watch out for something so they may prepare than....you'll be hit by a bus.  That doesn't seem too useful.  I like to just caution, suggest. Give a perspective on something they may not have thought of.

[Laurelverse]

On 9/22/2023 at 10:03 AM, Guest said:

I think what I am trying to ask if you can ever rely on the 'future outcomes' that tarot shows you? Is Tarot really about predictions or is it about reflecting your subconscious? If it is about predictions, how far into the future can it predict? If it is about the subconscious reflection, that what even is the point of Tarot other than getting clarity on your thoughts and feelings?

Once upon a time, I did a reading for a friend who was then in her early 30s and wanted to have a baby with her brand new husband.  When I turned the first card over and it was the 10 of Swords, I got a very strong, awful feeling that the answer was "No. Not going to happen and there's a lot of heartbreak ahead of her on this topic."   I didn't understand why I had such a strong awful feeling and I tried to soften my answer.

It is now 16 years later.   My friend still desperately wants that baby.  She has a very successful career, that same loving husband, but they've never successfully conceived for medical reasons and her explorations into what it would take via fertility clinics and adoption agencies have made her cry in frustration countless times.  

90% of the readings I've ever done might be reflecting my subconscious.  Then there are that other 10% like the example I just gave which were pure divination and something I can't explain beyond being psychic precognition.  

 

[Arania]

Exactly this, sometimes the predictions are very clear, and it can go very far into the future indeed. The problem is taking something useful out of it when it is not what the client, or you, are planning.

 

Example here are my plans as a teenager to study and go into science, which I was well on the path to. A reading told me that nope, never gonna happen, and you'll never hold any job because your mental and physical health will have issues and you will have a child. I never wanted kids.

 

Now in my 50s I can see every bit the cards said were true, and luckily, after unexpectantly getting pregnant and having a school burnout (didn't know then i was autistic) and not being able to stand many people anymore, I remembered the infos in the reading and decided not to get depressed over it (too often).

 

Not working with infos in a reading when there is unwanted news is a common problem though.

[Chariot]

46 minutes ago, Arania said:

Exactly this, sometimes the predictions are very clear, and it can go very far into the future indeed. The problem is taking something useful out of it when it is not what the client, or you, are planning.

 

Example here are my plans as a teenager to study and go into science, which I was well on the path to. A reading told me that nope, never gonna happen, and you'll never hold any job because your mental and physical health will have issues and you will have a child. I never wanted kids.

 

Now in my 50s I can see every bit the cards said were true, and luckily, after unexpectantly getting pregnant and having a school burnout (didn't know then i was autistic) and not being able to stand many people anymore, I remembered the infos in the reading and decided not to get depressed over it (too often).

 

Not working with infos in a reading when there is unwanted news is a common problem though.

Your situation regarding that reading you got is one of the reasons I ALWAYS include an 'advice' card in the spread ...no matter what spread it is.  That way there is guidance, and possibly a way to avoid stuff happening that I don't want to happen.  I don't know if you got any advice with that reading, but it's always worth a try, IMO.  

[gregory]

Quote

Is tarot about guidance or fortune telling?

 

Yes. Why do we have to decide this stuff ? It's not about choices, it;s about reading the cards.

[Arania]

1 hour ago, Chariot said:

Your situation regarding that reading you got is one of the reasons I ALWAYS include an 'advice' card in the spread ...no matter what spread it is.  That way there is guidance, and possibly a way to avoid stuff happening that I don't want to happen.  I don't know if you got any advice with that reading, but it's always worth a try, IMO.  

The advice I got was "don't get upset about it, just live" or something along those lines.

[katelunee]

I think tarot is advice- or at least that’s what I’ve used it for. I don’t think anything is really set in stone but rather what you can do/what you need to for whatever it is you’re asking for 

[November]

Hello, for me tarots work better as guidance rather than fortune telling. It's very hard to predict the future (or at least for me), because after all you're asking about it from a perspective in the present, so you're inevitably missing some piece of information. This is why often you don't guess the card meaning in an outcome position, you understand it later, generally when some other event has taken place. I agree with Yoda in Star Wars here ''a prophecy could be misread''.

[ljmack]

I agree with most, Tarot can be both guidance and future telling.  What I like about the tarot is it gives an unbiased study of the past, the present, and the future if nothing is done to change it.   One can look at the options and the forecasted results.  Change is tricky.  Sometimes all that is needed is awareness and a shift of intent or positive affirmation.  Other times changes requires a more tangible response.

[Woland]

I don't know if there's that hard a distinction, between guidance and fortunes, at least in my mind. Sometimes my fortunes feel like saying "There's a southbound train due at 6am" and sometimes they feel like "You'll trip on your shoelaces on the way to the 6am southbound train, and miss it" and sometimes like "You should buy a coffee on the platform before you get on the 6am southbound".

 

They're all good <3

[harlowsimaginarium]

I think it can either or both, and its governed by your intentions and framing. I tend to use it more from the angle of telling the (potential) future but I never rule out self development messages. Often they go hand in hand. 

[Arania]

Plus, why having a reading abvout "fortune" if you don't want to be guided aboput how to avoid or achieve it? 😄