Tarot and Spirituality: Exploring Connections

[SamiHirvikallio]

Greetings, fellow tarot enthusiasts and spiritual seekers! In this thread, we delve into the profound intersections of tarot reading and spirituality. Whether you're a seasoned tarot reader or just beginning your journey, this space is dedicated to exploring how tarot connects with our spiritual beliefs, practices, and paths.

Why Discuss Tarot and Spirituality? Tarot has long been revered not just as a divination tool, but as a pathway to deeper self-discovery and spiritual insight. Each card carries rich symbolism and archetypes that resonate with universal truths and spiritual principles. Whether you approach tarot from a pagan, Wiccan, Christian mystic, or eclectic spiritual perspective, there's a wealth of wisdom to uncover.

Topics for Discussion:

• Personal Beliefs: How does tarot align with your spiritual beliefs or philosophy?
• Spiritual Practices: How do you incorporate tarot into your spiritual practices or rituals?
• Divination vs. Guidance: Do you view tarot primarily as a divination tool, a source of guidance, or both?
• Ethical Considerations: What ethical considerations do you keep in mind when using tarot for spiritual insights?

Guidelines for Participation: Let's keep this discussion respectful and open-minded. Share your experiences, insights, questions, and even challenges you've encountered on your tarot and spiritual journey. Together, let's deepen our understanding and appreciation for how tarot can enrich our spiritual lives.

I look forward to hearing your perspectives and exploring this fascinating topic with all of you!

[SamiHirvikallio]

Ok and I go first:) For me, tarot has been a profound tool on my spiritual journey. I come from a pagan background, where I view tarot as a way to connect with the energies of the universe and gain insights into my path.

 

Personal Beliefs and Tarot: In paganism, we often work with archetypes and elemental energies. Tarot cards, with their symbolism and storytelling, resonate deeply with these concepts. Each card seems to speak a universal language that guides me in understanding my spiritual lessons and growth.

 

Spiritual Practices with Tarot: I use tarot not only for divination but also as a reflective practice. Before meditation or ritual, I'll often pull a card to set the tone or gain clarity on what I need to focus on. It helps me align my intentions with the spiritual energies I'm working with.

 

Guidance and Insight: While I respect tarot as a divination tool, I also see it as a mirror reflecting my inner truths and challenges. It's amazing how a single card can illuminate aspects of my spiritual journey that I may have overlooked or needed confirmation on.

 

Ethical Considerations: One thing I'm mindful of is ethical tarot practice. I always seek consent before reading for others and ensure I'm in a grounded and respectful state when interpreting the cards. How do others approach the ethical aspects of tarot in their spiritual practice?

 

 

[Rootwood]

Thank you @SamiHirvikallio for this topic.  I am eager to answer but not sure that I'm really qualified to do so. Your questions are the ones I ask myself all the time as I look ay my small card collectiog and wonder, how on earth did these things become part of my life?

Personal beliefs and Tarot: I was raised in the church. I thought I had all the answers and knew I followed the one, right religion while the  rest of the world mostly had it wrong. I was young and terribly stupid.  At 23 I had what I call my Tower moment. My belief structure fell apart. It did not hold up to scrutiny. I was left stranded and without religion. It was painful and I felt adrift, abandoned and betrayed. Decades passed and I always thought something would eventually fill that void. Nothing did. Life happened. Not too long ago I decided that in the time I have left I want to live in a world of magic. Mystery. The unexplained. The impossible, possible. Where blowing wind and falling leaves or pure silence on a brilliant day mean the presence of something. The presence of Other.  I listen to deep religious thinkers and scholars. I listen to atheists who became Christian and Christians who became atheist. I listen to speakers warning against the influence of the dark forces and I listen to people who work with dark forces and I have come to this conclusion : none of us have a clue.  It does not matter what we believe, who we worship, what we study, the fact is that no one that I know has come back from the dead to affirm or deny any of it. Each of us must find our own way, be it prescribed and attended by many (which has great value, don't get me wrong!) or make our own way (which has great value also!). Tarot fits in because I think it is wise. I think it is the collected wisdom of thousands of years of human experience. Rules and lessons on how to not live an idiotic life.  Like randomly opening the Bible  and pointing to a verse to ponder for the day.  Or opening a map and throwing a dart at it to determine where you're going to travel to, Tarot is a destination/way of being that guides the journey. Gives thoughtful inspiration. Is pretty and makes me feel magical as I shuffle and ponder the cards.

 

Spiritual Practices with Tarot:  the above paragraph covers this.

Guidance and Insight: I do not use the cards for divination.  I do not feel they can tell the future.  But I do feel they can point  thinking in the right direction. I also DO NOT have people ask me a question. Nor do I ask a question of the deck aside from, what do I need to focus on or attend? I feel that sometimes, often actually, we have no clue how to even ask the right question!  Better to enter the presence of the Tarot with an open mind and heart, take away what is offered and know that you were meant, by luck or divine intervention, to hear what you heard. People get in their own way. No questions. Just a willing, open mind.

Ethical Considerations:  I tell people if they want legal advice, get a lawyer. Medical advice, get a doctor.  I also  feel that Tarot is a strictly  personal event. Tarot tells YOU what YOU need to do about YOU and how YOU need to fix YOUR life. I do not feel the Tarot has any business talking trash about anyone who is not present in the room asking to be read for.  I  state these parameters clearly to anyone who wants a reading. Which at this point is pretty much no one. But if I suddenly do take on a career as a reader, I have my guidelines mapped out!

[Misterei]

14 hours ago, SamiHirvikallio said:

 

• Personal Beliefs: How does tarot align with your spiritual beliefs or philosophy?
• Spiritual Practices: How do you incorporate tarot into your spiritual practices or rituals?
• Divination vs. Guidance: Do you view tarot primarily as a divination tool, a source of guidance, or both?
• Ethical Considerations: What ethical considerations do you keep in mind when using tarot for spiritual insights?

 

Thanks for a thoughtful topic!

 

Personal Beliefs: How does tarot align with your spiritual beliefs or philosophy?

In some ways, Tarot *is* my philosophy. It encodes Hermetic and even Vedic Esoteric wisdom teachings. It's like an illustrated book of philosophy which evokes historic wisdom traditions.

 

Spiritual Practices: How do you incorporate tarot into your spiritual practices or rituals?

Personal reading can be a meditation [not always, but sometimes]. Tarot can also be a tool to clarify and manifest Will or Intent. My work as a professional reader fulfills a dharma to help and guide people.

 

FORTUNE TELLING, Divination, and Guidance: Do you view tarot primarily as a divination tool, a source of guidance, or both?

All. I don't see a sharp line.

I DEFINITELY use Tarot to predict the future when i can. Both for clients and myself. Humans have always used their subtle senses and various tools to glimpse the future. This is natural and wholesome. I honestly don't see the difference between Tarot readers and weather forecasters or financial forecasters. People go on the news every day to make predictions about the economy or politics or whatnot. Why do people try to shame this aspect of Tarot? I've seen financial analysts be spectacularly wrong about the economy and political analysts make spectacularly wrong predictions about politics. But we're going to worry about tarot? Which I daresay is prolly just as acurate as [more accurate than?] any of the idiots on the News programmes.

 

Ethical Considerations: What ethical considerations do you keep in mind when using tarot for spiritual insights?

This is perhaps its own topic. I read honestly what the cards say with no agenda, no bias.  My business practices are professional and transparent. My behavior and presentation is professional. I maintain confidentiality just as a doctor, lawyer, or priest.

 

I *do* read medical and legal questions within the purview of what the cards say. Quite often the cards will say something like: "Get a second opinion, or stay with your original lawyer." This is quite different than trying to practice medicine or law! People with medical troubles or court cases are often frightened and confused. They may need help and guidance. It's an honor to serve people in these situations and help them find clarity to make good choices. I know my professional expertise and qualifications. If something is outside my expertise, I am honest about it.

 

Edited July 11, 2024 by Misterei