Is the Tarot useful?

[Saturn Celeste]

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=135061

by JSNYC 

...So my question is; how does the Tarot help, how exactly is it useful? What concrete value does the Tarot really have?

 

My question is not if the Tarot works or how it works. For purposes of this thread, it will be assumed that the Tarot does work and it works exactly how the poster proposes it works. My question is, how is that actually useful? Additionally, I am looking for concrete, tangible results or examples, not esoteric, abstract opinions. Some might say, the Tarot makes them happy or gives them peace. That is good and it is definitely a benefit, however, that is very relative and subject to interpretation. I believe that any large, positive change in a person, which is a true change, will also be reflected in that person's external, physical life because the internal and external are inexplicably linked. Thus I would question the validity of any claimed change that took place in a person that was not also manifest in the physical world.

 

For example, if the Tarot helps you make decisions. How exactly? And what decisions has the Tarot helped decide effectively? If the Tarot helps you understand yourself, how has that understanding manifest into concrete, positive changes in your life? If you think the Tarot predicts the future, what has it predicted to help you? And how do you act on those predictions considering the Tarot doesn't give concrete, precisely definable advice and may be subject to many, varied interpretations? Or is the Tarot simply an interesting, educational, and insightful hobby, which provides all the benefits that any enjoyable and constructive hobby would?

 

Obviously, my question is for experienced readers that have been using the Tarot long enough to understand it and use it effectively. So essentially my question is, why do you continue to use it? What primary, tangible benefit do you believe the Tarot provides in your life? Another way this question could be addressed is, what do you aspire to with your use of the Tarot? What goal do you have that you believe the Tarot is helping you achieve? And then what tangible results, or effects has the Tarot had in this quest?...

[Jewel]

For me personally it is all about looking at things from a different perspective, taking into consideration things that might not even cross my mind, and at other times just being able to admit and own things.  It helps me think on a broader scale and helps me look at options.

[Starlight]

I think it can be useful for kickstarting thoughts and ideas and helping someone to examine a topic more closely.