How has Tarot really benefited you?

[Guest Night Shade]

https://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=181495

by Fianic

 

Recently I've been having doubts about the real benefits of Tarot in my life.

 

As for readings, it doesn't seem to give much other than a sense of comfort in times of anxiety. Although some would argue this is invaluable in itself, I'm personally not satisfied with it.

 

When I started learning Tarot, I saw it as a tool for empowerment. To gain knowledge and advice when needed to take to right action.

 

So far I've been forewarned about certain events that may happen so that I was prepared when they did. But I've never really been able to change the situation at hand.

 

I suppose the psychological benefits to Tarot alone should be enough to make it worth learning it. However I wanted to have more tangible advice. The constructive advice given just seems too vague to act on. Maybe I'm just expecting too much from it?

 

How about you guys? How do you feel you have benefited from Tarot? Are you satisfied just from the pure enjoyment of practicing it?

[Saturn Celeste]

It has satisfied my need to help others.  I don't have to have an expensive college degree, I just need my cards and my intuition.  I feel I can do more good in the world by reading tarot for others than just playing video games.  (Which I did before tarot, well I still do but not as much.)  I like to help people!  ^-^

[Guest Night Shade]

Personally, I do think that comfort in times of trouble or anxiety is benefit enough.  Whenever I'm stressed or nervous about something, giving myself a reading or meditating on the cards has helped immensely.  Even just holding one of my favorite decks helps to calm me down.

 

Tarot has also shown me important truths about myself, some good, some bad.  The cards don't lie (although sometimes it's tempting to lie to myself about what they're telling me), and when I really listen to them I get good (but sometimes challenging) advice on how to change my life and myself for the better.

 

Finally, tarot led me to this forum!  Before I joined this forum, I was pretty isolated, and never really talked much with anyone.  Now, I'm chatting away every day, and making friends from all over the world, which is pretty much the coolest thing ever, and something I never even dreamed of before!  :)

 

 

[GreatDane]

If I had to distill to one word: perspective.

 

That's why I started reading in the first place.  To have a journey with tarot, seeing different sides to an issue I may not have seen.  My main goal was to read for myself and to make it about tarot and me.

 

There are other things tarot has given me, but that is the main one.

 

 

[Saturn Celeste]

about tarot and me.

Don't forget the 'tea'!!  :biggrin:

[Endy]

If I had to distill to one word: perspective.

 

That's why I started reading in the first place.  To have a journey with tarot, seeing different sides to an issue I may not have seen.  My main goal was to read for myself and to make it about tarot and me.

This is also how I feel about tarot.

 

The cards aren't all positive therefore they aren't necessarily a comfort, but they give me a message that I need to hear.

 

about tarot and me.

Don't forget the 'tea'!!  :biggrin:

Funny enough, I do tend to drink tea when I'm doing tarot :D

[GreatDane]

Saturn Celeste...WELL TT AND ME IS A GIVEN! ;) X/

[Saturn Celeste]

Saturn Celeste...WELL TT AND ME IS A GIVEN! ;) X/

((

[Eric13]

When I did my daily three card spread this morning, all three cards accurately predicted I would here from family 2 hours later. They had been telling g me about a family member for a couple of weeks now, which is also what the call was about. They help me relate to family members in this matter too because I was prepared for it.

That's what reading is all about. Future preparations.

[sandrang123]

There are two ways I can think of, offhand.

 

I started reading cards when I was 14. That and poetry were lifelines for me. They literally kept me going, because I spent a lot of time locked up in my room. I grew up in a sexually abusive house.

 

When I started reading tarot (side benefit) my father (superstitious Hungarian) called me a Witch with an Evil Eye. All of that, in combination, helped keep me safer.

 

I will never, ever give up reading cards. They were a friend to me when no one--not even my best friends in school--knew I needed such a friend. In some ways I feel tarot saved my life.

[Fizzy]

There are two ways I can think of, offhand.

 

I started reading cards when I was 14. That and poetry were lifelines for me. They literally kept me going, because I spent a lot of time locked up in my room. I grew up in a sexually abusive house.

 

When I started reading tarot (side benefit) my father (superstitious Hungarian) called me a Witch with an Evil Eye. All of that, in combination, helped keep me safer.

 

I will never, ever give up reading cards. They were a friend to me when no one--not even my best friends in school--knew I needed such a friend. In some ways I feel tarot saved my life.

 

This is so touching and inspiring.  <3 i'm glad tarot was a safe place for you in the midst of all that.

[Saturn Celeste]

There are two ways I can think of, offhand.

 

I started reading cards when I was 14. That and poetry were lifelines for me. They literally kept me going, because I spent a lot of time locked up in my room. I grew up in a sexually abusive house.

 

When I started reading tarot (side benefit) my father (superstitious Hungarian) called me a Witch with an Evil Eye. All of that, in combination, helped keep me safer.

 

I will never, ever give up reading cards. They were a friend to me when no one--not even my best friends in school--knew I needed such a friend. In some ways I feel tarot saved my life.

((

[fire cat pickles]

One striking example I remember (I have a laundry list!) from years ago:

 

I was having a difficult times at my job as a teacher, very frustrated. It was around 2007-2008 when student testing started picking up steam and I teaching was losing its luster to say the least. I started poking around looking for a new field. Tarot was pointing out that my principal did not have my best interest in mind and was planning to replace me. I got my EMT license in 2009 and started fire school. Eventually in 2012 she found a way to get rid of me. She attempted to get me fired and have my teaching license revoked, but  she lost big. I wound up at a new (better) school and I still have my teaching certificate.

 

All this has been in the in the cards,, reading after reading. Some I shared in the forums, most I have not. Tarot readings help me navigate the politics of many situations. It also has guided me into a new profession. I can definitely say that not all my decisions were based on tarot readings, but they have got me through.

 

I-Ching, sea-shell readings, and Lenormand were all helpful guides, as well. Eventually I left teaching and moved back to my home State. In 2015 I finally got a firefighter job, all with guidance from Tarot and Lenormand. So, yeah, this stuff really works.

[DanielJUK]

When I was in my teens, I used tarot in a very loose way (look at cards, look up in a book) and didn't really go any further than that and in the end shut it in a drawer. 15 years later I was really in an awful mental health period of my life and under a huge black cloud of depression. I don't really get depressed but I really couldn't be optimistic about life like I normally am. During this awful period, I went back and picked up the cards and started to search google for more about the cards and my great adventure into getting into it seriously, began! :)

 

This was in 2011 and what was really important about finding tarot is that I came back to it like my teenage self, it was like a game. But I progressed by studying it. Going into 2012 I had a hobby and interest, something to feel passion about and talk about with new people I met on AT that I randomly found via google. To see progress in something you are putting into work into was so important in that moment of my life when things seemed hopeless. I directed my attention at something, worked at it and I could see a measurable progress, I got better at it.

 

I could say it has comforted me and helped me with choices and all the other wonderful ideas here. But a big part of it's benefit for me is opening up my intuition. It was a side of myself that was really repressed. This was a huge benefit! so it's benefited me in so many ways!

 

Of course there is a caveat, when I started getting into tarot, I did get too addicted for a while. You can rely on it too much, there is a line here! I realised I was dependent on it too much and much more balanced with it's use now. I still say the benefits in my life, outweigh the pitfalls you have to watch out for :)

[Chenrezi]

<3 Tarot inspires me. <3

 

Spiritually, the major arcana cards has added alot of depth and wholeness to the archetypes at play in my life.  For instance, death used to be a source of anxiety and depression for me, especially when first waking up in the morning.  (Oh my gosh, I'm alive!!!  And oh yeah, I will die!!! kinda thing)  But by reviewing the cards when I wake up each morning, I am reminded it also represents beginnings, change, and metamorphosis.  Thus, the idea itself became more balanced and positive for me like a butterfly.  As a whole, the spiritual framework of Tarot is absolutely amazing, positive, and inspirational!

 

Practically, the cards are lenses for viewing different aspects of my life and situation, for focusing and projecting thoughts and feelings upon, and for intuiting a course of action.  Thus not only is it deeply spiritually, it is also very conceptual and dynamic!  It allows me to process stuff and make better decisions.  It puts my mind in touch with my heart.

 

One day I hope to be able to read for people.  To connect with people in a very positive and life-affirming way that makes a difference.  <3

[PageOfCups]

Helped me curb my anxiety.

 

They weren't called "soothsayers" for nothing, you know...

 

I wouldn't recommend it to others over seeing a mental health professional, obviously, because that would be irresponsible. But it just personally works for me as a coping mechanism.

[Thoughtful]

It benefited me in giving me something l was really interested in, something new to learn.  l loved connecting to the cards. What started out as a hobby became after time a working hobby, where l enjoy reading for others.  It gives me a lift and l benefit from feeling l am doing something worthwhile for others.

l read for myself to, and have benefit from the advice and guidance l receive.

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

On my blog sidebar I have this:

 

Why Tarot You Say?

The cards open previously closed doors to my own heart with their merciless quest for the truth, nothing but the truth. They flay the soul and make me say thank you afterward.

Each hour spent with my cards is a new lesson to be learned. Viva la Journey.

 

 

[Raggydoll]

I would say that tarot has taught me the value in having an interest that is truly for me and where my own experiences and opinions are what matters. I was just a teenager when I started reading cards and I did it because I was drawn to it. No one of my friends knew anything about tarot and I did not care to ask if they thought it was cool or not. I did my own thing and it proved to be immensely valuable in so many aspects. It helped me be an independent thinker and to trust and value my own feelings and experiences.

[HermitWriter]

Tarot has helped pull me out of some pretty dark places, no question. It's proven to be a safe space for me to ask questions and explore what is really healthy in my life.

 

I've also struggled for a while with reconciling the rational side of my brain that typically dominates my thinking and more esoteric practices like reading tarot (or engaging in any magickal activity). With tarot, the benefits start with having some time - ten, twenty minutes, maybe even a whole half-hour! - that is just for me. I get to sit quietly with my cards, I get to process rather than "think," I get to puzzle out meanings, I get to touch my cards and books... all things that help ease anxiety and maybe even recalibrate my thought processes.

 

Learning to read tarot also taught me how to ground, center and shield myself, as well as the necessity of releasing unwanted energy too. I'm not perfect at nay of those tasks, but I'm at least cognizant of how helpful they can be, whether I'm performing a ritual or not. Tarot also led me to explore spiritual paths other than mainline religion, and was how I discovered Reiki. I have no idea why or even if Reiki "works" per se, but I do know that it is yet another tool for finding calm and comfort when things get hectic.

 

On top of all that, I'm a history lover, so looking at the images of tarot cards - especially the historic decks - makes my nerdy little heart very happy! Plus I've always loved a good game of cards, and learning about the gaming history of tarot is fascinating. I'm not quite ready to whip out a tarot deck at the next family game night, but perhaps someday  ;)

[Jewel]

Personally, I do think that comfort in times of trouble or anxiety is benefit enough.  Whenever I'm stressed or nervous about something, giving myself a reading or meditating on the cards has helped immensely.  Even just holding one of my favorite decks helps to calm me down.

 

Tarot has also shown me important truths about myself, some good, some bad.  The cards don't lie (although sometimes it's tempting to lie to myself about what they're telling me), and when I really listen to them I get good (but sometimes challenging) advice on how to change my life and myself for the better.

 

Finally, tarot led me to this forum!  Before I joined this forum, I was pretty isolated, and never really talked much with anyone.  Now, I'm chatting away every day, and making friends from all over the world, which is pretty much the coolest thing ever, and something I never even dreamed of before!  :)

My sentiments exactly!