With their intricate imagery and profound symbolism, tarot cards often spark an air of mystery and curiosity. Many people are drawn to them, captivated by the insightful guidance they can offer.
However, a frequently asked question lingers in the minds of both seasoned practitioners and newcomers alike – Are tarot cards safe to use?
The safety of tarot cards is a matter of perspective. Some believe they are safe if used correctly. In contrast, others caution about potential dangers such as psychological intensity and negative energy.
While tarot can indeed provide valuable insights, it’s important to approach it with a clear understanding of its limitations and potential risks.
Let’s delve into when it might be inappropriate to use tarot cards, the potential downsides of tarot reading, why giving yourself readings may not always yield the best results, and if there’s such a thing as a wrong way to do tarot.
Are Tarot Cards Safe To Use?
In essence, tarot cards are safe to use. However, like any tool, their safety largely depends on how and why they are used.
As a divination tool, tarot cards are a medium to tap into our subconscious thoughts and perceptions. They do not possess any inherent power or danger in themselves. Their ‘safety’ or ‘danger’ lies purely in the hands, or more accurately, the user’s mind.
Tarot cards can be a powerful guidance tool if approached with respect, an open mind, and a clear intention. However, using recklessly or with negative intentions could lead to misunderstandings, fear, and anxiety.
Therefore, to ensure safety while using tarot cards, it is paramount to maintain a balanced perspective and not to lean too heavily on them for decision-making or as a substitute for professional advice in critical areas of life such as health, legal matters, or mental health issues.
When Should You Not Use Tarot Cards?
There are several situations where it may be inappropriate, or even counterproductive, to use tarot cards.
Firstly, if you are highly emotional, it’s probably best to avoid a tarot reading. Emotions cloud our judgment and can lead to misinterpretations of the cards. Similarly, it’s not advisable to use tarot cards when you are too invested in the outcome or hoping for a specific result. The cards should provide guidance, not just affirm what you want to hear.
Secondly, tarot cards should not be used as a replacement for professional advice. While they can certainly guide you in self-reflection and understanding, they are not a substitute for medical, legal, or therapeutic advice from licensed professionals.
Lastly, avoid using tarot cards if unprepared to face potentially challenging insights or truths. Tarot readings can bring to light aspects of ourselves or our situations that we’d rather not acknowledge. If you’re not ready to face these potential insights with an open and accepting mind, it might be better to wait until you are.
What Are the Cons of Tarot Reading?
Every tool has its pros and cons, and tarot reading is no exception. The first downside of tarot reading is that it can be vague and open to interpretation. The same card can mean different things in different contexts, leading to potential misunderstandings or confusion.
Another con is the possibility of becoming overly dependent on tarot for decision-making. While tarot cards can provide valuable guidance, relying too heavily on them can inhibit personal growth and the development of critical thinking skills. It can also encourage avoidance of personal responsibility if one starts attributing all happenings to the “will of the cards.”
Furthermore, tarot readings can sometimes bring to light uncomfortable truths or highlight areas of our lives that need change. While this can be beneficial, it can also be distressing, especially if the individual is not ready to face these issues.
Lastly, there’s the risk of unscrupulous individuals exploiting tarot for personal gain. Not all tarot readers operate with integrity, and some may use their clients’ trust and the ambiguity of the cards to manipulate outcomes and take advantage of vulnerable individuals. As such, it’s important to approach tarot readings with discernment and regularly check in with oneself about the reader’s integrity and the value of the insights provided.
Why Should You Not Always Read Tarot for Yourself?
Reading tarot for oneself can be a powerful self-reflection tool. It can bring internal thoughts, feelings, and insights to the surface and help us understand our inner world in a deeper way. However, consistently reading tarot for oneself can also have its drawbacks.
One reason is bias. It’s inherently challenging to remain objective when reading for oneself. We all have hopes, desires, fears, and blind spots that may cloud our interpretation of the cards. This lack of objectivity can skew the reading and lead to inaccurate or misleading insights. We may unconsciously twist the interpretation to fit what we want to see or ignore unsettling messages that we’d rather not face.
Another reason is over-reliance. Constant self-reading can lead to an over-reliance on tarot for daily decision-making, which inhibits our ability to trust our intuition or make choices independently. It’s healthy to seek guidance from the cards, but it’s equally important to exercise our judgment and take responsibility for our decisions.
Lastly, constant self-reading can be mentally and emotionally taxing. Tarot can bring to light deep-seated fears, anxieties, or unresolved issues. When not handled with care, this can lead to unnecessary stress or anxiety.
For these reasons, it might be beneficial to seek a reading from a seasoned tarot reader from time to time. They can provide an unbiased perspective, interpret the symbolism of the cards with a clear mind, and guide us through any challenging insights that arise.
Is There A Wrong Way To Do Tarot?
Like any tool of exploration or introspection, tarot readings can be misused or misinterpreted. While there isn’t necessarily a ‘wrong’ way to do a tarot, there are practices that can hinder the accuracy, effectiveness, and overall benefit of a tarot reading.
One such practice is not taking the time to cleanse or attune to your tarot deck. Tarot cards are sensitive to energy, and a deck that is cluttered with residual energy from previous readings can lead to muddled or inaccurate readings. It’s important to regularly cleanse and attune your deck to ensure it’s in tune with your energy and ready for an accurate reading.
Another potential misstep is asking the same or similar questions over and over in a short span of time. This can result in repetitive or even contradictory readings, as the cards reflect the energy at the time of the reading. It’s better to give some time between readings, allowing events to unfold and energies to shift before seeking further guidance on the same issue.
Additionally, approaching a tarot reading with a closed mind or a fixed expectation of the outcome can also skew the reading. It’s important to approach tarot with an open mind and a readiness to accept whatever insights the cards provide, even if they don’t align with your expectations.
Finally, failing to apply personal intuition and judgment in interpreting the cards can result in a surface-level or misleading reading. Tarot is a deeply personal tool, and while guidebooks and established meanings provide a useful starting point, it’s important to listen to your intuition and apply your own life context when interpreting the cards.
In essence, while there’s no definitive ‘wrong’ way to do tarot, there are practices that can enhance the accuracy, depth, and overall benefit of your tarot readings. It’s about using the cards responsibly, respectfully, and with an open and discerning mind.
Final Mindful Thoughts
Tarot cards are a tool of introspection, providing valuable insights and guidance when used responsibly. There’s no definitive ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to do tarot. However, certain practices can enhance the accuracy and depth of your readings.
It’s important to approach tarot with an open and discerning mind, be mindful of potential drawbacks such as bias or over-reliance, and understand that the cards should complement, not dominate, your decision-making process.
Remember to cleanse and attune your deck regularly and give time between readings on the same issue. And most importantly, trust in your intuition and judgement when interpreting the cards.
Tarot is not a tool of fear or harm but rather a means of better understanding yourself and the world around you.