"Will Tarot mess with my head?"

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Sep 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kiama	06 Sep 2002
Another night out, and yet another drunken boast from my friend that her bessie mate owns a Tarot deck, and, even better, she even reads them! Now, for anybody at the table who didn't already know that, they do now, and thus beg me for eadings. One guy I work with alot, he's 16, and really cool, but I never thought I'd get asked the question, 'Will it mess with my head?' So I was stuck! I never thought anybody would understand Tarot so little to think that... And because of this, allI could ay in response was 'Um... Well, I've been doing it since I was 9, so I guess not'. ANd of course, whether or not my head is mssedup is entirely up to the other person to decide, so it wasn't the best defense for Tarot... So, I'm chucking this one to all you clever Tarot people out there... How on Earth do you prove that Tarot doesn't mess with your head? How do you explain to somebody that? Kiama

Liliana	06 Sep 2002
my likely answer would of been "Yes it will mess with your head, but so will alcohol and look how many people consume that!!" lol I know Im not very helpful, but I have no way to prove tarot hasnt messed with my head, because my head was messed up t begin with, so unless the person has known me forever and knows Ive always been this way they very well may think it messed with my head hehe Id say to point out the genius of some of the Tarot creators, but I cant think of anything they did off the top of my head that wasnt metaphysical, making people think even more that Tarot messed with my head :THP

Marion	06 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama How on Earth do you prove that Tarot doesn't mess with your head? I think that tarot does mess with your head. Heck, almost everything you do, see, feel and learn messes with your head. If nothing did, how would you ever learn or experience? We don't want our heads to be 'closed systems' do we? Tarot opens your mind up to possibilities, to options, to new viewpoints. It widens and deepens your understanding. If that is messing with my head, I'll take it!

Umbrae	06 Sep 2002
I have found that a wonderful answer to this sort of question is, “Of course it will mess with your head! Tarot leads to all sorts of behavior related to devil worship! You find yourself showering naked, you begin to think, you may find yourself actually enjoying a pint. Dancing! Oh that’s the big one…Tarot actually causes one to enjoy music and dancing… You get the idea…

Rhiannon	06 Sep 2002
Yes, definitely... it opens your mind! R :)

Violet Gargoyle	06 Sep 2002
My answer would have problalby ended up being something like "No more than reading a good book will".

Phoenix	06 Sep 2002
Of course it does!! If you own one, you inevitably own 35!

jmd	07 Sep 2002
I'm not sure that this response properly better suits new thread with the question: How does Tarot affect one's life? A question which, it should be pointed, has probably been addressed in various ways in these forums. How it may affect a person's life includes a deepening interest in history, in mythology, in religion, even in prehistory - as well as in psychology, in sociology, in semiotics, and very importantly, in other people generally. In a nutshell, it seems to have an effect upon a broadening perception as to various life situations, and a deepening understanding on what we and others face as people. Does it affect one's thinking about others and the world, making one more interested and awe inspired? Very likely. Does it affect one's feelings towards others and the world, making one more tolerant and loving? Very likely. Does it affect one's actions in the world, realising that one always has, no matter how small, an opportunity to affect the world for the better through small actions? Very likely. Does it 'mess' one's head? Very unlikely. I suspect it has more the potential to provide some clarity and order, and thus 'unmess' it somewhat - though this does require perseverence!

kayne	07 Sep 2002
"Sure man, I got tarot on the mind man, I need more, gimme more, I need my fix of tarot, need it man, more! Out of Print, that's the stuff gimme gimme gimme!" Addict. Completely head-messed. :P

Major Tom	07 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jmd Does it 'mess' one's head? Very unlikely. I suspect it has more the potential to provide some clarity and order, and thus 'unmess' it somewhat - though this does require perseverence! I love your post JMD! :) However for the type of person likely to ask the question, "will tarot mess with my head?", clarity and order would count as messing with their heads. :P

Marion	07 Sep 2002
jmd and Major Tom, I think that both of you summarized it very well indeed. "messing with your head" is a rather obscure act. Since I read jmd's post I am now thinking that in the slang meaning it does have a negative connotation. And the best way to respond is along the lines he suggested, that tarot has very positive effects on your life.

catboxer	07 Sep 2002
I just want to second what jmd said. It'll mess with your head the same way appreciation of any great work of literature or art will. Flannery O'Connor really messes with me 'ed. Or you might have said, "Sure it will. Just look what it's done to me. And check out my friends at Aeclectic, and what it's done to all of them. Wuzzup wit dat?"

Violet Gargoyle	07 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by kayne "Sure man, I got tarot on the mind man, I need more, gimme more, I need my fix of tarot, need it man, more! Out of Print, that's the stuff gimme gimme gimme!" Addict. Completely head-messed. :P That sound great if you picture Dennis Hopper's voice speaking the above and hear "Born to Be Wild" in the background. My other respnse to the question in the thread is "Tarot doesn't mess with your head, but believing that Tarot will mess with your head WILL ultimately mess with your head, because you have already predetermined that the cards have an ability to get inside your brain and change the way your mind thinks...."

aeonx	07 Sep 2002
Well, I think it depends on the person. If you are a weak person psychologically, say for instance depressive, I think tarot (or automatic writing, spiritism etc) can really mess you up. I know from experience (not personal though ;) ). In general I don't think tarot messes with your head, but again, it depends on the querent, the reader, the situation, your mental 'balance' etc. ~aeonx~

Emily	07 Sep 2002
I've found also that it messes with your head, in a good positive way. It takes an awful lot of study and dedication to make a good tarot reader (unless you're very lucky and it comes naturally - not me lol). I have found that my concentration has improved since starting to study tarot and for some reason my dreams are more vivid lol :) And it started my interest in other divination methods.

MeeWah	07 Sep 2002
JMD, Major Tom & Marion: I agree whole-heartedly!! Tarot serves to separate the wheat from the chaff; to clarify the view; to expand the thought & imagination. Aeonx: I have seen dubious results from same, also from meditation so I would have to agree that there are exceptions depending on the individual.

DarkElectric	07 Sep 2002
I think that sometimes, people need their heads messed with, occaisionally. I know I sure do! I prefer to think of it, however, as blasting the dust out of my head, and seeing things through the eyes of creative interpretation. Dat's messin' I know, Yo, we all Buggin' down here at Aeclectic! (I'm a legitimate inner city chick, I can get away with talking like this! everone else around here does!)

Tor	07 Sep 2002
We're all on different paths in life, and for some tarot is not the right thing and for others it's a great tool. I think it's important to respect people for where they are in their development. For some tarot will mess with their head, and they might need the very opposite.....a scientific approach to life. And they might need to learn to trust their common sense and rationalize. Also there is a time for everything. Maybe tarot will mess up their heads at one moment, but later can be a resource. Just some thoughts....

Moongold	07 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jmd Does it affect one's thinking about others and the world, making one more interested and awe inspired? Very likely. Does it affect one's feelings towards others and the world, making one more tolerant and loving? Very likely. Does it affect one's actions in the world, realising that one always has, no matter how small, an opportunity to affect the world for the better through small actions? Very likely. Does it 'mess' one's head? Very unlikely. I suspect it has more the potential to provide some clarity and order, and thus 'unmess' it somewhat - though this does require perseverence! This is a really good reflection. Tarot is a lens by which I can understand a little more about myself and the world. It's fun as well and also aesthetic. Moongold

The "Will Tarot mess with my head?" thread was originally posted on 06 Sep 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.