Explaining Tarot?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Jan 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Corso	05 Jan 2005
If this has been asked before, please pardon me. But I'm curious to know, when you're approached by some who knows nothing about Tarot, how do you explain it's purpose, rather in your own life or in general as you see fit? Myself, I have always told those who have asked, that the cards give me a better understanding of where I'm at in life. A better understanding of the issues surrounding me.

Flavio	05 Jan 2005
Whenever I have a Querent in its 1st ever Tarot reading I take care to explain at least the following things: - Tarot can help you see things about yourself and your current situation that can help you grow and take informed choices. - There are "scary" cards (Devil, Death) but those cards represent concepts not exactly what is drawn, so Querent is asked not to be afraid if those cards come up during the reading. - A Tarot reading process is a conversation, if the Querent doesn't want to participate in this conversation is going to be difficult to the Reader to help, so I also tell the Querent that I'm not there to judge, only to help if she/he wants. That is my basic explanation, depending on the question extra explanation might be needed regarding future readings, what kind of spread can be used to answer 2 or more questions together, how to rephrase the question etc...

Fulgour	05 Jan 2005
Tarot is like a garden in your heart~ where your spirit flowers and grows.

eastarot	05 Jan 2005
Considering most of my clients are people who have been going to vedic astrologers for years, and are considering a Tarot reading out of curiousity, I usually tell them a Tarot reading is good for knowing why something is happening in your life, or how you can achieve your goeals etc rather then when which is what astrology can promise. I call it the road map of your life at this present moment. eastarot

damfino	06 Jan 2005
Hello. Well, first of all I tell a bit about the history of Tarot. You know, like, how nobody knows where, when or why it was created; then some of the theories that tries to explain the previous notion. I've found myself to always resort to Alejandro Jodorowsky's theory, of how Tarot was created by a mixed group of people who belonged to doctrines such as Christianism, Alchemism, Sufism, Hebrewism, etc. Sometimes I even point at examples of symbols on the cards. Given most people here in Mexico were raised on a Christian tradition, I pull the card XXI and explain how the images refers to Christian symbols. They seem to like that. Then I remove all superstition by stating that Tarot does not involve any supernatural force or magic. "They're just cards with pretty images drawn on them", I tell them. I also make sure that they are aware that I am not a prophet, and that I have no psychic powers at all, or connections with "the beyond". Most people thinks Tarot is a tool like the Ouija boards, which supposedly involves a third-party figure moving the board. I often have to break that image from their mind regarding Tarot. Then the classic question... if there's nothing magical about it, then how you can tell things about someone else just by looking at the cards? This is the hard one. I have to explain that the cards holds symbols that can be interpreted according to their position, and what other cards they're interacting with, and thanks to this symbols I can draw information about the querant or the issue being discussed. In a few words, it's kinda like giving a "Introduction to Tarot 101" class or something. But it's fun. I enjoy explaining it all to my consultants :)

Fudugazi	06 Jan 2005
Fulgour wrote: Tarot is like a garden in your heart~ where your spirit flowers and grows. Que c'est joliment dit! I can picture the flowers on the Marseilles pips as I read that - though I know you meant all of tarot. Tarot is... 55 cups to give and receive 55 swords to fight and be knighted 55 coins to toss a chance, or find a deep being 55 clubs to invent and light the world 4 pages to play 4 queens to grace 4 kings to say 4 knights to go the fool stepping into the unknown, never sure of getting there a few magic tools on a table a veil that shimmers and whispers an Empress with wide open legs an Emperor who knows where he's at a Pope who bridges the gap a lover who dithers and loves a Chariot that goes where it stays a Justice that is always just a lamp, a cowl, a night of the soul a wheel that never stops spinning and spinning a lion that's tamed by a maiden an upside-down man who just smiles the one we just do not mention the waters of life ever mixing a deep unknowing that grabs you unawares a tower that explodes in joy or grief seven stars all around a girl in a stream two towers, two dogs, a crayfish, and the man in the moon the sun crossing his eyes on two children a lady dancing in the sky... All this and more. And we have just touched the veil...

firemaiden	06 Jan 2005
That was really beautiful, Helvetica. As most of the people around me have never heard of tarot before, and are hard core skeptics, the best I can do is to tell them these are pretty pictures to stimulate the imagination and make us think, and which sometimes offer insights into our subconscious much in the way of the (now entirely discredited) Roschach inkblobs.

Corso	06 Jan 2005
'Clausae Patent' They open the doors that are closed.

rainwolf	26 Jan 2005
I completely understand what you are saying, but does it have a purpose? Just tell them that it varies with each person, and that's your view. Others think in synchronistic terms, while others a complete different path.

caridwen	28 Jan 2005
I usually say is Tarot is a snapshot of what is going on in your life, at this moment, right now. I could do the same reading tomorrow but with a different take because nothing is static. I tell them it is a psychological tool which helps to work out problems - not by forseeing something but by helping you understand how you got there, where you stand and what you can do about it. I say that it offers advice, insight and help but the onus is on the querent, not the cards. You can change what the cards say, this is not your 'fate' or some fixed outcome. I try to make is as down to earth and as understandable as possible.

The Explaining Tarot? thread was originally posted on 05 Jan 2005 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.