How has Tarot helped you?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Jun 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

autumn star	16 Jun 2005
I still consider myself quite new to tarot - and I enjoy all the readings that I do for people here at the forum :) I have an open mind and as a person, I never take things at face value and as a graduate - I have learnt to question everything. I believe that tarot can give accurate insights into the here and now. It can make us see things from diferent points of view. But recently, I have been wondering, how tarot actually helps people - and how I can make my readings for others more helpful. So I was wondering if anyone had any stories to share of how they were helped by tarot - and what was it about the reading that was helpful? Also - how have readings that you have done for others been helpful? - and how did you make them so? It's just that recently I have been feeling that the readings that I do for others are kind of empty - and I go away wondering how I have helped the people that I just read for. And then I think - well, if I'm not helping anyone - why am I doing this? I might just be paranoid, but I would like to hear any opinions or experiences on the topic. Like, I said, I am an open minded person - so feel free to share anything that you want :) thanks, autumn

Tabby	16 Jun 2005
Sometimes I feel like tarot is better than a mirror per se. It like hindsight 20/20. Like for instance, if I have time to squeeze a reading in the morning before I go to work than I do. But, here lately I ain't been having the time. So, last night I decided to do the daily spread at night. And after having a rough day it can best be described as a mirror of that whole, awful day. It showed every facet of emotion during that day. In a whole it told me time to let go and take a few deep breaths...lol And that's like a newbie reading I did recently on the exchange. After reading posts of the person I read for and going back and looking at the cards it made me wonder if the cards were meant for me more than the person I read for. Because of the way things have been the last couple of days. Like, it is trying to give me guidance and see what I need to do. That's is sometimes what I notice with my own readings. I get cards and I'm like o.k. what are you trying to say to me. And I may not get it at the time until something happens. Then when something happens it is like, "oh I see what you were trying to tell me", type of thing. So, I guess, what I'm trying to say is the tarot provides some sort of guidance in my life. It's an advisor, it's a good friend that is there to point me in the right direction.

autumn star	17 Jun 2005
Thanks stormsneverlast :) I liked your post. Sorry, if in my post, I seemed a bit negative - I went away and thought about it while baking some biscuits and I have figured it all out :) It's just that I want my readings for other people to be useful and I want them to get something out of it. But I feel much now that I have had time to reflect - and I have remembered why tarot is helpful, and all the ways that it has helped me.

Amandajane	17 Jun 2005
I had a Tarot reading a few months back and it was in a time in my life where I was in a real rut and couldn't put my finger on why I just couldn't get myself motivated.After the reading in reflection I found out what or should I say who was causing me to feel this way.It was definately better than looking in the mirror.I really looked inwards and contemplated what I could do to change this situation and I got off my butt and did something about it.I feel like a new woman because of this and found myself back on my spirtiual track.

Alta	17 Jun 2005
Hi autumn star, I think I know where you are coming from with that. To me, 'to serve', is the motto of tarot reading. Sometimes I do a reading, and it feels empty, as you say. Seems like all words and nothing to really help the querent. I find the best way to change that is a certain spirit of humility, a request and some quiet thought. The reading has to be all about them, because as soon as you start 'thinking about the harvest while ploughing the field' (i.e. the feedback) you will surely go off track. M

daisygirl	17 Jun 2005
Hello and Greetings to All, :) This is my first post here at Aeclectic Tarot and I'm sorry I am posting before introducing myself, but I just had to say thanks for this thread. I too, would love to hear stories from people about how the insights they've received from readings have brought change to their life. I love tarot because it helps me see so many sides to an issue or problem in my life, but where I fall down is putting those insights to work. I would love to hear from anyone who has found a way to bring their answers to life. Light and Love, DG

autumn star	18 Jun 2005
Thanks Marion :) - you made some good points - reading for others is all about the person that you are reading for. Welcome to the forum DaisyGirl :) I want my readings to be able to give something to the querent, so that they get something out of it. I hate the idea of reading for someone and they just don't get anything from the reading - and don't feel helped in anyway. I would feel it was a waste of both mine and the querents time - You made a good point Marion - to keep the querent in mind when doing the reading instead of the feedback. I guess practice makes perfect and I definately still consider myself a beginner, over time, I hope that I can improve on this. thanks everyone for taking the time to give me advice and for sharing their experiences, autumn:)

PlatinumDove	18 Jun 2005
Alright, well, this just happened to me last night, so its still in the process of happening and its something I'm sure I'll have to constantly remind myself of. Last night I was reading Mary Greer's book Tarot for Yourself, and got to the Shadow and Soul Cards part in the beginning. I figured out that my Soul and Personality card is Strength for both of them. I had a little too much Pepsi last night, and was wired, couldn't go to sleep, and usually, when that happenes, I start worrying about what bills will get paid when, how the rent will be paid, etc. So after tossing and turning for an hour, chewing that over, and gettting up, trying to figure out what bills will get paid, etc, I suddenly saw the Strength card in my mind's eye, and it was almost telling me, "Stop trying to control things you can't...just let go...that's one lion that's too big for you to tackle...things will work themselves out." I was finally able to get some sleep after that.

Al Si'ra	18 Jun 2005
Hi:) Tarot helps me develop my intuition..and it's really such a powerful tool!! That's one issue tarot's helping me with..I always check my feelings and predictions using my cards..For ex: i feel that sth is going to happen then i also consult my cards too see what's coming..so they make sure that i'm grounded LOL..that i'm not totally off...Even when i am without my cards i just can feel their presence they've all become a symbol and a sign in my daily life.. Second; tarot helps me beware..I'm a type where i might get lost in my thoughts and cross the limit...and become a 9 of swords person without actually realizing it..so tarot tells me that i'm going too far with mental conflicts...For ex there was this time when i really thought that my friend's was doing sth behind my back..and tarot warned me that i was being totally paranoid that i should better calm down...so i followed the advise and we are still very good friends with this person i'm talking about.. Third; tarot gives me hope...Whenever things all go wrong and i get lost in the drama it gives me a wider view of life which calms me down a lot.. I am actually a very fiery person ( sagittarius person here!!) and i act without thinking and tarot has helped me a lot to cool down and think before i act and it became a very helpful tool for self-improvement..it helped me save my relationships most of the times..it helps me understand people better thus; i became a more forgiving person...

tarotbear	18 Jun 2005
As I have said before - I never started out with the intention of becoming a card reader, or a tarot teacher, or a tarot book author ... but it happened anyway! Tarot helped me by making me stop and look at what is being presented and how two people can look at the same object and see different things. Tarot taught me to try to stay as objective as possible. I snicker when I read posts from naive people who can only see the Tower as 'the ultimate bad' or only see the Fool as 'the ultimate good' because that is what some book told them and they can only see what one author had to say about the subject. Consequently, I read a ton of different books and own a lot of different decks and try to see how different people interpreted the same thing and how they are all right in their interpretation. Tarot taught me not to make snap decisions without getting some background first, particularly when the outcomes were important. Sometimes a spread looks one way and reads another. Tarot taught me to pause and reflect.

Lady Maria	19 Jun 2005
Hi autumn star, Thanks for the great thread. I love thought provoking questions like that! Problem is, it's helped me so much already that I don't know where to begin. I think one of the main ways tarot helps me is by reinforcing truth I already know, which is often hidden behind an overly talkative brain and extremely noisy and demanding household! Sometimes the answers are close to the surface and sometimes they're burried deep inside, and either way, with tarot, they'll be brought forward to stare at me in the eyes, if I only ask. I also love how frank and to the point it is. Like, if it's time to let something go, it'll tell me, "get over it already!" and will continue untill I've worked it out. Or if I'm getting too stressed out about something, it'll suggest I lighten up and have some fun... It's like having a best girlfriend around who isn't afraid of telling you what's up! I also wanted to say that even though you may feel like your message is empty at times, maybe for your sitter it's full of wisdom and totally relevant. I haven't read much for others, just trying to work it out for myself first, but the couple times I've pulled a card for my family members, I've noticed that they've sort of clicked with aspects of the reading that I thought would be irrelevant to them, and not really worth bringing up. Without them giving me feedback, I would've just assumed that it meant nothing to them. I have a feeling you're helping people more than you know. Love & Light, Maria

autumn star	19 Jun 2005
thankyou everyone for sharing how tarot has helped them :) It helps everyone in different ways - which is a great thing in itself.

The How has Tarot helped you? thread was originally posted on 16 Jun 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.