Good Card/Bad Card

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Shadow Wolf	30 Dec 2002
I don't believe that there are such things as good cards or bad cards. The cards tell us what we need to hear. Sometimes what we don't want to hear. The cards tell us the truth. Therefore, if we are open to hearing the truth of the cards,(which is why we read in the first place), then we should accept whatever the cards tell us. It's what we need to hear.

warabi	30 Dec 2002
"I don't believe that there are such things as good cards or bad cards." Horray to that! I totally agree! As for the cards telling us, personally I believe it to be our own sub-consious and the cards are a tool, but whether you believe the power lies within the cards, yourself, or the diety the message is still the same.

tarotbear	30 Dec 2002
There are 'difficult' cards and 'less difficult' cards. For example, it is almost impossible to soft-pedal the Three of Swords because as soon as the Querent sees it, they freak out. It takes a heap of 'xplainin' to make them see it as a positive thing. I find the Tower and Death cards are very positive in spite of their frightening appearances. They are both dramatic, but they can lead to such greater things.

temperlyne	31 Dec 2002
And even the 3 of swords can be positive in a way.. I see it as a card of mourning, and without that nobody can really get over past sorrow. We need to mourn to accept and get over our sorrows.

wavebreaker	31 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by tarotbear I find the Tower and Death cards are very positive in spite of their frightening appearances. They are both dramatic, but they can lead to such greater things. I totally agree. They used to frighten me at first ;), but now that I've seen them "in action", and see how they can lead to positive things in the longer run, I'm actually beginning to like them. The Death card is my year card for next year; I'm looking forward to that now! ;)

zander770	31 Dec 2002
i agree and understand, yet i find myself all the time using "good" and "bad" in reaction to the cards, either internally ("in my mind") or in writing, and even verbally! it's hard for me to say or to think: "this is a 'difficult' card . . ." it's very much "ingrained" in my mind, at this point! wouldn't everyone agree? same goes for readings: i find myself, all of the time, thinking: "o, boy, here we go, s/he's gonna just LOOooove this one . . ." however, no, i cannot imagine saying to a querent "this is 'bad,' this is very VERY 'bad,' indeed!" but i DO use the word: "Good!" w/them, and i use it quite often! hmm . . . interesting! geez, ya know? i've never really thought about this very much! it's different when talking to "tarot people," for we "understand" much of where each other "stand" and are "coming from" (usually). like, when i see the 5 of cups, especially, i say "o, no!" (and, usually NOT that, exactly; not even "bad," much worse! hee-hee)! this is because of my experience w/the 5 of cups, but "all the five's are 'bad'," one could easily say . . . tell me: who here does NOT "jump for joy" when seeing key #21/the world?!? no, i don't say "good," i say: "GREAT!!!" now, then: no one's mentioned key #15/the devil, yet; capricorn; "my card" (actually, zodiacally, mine's the 2 of pentacles) -- now, that there's one key who get's a "bad" rap, for sure!!! http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9961&highlight=the+devil+AND+15+AND+capricorn sera'! ~Z~770 :TDEV

allibee	31 Dec 2002
From the pen of Terry Donaldson: Death - the clearing away of negative influences - someone comes along and clears the table for you. Devil - Don't let your own negativity hold you back - you have to clear the table yourself Tower - you need to build on solid foundations - you have to make sure the table is solid and not liable to collapse Can't see these as bad.

Trogon	31 Dec 2002
I would have to agree that any given card is not necessarily "good" or "bad". But the cards are about life, aren't they? And there are positive and negative influences in people's lives. Also "good" things happen (falling in love, getting a promotion, having a spiritual epiphany, seeing a wonderful bird for the first time). But there are also "bad" or unpleasant things which happen to us (injuries, illness, loosing a job, being the victim of a crime, seeing a bird that you know is a rarity, but not getting a good enough view of it to report it... ;) ). These things are all part of life and are depicted in the Tarot, are they not? So, while no card is, in and of itself "good" or "bad", they can depict events which carry this "good" or "bad" connotation. [edited to add: ] As I re-read what I'd written another thought occured to me about this idea of "good" and "bad" occurances. I suppose in many ways the good or bad of something is very much in what we carry away from it. If a person is victimized in some way, then becomes a recluse - living in a house with dozens of locks on reinforced doors and bars on the windows - he has ended with a "bad" experience. Then again, if the victim of a crime turns it around and starts working to help other victims of crimes, or even to help with rehabilitation work in prisons, then this has been a "good" experience in the end. The opposites work too... the person who wins a lottery, but becomes a miser and does nothing good with the money, they have not grown spiritually and this becomes a negative thing. Then again, someone may win this same money and chose to do great good with it, perhaps starting a scholarship fund or funding youth programs in the inner city.... then this is a "good" thing. Anyway, that's my opinion on it...

WolfSpirit	31 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by zander770 i agree and understand, yet i find myself all the time using "good" and "bad" in reaction to the cards, either internally ("in my mind") or in writing, and even verbally! it's hard for me to say or to think: "this is a 'difficult' card . . ." So do I. For example the three of swords may eventually lead to greater wisdom when you've gone through this sad experience, but that is small comfort when you get the card...you don't want to have that wisdom some day ever after a lot of hard work, you don't want to feel that pain right now ! Although I don't see the card itself as positive, the positive thing is you get a warning of what is coming to you so maybe you can do something about it still or at least be prepared for it. Or it may come as a relief when you have had that nagging feeling something is terribly wrong - so now you know there is.

dangerdork	31 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Trogon there are also "bad" or unpleasant things which happen to us (injuries, illness, loosing a job, being the victim of a crime, seeing a bird that you know is a rarity, but not getting a good enough view of it to report it... ;) ). These things are all part of life and are depicted in the Tarot, are they not? Anyway, that's my opinion on it... I share your opinion, Trogon. Whether you're using the cards as a personal meditation or reading for others, they provide an uncannily accurate reflection of the circumstances of your life and the direction in which it is heading. Bad things DO happen, and sometimes they are not "for the best." A warning of dangerous behaviors or attitudes in oneself or others should not be ignored. Pain, loss and suffering should be acknowledged when they happen so people can heal and get on with their lives. In my opinion a counselor (and isnt that what a good reader is?) should be strong enough, and honest enough, not to sugar-coat or whitewash those things which they think the querent doesn't want to hear. So I would say to people who want to put a positive spin on EVERYTHING, you should be careful. You're harming your own credibility. But if your querents don't take tarot seriously and are only seeking to play a cute little game, I guess that's ok. PS - Can somebody on the other side of the fence define "Good" and "Bad" for me so I can understand what "Bad" stuff the cards never mean?

tarotbear	31 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by tarotlady The Death card is my year card for next year; I'm looking forward to that now! ;) You, too? Let me tell you - being stuck in the year of the Hanged Man until may 2003 is a royal pain!

wavebreaker	31 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by tarotbear You, too? Let me tell you - being stuck in the year of the Hanged Man until may 2003 is a royal pain! At least you're lucky to be released in May; I'm going to have to wait until the end of August... Ah, but wait, there are no bad cards! So there has to be something good about the Hanged Man... ;)

Trish	31 Dec 2002
The cards are neither good nor bad. They may pick up on potential present/future challenges, but there is no such thing as a "bad" card. :D I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks so! hehe!

Shadow Wolf	31 Dec 2002
Tarotlady -- The good thing about the Hanged Man is that at least when you pull this card, it might explain why you're feeling a certain way, and depending on the cards around it, what, if anything you can do to get things rolling again. At least it lets you know that it won't be forever, that there's an end in sight for whatever frustration you're feeling. Just another way of thinking about it !!!! Blessings and Light, Shadow Wolf

The Good Card/Bad Card thread was originally posted on 30 Dec 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.