Fudugazi said:
As a matter of fact, many Wiccans regard tarot cards as their religious material, sanctified and consecrated on their altars and used for spiritual purposes, which include divination. Wicca is a valid religion, recognised as such.
This is the second time in a few days that I've seen Wicca specifically come up.
Tarot is not limited to Wicca, and in fact did not originate in Wicca. I am a Wiccan, but in the other mention of Wicca and Tarot, it was phrased as an assumption that someone living a spiriutual life would be Wiccan.
I know scads of very deeply spiritual people who are not Wiccans. And as a Wiccan, at the moment I am deeply benefitting by reading Sufi texts and the Torah and related Hebraic texts.
Tarot is not a Wiccan religious practice.
I can be a perfectly devout and complete Wiccan without ever touching a deck.
I can be a perfectly devout and complete any-other-religion and use Tarot all the time.
As a human being, I use Tarot about every day. As a Wiccan, I never use Tarot. As a Wiccan I never use my dowsing pendulum either - I use it as a person whose religion is a moot point. As a Wiccan, I use my four Ritual Objects. They are all that I need - in fact more than I need - to be a good Wiccan. To be a good Wiccan, all I really need is my mind.
Every time I leave my house I wear a rainbow hat. I feel naked and exposed without it. Is it an article of religious faith because it has colours in it that may or may not be used in religious practice and I feel all energetically messed-up without it? I think not. Does it identify me as a Wiccan, or as gay? To some people, maybe. Do I intend that? <shrugs>. Do I care? No. Do I mind if people don't read those meanings into it? Nope. Are they both relevant to me? Yes, but so what?
I use Tarot all the time.
I am a Wiccan all the time.
Tarot and Wicca have nothing at all in common with each other, except that they are involvements of mine. I also like reading Patrick White's novels - they are another involvement. When I'm not between cars, I enjoy driving really, really fast and in fact I've held a CAMS licence in the past. I am a Wiccan. Is fast driving an article of faith? No, but it is as deeply intrinsic to me as an individual as my faith. Is Tarot an article of faith? No, but it is as intrinsic to me as fast driving.