Why You Should Study Tarot
The magic mirror awaits...
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall…”
What if I told you that there exists a mirror that can reveal all truth to you?
Magic mirrors as shown in Snow White, Harry Potter or Castlevania are more than high-fantasy tropes: They're symbolic of real-world technologies that help us receive information and wisdom that we wouldn’t otherwise have.
One such technology — one such mirror — is Tarot.
Why Tarot?
Because Tarot reflects knowledge from higher realms into this one.
As above, so below: Whenever you do a reading, the energies of higher realms will affect how you shuffle the deck and which cards you draw. Sometimes, the cards may not point to anything very compelling… but most of the time, the cards will point to something profound that you will immediately know to be true but wouldn’t have known without the reading.
Of course, there are plenty of tarot readers out there who spout platitudinal clichés and empty optimism regardless of what cards come up in a reading. This usually defeats the purpose of doing a reading in the first place (I could have instead watched a Hallmark movie). Which is why I preach…
Tarot That’s Not Sugarcoated
Another big reason you should study tarot is so you can cut through the fluff of internet psychics as mentioned above. A rewarding experience within my studies has been the pondering of the negative (or rather… unexpected) aspects of each card.
Sure, the Ace of Wands signifies electrifying inspiration but pure Fire can burn you alive if you're not initiated. The 6 of Cups corresponds to pleasure but pleasure is, by definition, impermanent. The Empress primarily represents loving maternal energy but can also represent the Devouring Mother archetype.
It’s also rewarding to find the positives in “undesirable” cards: What if The Devil energy can be used to accelerate one's spiritual evolution? What if The Tower energy is clearing the way for a better world? What if The Moon is not about illusion and civilizational collapse but about the birth of a new spirituality?
Where to Begin
Read “Understanding Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot” by Lon Milo Duquette. Then, after consciously (and subconsciously) digesting the content of the book for a few months (I recommend journaling about what you learn in addition to documenting and journaling about all readings you do), read The Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley.
I know that I may lose a lot of people by recommending Crowley — I assure you that I do not agree with everything he’s said or done. However, The Book of Thoth is the real deal. If you're interested in tarot and spiritual growth, it will provide you with knowledge that you're unlikely to find anywhere else. (If I'm wrong about that last part… Too bad because it's still a pretty dank piece of literature.)
But most importantly, trust your own intuition and discernment when studying and doing readings!
Don't be afraid to expand, rethink, and recreate your understandings of each card as time goes on; tarot is ultimately for you and you don't need to view the mysteries in the same ways that someone else does. Be fearless, for you never know when your understandings will provide you with the greatest insights.
(Disclaimer: Many will say that the Thoth Tarot “isn’t for beginners.” I was a complete novice when I picked it up and I have no regrets.)
Get Your First Deck
If you've read this far, now’s the time to purchase your first tarot deck! Obviously, I recommend the Thoth Tarot. If you'd like to see what other decks are out there, I recommend looking around online or at a local bookstore (or spirit shop!).
Remember that real tarot decks have no more (and no less) than 78 cards. Other than that tidbit, my only piece of advice for picking out a deck is to go with what resonates: If you love the art style of a particular deck, get it; when it comes to picking out a deck, be as selective as you desire.
If you have any questions about this post or suggestions for future posts about tarot, drop them in the comment section below!