All 100+ posts of The Reluctant Tarot Reader are paywall free to read. To support my writing, become a paid sub or buy me a coffee. ☕️
A client confessed that they couldn’t read their own Tarot cards when it came to a pressing situation.
Yah, it can get all jumbled and confused, I said.
There have been many times in my own personal reads that I’ve pushed the Tarot or swung the pendulum to get an answer, as if the power of strong determination will force illumination.
Hint: that means I probably know the answer — but it’s not what I want to hear.
Usually the cards will swim in front of my face or the pendulum swings a half-hearted maybe. I suppose in the realm of infinite possibilities, maybe is correct. However, despite my power of belief that I can FIND THE ANSWER (I WANT) RIGHT NOW IF I JUST KEEP THROWING, I’m clearly not ready to accept a full spectrum of ideas — so the cards reflect my frustration. Like my client who wanted a particular answer, they couldn't find it in their spread, no matter how hard they tried.
It’s not a magical mystery tour. The answer wasn’t clear because the cards are one big mirror of our inner landscape.
If Tarot isn’t your thing, then switch the word with pendulum or wish or manifesting or prayer. If we can’t find the middle ground in those desires — and every prayer/wish/manifest is desire for something — then we will be frustrated by our own belief that it should reveal itself a certain way. The way that we want — right now!
Fortunately, my client called me for a session. Since I have no emotional investment in their situation, I was able to give a bird’s eye view and suggestions to consider. It might not be what they wanted to hear — but I can only offer what I see in the spread.
The biggest misconception I’ve found that people have about Tarot — or any magical tool — is that somehow the power is outside of ourselves.
They imagine a spooky FORCE (for the religious, the Devil or demons) moves the pendulum or spread — and they remain passive bystanders. That’s why people often fear the cards and — over the centuries — have silenced those who practice. When I taught people how to use the pendulum, some were frightened when it started to move, as if there was a ghost in the machine.
We are the ghost in the machine!
It’s all about YOU, babe. Can you handle that power?
It’s YOU who turns the particular spread, revealing the wisdom you wish to see — provided that you are the head/heart space to receive it. It’s YOU who swings the pendulum from your own energy. Maybe it’s the eternal YOU informing the little human you — but it’s not some unknown entity who steps in and starts slapping cards down on the table.
It’s you who sends the signs and notices them when they come. Okay, you might say, No, that’s not me. It’s God or my guardian angel or my ancestors.
Perhaps. That sounds great — and I hope that is the case. However, from my own experience on planet Earth, I can only prove that I am aware that “I”/Raven exist. I can only prove from my thoughts, voice and actions. Despite my great desire to know that a loving God or an amazing afterlife exists without any doubt, I can’t. It is impossible for me to prove that prayer heals or a master guide provides insight. No one can, even if they are the greatest debater or meditator in the world.
Whether they exist nor not, I love all of those beautiful conceptions!
What can be proven is that we have often have great ideas — delightful thoughts — incredible imaginings from our incredible minds. But when it comes to concrete? Zip. I tried as a Christian to prove that Jesus was God, the Bible was the word of God and that eternal life springs from innocent human sacrifice.
It simply proves the immense power of our belief.
The Tarot in and of itself is not powerful. We are the power behind the cards because we provide interpretation from the images which present themselves. Same goes for Scripture verses (“God said it, I believe it and that’s that!”) or a tincture to heal a wound or picturing a hummingbird and when you open your eyes, one sits at the feeder.
As if you summoned it by the power of your thoughts.
Did we place the hummingbird there?
In fact, is everything we see a projection of our minds?