How Does Tarot Work?

Tarot Readings (How Does Tarot Work)

Before I dive into this tarot blog, I want to remind us all that reality is shaped from our conscious and subconscious mind. External reality reflects what is happening internally.

Now, our conscious and subconscious mind is capable of tapping into possible outcomes before we truly absorb and fully acknowledge and realize possible outcomes and probable realities.

So, it's my belief that when we are selecting a tarot card, even if there isn't spiritual assistance, I believe to some degree there always is, whether it's your higher self or guides on the other side. But let's just talk about our higher self. Our higher self selects what cards to be read through our present self.

Our higher self guides us to specific hearts because our higher self is aware of what our present self is consciously and subconsciously enduring at the time being. Now, even if we don't know the full depth of what our conscious and subconscious mind is, experiencing our higher self does because our higher self is connected, of course, to the present reality and all probable future realities.

So, since I know this, when I'm selecting tarot cards, I wait for a certain indication, a bodily sensation, on which cards to pick. Of course, after I make my intent and form the aspects of why I'm picking the tarot cards. (This physical indication has been agreed upon since I first started using tarot a decade ago)

I always wait for a tickling sensation on the back of my neck, or I wait for the back of my neck to kind of start spazzing or cramping. That's when I know my higher self or guides are telling me which cards to pick.

So, past, present, and future is all happening now, whether fully acknowledged or not. Higher self exists beyond past, present, and future, time, and space. So do our guides. Our higher self and our guides work through us, which cards to pick, so that deeper aspects of our reality can be revealed through the cards.

The universe communicates through numbers, symbols, feelings, intuition, resonance. This is what gives meaning to the cards and potential possible directions in which we are being led, or subconscious and conscious uncoverings of the reality we are currently settled in, aligned, or aligning with.

Origination, and Symbolism of Tarot Cards

Tarot became a divination tool from multiple sources throughout the centuries.The symbols got their meaning from many cycles of interpretation, and channelings. To me - it's an entire dimension co-created by the  invisible, or spiritual assistance, and archetypal themes from our physical reality

Tarot is a combination of insights from: 

Renaissance art. Christian mysticism. Hermetic and Kabbalistic wisdom. Psychological archetype. Alchemical and astrological sciences.

Tarot communicates in symbols, images, numbers, elements, and suits - which communicate with the psyche, spirit, and subconscious nonverbally.

Archetypes reflect universal human experiences across cultures (similar to dream symbolism).

Compare to other archetypal systems like astrology, I Ching, or mythology.

Mirror of the Subconscious, and Current Path

So as I said, everything is connected. No matter if it's your higher self, or guardians, or guides, or spirits assisting one in picking the cards, the cards are reflective of your subconscious, your life path, or aspect of reality in which you are traversing or integrating.

Sometimes it is difficult to gain clarity on our own. Intuition can be foggy. But depending on one's level of clarity, the cards can either be a confirmation of what one has insight on, or it can help one gain more clarity.

For example,  if you're standing at a crossroads with 10 different roads, or just kind of in the thick of the storm, tarot cards will kind of nudge you in a general direction. So instead of 10 roads, you might be looking at 2 or 3 after your reading, or after you contemplate what the reading gives you more info on. 

If you're in the middle of the storm, it might calm it down just a little bit. Now, of course, depending on the information that is gathered, or what one feels resonates from the reading, it might cause a temporary spike of the storm. It's like when somebody tells you something that you might have been hinting at, but could have been avoiding, it could in some way feel like a hard truth that has been given to you, that you then have to absorb in order for the storm to settle.

Activation of Intuition

Tarot helps us access our intuitive “knowing” by initiating reflection, or causing one's self to dive deeper internally. Bringing more clarity to aspects over-looked, ignored, or may be in denial of

“Reading the cards” becomes an act of intuiting, reflecting, and integrating from within - the cards don’t tell the future; they unlock inner knowing, and summation - “a putting of things together”

Intuition is a knowing or insight (that I believe) exists beyond space, and time. Like God. God sends us a message. We “hear it, and obey it”. Intuition is the language of the Universe. The direction or guidance from your higher self. The universe speaks to us directly. Or it communicates to us through any means necessary. Wether it be through another person, object, or being..

For example: 

• Multiple people saying the same thing within a certain time span..

• Certain angel numbers popping up whenever we are in some sort of thought pattern that might be hinting to something

• Repetitive symbols in dreams

• “Odd feelings” that don’t feel like yours, or coming from beyond you, before something occurs

• Timely synchronisities

• Unusual, but timely inner dialogue - that is not like your normal inner dialogue

• Thinking of a friend. Then that friend calls a few minutes later

Think of Tarot as your deck or tools of strengthening your Intuition

Spiritual Dialogue or Communication

I believe tarot allows communion with spirit guides, ancestors, or higher self.

I also believe our intent, prayer, and inner communication to the Universe/God/Source beforehand can amplify the accuracy.. Speak your intent outward, audibly into existence. Inwardly, embody your intent. Align your thoughts and energy with your intent or request for insight. Put faith into the experience. When all of these are aligned. The experience or reading is sure to bring more clarity..

Decision-Making, Integrating Insight, and Clarity

I don't believe Tarot will truly ever give you the exact action to do. I believe Tarot is written in a way that generalizes a sense of direction. The answer comes from us internally. With or without the cards. I believe the cards strip away the mental noise, and help us gain clarity. Sometimes I believe we already know the action to do, but gain more perspective on why we are wanting to take specific action

We tend to wrestle with ourselves during moments of integration and decision-making. Using Tarot with the intent to gain more clarity is always my suggested use. I don't believe Tarot gives us an answer, or makes a decision for us. It reflects our deepest knowing. And takes out the fluff of our mental gymnastics..

It reflects the Soul. Strips away the ego from our decision-making, or unites both ego and soul.

Ritual and Grounding Practice

Some people feel inclined to do a daily pull. Some people make tarot a weekly, or daily thing. I believe we all have our own balance of how ritualistic tarot will become. I tend to pull tarot when I feel I'm in the midst of chaos, upheaval, or really needing clarity on something specific.

Sometimes I believe I should do maybe a monthly pull. That makes sense for me. A weekly pull, maybe not so much. Maybe a weekly pull in regards to Oracle cards. Oracle cards are much more simple and direct. Tarot can become very expansive, but they're both considered tarot.

No matter what, I believe some sort of regular check-in with ourselves, internally, is always good, whether it's tarot or not. The ritual of self-inquiry and self-check-in is greatly beneficial. Does it great for remaining in alignment and transitioning through our lives without missing anything. “Walking blindly”..

Conclusion

Tarot, to me, is more about finding and maintaining alignment, walking the path of our greatest good. Not fortune telling. Not being told the answers. But our soul being reflected back to us. To me, it's more of a tool for growth, not prophecy. Tarot helps access soul guidance. Each card is a teacher. And it encourages responsibility and alignment through awareness.

The real value of tarot lies in introspection. Tarot bridges the psyche and the sacred. And like most mystical,  unexplainable things, or faith based beliefs, it doesn't need to be proven to work. Its effectiveness is felt through integration and meaning-making. It's less about truth and more about resonance. It’s faith based.

Conclusion pt.2

If you are just getting into tarot and you are interested in somebody's experience or story, I have made a few blogs called “Christopher's Tarot Journal" or something similar. I will paste a link below to where you can see how I use tarot in my life and for some of my most recent experiences.

We also have a tarot service people can pay for. You can submit a form and give details for what you want guidance with. And we give interpretation through several of the decks that we have. And we also make custom journaling prompts to possibly help bring even more clarity or to invoke a deeper self-inquiry. We know that oftentimes asking ourselves the right questions is another skill to develop as well.

And then, if you want to go deeper, there is a phone call you can make with us afterward for deeper integration or to gain possibly more clarity, or to have someone help you walk your path. Someone to reflect with. You’ll speak with me directly

Infinite Blessings, if you would ever like a reading by me, or us, feel free to head over to our Tarot Services page!