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Are Tarot Cards Evil, Bad or in any way Dangerous?

Are Tarot Cards Evil, Bad or in any way Dangerous?

Posted by Brett Almond

Back in 2000 when I was starting Holisticshop.co.uk I went to see a web design agency and met the director in a meeting room. He was very keen to take me on as a client.

At one point I mentioned my ideas of how to show people Tarot cards online and to my shock he then proceeded to tell me that he would not design any website that was associated with Tarot and nor would he do a porn website. Within 2 minutes I was guided to the exit door. I was too shocked to even argue and I never did get to find out the reason why.

Although this is an extreme example it does show how some see Tarot as dangerous or evil. But what is the truth?

Firstly, I would like to point out that Tarot cards are made in a factory using coloured inks and glossy card. They come out of the factory, are put into boxes and then arrive with retailers who sell them to the public. At no stage do the cards pass through a process where people put curses on them or likewise bless them with love. Tarot cards themselves are a product.

I propose that Tarot cards are not “bad” in themselves. If there is any cause for concern I will suggest that it is how Tarot readings are presented rather than the actual cards themselves.

What is the Tarot?

The Tarot is a book of wisdom where each individual Tarot card represents an energy or situation in life.

A good deck has cards that readily bring to mind the energy or essence of that card in a way that we can quickly recognise.

I suppose it is possible for someone to paint a deck that is intensely dark and therefore brings to mind a negative way of thinking. Thankfully we live in a world where publishers like US Games and Lo Scarabeo have editors who will refuse anything too unsuitable from making it to the presses.

Are there any Bad Cards?

Some will mention that there are “bad” cards in the Tarot like “Death”, “The Tower” and “The Devil” that can scare people. When doing a reading I will often explain that these cards are not to be taken literally or be seen as “bad” cards. For example leaving a job is like a death, but then alongside that getting a new job is like a birth. In that sense, death does not need to be unwelcome. Nor does it literally mean there will be a death.

With a bit of understanding I believe that you no longer need to see these cards as bad as they are natural forces in life.

The person doing the reading

In my opinion Tarot reading is a translation service. The reader “sees” the energies in the cards and then translates all of that into words and a story that can be easily understood.

One of the disadvantages of paying for a Tarot reading is that when you have your cards read you may not want to tell the reader too much because you may feel you want proof they are a good reader. The problem with essentially stepping back and not saying much is that the reader then is really just broadcasting. They may do that exceptionally well, and hopefully will, but if the reader is angry, depressed or has blind spots then it is possible that could affect the translation.

As a reader they may intuitively see an image or hear something, or get a strong feeling, or a deep inner knowing. They then need to relate that to the person in front of them. This is a delicate task that requires tact, verbal dexterity and awareness of the person being read for.

This is really where my main concern is regarding Tarot being dangerous because what we are told in a reading can stick in our minds and can affect our future behaviour.

If a reader said, “You will have three children.” Then you may feel fully confident you should go ahead and have three children because a Tarot reader said it was what would happen. But there is so much to consider. It is up to YOU how many children you want. Not up to your Tarot reader.

Luckily most Tarot readers are very responsible and will tend to look at the whole picture so that you can make up your own mind.

I was told by a palm reader in my mid-twenties that at the age of 35 I would have a huge change after which I would have everything I ever dreamed of. I have now passed 35 some time ago and on looking back I did have a fairly big change around that time. But I have also had other big changes since.

As you can see when a reader takes a thread and presents it to you as a statement all that power is in that statement. It becomes crystallised but the truth may be much less solid or certain.

Looking back now, did I actually get everything I ever dreamed of at 35? Well, I have some wonderful things in my life. But, like most of us, I am not happy all the time or relaxed all the time. Life goes on. So on balance I wouldn’t say I suddenly got everything I ever dreamed of at 35.

Predicting the future

Predicting the future in readings is one of my bugbears. Be very careful when asking for future predictions. If a future prediction really worries you it can really rock you.

So if you are reading this and you have been told a future prediction that worries you I would suggest to you that we always have the power to change our future.

Be very clear you know what you are asking for. I think peaking around the corner is fine but personally if I had someone read my Tarot I would say, “No long term future predictions please.”

Steps you could take to limit the chance of a bad reading

  • Say a prayer before you read or are read for and ask that all that comes from this reading will be for your greater good. Picture it going well.
  • If you get a bad feeling that you shouldn’t go ahead with a reading then don’t do it. You need to trust your instinct.
  • Try to get a recommendation from someone who has already seen that person. Then ask how did they present information and was there anything that worried the person about the reading.
  • Be careful what you ask for. Are you ready for all the possible answers to that question? What will you do with the answer?

I love the Tarot and have been studying and using it for more than twenty years and most Tarot readers will have only your best interest at heart and will hopefully weave a wonderful picture that is empowering.

Tarot readings can be really useful to help us see our lives more clearly and personally and I think it is really exciting. Good luck!!

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