A sampling of the rumours floating around about the Tarot. Stigma and misinformation abound about this ancient system. Demystification follows here.


1. Tarot originated from the Gypsies...the Egyptians, India, China, Judaism...

The truth is no one knows where the Tarot came from before it popped up in 1516 in Italy. Was it a game of cards or was it translated from an esoteric body of mystical lore handed down through the Ages? There is an origin story in each geographical direction from Italy. One of these myths may be true, but for now we keep on guessing. For a great book on Tarot history check out Cynthia Giles' book The Tarot, History, Mystery and Lore. There are an incredible number of mystical systems that can be accurately corresponded to the Tarot such as Astrology, Kabalah, Runes, I Ching. While this may indicate a common history with some of these systems, I believe it points to the universality and inherent truths in them all.


2. Tarot tells you your exact fortune with no errors.

A reading gives you a set of possibilities and probabilities based on where you are in your life right now. Just hearing these things can change their outcome. Fate is not set in time, but something we can change through our actions and attitudes. This is the philosophy of most tarot readers today. We can tell you where you might be going, and what you can do if you want to change that. And like all professions, sometimes we might be wrong. Use your gut when getting a reading and take away only what resonates with you.


3. Tarot readers are psychics who can read your minds.

A Tarot reader does tap into psychic skills but mind reading is a very specific process. Many card readers do not consider themselves to be traditional psychics and are not able to deftly probe into your mind. They have studied the cards and are in tune with their intuition. The cards act as an informative intermediary. Besides, an ethical psychic will not look into someones mind without their permission. It's not an easy thing to do and people have got to get on with the housework.


4. You must have set rituals about how you use your cards.

You must only shuffle backwards on a Tuesday while facing the sun in a purple robe. There are endless myths and teachings about how the cards must be handled and how a reading must be done. The truth is, whatever works for you, works for you. Readers develop rituals for comfort, grounding and focus while reading. The effect not the content is what matters.


5. You must be given your deck as a gift.

I don't know where this came from but I hear it so often. None of the great readers I know give any credence to this rumour. It is important to connect with a deck when you are buying it in order for it to be a useful tool for you, but it does not have to be a gift. Perhaps this myth was started by a stingy reader who never gave gifts and wanted to corner the market. Shop away.


6. Tarot cards were developed from playing cards.

There are of course many similarities between the two, but as the evidence suggests today, they were developed as individual games. There is a system of divination using playing cards called cartomancy but it is not directly related to Tarot.


7. The ability to read tarot is something you have to be born with.

Everyone has intuition. The 6th sense is undervalued or even completely blocked out in our world. We can all uncover, develop and be guided by our intuitive impulses. It is a skill, not a talent. Anyone can explore and study this art.


8. There is a right and wrong way to interpret each card.

There is a massive body of lore about the interpretation, symbolism, mythology and history of each card. It is useful to know some of the varying standard meanings, but it is also useful to toss out the books from time to time and rely directly on intuition to guide your understanding. Valuable accurate readings have been given by people who have never opened a tarot book.


9. Using tarot will upset God, whoever he/she is to you.

There are avid taroists of every religious denomination. Tarot decks are available for every spiritual system, including numerous Christian ones. There is a lot of stigma about the dangers and horrors of divining the future for yourself, but most of this comes from a historical legacy of fear mongering from organized religion. If you can talk to the gods directly why do you need a priest to do it for you? They know it works, they just don't want you to. There is a well documented photo of Meditations on the Tarot a classic work on Christian hermeticism seen on the late pope's desk. The real issue here is whether or not it upsets you. If you can come to terms with societies negative associations about using tarot, then I'm sure your gods will be ok with it too. Here's an interesting discussion on Aeclectic Tarot's forum of people coming to terms with the combination of Tarot and Christianity: Can Christians use Tarot?


10. If the Death card comes up - someone is going to DIE!

No one is going to die, at least not right away. The characters on the cards are archetypal representing the many phases and patterns in our lives, rebirth, transformation, destruction, rest and so on. Death represents the phase of transformation, letting go in order to grow. Physical death can be predicted by the cards, but there would be a lot more information to support that than just the arrival Death card.


Linda Beet
Triple Apple Tarot