Misconceptions and myths about tarot cards have been around for hundreds of years. Tarot has been associated with witches, magic, fantasy, future telling and so on. There are tarot myths about readers, as well as the practice itself.
Let’s explore some of the most popular (and fake) myths and the truth behind them.
You Shouldn’t Buy Your Own Deck
There’s an old saying that you shouldn’t buy your own deck. Instead, you should actually receive it from another reader. Nonsense! What if you don’t know any readers in your area? Are you going to go around and beg readers for decks? Of course not!
The concept behind this myth was spread by people making money out of free tarot card reading. Too many readers will clearly reduce the market, so this superstition was based on this idea, making it difficult for other skilled readers to start over.
Now, some people still follow the idea, mainly because of its fantastic concept. But at the same time, you can still purchase your own decks and do an excellent job at reading if you’re skilled. There’s nothing true about it.
Never Read for Yourself
How are you supposed to hone your skills in the beginning then? Sure, some would say reading for your close friends is the best way to start, but reading for yourself makes things even better. If you don’t read for yourself, you’ll never be able to figure out your intuition.
While you can, indeed, read for friends first, the truth is you know yourself better than anyone else whether it’s about your life or emotions. Therefore, a reading will make more sense for yourself than for anyone else. It’s the best way to figure out your instincts and how cards can be interpreted based on unique circumstances.
The problem with reading for yourself is the fact that your readings could be biased. It might be difficult to be objective and see the bigger image when you read for yourself. How do you overcome this problem? Try to see your readings as they’re for a friend, rather than for yourself. A friend you know inside out.
There Are Good and Bad Tarot Cards
No such things! Some cards may, indeed, have a more negative interpretation. As you learn the meanings of each card, you’ll notice some of them can indicate something bad, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad cards.
Every tarot card in the deck showcases what you go through. A feeling, an emotion, a problem at work, an issue connecting with someone, you name it. Whether it’s a card of encouragement or a warning, it’s all about helping you out.
Cards are considered bad when they go against desires or egos, when they warn about something bad or when they invite you to process something that you’re not ready for. But then, online tarot is all about guidance. At the same time, nothing’s set in stone.
While cards may indicate something not so positive, they’re still good because you know there’s something you need to change. They offer guidance and support, so whether positive or negative, they give you the chance to change an outcome.
This is by far one of the most common tarot myths and no reader will ever tell you that a card is bad or signifies something. At the end of the day, tarot won’t give much about the future, but it will help you understand the present and how it can affect the future. And again, you can change everything.
Only Psychics Can Read Tarot Cards
Another classic myth! The truth is many psychic readers rely on different tools to help in their readings. Some psychic readers rely on tarot cards. Some others use crystals or oracles. Everyone’s different. Some psychics use nothing but their minds.
At the same time, many tarot readers don’t possess any psychic abilities at all. While it may help, the truth is when it comes to tarot, intuition is more important. If you think about it, there are 78 cards in a classic tarot deck. Their meanings are public, so literally anyone can learn them.
The difference is in the actual interpretation. Cards must be interpreted based on the client’s circumstances and situation. And the ability to see this interpretation using your intuition is something you develop with time. It takes practice, as well as experience.
Sure, if you start working with tarot cards and you realize you have some psychic abilities, that’s even better. But then, this connection isn’t mandatory to be a successful tarot reader.
Never Read for Money
That’s another myth you may see in movies, where a random gypsy reads tarot for someone and tells them something bad without charging anything. In reality, things are different. In fact, some of the best tarot readers in the world offer their services for good rates on psychic reading portals.
Sure, in the beginning, you’ll read for yourself to hone your skills. You may have to read for friends as well, without charging anything. But as you gain experience and reputation, it’s perfectly normal to charge for this service.
All About the Future
Tarot doesn’t actually mean fortunetelling. It’s mainly about helping you understand the past and figure out the present. Based on these, you can see an outcome for the future. But unlike many tarot myths, it won’t reveal a future set in stone.
Again, you have the power to change everything with all kinds of small or major decisions. No matter what outcome you’re given, you have the power to change it if you don’t like it. A tarot reader won’t be able to read your fate or destiny because all these things change whenever you make a decision.
In the end, there are plenty of tarot myths. There are all kinds of misconceptions and the bad news is that some of them actually make sense. However, not everything is true, so it pays off doing your homework.
If something’s about to put you off or upset you, make sure you dig deeper before taking it for granted.