I threw out my Tarot cards.
This may not seem like a big deal, but it is mildly significant that I have, somehow, had the same set of Tarot cards for twenty years. I got them when I was fourteen. I haven’t always “used” them, not even close. They’ve been dormant more than active. I can’t even recall having them in my possession most of the time. But I did have them a couple weeks ago, when I threw them in the garbage.
The set was called (I believe) The Mythic Tarot, and it had beautiful illustrations based on Greek myths. Lovely. But Tarot cards reportedly originated in 15th century Europe, and have no real connection to ancient Greece or its mythology. The illustrations, and the book it came with, connected the Tarot symbolism to mythological scenarios and characters. Looking back on it now, this seems stupid and a stretch, but as a teen I accepted it. I liked Greek myth and I thought the pictures were pretty.
Do you believe Tarot cards have some power, that they work to reveal reality, or at least your subconscious take on reality? And do you believe that they are equally powerful no matter what form their symbols take, as long as the symbols have the same rough Tarot meaning? Even if, say, they go back in time to adhere their symbols to those of ancient Greece?
I was was pondering your last set of questions. First off, "Do you believe they are equally powerful no matter what form their symbols take?" What I thought was the easy question wasn't so easy. I did a little research. It doesn't seem to matter which deck you you use as long as you become familiar with the instructions (so to speak). I stumbled across a site that directly addresses that question at the following link Tarot Eon by Douglas Gibb. It was all pretty fascinating to me since I was unaware that the two major decks still in use were created by members of a late 19th century British "Magical Order' called the Golden Dawn (or The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn). If I'm interpreting correctly, the most popular deck, and the one that has the most influence today, was created by A.E Waite and is called the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. Another deck which is popular though more complex to use is the Thoth Tarot deck developed by Aleister Crowley. Gibb seems to feel both decks and any modern derivations of them are useful - as long as you take the time to learn how they work. Frankly, I'd be a little flipped out by anything Aleister Crowley was involved in as I'm not a big fan of his 'philosophy' or lifestyle. BUT, I should reserve some judgement since my research on Crowley isn't all that in depth.
ReplyDeleteRe: the more difficult question -"Do you believe Tarot cards have some power?" Obviously that has to be answered subjectively. I was told it was the power of your intention that influenced the cards. I've read other explanations that say it involves channeling the 'universal mind' or the 'higher self'. It would make sense to me that the more spiritually intuitive a person is, the greater chance to connect to a 'higher dimension' and therefore receive a more useful reading. Maybe the psychic wasn't wrong in this regard - not everyone is equal in accessing this power.
I have always been terrified of anything to do with future predictions. I don't want to know 'what might be'. I'd rather just go along for the ride and hope my present decision making is enough to help things turn out for the best. I think I'm a fatalist who chooses to remain ignorant. I've also had some scary experiences with psychic readings in the past. I was told by two different friends that the psychics they consulted had a message for me predicting an 'illness'. An 'illness' that has come to pass. I've also had a ridiculous reading that said I would become a famous artist. (Still waiting for that one to manifest)! Another close friend had two separate readings in which she was informed she would experience an early death. At the age of 46 this friend was diagnosed with an incurable, potentially life-shortening and rare medical condition.
As I said before, my knowledge of using Tarot cards is really limited. I've seen people become 'addicted' to them and I don't believe that's healthy. However, I can see they could be a useful tool to understanding one's self and the decisions that are most pertinent to our growth. I do believe that there is much more to reality then we currently know. Unfortunately, the dominance of scientific thinking has sapped us of some of the magic in our lives. Science has elevated us from superstition but it's also eradicated some of the enchantment and allure of our daily lives.