What Is Tarot? Why Has It Become So Popular? Every time I open TikTok, there’s always some tarot reader telling me “the love of your life is on its way” or “you’re in your twin flame journey,” “And what I see with these two of cups is…” First, slow down! Some people have NO idea what tarot is and what any of those cards mean. Many people I know seem to think it’s some witchcraft or dark underworldly thing when it comes to tarot. Why? I’m not necessarily sure. It could be because of the dark and eerie aesthetic, social media provides, but I can say it is in the occult realm. I have received a tarot reading in my personal experience, and no… it was not witchcrafty at all like people seem to think it is. It was pretty cool to see what the reader was able to pick up on. Since that reading, I have been intrigued by tarot more than ever.
But what exactly is tarot?
To my understanding, tarot is a set of cards dating back to mid-15th century Europe. The cards have specific meanings and can even be read in reverse. When a card is reversed, it is said to symbolize weakness or blocked energy. Some readers don’t even do reversals, and some decks are only meant to be read in the upright. The cool thing about the tarot is it can be interpreted in various ways. Tarot is often associated with astrology and numerology. This is because each suit corresponds to an element that corresponds to a zodiac sign. Make sense? A traditional deck is made up of 78 cards. 56 of those are minor arcana cards, and the remaining 22 are major arcana. Tarot is used to make predictions based on energy. This can be past, present, or new.
That’s great! But I still don’t understand what each card means…
Don’t worry, I gotcha. When it comes to the minor arcana, these are divided into four suits:
- Cups
- Pentacles
- Swords
- Wands
Each suite also represents an element! Pretty cool, right? Therefore, it heavily relates to astrology. Cups represent water, Pentacles represent Earth, Swords represent air, and Wands represent fire. The cards are numbered, beginning with Ace and ending with ten. This can vary depending on the deck, so be sure to read any instructions on reading a deck.
The major arcana are numbered 0-21. These cards are catered more towards major milestones everyone faces in life.
Here’s a link to sage goddess.com to get a more in-depth understanding of specific meanings for each card.
What to expect?
When I got a professional reading done, I was asked for my birthday and birth time. This is something tarot readers will typically ask in the beginning and the reason for your reading. It is perfectly ok if you don’t know your birth time. The birth time is simply to gain more insight based on your natal chart. From then on, the reader goes about the spread in their style.
When it comes to more generalized reading on YouTube, you are more than likely tasked to pick a pile based solely on intuition. This can be challenging but is meant to help you trust that the pile you are picking is meant for you. It is common to not resonate with reading, and you do not have to claim that energy if you feel it is not for you. If that is the case, you can pick another pile or click on a different reading.
Why has it become so popular?
I believe it is because we crave to learn the unknown. People want to find the answers to life’s unanswered questions. Who wouldn’t wanna know if they’re going to get that promotion, who their soulmate is, and their dream job? Instead of relying on yourself to reach within for the answer when someone can give it to you.
Is learning tarot worth it?
Yes! I think if you have to question it, it is something that should be looked into. Tarot isn’t for everyone and isn’t something that can be mastered overnight. I think the best course of action would be to learn through articles (like this one), watch videos, or even get a reading from a professional. You can even buy a tarot deck and play around with it. That way, you can get a feel for if it’s right for you.
If you or someone you know is interested in the tarot and getting a reading done, many other professional readers and I would suggest Keen. Keen is an app designed to partner you up with a reader based on your current situation.
I hope this article was helpful!
Source: Sage Goddess. (2020, November 5). What is Tarot? – A Brief Overview of Tarot Reading. https://www.sagegoddess.com/what-is-tarot/
Explore More:
