Tarot can be an incredibly transformative divination tool, using rich symbolism and archetypal imagery to help you explore your inner world. But as tarot has become more popular in pop culture, plenty of myths about the practice have come along with it.
Here’s the good news: Your tarot practice belongs to you. There’s no secret club making the rules, and you have permission to use tarot in whatever way feels intuitive and meaningful to you. So, let’s clear up some of the biggest tarot myths and leave those outdated rules behind.
Keep reading as we set the record straight on five common tarot myths.
Probably the most common misconception about getting started in tarot is that someone must give you your first deck as a gift. Tarot doesn’t belong to an elitist club of elders who decide who can and can’t participate.
In fact, one of the best things about tarot is the wide variety of beautiful decks. There’s truly something for everyone. Game of Thrones Tarot, The Godfather Tarot, Cat Tarot, Queer Tarot—you name it, it’s probably out there.
Pick a deck with artwork that speaks to you. When you feel connected to the imagery, the messages resonate deeper. You can also use a deck that feels like you alongside the classic Rider-Waite-Smith. That way, you can study traditional images and symbols while building a practice that feels personal. Once you have your deck, a single-card tarot draw is also an easy way to start your practice.
Another common misconception is that tarot is purely a fortune-telling tool. Because of this myth, a lot of people fear card divination entirely. They think they’ll sit down with a reader who will tell them when they’ll die, fall ill, or lose all their money. However, any reader who claims to predict things like this isn’t practicing ethically.
In truth, tarot is a tool meant to dive deep into the present moment at hand. Any future outcomes you explore are subject to change. Tarot is a mirror: It helps you tap into your subconscious realms, name what you find there, and even use the cards as a tool for healing. Its job is to reveal the truth.
Remember that you always have free will. While tarot can help you tap into future energetic possibilities, you still hold all the power. The cards can help reveal what you already know somewhere inside. Ultimately, tarot doesn’t tell you the future; it tells you the potential.
Religious fear surrounding divination is as prevalent as ever. However, assuming tarot is evil or demonic diminishes the personal power of the reader at hand. Diviners aren’t puppets; they’re conduits who help reveal the collective unconscious. Tarot has gotten a bad rap in the religious zeitgeist because it puts power in the hands of the individual. In turn, it can awaken people to their own divinity.
The cards themselves are inherently neutral. Still, they can reveal where ill intent may surround you, both inside and out. Tarot relates to your entire human nature, which can often be dark.
For example, the imagery in the Devil card reminds you to unshackle yourself from addictions, attachments, and hateful beliefs. It’s not prophecy; it’s a practice in accountability.
Individual readers may take different stances on this topic depending on their preferences. In general, though, there’s no hard rule against letting someone else touch your cards. Some readers even prefer to have the querent handle the deck so their energies can fuse.
Interacting with the deck also allows the person receiving guidance to take an active role in their own reading. After all, tarot is meant to be a back-and-forth conversation. Touching the cards may help the querent soften to both their own wisdom and the reader’s guidance.
Life isn’t black and white, and neither are tarot cards. Even some of the scariest tarot cards—Death, the Tower, the Devil, and the Ten of Swords—can carry positive messages.
Death can bring rebirth, while the Tower clears the way for something more stable. The Devil can remind you of your personal power, and the Ten of Swords can signal that the worst has passed.
Sometimes tarot asks you to face the parts of yourself you’d rather avoid. That doesn’t make those cards bad. Often, they’re simply pointing toward what needs your attention most.
Hopefully, these myths leave you feeling more confident in your tarot practice. Have fun with it, trust what resonates, and remember: You’re the boss.