Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

Tarot cards are a powerful divinatory tool, but they are often misunderstood. In my experience with teaching tarot, working with decks and reading for others, I’ve encountered many common questions. In the following message, I will dispel these rumors and misunderstandings.

The question of fate versus free will comes up more often than any other question. Often times my students and people I read for wonder if a card in the future position is absolute gospel. I believe it is not. If you have the Tower card, a sign of impending doom, in a future position this does not mean that your house will burn down tomorrow. The cards in the future positions simply indicate future influences. The influence can be altered. Even with knowledge of the future we can alter it. The knowledge of the coming Tower card influence can allow you to adapt to it and be bettered prepared for the coming trouble.

The Death and Devil cards are also points of worry for those new to the tarot. This has caused the tarot and tarot reading to be associated with Satan worship for those who don’t understand the purpose of the cards. First off, getting the Death card in a reading does not mean you will die and the Devil card doesn’t lead to any type of dealings with Satan. These cards, just like the rest, are symbols for influences in your life. The Death card points to immediate ending of a relationship, trend or habit in your life. It actually can be a time of change and a great opportunity for growth. The Devil card indicates immediate negatives in life that the querent is unwilling to face. It can point to getting obsessed with something in your life, or ill health.
Reversed cards are also misunderstood. When a tarot reader lays out the cards for a reading, there may be some cards that appear backwards in relationship to the others. It is a personal matter for the tarot reader to choose whether or not they read meaning in reversed cards. Personally, I don’t give a lot of credence to reversed cards. Each of the tarot cards has a message, and if I were delivering a message to you, my words would still be the same if I were standing on my head!

I also get questions about the quantity of cards used in a tarot reading. I normally use three to five, and some people think if three is good, then ten or twenty is better. Actually, I have not found that to be the case, especially for new readers. If you are using too many cards in a spread when you first begin, it will confuse you and you will lose the message of the reading. Once you get more experienced, using a small number of cards will also help the reading be much more focused and tight on one to two subjects.

The layout of the tarot spread is sometimes a point of contention between readers and students alike. There is no right way to read the tarot cards. They don’t become more powerful or easy to interpret depending on how they are laid out. The layout is completely up to the reader. If you are studying the tarot, you will find a layout that speaks to you the most. There are plenty to choose from and I recommend that you experiment until you find one that eases your readings and interpretation. If you are receiving a reading don’t be concerned with the layout that your reader uses. I hope this has dismissed some of the common misconceptions regarding the tarot. It is one of the most powerful tools in magickal arsenal, and I hope you’ll consider using it as part of your walk on this path.

Brightest Blessing,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”