| Tarot – myths and misconceptions | | | | another personal choice. In a face to face reading |
| A Tarot deck is a pack of 78 picture cards – | | | | situation it can be beneficial to let the querent |
| yes, that simple. However, the pictures on these | | | | (questioner) shuffle the cards in order to impart |
| cards are worth more than a thousand words – | | | | some of their energies into the deck. |
| they paint a picture of life. A Tarot deck can also be | | | | • You should not read your own cards. Some say |
| thought of as a Book of Life but every time you | | | | this is unlucky, I say it can be difficult to read ones |
| read this book, the pages are rearranged and it tells | | | | own cards objectively. By this I mean it is easy to |
| a different story. | | | | see what you want to see in your own cards. |
| Over the years, some strange myths have grown up | | | | • The “Death” card means that someone |
| around Tarot and Tarot reading. However weird and | | | | around you is going to die. Theoretically, this is |
| outdated these ideas may seem today, there is | | | | possible as we are all going to die but it is highly |
| often some truth in their origins. | | | | unlikely that this card on its own will prophesise |
| • One of the first Tarot myths encountered is | | | | someone’s death. |
| that it is bad luck to buy your own deck. - it should | | | | • What the Tarot cards say is always right. |
| be bought for you by someone else. You could wait | | | | Nothing is set in stone – more like written in sand. |
| for ever for this to happen and then it may be one | | | | We all have our free will and the Tarot gives us |
| you don’t like. Choose and buy your own first | | | | guidance along with choices that we can make in our |
| deck, examine the images carefully and make sure | | | | lives. It is up to us to choose our paths. If we see |
| you can relate to them i.e. don’t buy a dragon | | | | something in a reading that we do not like then we |
| deck if you are frightened of dragons. | | | | have the choice to do something about changing that |
| • You have to be psychic to be able to read the | | | | thing. |
| Tarot. Many who read the Tarot are psychic and this | | | | • Tarot is evil. Also described as the |
| will lead to a different type of reading but not | | | | “Devil’s Picture Book”. It is human nature |
| necessarily a better one. Anyone can learn to read | | | | to be afraid of something that is not fully understood |
| the tarot although, as with anything, some will have | | | | or what is viewed as threatening. True, some of the |
| more of an aptitude for it than others. | | | | images may be a bit scary in some decks but so are |
| • The Tarot cards must be wrapped in black silk | | | | some great works of art – they aren’t |
| to protect them from “negative forces?” | | | | thought of as evil. |
| That is entirely up to you although personally I feel | | | | At the end of the day, they are your cards for you |
| that dust and children’s fingers may be a greater | | | | to do what you wish with them. If performing a ritual |
| danger. By all means take the necessary precautions | | | | before a reading makes you feel better – then |
| to keep the cards clean and in good condition. They | | | | do it. Just use your common sense. As long as it |
| are, after all, your tools. | | | | harms no one else – do what you wish. |
| • Never let anyone else touch your cards. This is | | | | |