Understanding Tarot: Seeing Beyond the Myths by Christin Snyder

There are many misconceptions surrounding the Tarot that have caused
much debate. For the past 15 years I have used the Tarot as an
instrument to gain understanding and insight. In this time I have
had to grow into this tool also, learning through experience what it
can and cannot do. Tarot is not a fortune telling device as often
depicted. It is not a magic wand that lays out an easy future by
providing all the answers in advance. The future is not set in
stone, our use of free will determines what directions we take and if
we believe otherwise, we give our power away to circumstance.

Simply put, Tarot is an instrument used to gain deeper insight &
understanding through symbology and exploration. It is a tool for
personal transformation through the combined usage of psychology and
spirituality. It enhances awareness, and in the process expands
horizons by highlighting choices and scenarios by laying it all out
before us. Living an empowered life means understanding that the
future is not entirely predestined. I believe we come here knowing
and allowing ourselves to have certain experiences, but we also shape
those experiences through integration of what we have learned. Just
like a grade in school, you have certain objectives and lessons that
are part of the goal plan. Some students will succeed, others will
not make the goal, but each student shapes his/her own learning
experience through effort and application. Tarot, when used
properly, was never intended to be "magic", just a tool for insight
to help the querrent make more empowered decisions. It acts as a
sort of study guide, enhancing the learning process through
displaying repeating behavior patterns, potential
consequences/rewards for ones actions, and possible choices. The
Tarot through its series of images tells a story, each card
represents different personality traits, attitudes, actions etc, and
through these pictures a story begins to emerge. The ultimate
outcome is entirely in the hands of the one seeking the guidance.

As with anything else misunderstood, it is human nature to fear and
label things which can be viewed as a potential threat. Things that
are different are frightening and often labeled as evil outright,
rather than explored. Remember, we live in a society that burned
people alive only a few hundred years ago because of fears of evil.
I am reminded of the famous quote "The only thing we have to fear is
fear itself". Human nature in a fear state is a peculiar
phenomenon that causes those in its grip to say, do, and believe some
rather absurd things. The whole propaganda about Tarot being
associated with Satanism and the Devil is flat out nonsense. No, the
Tarot was not written about or condemned in the Bible or any other
holy book for that matter, as the Tarot did not even come into
existence until somewhere between the 14th and 15th century AD. We
must remember to keep our holy books in context, as they are meant to
be taken symbolically and not literally. If we were to actually take
some of these books literally we would still be stoning women,
sacrificing animals, and smiting our neighbors. As with anything
else, the Golden Rule applies: "Do unto others".

The vast majority of us who use Tarot in our daily lives are no more
evil than anyone else. We work jobs, raise families, and socialize
with the rest of the community and do otherwise perfectly "normal"
things. We don't all have big head dresses and speak in funny
accents telling others we have mystical magical powers and can change
lives, bring people lovers, or dole out winning lotto numbers. The
charlatans who practice this kind of thing, and propagate these
misconceptions aren't evil either, they are just plain greedy and
eager to capitalize on the pain and misunderstanding of others. I
have seen just as much greed in many churches & temples, so i would
advise people to not jump to conclusions, but to research and try to
gain understanding into how this tool works before labeling it as
anything.

Legitimate Tarot Readers, Psychics and other such advisors believe in
building people up as we show them all the options and potential
choices surrounding present conditions, and help them to come to
terms with issues from the past that may be shaping their current
perceptions. A genuine Tarot reader does not present Tarot as
something that only the elite can master. Many of your more
reputable Tarot readers teach and are usually happy to share Tarot
knowledge and personal insights with those who are learning. The
mark of a genuine psychic is empowerment, not dependency. A truly
gifted healing practitioner does not seek to enslave a querrent to
their guidance, but to show them how to find the connection with
their own inner guidance.

Another common misconception is the tendency to link Tarot Readers
and Psychics together into one category. One does not have to be a
practicing psychic to use the Tarot, however many psychics, myself
included, started out on our paths reading Tarot. Tarot can be a
tool to help enhance and aid the intuition, and that often opens
people up to further abilities. Once I developed psychically, i
never gave up my love for Tarot. I still use it often, in
combination with my other abilities, to read for myself and others.
Tarot serves as a validation to my other senses, and frankly is very
old-habit to me so it is easier. I guess it's almost like that old
security blanket one reaches for because its comfortable, out of
habit and not necessity.

I use the cards for many purposes, inspiration for writing,
meditation, reflection, asking Spirit for guidance when I feel
confused, etc. The possibilities are limitless, as are the many
different types of decks available. There are decks that represent
many different spiritual paths, styles of art, languages etc. making
it easy to find one that fits right with the individual. They are
not restricted to any one faith system, there are Christian decks,
Kabbala decks, Angel decks and many more. There are decks for
different levels of reading ability as well. Beginners may find that
extremely intricate decks filled with tons of symbology or a lot of
intense artwork distracts from the learning process. I recommend
starting out with a more standard deck such as the Rider-Waite or
Universal-Waite decks, or ones based on these. Different decks can
be acquired once a feel for the Tarot has been developed. Many of
the learning guides and courses for beginners that are available are
developed around these decks.

When in the market to find a Tarot deck, there are numerous resources
available to review them, see what others have to say and to view
samples of the images. One of my personal favorites is
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/ which features images and reviews of
hundreds of decks. The key is finding what one is naturally drawn
to, and I explain more about this in my other articles, and also
provide free Tarot readings as well as other great resources through
my own website: http://www.SpiritualGuidanceTarot.com

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Christin is an Ordained Minister and Spiritual Guidance Coach who
loves to empower others. Visit her site today for unique resources
such as free readings, articles, forums, and her Free eBook "Psychic
Skills Exploration & Development".
http://www.spiritualguidancetarot.com