How I Use Tarot Cards for Self-Reflection, Not Fortune-Telling

Tarot gets such a bad rep, thanks to movies. You know a scene -- a bunch of teenage girls sitting in front of a tarot reader, the death card gets pulled and for the next few minutes of the movie, all hell breaks loose. There's a quiet pause, and dramatic gasps throughout the room. It's all doom and gloom, and someone is going to die! 

In reality? Tarot isn't like that at all (unless you make it that way). It's subjective and all depends on the person who is wielding it. And that death card? It means change is knocking and it wants you to invite it in rather than fleeing from it. Tarot is simply a mirror you hold up against yourself. In a muddled world full of confusion and the fast life, Tarot wants you to slow down and see clearly what's going on inside. 

In times of great confusion or trouble, I find myself reaching for my deck when everything is tangled like a ball of thread. Once everything gets unraveled, it feels a lot better, and I can move forward with the life I envision for myself. Today, I wanted to discuss a bit about what tarot is and is not, at least for me. Hopefully, I can inspire those who are a little anxious to get started in this type of divination practice. 

WHAT TAROT IS AND ISNT - IN MY OPINION

When I sit down at my table with my tarot deck, I’m not asking the universe to predict what’s going to happen. I’m definitely not pulling cards looking for some dramatic confirmation that someone’s going to die soon. Life already sucks sometimes, why would I willingly put my brain through that kind of stress?

For me, tarot feels more like sitting down with an older sister or a mother figure. We chat. We sip metaphorical tea. I leave knowing a little more than I did before I plopped my backside in the chair. Sometimes the messages are soft and nurturing. Other times, they’re blunt and a little sassy. But either way, I know the cards are working in my highest good.

And when a card comes up that rubs me the wrong way? That usually means I’m not ready to face something yet, or I’m actively avoiding the discomfort it brings.

Tarot has this way of cutting through the emotional noise. Sometimes it tells you, “Hey, your feelings are clouding your judgment-- zoom out a little.” Other times, it tells you to stop overthinking everything and just go sit with your feelings for a while. It’s a balance. A necessary, messy, beautiful balance.

MY FAVORITE WAY TO READ THE CARDS

Most of the time, I’m not doing complex spreads like the Celtic Cross or a full New Year reading--not unless I’ve set clear intentions for that kind of practice. I'd rather do a small routine daily that is woven in magic that keeps me down to earth. It’s something I’ve shaped over time, and it works beautifully for where I’m at right now.

✦ Step One: Grab My Decks
I only own two decks right now -- one tarot and one oracle-- but honestly, that’s all I need right now. If you’ve got a collection, pick whichever ones speak to you in the moment. Trust the instinct I always use an oracle deck and tarot deck each time.

✦ Step Two: Cleanse with Cinnamon Smoke
Cinnamon feels like a portal opener to me. It awakens the senses and clears out any gunk that might cling to the energy of a reading. I light the end of a cinnamon stick until it catches, blow it out, and let the smoke rise.

• I wave the smoke counterclockwise around my decks to banish any stagnant or negative energy.

• Then I go clockwise to invite in my guides, the universe, or my higher self-- whoever wants to show up in that moment.

✦ Step Three: Pull One Oracle Card
Oracle cards set the mood of the entire reading (or theme). They’re usually simple--a word, an image, a vibe--but they hit straight to the emotional core. I pull this card first to get a sense of the energy I need to pay attention to. It's kind of like having a compass.

✦ Step Four: Pull One Tarot Card
I knock on the deck three times to wake up the energy, then shuffle. I stop when a card pops out-- and sometimes they really pop, like smack-me-in-the-face energy. This tarot card is meant to expand on or clarify the previously pulled Oracle card. And if more than one jumps out? I take that as the universe yelling, “Hey! Pay Attention! This requires more than one card today!”

✦ Step Five: Give Thanks
Before I do anything else, I take a moment to say thank you for the message. Then I scribble it down, especially If I'm confused in the moment, I can come back later. I take some time to meditate on the answer I got then release the energies influencing the cards and thank it as well.

A FEW CARDS THAT KEEP COMING UP FOR ME LATELY

One card that’s haunted me for years is the High Priestess, almost always in reverse. She shows up when I’m ignoring my intuition, not trusting myself, or not allowing myself to be feminine in the way I desire. But lately, she hasn’t been appearing as often—because I’ve been doing the work to invite her energy into my life.

Still, every now and then, she pops back up with a cosmic finger wag and says “Girl, pay attention!!” When I don't listen, my life gets a little chaotic for sure.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Tarot isn't about having all the answers handed to you on a silver platter. It's about showing up for oneself, despite the path being foggy or messy. Each card, each pull, is an invitation to slow down, listen, and reflect. The messages received aren't set in stone, we are powerful beings that can change our future. This is why I don't use Tarot for fortune telling. So, keep showing up for yourself, and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how things work out for you!

What card keeps showing up for you lately? Leave a comment below!