In addition to helping me feel a sense of control over my life, doing daily tarot meditations and monthly spreads gives me a sense of comfort. How many other women have shuffled cards and studied their symbols over the past several hundred years? How many people have also tried to reconcile the meaning of a card with events in their own lives?

Reading tarot is like stretching a hand back in time to touch their shoulders. They’re kinfolk, in a way, united by the same urges and hopes and fears. And they survived every Tower card, every 3 of Swords heartbreak, every Fool’s promise. They hoped and dreamed and planned and died…just as I do and will.

There’s something deeply soothing about feeling part of a practice that has endured for ages around the globe. It also hones my instincts, as I’m reminded both to reflect on my inner drives and fears, and to pay greater attention to the world around me. Like physical therapy for awareness. And looking at beautiful art lifts my spirits, so it’s good for my mental health.

Although I’m pretty self-aware, I’m also excellent at avoiding fixing my maladaptive coping mechanisms by making constant distractions for myself. So tarot frequently forces me to focus on something I’d rather not work on about myself, making it akin to a therapist. Some decks I resonate with more than others (more on that in another post), so I won’t say this is an across-the-board experience.

And finally, I genuinely enjoy being of service to others. So having the chance to do a reading that may be helpful for another person is fulfilling for me.

If you read tarot or engage in any fortune-telling practice, what are your reasons for doing so?