Some people, when I tell them that I’m a tarot consultant, ask, “So, you believe in the tarot?” My response is, “No, I don’t believe in it, I use it.”
I don’t believe in a stove, I cook with it. I don’t believe in a computer, I communicate with it. I don’t believe in a potato, I eat it. I don’t believe in a hammer, I use it to put a nail in the wall.
The tarot isn’t a deity or a creed, it’s simply a tool. However we use it is up to us. I employ it for personal insight (for self and others), community-building games, as a prompt for journal writing, as a focus for meditation, as a creative springboard for poems, as a business brainstorming tool, as a visual “post it note” to motivate me toward my goals, and so much more.
Tarot, like many other things in my life, is about practice or usage, not belief.
Image: The Hierophant from The Jungian Tarot by Robert Wang.
I have no problem with saying that yes, I believe in it. I believe in the ability of this system to help people work through and identify areas of opportunity. I believe that tarot can predict, point out, highlight things that need to be noticed. I believe that this is a game of semantics as well. Belief is a bigger concept than I believe you to be saying, James.
I believe you are a good Tarot consultant. I believe we have a differing opinion here. I believe that is a very good thing.
Agreed, Arwen. I simply want to point out that the tarot pack is not a deity, an idol, or something faith-based. It’s simply a deck of cards. Our own creativity, imagination, and yes, even belief, can do interesting things with it. I, too, believe that a variety of healthy opinions is a very good thing
James, this is so helpful! I’m going to quote you on this to people, I just know it! “I don’t believe in Tarot, I use it as a tool.” So clear and so true. I’ve often tried to explain this same thing, but I’ve found myself stumbling all over the place. This is just so clear and direct. Thank you!
It took me a while to get to the succinct phrase, Lauren. It saves me a lot of time these days.
Thank you James for sharing this. I often do not know how to answer this question, this is wonderful!
What would your own truth be about this, Leah? I’d love to read it here.
Dear James,
This “belief” question is significant. As the saying goes “Seeing is believing”, but it can also been said…
“Some things have to be believed to be seen.”
― Madeleine L’Engle, “Many Waters”
There are different philosophies that shape beliefs, values, perceptions, and one’s sense of reality. Experience is a major influence on our perceptions and reactions.
Swiss analyst, Carl Jung, wrote extensively about the power of belief in his theoretical treatise, “Psychological Types” (1921). This is where we begin to explore the “Four (Cognitive) Functions”: Thinking, Feeling, Intuition, and Sensing. This theory was developed into what is now called the “Myers-Brigg Type” indicator.
“…it is one’s psychological type which from the outset determines and limits a person’s judgment. My book, therefore, was an effort to deal with the relationship of the individual to the world, to people and things.” – Jung
So, some people need to analyze and Think about the world in order to believe, while another is informed by inner Feeling-knowing. Yet others can Intuit without need for belief, it just is, while there are those who accept what they perceive through Sensation.
As much as we might like to find one easy answer, it rarely fits all shoes/minds. Ideally, Jung postulated that an individuated person is one who worked to embrace all four psychological styles and was, in that sense, well-rounded and beyond bias (duality). I know this is what I strive for in my life. I wish to honor and embrace all styles.
Blessed Be,
Katrina
I love this, Katrina. Yes, there are many styles, whether the four functions of Jungian thought or others. Again, these are approaches, not beliefs. Many times, people believe that they are believing something when, in fact, they’re practising it, encountering it, approaching it, using or investigating it.
James, I like the simplicity of your straightforward explanation. I can also see how it might be hard for some people to integrate “tool” with a thing that brings one to “mystic gaze” moments. Katrina, what a wonderful integrated response! I feel so fortunate to have to honor of knowing people who have such honest and balanced philosophies to share with the rest of us!
Therein lies the mystery, Jennifer. One is often transported to the mystical via the literal.
Your post is a great “shift of perspective” for people who believe they need to believe in one thing (and often, as a corollary, “reject” a belief in something else) in order to avail themselves of its benefits and insights.
Thank you!
Thanks, Lisa. Isn’t it wonderful that the tarot is a neutral pile of beautifully coloured pasteboards? It can accommodate so many ideas!
Yes, but we all know that “neutral pile of beautifully coloured pasteboards” comes with a great deal of baggage attached to it, thanks to a ton of cultural and primarily religious propaganda. That’s why your perspective is so refreshing.
Part of my work is to help the tarot set down some of its baggage. And to help myself, some of my clients, and people who get training with me to put down some of our baggage around the tarot. I’m in love with the cards and have been since I was 12 years old. It behoves me to liberate something I love.
It shows.
I’ve heard lots of good things about you from a variety of sources.
There’s nothing like doing what we love, is there?
I confess to having harbored a heavy load of baggage around the tarot, and then suddenly – about a year and a half ago – I was liberated.
Now I’m joyfully (and gratefully) “remembering” it.
I hope we have a chance to meet someday.
“Remembering” is such a good word: bringing the pieces back together again (better than the job they did on Humpty Dumpty). It would be a delight to meet some time!
Tarot for me are guidance (not that I use them much at all these days), but they’re particularly tools that I can use to help myself in the best way for me for that situation.
Like asking a (trusted) friend, I don’t have to take that guidance, I can ignore it – if I choose. But I’ve found a few times, that gut feeling/ instinct suddenly gets the thought process flowing and an interesting perspective is opened up. I do like those ‘a-ha!’ moments and then some things you couldn’t quite work out, fall into place. You find yourself tapping at the card in question, as the brain whirrs over the thoughts the card brought up. Penny drops into place. Mental note. Riiiight, next card.
It’s also about free will. You choose, your path.
Whatever the cards say.
Sue @ http://www.reikipeth.net