Elle Tries...Tarot Cards!
I had to make this my next bloggy adventure, because my lovely friend gifted me the gorgeous Wild Unknown deck by Kim Krans! I exclaimed with delight that I’d heard from the witchcraft community that you’re supposed to receive your first tarot deck as a gift, and she smiled knowingly and said she’d heard the same. Is she an earth angel or what?
Whether you believe in tarot or not, this deck is a beautiful piece of art. Kim Krans illustrated the whole deck and guidebook with a distinct style of line art, brought to life with lush watercolor painting. How can you not feel a little witchy and mystical when you look at it?? My deck is sitting pretty in a prominent spot on my bookshelf, and the sight of it alone gives me a little kick of serotonin.
What are Tarot Cards?
The history of Tarot is a little bit mysterious, which only makes me love it more. Apparently there are references to the use of tarot cards dating back to the 1440s in Italy! At that point it was likely a card game akin to Bridge, but the origins are unclear. The current association of tarot with divination didn’t evidently blossom until the 19th century. However, some luxury tarot decks from the 1400s survived and they are stunning. You can take a look at the hand-painted, gold and silver Visconti Tarot here. Even if it was just a game back in the day, these decks sure set a precedent of tarot being a gorgeous piece of art.
In the 18th century, a French occultist named Jean-Baptiste Alliette popularized the use of tarot for “cartomancy.” This just means divination via cards, but it’s giving YA fantasy novel and I love it. So from here on out, I’m not doing tarot, I’m practicing cartomancy.
The modern version of the 78-card tarot deck has 22 Major Arcana (trump) cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards. The Major Arcana cards represent big picture themes, and Minor Arcana cards represent our day-to-day circumstances and issues.
My Experience as a Cartomancer (lmao let me have this)
I looked through the Wild Unknown deck’s accompanying guidebook and decided to do a “clarity spread.” Per the recommendation of the accompanying guidebook, I shuffled and cut the deck into three piles with my non-dominant hand, asking for clarity on the main themes I’d encounter in the week ahead. I drew the following (included are links to another blog I enjoyed, which details the reader’s interpretation of this deck):
Top Card:
Two of Pentacles: Key themes: balance and change. This card signifies that change is sure to happen, often via a new job, financial situation, or movement. Even if you feel apprehensive about the change, it’s going to happen and may even bring you joy!
Supporting Three Cards:
Mother of Pentacles: Key themes: domestic and loving. The Mother of Pentacles is very dominant in the family. She knows exactly what to do while raising a family and the chores of everyday life. She catches on quickly to the causes of problems and tangible ways to remediate them.
The Tower: Key themes: sudden volatility, crisis, change, breakthrough, collapse. This card signifies intense change and upheaval.
Death: Key themes: necessary ending, closure, transformation. This card announces a ending and new beginning in your life.
So we jumped straight into the deep end with this draw, right? The first thing I noticed was that three of the four cards were thematically similar. I flipped through the guidebook to make sure all the cards weren’t so similar in nature, and they’re not - there are cards to represent all kinds of scenarios.
Honestly I was expecting to find the exercise to be thought provoking; a good tool for self reflection. I did not expect that the cards would be so congruent in their message, and so accurate. When I did this draw, I had recently become aware that my company was going to face big changes that made me question whether I should look for a new opportunity. I feel like I’ve juiced everything out of this experience - I was challenged in ways I never imagined, grew a lot, and then started to see signs that I might need to release this chapter and usher in something new. Hopefully there aren’t any other big endings and collapses around the corner, but this draw sure was on point with regards to my feelings about work life!
I’m feeling a bit vulnerable and tender about the possibility of such a big change, but I do have a gut feeling that it’s inevitable. It feels like I’ve completed whatever karmic lessons or contracts I was meant to. I also feel affirmed by the Two of Pentacles that this collapse will make way for a necessary and joyful new beginning. Maybe this blog is part of my new timeline!
I did wonder at first if I would have been able to suss out that these cards pertained to my work specifically, had I not already had some insight about the company stuff. But then I realized that the presence of Pentacles in the draw suggested changes in the material realm, specifically regarding material things like work and finances. Soo, I may have underestimated their accuracy initially!
The one card that wasn’t obviously thematically similar was The Mother of Pentacles. I’m not 100% sure what this represented, but it is an archetype that I personally identify with. Maybe she’s meant to be me, staying grounded and true to herself through the vagaries of life.
The Verdict
I’ve done a few other draws since then, and my impression is that tarot is handy for a few reasons:
Affirmation: At least when you’re a beginner, tarot is useful for revealing what you already know deep down. Sometimes you have intuition about something, and you need a mirror to reflect it to you in plain terms. The cards don’t mince words, so it also forces you to look directly at whatever you’re facing.
Clarity: I’m finding that the more I practice, the more intimacy this deck seems to have with me and vice versa. I’m thinking less literally and checking the guidebook less compulsively, and intuiting what’s being transmitted to me instead. The cards are convincing me that somehow, whether it’s my own intuition or a higher being, they are pretty prescient.
Ritual: There is something otherworldly and ecstatic about performing rituals that connect you with yourself and/or a higher realm. Irrespective of the messages I receive, I feel that the act of greeting the deck, holding it in my hands, and inviting it into my energy is sacred. It put me into a still, quiet and receptive space that I find very nourishing.
I love using my tarot deck, and intend to keep using it regularly. It’s beautiful, helps me connect with my intuition, and gives me an excuse to get cozy and reflective. I may have found a new calling 😊