Too often when someone begins looking into cartomancy, they become discouraged by the myths and rumours that follow the practice. In this guide to tarot myths debunked, I want to clarify—and in some cases even dispel—these persistent ideas.
Tarot Myth 1: Your first tarot deck must be gifted to you.
False.
Anyone can buy any deck, at any time. What matters is how you feel about it, and the emotional connection you develop over time with the deck.
Tarot Myth 2: The Death card means you will die.
False (mostly).
For starters, we all die. It’s an unfortunate fact of life.
Before you panic, understand that this card predominantly speaks of metaphorical or symbolic death. Think relationships ending, seasons changing, or other “life cycles” that have a natural end. Yes, it can reference physical death, especially if you are using tarot to communicate with spirits. But it is extremely unlikely that the card is foretelling your own death.
Myth 3: Tarot cards are magical.
False…ish.
The main use of tarot cards is to get insight into your own psyche in order to solve problems. The patterns we see in the cards reflect the self and the unconscious thought patterns all humans have. However, some people, like me, believe that spirit guides and ghosts can use the deck to relay messages to us.
Myth 4: Tarot cards are evil.
False.
Tarot cards contain vast symbology and ideas that can be classed as both positive and negative. What we do with that energy is what matters most. Fears surrounding tarot are often the product of religious ideology and indoctrination. Many people who grow up with a heavy religious influence are taught to fear tarot based on misinformation. These days, though, many religious people are adopting tarot reading for themselves and see it as a sacred connection to God.
Hopefully this guide to tarot myths debunked has helped clear up some of the confusion and given you a better understanding of tarot. If you’d like to dive deeper into divination and spirit communication, consider picking up The Book of Seances: A Guide to Divination and Speaking to Spirits for a more in-depth exploration.