Sunday, November 26, 2006

FAQ: Is the Tarot for Skeptics too?

Recently, I had a few skeptics ask me if Tarot Reading was still relevant. I say: absolutely! Even if you don't believe in the Tarot spiritually, it can be a useful secular tool for even the driest of skeptics.

Tarot Wisdom
Each Card is a different life lesson, timelessly applicable to the human condition. Different combinations of Cards can also create completely different life lessons and variations, therefore the Tarot have almost limitless and wise experiences to share with us. The Tarot guide you into a solution with any random combination of these life lessons. Again, this is if you don't want to take the spiritual side of the Tarot in consideration.

Example
For example, say you were having financial difficulties and you wanted advice. My role would be to shuffle, deal, and interpret the Cards' face value - without using any intuition. I have done this before and find that there is still much wisdom. I show here the Kind of Swords, if you were having financial difficulties, the advice I would give you (if the Card was on its own):
  • Do your research when investing, don't trust someone less intelligent than yourself work with your finances.
  • Come up with creative side projects, use a team of people and lead them, inspire them, and coach them new communications skills in order to make this business work. Make sure you hire someone who is a business person, as you are the brain behind this job, not the business.
  • Read a book about managing your finances.
  • Be honest, tactfully, about those who are wasting your money or a collective money pool. It's time to make some rules you can all agree upon. If there are children present, it's time to set guidelines and allowances that conform to your budget. Be fair, but don't be weak hearted. Be as objective as possible.
  • Don't use corrupted brokers, sometimes that risk is ripe for the picking, but this time - stay on the safe side. That is, research the broker - make sure they're worth your time and money.
  • Make goals on a weekly and monthly basis to keep your eye on the prize.
  • Make a game out of your finances if you have children, so they don't just get allowance money for nothing! Put them to work, and make it a game (use chores or homework).
Of course I would use more than one Card in such a reading, so it would have more specific guidance as more Cards would be laid out.

Sometimes people need random information in order to:
  • Unlock ideas they already had
  • Give ideas they wouldn't have thought about in their current mindset or situation
  • Give a feeling of brainstorming, which is productive and feels like you're moving forward
  • Elaborate on ideas they already had
  • Find negatives and positives of ideas they already had, or completely new ideas. Like a pros and cons list
  • Brainstorm your way out of problems
  • Come up with a random solution if they're having a hard time deciding
  • And of course much more.
What else can you take from it?
Random information is not all you get from a Tarot Reading, even if you don't believe in the spiritual aspect. You also get guidance from someone who's met many different kinds of people, and discussed countless problems: and probably the same problem you're having now. People are often surprised when I tell them the secret question they asked me (which they thought was freakish) was a regularly asked question. This can often make you feel better about your situation. Tarot Readers, good ones, are also often innate problem solvers and emotionally sensitive people - ideal for helping you with your problem. We're also sworn to secrecy, so your identity will remain hidden. Good Readers are also nonjudgmental of your situation, as we have learned through studying the Tarot how to be empathetic; with some obvious exceptions, we believe that everyone is inherently good - even if appearances say otherwise.

Oracles of Randomness
Those skeptical of the metaphysical side of Cards cannot deny the usefulness of a random archetype generator. Like flipping a coin or turning a wheel of fortune, random decisions often help in times of indecisiveness. There is nothing more frustrating in the decision making process than freezing up, and wasting time with that kind of block.
Since the beginning of Human Kind, people have used Oracles in just such a way - except some add spirituality to the mix. When going into battle, isn't it better for the psyche to know you're going to do well? And to know tips for your strategy in just such a battle, no matter how random, can be the difference between a messy battle - and a battle fought by people with sureness on their side?

Of course Tarot Readings are not for everyone, but I believe they are for most people. Then again, I'm an avid Tarot enthusiast!! ;)