Tarot Cards: What They Can and Cannot Do

Tarot has been used for many different purposes. Over the years, many different ideas have emerged concerning what the Tarot can and cannot do.

Can Tarot Cards Predict the Future?

Tarot cards do not predict the future, at least not in the classic sense. The only way the Tarot can predict the future is to give a ‘most likely’ response. However, the act of knowing about a thing often changes that thing. Once a ‘most likely’ future is known, especially if it is a negative one, it is highly possible that this event has already been altered.

Occasionally, someone will attempt to use the Tarot to predict the future. These attempts may use the Minor Arcana, the Major Arcana, or both. However, since Tarot do not predict the future, the only answer they really give is the most probable outcome based on the present situation.

What the Tarot Can Do

Tarot cards are a tool that can be consulted when the situation warrants it. They are best used to reveal the qualities of a specific moment when the individual has a particular problem or situation in mind. Tarot cards, when used in a spread, can give deeper meaning to events already in motion, and outline possible outcomes of these events.

Instead of predicting the future, the Tarot reveals the moment. Every choice that is made affects the future. Every moment is a consequence of the decisions that have been made in the past. Therefore, the future will spring from the present moment and the choices that are made. It is in the making of these choices that the Tarot has its most effective use.

The Tarot can give hints and suggestions as to how to cope with the moment, in an attempt to shape the future. It is important to remember that the Tarot reflects the inner thoughts and feelings of the individual. It is for this reason that the individual reading the cards must have a clear and focused mind, thinking only of the situation at hand.

Tarot cards are also a tool by which the elements of a situation can be revealed. They can show an individual how they got where they are, and perhaps even a possible way out of the present situation. Typically, Tarot cards tend to express a time period of around six months, so they do often give valuable advice for solutions to current problems.

What the Tarot Cannot Do

Tarot cards cannot predict the future, no matter what anyone claims. They do not give a concrete account of fixed events that have yet to happen, or reveal anyone’s fate or destiny. The Tarot cannot help someone pass an exam or get a promotion at work.

The Tarot cannot and do not guarantee any outcome or situation. It would be folly to think that they will. They are a divinatory tool, and a powerful one, but they should not and cannot be the only tool that an individual uses in determining the nature of a situation or how to react to it.

The Tarot does not control anyone’s destiny. Each individual makes their own fate, though most people do not realize this. ‘Fate’ is really a subconscious thing, and the Tarot helps each person connect to that subconscious.

Tarot cards are an elusive and mysterious thing. They can be used as a guide, but absolutely should not be relied upon when planning one's future. It is also important to remember that Tarot cards are only a valid divinatory tool if they are properly cared for.