My Journey with Tarot: Just Cards or Something More?
Okay, so people ask me sometimes, is pulling tarot cards the same thing as witchcraft? It’s a fair question, honestly. When I first got curious about tarot, years back now, that thought definitely crossed my mind. Felt a bit… edgy, you know? Like maybe I was messing with stuff I shouldn’t be.
My first step was just getting a deck. I remember picking one up at a local shop, mostly ’cause the pictures looked interesting. Didn’t know squat about it. Took it home, opened the box. Just cardboard cards, right? But still felt a little weird holding them. Like, what am I supposed to do now?
So, I did what most folks probably do. Got the little booklet out that came with it. Started looking at the pictures, reading the tiny descriptions. Tried shuffling them, which I was terrible at first, cards flying everywhere. Then I’d just lay a few out, maybe three cards like the book suggested. Ask a simple question in my head, like “What should I focus on today?”
Then I’d look up the meanings again. Trying to piece together some kind of story or advice. Honestly? It felt more like brainstorming with pretty pictures than anything else. It made me stop and think about my situation from a different angle. Didn’t feel very spooky or mystical at that stage.
Where Does the “Witchcraft” Idea Come In?
Now, I get why people link them. You see tarot cards in movies about witches all the time. And yeah, I’ve met people over the years who absolutely use tarot as part of their witchcraft practice. They might use cards in rituals, for spell work, maybe to try and connect with certain energies or spirits. That’s their path, their way of doing things.
- They might charge their deck with intention.
- They might lay out cards on an altar.
- They might use specific spreads linked to Sabbats or moon phases.
But here’s the thing I found through just doing it myself: The cards themselves don’t do anything magical on their own. They’re tools. Think of it like a hammer. Is a hammer an engineering tool? Yeah, it can be. Is it a demolition tool? Sure. Is it just for hanging pictures? Also yes. Depends who’s holding it and what they’re doing with it.
For me, most of the time, tarot is about self-reflection. It’s like a mirror. The cards show you symbols, archetypes, ideas. Your brain connects the dots based on what’s going on in your life. It helps me untangle my own thoughts, see patterns I might have missed. Sometimes it gives me a little nudge or a confirmation of something I was already feeling.
I never really got into the ritual side of things with tarot. Didn’t feel like my way. I just shuffle, pull some cards, look at them, think. Maybe jot down some notes in my journal. That’s my practice. Pretty low-key.
So, Final Thoughts From My End
So, back to the question: is tarot witchcraft? My honest answer, based on my own path? Not necessarily. It can be a tool used in witchcraft, absolutely. But using tarot cards doesn’t automatically make you a witch or mean you’re doing witchcraft. You can use it purely for psychological insight, for creative writing prompts, for decision-making help, whatever.
It really boils down to intent and context. What are you doing with the cards? What do you believe is happening when you use them? For me, it started as simple curiosity and became a practical tool for thinking. Nothing more, nothing less, most days. And that works just fine for me.
