Alright folks, gather ’round! Today, I’m diving headfirst into something I’ve been poking at for a while: superstitions behind tarot cards. Now, I’m not talking about the whole “fortune telling” gig. I’m talking about the weird, the wonderful, and the downright wacky beliefs that people have tacked onto these cards over the years.
It all started when I picked up a Rider-Waite deck at a flea market. It was cheap, the artwork was cool, and I figured, “Hey, why not?” I started messing around with it, reading up on the symbolism, and slowly, very slowly, getting a feel for the cards. But then, the internet rabbit hole happened.
I stumbled across forums, blogs, and YouTube channels just swimming in tarot lore. And that’s where the superstitions started popping up. Things like:
- Never buy your first deck. It has to be gifted to you. Apparently, if you buy it yourself, it won’t have the “energy” or something. I thought, “Psh, whatever,” and kept using my flea market deck.
- Don’t let anyone else touch your cards. Because they’ll contaminate your energy or steal your luck. I was a little more wary about this one, but honestly, my friends are pretty respectful.
- You have to cleanse your deck regularly. With sage, crystals, moonlight, you name it. I tried the moonlight thing once, mostly because it sounded cool. My cards didn’t seem any different afterward, but hey, the moon was pretty.
- Certain cards are ALWAYS bad. Like the Tower or the Death card. Dude, these cards are about change and transformation! Relax!
So, what did I do? Well, being the stubborn mule that I am, I decided to put these superstitions to the test. I basically did the OPPOSITE of what the tarot gurus were saying.
First, I bought ANOTHER deck. A fancy, limited-edition one that I’d been eyeing for ages. I wanted to see if it felt any different from my gifted-to-myself flea market deck. Guess what? It didn’t. Both decks felt like… cards. Cardboard with pretty pictures on them.
Then, I let my friends touch my decks. We even did some group readings, where everyone shuffled and pulled cards. Did the universe implode? Did my readings suddenly become garbage? Nope. We had a good time, got some interesting insights, and no one got cursed (as far as I know).
The cleansing thing… I still do it sometimes. Not because I think it’s necessary, but because it’s a nice ritual. It forces me to slow down, focus on my intention, and appreciate the cards. But if I skip it, I don’t sweat it.
As for the “bad” cards, I started looking at them as opportunities for growth. When the Tower showed up, I’d ask myself, “What’s crumbling in my life? What needs to be rebuilt?” When Death appeared, I’d think, “What am I holding onto that needs to be released?”
Here’s the kicker: My readings actually got BETTER when I stopped worrying about the superstitions. I was more relaxed, more open to interpretation, and less focused on whether I was doing everything “right.”
Now, I’m not saying that ALL tarot superstitions are bunk. Maybe some people find them helpful. But for me, they were just a distraction. They took away from the real magic of tarot: the chance to connect with my intuition, explore my subconscious, and gain a new perspective on my life.
So, my advice? Take the superstitions with a grain of salt. Experiment. See what works for you. And most importantly, have fun! Tarot is a tool, not a religion. Don’t let anyone tell you how to use it “correctly.” It’s all about your own journey, and what feels right to YOU. Go get ‘em!
