Trusting Your Interpretations

Although I don’t use Tarot to make predictions, I can still catch myself wondering if my interpretation of a card is the “correct” one. Considering the connotations that folks have with Tarot, I think it’s normal to wonder if there is some special answer or conclusion that should be gleaned from a card draw, even if you are just using it to brainstorm ideas, explore the present moment, or analyze something you need to work on to complete a goal.

So what do you do when you draw a card and you don’t have the confidence you were hoping for about your impressions?

Remember your goals. When Tarot isn’t used for predictive style readings, it’s often about meeting other goals and purposes that you have outlined for yourself. In this context, the Tarot card is a prompt to get your brain working, it is not the answer. It does not represent one specific fundamentally true, correct conclusion that you must deduce.

Therefore, if your goal when working with the cards is to generate useful information, sort your thoughts, help someone else vent what’s on their mind, etc. the important thing is that you meet those types of goals. If embodying the Queen of Swords’s spirit of independence is a useful piece of advice for the subject at hand, that’s a fine interpretation. The useful part of the reading is deciding that being independent is a good approach and why it would be better than another approach. You are weighing your options, considering alternatives, and making a thoughtful investment in how you handle something.

You assign the meaning to the cards you draw, and if the meaning you assign is a reasonable and useful one that helps you navigate a challenge, that’s success. Try not to get trapped in the mindset that there is one particular meaning behind the Queen of Swords that you need to grasp. Once you start worrying about that, you might worry that following an alternate interpretation will lead to a negative outcome. At that point Tarot becomes a hindrance that creates doubt and anxiety.

If you find yourself concerned that even your thoughtful conclusions are wrong or may lead you astray, remember that Tarot in the context I am describing is helpful in a similar way to creating lists, writing in a journal, or talking to a friend about a problem. Tarot, like those more conventional methods, isn’t a foolproof way to make the best decision or make everything turn out perfectly. If there was a foolproof way to manage life and make decisions, everyone would be doing it (or at least one would hope). All you can do is try your best to navigate life’s challenges with the information and resources that you have. That being said, if Tarot is leaving you with more concerns and anxiety than anything else, you don’t have to use it. You can try another method for working through the matter.

Don’t draw random cards. If you can’t shake that urge to “discover the meaning” behind the cards you draw, just choose them from a face up deck. You could pick a card that represents where you are now, and one that represents where you want to be. Select a card that shows something you are worried about, one for what you hope for, etc. An exercise like this can help you to explore your thoughts and get to the root of what is troubling you.

For example, look at the card that represents what you want. Why did you choose that card? What does it convey that is important to you? What about the card that shows where you are right now? What is lacking? Is it accurate or are you being too hard on yourself? Analyzing why you chose certain cards to represent aspects of a situation can be very introspective and you may gain some clarity about your concerns and desires.

Swap Tarot for an affirmation deck. Sometimes the situations that we are the most tempted to draw cards about are the ones that we are too invested in to read well. All kinds of positive or negative spins can be projected onto a situation – Tarot is a projective tool. At times like this, cards in general may not be useful (unless you find shuffling to be a stress reliever like I do).

But, if you really want to employ cards in some fashion, choose one from an affirmation deck. I’m not really an optimistic, cheerful, affirmation-y sort of person most of the time. However, there are circumstances where I want to do something with my cards to address what’s bothering me, and looking at an affirmation card and letting it sit on my dresser or desk can be helpful.

Keep practicing. As you work with your cards you will generate more ideas and become increasingly flexible with your interpretations for cards in different contexts. With practice comes a greater degree of confidence in your perceptions. Don’t forget to have fun and stay constructive!

I hope these tips and reminders have been helpful for your Tarot practice.

Happy shuffling!

The Queen of Swords is from the Hanson Roberts Tarot, copyright U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
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