Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Tarot Reader vs. Psychic

I have noticed a number of people who read Tarot cards claiming to be psychic. I find this is a bit of a presumptuous label to give to oneself. Reading the tarot doesn't necessarily give one the psychic ability. Personally, I don't use the term "psychic" because I think that psychic impressions are something that originates from within. Whereas, Tarot reading is a skill and acquired knowledge that stems from images outside of one's self - the cards.

For the past 20 years I have been studying the symbolism of Tarot cards. There is a lot to remember. It is necessary, however, in order to read the cards with any accuracy, to know the symbols presented in each card. Sometimes even the seemingly same symbol can mean slightly different things in different cards.

For example, each suit of the Tarot has a general meaning: disks for wealth and money, swords for intellect, cups for emotions, and wands for drive and passion. Each of the cards, Ace to nine, in each suit varies the meaning of the symbols Knowing the imagery and symbols is the very foundation of good Tarot work.

Also, there is definitely a need for intuition to decipher card meanings in a spread as it is relevant to the querent. Psychics might also use imagery and symbols to assist with the intuiting of a situation or person. After all, most "psychic messages" don't arrive in the form of detailed notes but tend to use images just like the Tarot does.

So, there are some similarities between the Tarots readers and psychics, but one doesn't conclude the other. Just because I am able to read the images of Tarot and interpret them, doesn't mean that I have a psychic gift. Vice-versa, just because a psychic uses imagery in their ability to see, doesn't make them a Tarot reader.

There is a definitely a difference between reader and psychic. However, both abilities need to be studied and honed for either to be useful, or to make claim to their titles