The Sceptic's Tarot

Let's explore our 'selves' today.

One convention of tarot reading is selecting a significator, a card representing you before you start the reading. (This is not compulsory.) Let's turn this on its head and draw several cards at random and explore how they represent us. Think of this as different aspects of ourselves we are revealing.

True to the basic principle of thescepticstarot, we will not be accessing any supernatural forces for this exercise. Instead, Tarot cards act as a mirror, and what sparks the reflection is an honest look at ourselves and the light each card throws on us. Many people, including sceptics like me, read tarot cards not to predict or answer questions but to gain insight into who they are.

Where do the answers come from, then? Pretend the card is a flashlight, and as you look at the card, a piece of yourself catches the light. You will not find answers outside of yourself but will reveal aspects, beliefs, motivations and other occupants of your psyche; some would be familiar and easy to recognize, but some may surprise you.

You can draw as many cards as you like, but I will demonstrate with only three cards to keep it manageable. Here we go.

The first card I draw is the Six of Cups, from the Victorian Romantic Tarot:

The card shows two children standing on a balcony, looking at the snowy landscape. The card represents children, childhood, trust (see how the one little girl holds on to the other), and innocence. The card portrays a part of me that is childlike and innocent, trusting, and in awe of the world around me.

It is good to have that child in me, but I also need an 'adult' who can take care of these children in the snow. Still, innocence and wonder are precious parts of our psyche. Many people who have been abused as children may have lost the ability to tap into this part of themselves, instead experiencing inner children who have been hurt and abandoned.

The second card I draw is the Hermit:

The Hermit is about withdrawal, spiritual quests, and wisdom that comes with age. This is a significant part of my psyche. I am an introvert and tend to withdraw when I need to reenergize. I am comfortable with solitude. And I hope some wisdom has come with my age!

The third card I draw is the Five of Pentacles:

The Five of Pentacles displays the part of me that is needy and wants support. This card from the Victorian Tarot has a hopeful message: the woman is not in despair, she is trying to sell flowers to ease her poverty. So although this card indicates need, it also suggests that the neediness is offset by being proactive.

An aspect of the card from the Victorian Romantic Tarot is the woman comforting and protecting a child. So even when my inner child feels needy and alone, there is an adult who takes care of me. The woman in the card is my 'adult' taking care of the child.

This card may sometimes suggest spiritual poverty, as the people on the card are outside a church (in this card, the church door is visible next to the woman and child). In this case, I'm glad I have the Hermit within me, suggesting some measure of wisdom.

That's it! I can now reflect on these aspects of myself and journal what I find.

How does this technique work for you?