Four Common Tarot Misconceptions & The Truth!

I’ve been reading tarot for a while now, and in that time, I have heard some wild misconceptions and “truths” about these cards. Some of these misconceptions had a purpose back when the occult was more taboo, but they hardly hold any weight today. So, let’s talk about four misconceptions about tarot cards, where they come from, and what the truth actually is.

1. Tarot Is A Closed Practice

This is a newer misconception that I’ve seen online in the last five or so years. There was some controversy surrounding tarot and closed practices on Twitter a while ago, and it really just stuck with me. If I’m remembering right, there were tweets going around telling people that they couldn’t practice tarot if they weren’t Egyptian or part of Egyptian culture. But you know what?

That’s just wrong.

Yes, tarot incorporates elements of Egyptian mysticism in the imagery, but that doesn’t mean that tarot traces its origins to Egypt or Egyptian culture, nor that it is part of some closed practice.

So, what’s the truth, then? Well, let’s look at the current known source of modern tarot.

Tarot decks were invented in Italy in the 1430s by adding to the existing four-suited pack a fifth suit of 21 specially illustrated cards called trionfi (“triumphs”) and an odd card called il matto (“the fool”). … The trionfi each bore a different allegorical illustration instead of a common suitmark. Such illustrations probably represented characters in medieval reenactments of Roman triumphal processions, similar to floats in a modern festival parade. They were originally unnumbered, so that it was necessary to remember what order they went in. Whether or not trionfi were originally produced independently of standard playing cards, their function, when added to the pack, was to act as a suit superior in power to the other four—a suit of triumphs, or “trumps.”
Britannica

Tarot cards weren’t used for divination until the late 1700s in France. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck was created in 1909 by Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Coleman-Smith, giving us the imagery we are most familiar with today. A.E. Waite wasn’t Egyptian. He was an American-born British poet who spent his life studying Western occultism. Based on what we currently know to be true, we can see very clearly that tarot isn’t a closed practice, nor is practicing tarot a form of cultural appropriation.

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2. You Must Be Gifted Your First Deck

To be fair, I haven’t seen this misconception in a while, but I still think it’s worth mentioning. When I first started reading tarot, there was this huge belief that you had to be gifted your first tarot deck. For the modern age, though, this is entirely unnecessary. I suspect this belief came from a time when the occult was heavily steeped in secrecy. You needed a teacher or a mentor to be introduced to anything occult. That’s just how it was! And while the secrecy and mysticism still exist, it is entirely possible to introduce yourself to the occult practices you are interested in.

Tarot decks are everywhere now, and the idea that you have to be gifted your first deck has (hopefully) been dropped. If you want to learn tarot, it is entirely acceptable to buy your own deck. This makes sure that you actually receive a deck, too. Some people don’t have access to an in-person community that could gift them their first deck. They may have judgmental friends or relatives who wouldn’t even entertain the idea of gifting them a deck. Buying your own deck is also a good way to make sure you connect with the art and imagery. Feeling connected to your deck and finding it pleasing to look at are important! If you don’t even want to look at it, you’re definitely not going to want to use it to learn.

So yes, if you want to buy your own deck, go for it!

3. There’s A “Right” Way To Read Tarot

There are so many methods of reading tarot that I think it would be hard to say there’s a “right” way to interpret the cards. While there is a standard way to interpret the traditional RWS imagery, tarot is also intuitive. Your deck is going to come with a standard guidebook based on the artist’s interpretation of the imagery. This is a wonderful learning tool, but it isn’t the only thing you can use. If you pull a card and the traditional meaning makes no sense, that’s okay. You can also interpret the card based on how it makes you feel or what it makes you think of.

One person might pull The Tower in a reading and see the crumbling foundations of their belief systems. Another person might see something else entirely, such as inspired action to take on systemic issues in their communities. Neither person is right nor wrong! The important thing to remember when interpreting tarot is that it should make sense for you.

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4. You Have To Memorize Each Card

The standard RWS deck has 78 cards and a system for each suit, court card, and number. If you choose to read “by the book”, you might think you need to memorize the meaning of each card. This isn’t true at all, though! Some people will tell you that the “right way” to read tarot is by knowing the meanings of each and every card. However, it is much easier — and more beneficial, in my opinion — to learn the system rather than each individual meaning.

For example, the suit of cups is connected to the element of water, emotion, intuition, and spirituality. The ace cards are generally about new beginnings, fresh starts, and the planning process. When you pull the Ace of Cups in a reading, you can start your interpretation with the basics: a new beginning in relationships or spiritual practice. From there, you can expand on the interpretation based on how the cards make you feel, what you see, and how it relates to your situation.

The Major Arcana is slightly different, but there is a system to that, too. The Major Arcana cards follow the character of The Fool through his life from beginning to end. His story through the cards moves through the cycle of life with lessons, beliefs, and challenges that might be faced. Understanding what is known as The Fool’s Journey can help you easily connect with and interpret the Major Arcana cards, as well.

Conclusion!

Remember that just like many things in the occult world, tarot is often open to interpretation. Don’t let misconceptions about the cards and the process of divination hold you back from connecting with them in a meaningful way. Grab your cards, ask a question, and get started with your tarot journey!

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