I had a very interesting experience today, when a blogging chum did a tarot reading for me. I’m not sure I’m supposed to say who it was, but it’s someone who I have met a few times, and get along with pretty well.
I don’t know quite how I got to the age of [mumble] without ever having had my fortune told, my bumps read, or anything of that nature. I guess I’m generally far too pragmatic for it to have ever appealed. But on the basis you should try most things you get the chance to try when you can, I decided to give it a go.
So, there was a 20 minute reading with various different sorts of cards, an alarming number of which seemed to involve swords, which can’t be a good sign, surely? There were cards for my past, my present, my future and angel cards, which I don’t really understand but the pictures are prettier than the other cards.
Was I convinced?
Apparently the cards said that I work too hard, and I have a very strong moral code and beliefs about what’s right and wrong. It said I have had financial challenges (newsflash: I’m divorced) and have experienced conflict (I work with bloggers). Oh, and I work too hard and need a holiday.
So I’m not sure I heard anything that someone wouldn’t know after having met me once or twice, or even having read my blog for a few months. Having said that, I’ll confess there’s something weirdly compelling and probably also deeply egocentric about listening to someone talk about how interesting you are for 20 minutes.
But what I end up wondering is do the ‘cards’ say things that are credible because tarot works, or because the person reading the card knew those things and therefore ‘saw’ what she expected to see, or at least interpreted what she saw based on her knowledge of my personality and situation? I’m inclined to feel it’s the latter.
Perhaps these things require the individual to make a leap of faith in terms of believing it’s the cards telling them things rather than a person. I’m not terribly good at leaps of faith, as a rule.
What do you think? Do you think this kind of reading can mean anything? Are they helpful, or just a bit of fun?
The pragmatic me, the one with two boys and a mortgage, agrees with you but the one that likes to believe in magic, the eternal child in me, would take that leap of faith…
You know, I don’t know. I kind of like the idea of having it done, and I love when my stars say flattering/positive things, but I don’t really like to think everything that happens is already planned out. Especially if it’s a load of negative stuff! I like to think I have some control.
Also, I always thought tarot was supposed to be read by someone you didn’t know, to avoid them making unconscious judgements etc based on what they already know about you…?
Knowing how much you love data analysis, you might find this analysis of horoscopes interesting: http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/horoscoped/
In summary, the horoscopes they analysed all used very similar words, and I have a sneaking suspicion that all of these things use very careful wording that could apply to anyone. After all I think we’d all say we work too hard and don’t have enough money, wouldn’t we?
But like Tattie said, it would be lovely if it was true, wouldn’t it? 🙂
I have had my cards read at 18 and treated it as just a bit of fun, but I wouldn’t do it now as it’s quite expensive and as a parent I can think of other ways to spend – I am not sure about a free reading, will cross that bridge when needed.
The problem is you just don’t know if the person is skilled at what they do. Suppose that it is real but that the majority of people just make it up. How can you tell?
I worked at a games company and hit a professional problem. We were pitching for a set of games that was going to include a daily horoscope. When I asked how we were going to code it, the response was with random answers. I got very annoyed at this. I don’t necessarily think Horoscopes are valid, but it is a particular methodology using position of planets etc. Their argument was that it was a load of old tosh so it didn’t matter. They claimed that newspapers and magazines make it up – I have no idea if this is true. I basically asked to be pulled off the project but I think in the end they changed it to a random generator but we didn’t win the pitch – karma maybe?
I am going to sound a bit of a freak here but I do believe some people can read cards really well. I do know that some people completely con people and don’t know what they are doing.
My nan used to read cards, not as a living but she read them and she was never wrong with things. I have to say I had my cards read by someone out of the family but recommended to me and so far a lot of what she has said has happened. Maybe I made it happen I don’t know but I don’t think I did.
She said that I already knew the father of my children, I met Mr L six years later. When our families meet we used to play outside in the front green together when I was about six and he was two! Coincidence whos to say but I didn’t think I knew him, but obviously he was someone from my past!
My family is quite spiritual though and believe in lots of strange things, Mr L is a cynic to it all and thinks I am mad! But interesting though xx
I know what you mean – sometimes it *would* be nice to believe in magic, wouldn’t it?
Yes, the nice thing is apparently the future’s bright 😉
Not sure I’d be quite so sanguine if it said something different!
Oooh, amazing.
Yes, I agree, I did think it would be hard to find people who think they have a weak moral code and they don’t work hard!
Yes, newspapers and magazines make it up 😉
I do think it’s interesting – maybe not for me, but I can see why some people do believe.
Interesting – I was intrigued to know whether there would be one of those “nobody could have known that” elements to my reading but alas, not.
I’m very into alot of spiritual/holistic/alternative type things including Tarot, I often read my own cards however of course its easy to interpret them the way you wish. I’ve had my cards read once before and it was by someone who knew me and my blog quite well so of course it does make you wonder weather or not they are working on what they know or reading the cards, thats why next time I have a reading I want it to be by someone who doesnt know me at all, thats the only way you can take the doubt away really!
I’m of the ‘it’s all complete hogwash’ variety. I think I’d actually laugh if someone tried to ‘read me’ based on some cards with silly pictures on. This may sound totally arrogant but I view this kind of thing as needing external validation and that’s just not something I strive for. All of us needs SOME validation from others but I’d rather it came from other people and ideas, not a fictional man in the sky or a set of mumbo jumbo cards.
I bet I know who read your cards! She did mine a few months back and some of the things she read happened remarkably quickly and accurately. Others I’m still waiting on but even now I can see how things are setting themselves up to work out along those lines, it just won’t be happening in the short term.
I can see why they say you shouldn’t have your cards read by someone who knows you, but I can also see why it’s a good idea as well. I’m not sure I put much stock in the whole card reading thing but it’s definitely interesting.
A blogger did mine at the MAD awards and I ended up sat in the hotel bar in tears of happiness at some of the things she told me.
Things that I had not blogged or tweeted about.
I loved my reading and so much of it has come true. Some of what she told me was amazing and gave me a hope i hadnt had before.