“Fear is dangerous, not the tarot. The tarot represents the spectrum of the human condition, the good, the evil, the light, and the dark. Do not fear the darker aspects of the human condition. Understand them. The tarot is a storybook about life, about the greatness of human accomplishment, and also the ugliness we are each capable of.”
Benebell Well
We have all been mesmerized at least once by a beautifully painted deck of cards that might tell us something about ourselves we can’t see. Whether we’ve used them or not, Tarot cards are more than a mere game you play when you pay $5 at a State Fair to have a lady, likely wearing a turban, shuffle the deck and tell you you’re meant for greatness and love is just around the corner.
The first decks can be traced all the way back to fifteenth century Italy, where they were used as playing cards, not unlike the deck your grandma uses to play with her pals at the nursing home. Eventually they took a turn for the divination and occult.
Despite most people claiming tarot cards are no different to a crystal ball or a palm reading, there is something that attracts us to these images of the High Priestess, The Hermit, The Fool, Death, etc. There are those who do readings a way of acquiring self-knowledge and awareness. But would you be so captivated by these images to get a tattoo inspired by them?
The card depicting the Wheel of Fortune implies change or shift in one’s path.
Strength, also known as Fortitude, reminds us to keep calm even when facing difficulties and hardships.
The Hanged Man is often called The Traitor, but at times it’s also believed to be a reference of uncertainty.
Despite it seeming only obvious, the card of Death does not necessarily imply a physical death. It can be the end of relationship or a call to be on the lookout for the dissolving of a situation.
“The cards give you images and symbols to focus your vague intentions and transform them into action. Your will is the magic. In other words, you are the magic. If you can create something in your heart and then act on it to make it happen, that is magic. Very simple, very straightforward—no witches, no spells, and no broomsticks.”
Theresa Cheung
