I'm currently in the process of moving, so while my tarot decks are packed up, I thought I could try posting some other things.
Today, I wanted to talk about what tarot is. At least, what I view tarot as.
Let's start with a very short history of tarot. I am no expert on the topic, so I am referencing an article written by Tim Husband for The Met.
Tarot started as a game in the mid 1400s in Italy. It was a game of trickery. Tarot wasn't associated with divination until the 19th century.
While there are many books about what each card means, tarot is a very personal art. If I were to draw 3 cards, they could have a specific story and definition to me, but a completely different definition to another reader. They could even have a different definition to the person being read for.
I also don't believe that what the tarot tells us is set in stone. Tarot can give advice and possibly show a path that can be taken in life, but that doesn't mean you have to take that path. Whatever the cards show is just an option.
I also believe each tarot deck is imbued with different energies. An angel tarot deck feels calm, caring, and bright. However a fae tarot deck can feel tricky, dark, mysterious, and almost like you're being given a riddle.
Again, these are my personal thoughts about tarot. Tarot might be something very different to you, and thats okay. Tarot has guidelines, not rules. Bend those guidelines to fit what you need from tarot, and remember to just trust your instinct.