I think it is very important to note, to your point, that Pamela Colman Smith, the artist of the Waite deck, converted to Catholicism after making these cards, was counted very pious, and took care of retired priests. She died in poverty, but by all accounts, happier than when she'd been involved in occult circles. But her Bible had illustrations from the Tarot in the margins. There's a lot here to unpack. Love your article as usual. RT
I have been working with Tarot for much of my life. I have been trying to introduce it to the Right on substack, working on a series detailing each card. I find nothing in the Tarot that is hostile to Christianity. But I invariably lose subscribers each time I write about the esoteric. I appreciate and am saving this piece.
Absolutely loved this article!! Great job. I am a huge fan of Meditations on the Tarot, and I interact with Valentin Tomberg’s work a lot in my writing
As a side note, I own that Byzantine tarot deck you showed at the beginning. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
Very glad you gave Tomberg recognition! His accomplishment is, to me, stupendous! Have a look at the YouTube channel - alchemicalweddings charlottes stuff is excellent!
I took a Jungian psychology course as well as a tarot course at the Jungian Centre in Dublin. The taboos were addressed. I am an ex Catholic, and my initial approach was suspicious. But I was lucky to view it from the lens of the psychological perspective, which is more practical, in a sense. I see the tarot now as a tool to guide me when I am lost. Because the unconscious knows. And the unconscious is not evil. There are dark elements, but only when we confront the shadows, we find the gold. That was something Jung believed. He had a religious upbringing, as his father was a clergyman in the church (not Catholic). He used the I Ching. I digress, using tarot has helped me tremendously. And I have helped family members as well. I am forever grateful for the teachers who took all the scary stuff out of it and exposed a beautiful way to navigate in the world. I really hope you find this. Like everything else, it's the intention as well. Just make sure you are constantly studying. I've talked to master tarot readers and they are always learning. I hope this helps!
This is so fascinating, thank you! Before I encountered Orthodoxy, I was fascinated by tarot cards but I did feel a bit guilty about it because, as you said, there's such a negative perspective on tarot cards from Christians. I knew there were some people online who say they can predict someone's future with tarot cards, and I always figured that was bogus. but I also knew people used it to articulate their thoughts/feelings/emotions about the present, which is much more interesting. I'm not interested in using them now but some of the attitudes towards tarot cards, acting as if you are conjuring demons into your life simply by touching those cards, is a bit of an exaggeration in my eyes
I think it's a money thing, too. Where people will ask for tarot card readings to gain insight into their future situations, which I think is a total scam on the part of the tarot card reader. I've seen a lot of vulnerable people asking for tarot card readings about the future, and certain tarot card readers capitalize on that and its not right
I was actually talking about this to someone from my parish earlier today. I did a Tarot reading for them and they said “I can easily see how someone can be fooled into thinking this is magic or supernatural.” If someone is really good at cold reading and the client is very unconscious of their own thoughts, they could easily be manipulated. This is why I think we as Christians need to de-mystify the Tarot and shine light on it, to prevent people from becoming lost
I greatly appreciate your concern, seriously I do.
But did you read what I wrote in this article? It feels like you completely glossed over everything I said. I would appreciate if you would respond to the specific points I made instead of fingerwagging at me.
The very common phenomenon of perceiving (not seeing, you can’t “see” what’s not there) shapes and images in random patterns is called “pareidolia.” I assure you pareidolia is most definitely NOT the same as visually processing objectively real images. Your analogy fails. As for the rest of your “defense,” it relies on a false assumption that others will use Tarot with the same social and scientific objectivity that you claim to apply here. Unlike guns, there are no “good guys with Tarot cards.” Making decisions or choosing ecclesial candidates by lots is not divination. To claim so is so much dissembling. And I know of no budding Old Testament Prophets I’d trust to determine God’s will for me. I take my occult practices in New Testament form… that is, I leave them buried in far away desserts and fear for the day they are resurrected… as you are attempting to do here.
The shapes and images you would perceive within a Rorschach test would reflect the contents of your mind. Likewise, looking at an archetypal image within a Tarot card will reveal the contents of your mind. Whether it is pareidolia or not, the end goal is the same.
“As for the rest of your “defense,” it relies on a false assumption that others will use Tarot with the same social and scientific objectivity that you claim to apply here.”
This seems like a logical fallacy to me. My arguments here have nothing to do with what other people are doing with these cards, they rest on their own premises.
And besides, how would you know that other people AREN’T using the cards the way I am describing? Have you asked every single other person who has used Tarot cards?
And did you not read the sentence where I explicitly state that casting lots to choose ecclesial candidates is NOT divination? I agree with you there. Just like how I believe that drawing a card with a picture on it and then thinking about its symbolism is also not divination.
The free association elicited by Rorschach testing can’t be credibly compared to divination. That’s not a stretch of an analogy, it’s a break. Your thesis is interesting, but it’s poorly argued.
Did you read the definition for divination that I provided? It is explicitly defined as “attempting to read the future or gain hidden knowledge from supernatural means.”
How is the free association elicited by Tarot cards divination?
You could make that argument regarding any occult associated apparatus. It’s still occult associated apparatus. And it’s considered “an occasion of sin” in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Rite Churches to play or even experiment with them. Any argument to the contrary must refute or disregard Church authority.
You are changing the subject and not answering my question.
"occult associated apparatus"
It is a deck of playing cards, that is what they were originally invented for. Is a deck of poker cards an occult apparatus? Because it shares the exact same structure as a Tarot deck and could be used for fortune-telling if one wished to do so.
Very interesting! I haven’t seen a Christian defense of tarot before, and I found this illuminating.
If I can ask though— what did your priest think of this essay? Or more specifically, what does he think about the claims that tarot can be harmless for christians?
Asking because I haven’t talked to my priest directly about tarot, but I have listened to a lecture by a Greek Orthodox priest who directly condemns it as divination. I’m assuming your priest read this essay based on your disclaimer about how he would see this.
I also would personally be concerned about the potential for prelest… thinking we could know what we are supposed to do based on the signal from a card, even if not the result of demonic influence, could still lead to deception.
Also, another question, and forgive me if it’s just ignorant —- isn’t Christian hermeticism just occultism? Isn’t it considered a form of Gnosticism and involves seeking power over the material world?
If that’s the case, why would we turn to hermeticism to understand if there’s value in tarot for Christians?
Look, I understand the concern. But personally, I feel like there is a certain point where concern over demonic power turns into a kind of paranoia.
I go to church every Sunday, take communion regularly, go to confession once a month, say evening prayers almost every night with my family, my house is full of blessed icons, I covered the deck in Holy Water, etc. I also make the sign of the cross over the deck and over myself just to be extra sure that my heart is clear.
Do none of these things hold any power?
How do you know that demons aren't making you type these comments? How do you know that demons aren't involved every time you use the computer?
I've always been of the opinion that any Christian rotely opposed to the tarot is neither familiar with the tarot or their own religion. Like, have you read the Old Testament, man?? Talking snakes, heavenly abductions, oceans shooed out of the way... That's all fine apparently. But let's get our knickers twisted over a picture of a guy carrying too many sticks.
I think it is very important to note, to your point, that Pamela Colman Smith, the artist of the Waite deck, converted to Catholicism after making these cards, was counted very pious, and took care of retired priests. She died in poverty, but by all accounts, happier than when she'd been involved in occult circles. But her Bible had illustrations from the Tarot in the margins. There's a lot here to unpack. Love your article as usual. RT
I applaud your courage.
I have been working with Tarot for much of my life. I have been trying to introduce it to the Right on substack, working on a series detailing each card. I find nothing in the Tarot that is hostile to Christianity. But I invariably lose subscribers each time I write about the esoteric. I appreciate and am saving this piece.
This is my latest, on III. The Empress
https://williamhunterduncan.substack.com/p/iii-the-empress
Thank you, I will check out your work!
Absolutely loved this article!! Great job. I am a huge fan of Meditations on the Tarot, and I interact with Valentin Tomberg’s work a lot in my writing
As a side note, I own that Byzantine tarot deck you showed at the beginning. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
So glad this article stumbled across my feed.
Very glad you gave Tomberg recognition! His accomplishment is, to me, stupendous! Have a look at the YouTube channel - alchemicalweddings charlottes stuff is excellent!
Meditations on the tarot is fantastic, I read that book again and again, always find something new.
Hey, great article, dense and precise!
Do you have a link for the byzantine themed tarot deck at the beginning?
Thank you so much for reading!
Here is a link to the deck: https://www.loscarabeo.com/en/products/tarocchi-dorati-degli-zar?srsltid=AfmBOoqTgmlr818rzGg9ciADkFSs-1DlBdDTKRKzcZgyrwTZDfjBHA9k
Thank you!
Wow, that was so thorough.
I studied tarot recently to help me with shadow work. Just learning the meaning of the cards was sufficient. 🤣
I learned to read them from a non-dual perspective, always redirecting myself back to my own mind in the present.
Initially I would stuff the swords cards back in the deck but really they’re wonderful growth opportunities.
Tarot cards are just neutral symbols. People project all sorts onto them. 🕊️
I took a Jungian psychology course as well as a tarot course at the Jungian Centre in Dublin. The taboos were addressed. I am an ex Catholic, and my initial approach was suspicious. But I was lucky to view it from the lens of the psychological perspective, which is more practical, in a sense. I see the tarot now as a tool to guide me when I am lost. Because the unconscious knows. And the unconscious is not evil. There are dark elements, but only when we confront the shadows, we find the gold. That was something Jung believed. He had a religious upbringing, as his father was a clergyman in the church (not Catholic). He used the I Ching. I digress, using tarot has helped me tremendously. And I have helped family members as well. I am forever grateful for the teachers who took all the scary stuff out of it and exposed a beautiful way to navigate in the world. I really hope you find this. Like everything else, it's the intention as well. Just make sure you are constantly studying. I've talked to master tarot readers and they are always learning. I hope this helps!
This is so fascinating, thank you! Before I encountered Orthodoxy, I was fascinated by tarot cards but I did feel a bit guilty about it because, as you said, there's such a negative perspective on tarot cards from Christians. I knew there were some people online who say they can predict someone's future with tarot cards, and I always figured that was bogus. but I also knew people used it to articulate their thoughts/feelings/emotions about the present, which is much more interesting. I'm not interested in using them now but some of the attitudes towards tarot cards, acting as if you are conjuring demons into your life simply by touching those cards, is a bit of an exaggeration in my eyes
Apparently not even Hermeticists use Tarot for divination, and that the pratice of that really is a modern innovation by new age white girls
I think it's a money thing, too. Where people will ask for tarot card readings to gain insight into their future situations, which I think is a total scam on the part of the tarot card reader. I've seen a lot of vulnerable people asking for tarot card readings about the future, and certain tarot card readers capitalize on that and its not right
I was actually talking about this to someone from my parish earlier today. I did a Tarot reading for them and they said “I can easily see how someone can be fooled into thinking this is magic or supernatural.” If someone is really good at cold reading and the client is very unconscious of their own thoughts, they could easily be manipulated. This is why I think we as Christians need to de-mystify the Tarot and shine light on it, to prevent people from becoming lost
Literally every Greek parish will have chicks that wear evil eye bracelets
lmao you aren't wrong
Why are you “exploring “ something God told you not to do ?
He has a reason .
You’re intellectualizing a realm you are too puny to handle .
And it will overwhelm you .
Maybe listen to those who have come out of these practices ?
I greatly appreciate your concern, seriously I do.
But did you read what I wrote in this article? It feels like you completely glossed over everything I said. I would appreciate if you would respond to the specific points I made instead of fingerwagging at me.
You write like Jordan Peterson
The very common phenomenon of perceiving (not seeing, you can’t “see” what’s not there) shapes and images in random patterns is called “pareidolia.” I assure you pareidolia is most definitely NOT the same as visually processing objectively real images. Your analogy fails. As for the rest of your “defense,” it relies on a false assumption that others will use Tarot with the same social and scientific objectivity that you claim to apply here. Unlike guns, there are no “good guys with Tarot cards.” Making decisions or choosing ecclesial candidates by lots is not divination. To claim so is so much dissembling. And I know of no budding Old Testament Prophets I’d trust to determine God’s will for me. I take my occult practices in New Testament form… that is, I leave them buried in far away desserts and fear for the day they are resurrected… as you are attempting to do here.
The shapes and images you would perceive within a Rorschach test would reflect the contents of your mind. Likewise, looking at an archetypal image within a Tarot card will reveal the contents of your mind. Whether it is pareidolia or not, the end goal is the same.
“As for the rest of your “defense,” it relies on a false assumption that others will use Tarot with the same social and scientific objectivity that you claim to apply here.”
This seems like a logical fallacy to me. My arguments here have nothing to do with what other people are doing with these cards, they rest on their own premises.
And besides, how would you know that other people AREN’T using the cards the way I am describing? Have you asked every single other person who has used Tarot cards?
And did you not read the sentence where I explicitly state that casting lots to choose ecclesial candidates is NOT divination? I agree with you there. Just like how I believe that drawing a card with a picture on it and then thinking about its symbolism is also not divination.
The free association elicited by Rorschach testing can’t be credibly compared to divination. That’s not a stretch of an analogy, it’s a break. Your thesis is interesting, but it’s poorly argued.
Did you read the definition for divination that I provided? It is explicitly defined as “attempting to read the future or gain hidden knowledge from supernatural means.”
How is the free association elicited by Tarot cards divination?
You could make that argument regarding any occult associated apparatus. It’s still occult associated apparatus. And it’s considered “an occasion of sin” in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Rite Churches to play or even experiment with them. Any argument to the contrary must refute or disregard Church authority.
You are changing the subject and not answering my question.
"occult associated apparatus"
It is a deck of playing cards, that is what they were originally invented for. Is a deck of poker cards an occult apparatus? Because it shares the exact same structure as a Tarot deck and could be used for fortune-telling if one wished to do so.
"Thanks for playing. Johnny, what valuable prizes do we have for our departing guest?" 😂
Very interesting! I haven’t seen a Christian defense of tarot before, and I found this illuminating.
If I can ask though— what did your priest think of this essay? Or more specifically, what does he think about the claims that tarot can be harmless for christians?
Asking because I haven’t talked to my priest directly about tarot, but I have listened to a lecture by a Greek Orthodox priest who directly condemns it as divination. I’m assuming your priest read this essay based on your disclaimer about how he would see this.
I also would personally be concerned about the potential for prelest… thinking we could know what we are supposed to do based on the signal from a card, even if not the result of demonic influence, could still lead to deception.
Also, another question, and forgive me if it’s just ignorant —- isn’t Christian hermeticism just occultism? Isn’t it considered a form of Gnosticism and involves seeking power over the material world?
If that’s the case, why would we turn to hermeticism to understand if there’s value in tarot for Christians?
So you believe the cards used the way you use them help clarify the present ?
And no unseen entities are involved ?
ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT ?
Look, I understand the concern. But personally, I feel like there is a certain point where concern over demonic power turns into a kind of paranoia.
I go to church every Sunday, take communion regularly, go to confession once a month, say evening prayers almost every night with my family, my house is full of blessed icons, I covered the deck in Holy Water, etc. I also make the sign of the cross over the deck and over myself just to be extra sure that my heart is clear.
Do none of these things hold any power?
How do you know that demons aren't making you type these comments? How do you know that demons aren't involved every time you use the computer?
No, ugh, unequivocally no.
Care to elaborate?
Here check this out and you should maybe add this to the post, it shows you the real secret (this is the only book I’ve seen that does) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CAB8B2lUdZ1tWpfHqf3XVCPeTYw3CpfG/view?usp=drivesdk
I've always been of the opinion that any Christian rotely opposed to the tarot is neither familiar with the tarot or their own religion. Like, have you read the Old Testament, man?? Talking snakes, heavenly abductions, oceans shooed out of the way... That's all fine apparently. But let's get our knickers twisted over a picture of a guy carrying too many sticks.