I developed multiple new hobbies throughout quarantine to take advantage of my extra free time. Though some people took up embroidery, painting or graphic design, I decided to pursue the more unusual route.
Card reading is the practice of obtaining specially designed cards, either Tarot or fortune, and finding patterns in the arrangements to answer specific questions about the past, present and future. The dealer picks random cards from the deck to answer a question for themselves or a client, arranges them in order and finds the meaning behind each of them. Each card represents a word, by themselves they mean little, but when paired up next to others, they form sentences. Hence the phrase, “reading cards.”
Obtaining a deck is simple enough. They’re sold in multiple stores and online. Some people are strong believers that you must be given a deck as a gift, others believe you just need a strong inclination to purchase one.
I obtained my deck from a small tourist shop near The Oregon Coast. The shop was titled “Femme Fatale” and was stocked to the brim with spooky collectibles, incense and crystals. The entire store felt like a museum. Feeling overwhelmed, yet wanting to support their business, my eyes landed on a small pink book titled “Madam Titania’s fortune cards & meanings.”
My Catholic guilt got the best of me when I purchased it. I decide to lock it away due to extreme superstition. However, once I decided to test it out on friends and family, I found out it’s not as scary or unusual as many claim.
I understand why many are skeptical of it and I understand why there’s a stigma of it involving religion, some seeing it as a way to deter from God’s designated plan. Yet I think when used casually, it can be little more than a fun exercise to do with friends or a good way to work towards a goal in the future.
Many find it odd that I have the interests that I do. I’ll admit it is a little strange being religious but also interested in subjects such as astrology, palmistry, and card reading. When I started to use my deck, I realized the two are better combined than separated.
When used correctly and casually, card reading can help you and others gain guidance and support during needed times. Though it may not be factual, it’s a fun exercise to do with friends. It’s oddly comforting to see how actions you’re unsure of could play out. However, it’s important to take it lightly and not interpret the readings as absolutes. Rather, they’re merely a suggestion of things to look out for or traits to recognize in yourself.
A good portion of it is self-realization and understanding yourself. This concept is familiar to me in my faith being taught it frequently in the church. I would argue that dealing in astrology and card reading has made me a better believer.
I believe there’s a balance between certain beliefs, but that there’s no harm done in experimenting and attempting to learn ideas and methods that at first, may seem strictly in opposition. The world is fluid, and sometimes to better understand it, it’s useful to dabble in other beliefs and cultures, to truly find a belief system that you resonate with.
Dani Moore can be reached at [email protected].