So, you’re a skeptic!
Many of the folks who sit across from me at the table start their reading with a confession: they’re curious, sure, but they’re also not quite sure they believe in “this stuff.” Sometimes it’s said with a laugh, other times with a touch of embarrassment.
I don’t judge either way — a healthy dose of doubt is part of what keeps us human. It’s what makes us ask better questions, seek proof, and avoid taking things at face value. Tarot doesn’t have to be the exception. In fact, a good tarot reading should feel like a conversation that invites your questions and at times, even challenges what we may be seeing in the cards.
That said, there are some commonly-held beliefs about tarot that (at least for me!) are not true.
Myth #1: Tarot is about predicting the future.
Let’s start here, because this is probably the most dangerous misconception about tarot. While some readers frame tarot as a fortune-telling device, many modern practitioners — myself included — approach it as a tool for reflection, not prediction. Think of tarot less as a crystal ball and more as a mirror: it shows you what’s present, patterns you may not be noticing, and choices you could make from here.
That doesn’t mean we never look ahead, by the way. Much of what happens with tarot is considering possibilities and exploring how you might think and feel about particular paths. Instead of saying, “This will happen,” we’re more likely to say, “Here’s where the road seems to be leading — is that where you want to go?”
Myth #2: The cards are magic (or occult!).
This is probably my favorite myth to debunk. The cards aren’t magical in and of themselves — they’re cardstock with ink. Their power comes from the conversations they spark and their history; how cool is it that the exact images, archetypes, symbolism, and ideas included in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck have been drawn upon for over 100 years? Like any work of art, words and imagery may be fixed in their medium, but the meaning you take away is deeply personal.
Some folks may chalk that personal connection up to intuition. Others may say it’s a message from “spirit” or some other divine power. It could just come down to plain ol’ pattern recognition. Who knows! I don’t understand exactly how tarot serves up such potent responses, and I don’t claim to. But at the end of the day, the cards themselves aren’t magical; they’re simply a tool for magic (however you might define it) to happen.
Myth #3: Tarot doesn’t work if you don’t believe in it.
Tarot isn’t a religion, nor does it belong to any one faith. Although TikTok may say otherwise, you don’t automatically become a witch simply by taking an interest in the cards (although if you are witchy, more power to you! ⛤). You don’t have to walk into a reading convinced, but you do have to approach the cards with a degree of openness.
Sometimes I’ll do a reading for someone who sits down and wants to pull cards without context. Often they’re looking for “proof” that what’s coming out on the table is legit and not some sort of scam. I’m here for this! Part of my approach to reading is dissecting small details of each card to provide evidence of what I’m seeing, rather than a generalized reading.
What usually happens is that the cards reflect something so familiar, so true to their experience, that even the most stalwart skeptic leans in to learn more. Not because they’ve been converted, mind you, but simply because they’ve been engaged. The worst that can happen is that someone comes away from a reading with a fresh take on a problem they’ve been stuck on. I’d wager that’s still worth your time!
Skepticism and curiosity aren’t opposites — they’re partners. If you’re someone who likes evidence, keeps an eyebrow raised, or wants to pick apart the process, that’s not a barrier. It’s an asset.
So if you’ve been curious but hesitant, consider this your invitation to have a seat and see what comes up. You don’t have to suspend disbelief. You just have to be willing to sit down, look in the mirror, and see what looks back.
