Tarot interpretations tend to be heavy on esoteric mysticism and the promise of divination. But appreciating these cards doesn’t have to be underpinned by occultist beliefs. This page is dedicated to tarot as representative of the basic psychological and philosophical aspects of the shared human condition. Following the rich symbolism of the Rider Waite tarot deck and the many decks inspired by it, we explore this pictorial catalogue of all the stories so personal, and yet so universal to us all. 

 

Philosopher Will Buckingham has a similar approach to I Ching, a Chinese divination method:

 

Sitting with the coins or yarrow stalks in my hand, going through the ritual of asking the I Ching a question, I am not looking for some irrational mystical guidance. Instead, I am looking for a release from the prison of competing certainties, a way of letting loose the simmering doubts and confusions that accompany all thought, so that I can take advantage of their creative richness. In other words, I use the I Ching not as a certainty machine, but as an uncertainty machine. Dissolving false certainties, it integrates the fact of unknowing into the fabric of my thinking, opening me up to hitherto unimagined possibilities, scattering the monotony of my either-or dilemmas into a myriad of forking paths. 

 

As you go along on this exploration of tarot, ask yourself where your pivotal experiences, realizations and beliefs might fit in. A secular tarotist may use his deck for daily inspiration and meditation, as a starting point for philosophical musings, or to trigger creative new thoughts and solutions for specific issues. Allow your associations to be guided by the symbolism, yet give them enough free reign - that balance is the key to surprising new perspectives.