There, I said it, Tarot does not tell the future.
Revoke my cards, burn me at the stake, embroil me in a 3 day op ed;
I stand by my statement.
To clarify, I believe that our definition of 'future' is off. How can we measure for something that does not exactly exist, or at least exist in the way we perceive it?
First, let's look at the standard definition:
“To Tell the Future” by popular culture usually means:
- There is a static future, perhaps even a hard written fate or destiny
- That by using the cards we reveal that static future
- The person whose future is being revealed is largely a passenger to what unfolds
- That some of that future is unchangeable or hard written into our lives
So understandably, many people come to a tarot reading with the above underlying assumptions and those assumptions frame their expectations“When will Mr. Right come? When will I find a bag of money? When does little Johnny get a sibling?” When. When. When.
When is the wrong question. 'When' is based on an assumption on the effect time has on our lives.
Second, consider that our perception of time is cultural in origin:
Western Perception of time:
2. Strict starting and ending points.
3. As one moves across this timeline, events and milestones are passed.
4. Once an event is passed, it is complete and cannot be revisited.
5. In this perception of time, life is organized by creating a schedule.
6. Value and importance is communicated by keeping and honoring the schedule.
7. E.g. If I make plans to meet someone for lunch at 12 PM and do not show up until 12:30, then I owe that person an apology because my tardiness is offensive. I did not honor our schedule and did not value their time (source).
But even if we decide that the linear aspect of time is standard, there are variations within that.
Third, our own 'standard' western model of time varies:
Perception of time is a cultural construct and among those cultures who do believe in a western perception of time there are variations.
(Excellent article I recommend giving it a read!)
As an American living in other countries, I noticed that time felt different, it always felt like there was more time, I thought perhaps I was going crazy but once I returned to America I would talk to foreign nationals who also noticed the phenomenon of perception of time shifting along with culture.
We would shake our heads and say, “Why do I feel so busy when I had all the time I needed before?” Everyone gets the same 24 hours, don’t they? From my own perceptions and in conversations with others I learned that: Group consciousness on time impacts the whole. So if time was so very static, why would it feel so different? What's going on with time?
With Practice, a Different Model Emerges
Navajo Perception of Time:
2. If an event is passed or missed, then there is not as much reason for concern. The understanding is that the event will usually come back around again.
3. In this perception of time, life is organized by completing tasks or events.
4. Value and importance is communicated not by starting/arriving on time, but by staying until the interaction is over or the task is complete.
5. E.g. If I make plans to meet someone here on our reservation at noon and do not show up until 1 pm, there is usually no need for me to apologize. But, once we are talking, if I am constantly looking at my watch or suddenly announce that I need to leave, I have committed an offense. I did not allow the interaction to come to its natural completion. (source)
Time from an Inter-relational Perspective
Tarot seems to follow rules that are causal in nature.. A reading will be less about "when" something will happen but rather in the "how" a thing emerges.
A closer question, a far more helpful question to ask tarot is, 'how?' rather than 'when'.
If we take into account a non-linear agreement for time, a different assumption about how tarot actually works begins to emerge:
A Reframed, inter-relational, causal dynamic creates a new probability-telling definition for what a tarot reading includes:
- An interdynamic future, one that is susceptible to constant change and influence is a major factor in a reading
- Using the cards will reveal probabilities based on the causal system
- Knowing the most likely set of probabilities creates a narrative (one of many)
- A specific narrative (out of many) is revealed for a purpose in the present more so than the long term static "future state" (ex: revealing a narrative will affect a probability and choices to make)
- The person being read for is an active particle in the whole equation, her actions cause the reaction, the narrative takes this into account
- If a desired probability is not met, that is ok, since time is circular and interrelational, there are always chances to try again, AND cycles repeat until they are mastered
- Probable outcomes are predicated on the individual completing tasks, meeting people, and making choices (or NOT making them)
Like trying to predict the weather, a weather scientist must enact highly technical algorithms to measure a massive amount of data which produces a “most likely outcome” but that probable outcome is predicated on current conditions; how the ‘wind is blowing’.
So in this new understanding of time and how tarot works, we paint a picture not of “when” but of “how”.
Not, “When will I meet Mr. Right?” but rather, “What do I need to do, pay attention to, or avoid to create the most likely narrative in finding Mr. Right?”.
I find this view of tarot to be very complete, it creates a narrative that is interactive and helpful in the most practical sense. There is far more beauty and flexibility in a system that hands over creative control to us rather than a train speeding towards some pre-ordained destiny. to one Shifting our thoughts on time and personal power clearly illustrates our links to the great Divine (including one another) which is a powerful shift. A shift that places the power squarely within our own so very capable hands.