Here is the latest question from Ask Cathy (I have paraphrased a bit to clarify this question):

How accurate are the cards?  Do you associate a spiritual aspect of life with the responses you receive and give? Or do you think of tarot as coincidental responses?

-Wanda

Well, Wanda, I am sure it will come as no surprise that this is a question I’ve been asked before!  In fact, the question of coincidence is probably one of the most frequent questions I get as a tarot reader (right after how did I get into reading tarot).  I think that most sincere tarot readers will tell you they don’t feel the tarot is a coincidence and, sometimes, it can be startlingly accurate.

Of course, I say this realizing how easy it is to brush off tarot readings as coincidence.  Here, I feel I must acknowledge this before getting into my own experience.  The fact of the matter is that, as humans, we all tend to struggle with the same things and these items are the bread and butter of a tarot deck. Just look at what the four suits of a tarot deck represent:  money (pentacles), relationships (cups), thoughts (swords), and career or drive (wands).  When addressing these four things, it is nearly impossible not to hit home with the majority of people with one reading.  In fact, many times, when I’ve posted a reading on this blog, I’ve received responses from a variety of people saying they felt the reading was for them.  Not only were they struck by the message of the cards, but they were also touched.  Again, this makes sense because the tarot not only talks about money, relationships, etc., but also the universal laws that govern them.  In that way, the tarot is like Jungian archetypes which we can all associate with in one way or another.

This, alone, brings value to the tarot as a tool for understanding yourself and human nature.  But, add to that the accuracy that I, and countless others, have experienced when using the cards and you’ve got something amazing on your hands.  There are so many ways I could talk about the accuracy of the cards or the fact that synchronicity (and not coincidence) is at play when using the tarot.

My number one reason for believing the tarot isn’t a coincidence is reading for strangers.  When a tarot reader takes the plunge and reads for their first stranger–or even their 15th or 350th, for that matter!–and is able to tell them exactly what is happening with their lives, any idea of the tarot being coincidental goes out the window.  In the cards, I’ve seen people who suffered from abuse and are in recovery, I’ve seen someone whose coworker was up to no good and I’ve warned them against future problems, I’ve seen specific details about people I’ve never met who are close to the client, and the list goes on.  Each time, I’ve been right and not just to the surprise of the person I’m reading for, but to my own surprise as well!  To me, this has been one of the larger signs that the tarot is not a coincidence and can be incredibly accurate.  In fact, if the tarot were not so accurate in these things, I would just chalk it up to coincidence–but it’s so specific that it can’t be about just anyone.

There are also other signs, like having the same cards come up again and again in regards to your own life (or others).  Lately, the Lovers card has been coming up for me as something to embrace in my life.  It’s come up so many times that I know it’s worth paying attention to.  A little over a year ago, in regards to work, the Tower card kept coming up and for as long as I ignored the message of this card, it continued to come up until I finally understood what the tarot was telling me and changed my ways–and I actually haven’t gotten the Tower again until recently.

These are just a couple of ways that I’ve learned the tarot is not a coincidence.  I invite other readers to share their feelings on this topic in the comments, too.

And, lastly, is the spiritual aspect of the tarot.  I don’t know if I fully understand your question, but I’ll answer to the best of my abilities.  For me, the tarot is a very spiritual thing.  It exists between the realms of the seen and the unseen, letting readers know when something new is manifesting or when it’s time to let go.   For me, the tarot is a spiritual guide, and a very gentle one at that.  The tarot warns me when I’m becoming off center, it helps me to know when to trust my gut and when to reach for something else.   When doing this, it doesn’t speak to any particular aspect of my life every time, instead it speaks to those places where I need help or guidance most.

To be honest, without this spiritual side of the tarot, I wouldn’t be interested in reading at all.  The tarot would just be something to impress your friends with, and I’m not really looking to impress anyone, I’d rather lend a helping hand.

Well, Wanda, I hope this answers at least some of your question.  Again, I invite other readers to add their own feelings and experiences in regards to your questions in the comments section.  Thanks for writing in!

-Cathy

P.S.  Having said all of this, however, the tarot as a tool can sometimes be only as good as the person who is using it.  Sadly, there are people out there who call themselves tarot readers but are not worthy of that title!  I had a friend, who was definitely taken advantage of by someone posing as a tarot reader and just let me say that if a reader tells you, you are cursed or tells you to bury money somewhere to break a spell, this is not the tarot speaking.  It is always important not to leave your good judgement at the door when working with a tarot reader.  If someone makes you feel uncomfortable or like you are being taken advantage of, I recommend taking your business elsewhere.