A couple of days ago, a querant asked me “can the Tarot cards be wrong”?
Obviously, a very loaded question, and we went a lot deeper into what she was really looking for, but I am curious how others handle this. Obviously (this shouldn’t need said), if someone gives you a reading and tells you that you’re going to win the lottery tomorrow, you shouldn’t immediately max out your credit cards.
But does that mean the Tarot was wrong, or the reader made a mistake, or (it absolutely happens) the querant hears what they want to hear?
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There’s no good way of answering this without really sitting down and getting them into both what and why the Tarot really is.
I’d give them a quick answer. No, not everything you take away from a Tarot reading is going to be correct.
Technically, that doesn’t mean the Tarot is wrong, but it gets them what they want to hear & need to know without getting bogged down in the details.
The cards pick up whatever energy is strongest at that moment. That’s why I think having a clear head matters more than cleansing your deck or whatever. When people say the tarot was wrong, they’re usually just picking up on scattered or conflicting energy in the space.
Such a loaded question.
The Tarot is never wrong. It doesn’t lie to us. It doesn’t have biases. But the readers (or the querent) can take the wrong message from a spread.
Is this the same thing? Technically no. But I agree that most people probably don’t want to get into the technicalities.
Whenever I try to read cards about something I really care about, my interpretations get messed up Like when I wanted this specific job, I kept seeing success in every spread. Looking back, the cards were warning me about problems but I didn’t want to see it. Now I just get a friend to read for me when it matters too much. The cards are fine, but we hear what we want to hear.
Had a reading once that said I’d get a major career change. Didn’t happen for like two years so I figured it was wrong. Then it actually happened and the details were spot on. Timing with tarot is weird.
Honestly, the cards have their meanings, but we sometimes project our own stuff onto them or miss what they’re showing us.
I prefer reading for others because when it’s my own spread, I’m too close to it and can’t see clearly. It’s just easier to interpret when I’m not personally involved.
yeah i had the same issue with weird readings. started cleansing my deck between sessions and it helped a lot i use sage but honestly sometimes just shuffling really thoroughly works too. if you’re into it, leaving them out during the full moon is nice but not necessary
If someone asks, I get into it. They shouldn’t understand how the Tarot really works if they’re going to use it anyway. If they glaze over, then they’re probably going to glaze over during the reading anyway in which case they’re going to hear what they want to hear.
When a reading doesn’t match what happens, the cards might be picking up on something we’re not seeing yet. There could be a gap between what we expect and what the cards are trying to tell us.
Tarot shows possibilities and the energy around a situation, not guaranteed outcomes. If a reading seems wrong, maybe we need to look at how we’re interpreting the cards instead of blaming them.
I saw your post about your friend asking about their ex coming back. Your friend’s reading sounds like it was full of maybes and possibilities. I get it, you heard ‘there’s a chance’ and suddenly you’re thinking about getting back together.
If cards could actually predict who we’d end up with, we’d all be using them instead of dating apps. The cards basically show you what you’re already feeling. And it sounds like you’re still hoping for this relationship to work out. The reading can’t make your ex suddenly want to get back with you. They still have their own choices to make, regardless of what cards showed up.
If you want to use tarot, maybe get your own deck? It’s better for figuring out your own stuff rather than trying to guess what someone else is thinking. Ask about what you need to do for yourself instead of whether they’ll come back.
When I’m having an off day, the cards still work fine but my intuitive connection feels fuzzy. Like trying to tune into a radio station with static. So yeah, it’s more about us readers being off in that moment than the cards lying.
It’s interesting how those tarot readers charging $200 a session always seem to be right, isn’t it?
The cards themselves just deliver messages. It’s when humans get involved, with our egos and need for validation, that things get skewed. I’ve seen readers take the Death card and spin it into ‘new beginnings in romance’ just to keep a client happy.
The real talent lies in sharing hard truths with kindness.
yeah sometimes readings that seem off end up being spot on. got warned away from a job that seemed perfect, good money, great location, everything. found out later the company went bankrupt a few months after. guess the cards saw something i didn’t
Been trying to get better at trusting my gut with readings. I compare my first impressions to what actually happens later.
The cards themselves are pretty much always accurate.It’s me who sometimes gets it wrong.
Last week I pulled the Tower for a friend’s job question and thought disaster was coming. Turns out it was about them finally letting go of some limiting beliefs about their career path. My goal this year is to trust the cards while staying humble about my interpretation skills. Tarot symbols can mean lots of different things depending on the situation, and I’m still learning which meaning applies when.
Here’s my take on tarot, it shows possibilities, not definite outcomes. Your friend’s reading showed one possible path, but that’s all it is. The cards give suggestions, not promises.
Accuracy depends on the reader’s skill and how well they connect with the cards. I’ve seen readers interpret the Three of Cups as a reunion or as a sign to move on and celebrate being single. Both interpretations could work. The tarot world has people who’ve barely learned the basics charging $50 to tell you what you want to hear.
Not saying that’s your friend, but real readers know cards deal in possibilities. When I get a reading I like, I use it as motivation. When I get one that sucks, I take it as a warning. The cards suggest different paths you could take. Each card can mean so many different things depending on context. Your reunion might happen, but it’ll be because of what you and your ex decide to do, not because the cards said so.
Sage and moonlight cleansing have their place, sure. But I’ve found that just taking a breath and focusing works pretty well.
Really it’s about whether you and your client feel ready to do the reading. Some people need the whole ritual, some don’t. I know readers who just shuffle the cards while thinking about their intention and they do great readings. Everyone finds their own way with this stuff.
My deck gets extra sassy when I’m not listening properly. I’ll pull clarifiers and they just repeat the same message but louder, which makes me laugh.
There’s this old superstition about letting decks ‘sleep’ face-down after intense readings. Mine does seem more cooperative after a rest. Maybe that’s all it takes, giving everything some breathing room.