Some people have two psychologists. I have just one. But I also have a tarot reader that I talk to once a week or even more (I myself am a tarot reader, but I rarely pull my own cards for objectivity). I’m not embarrassed or ashamed to admit that I talk to both of them on the same day at times. I even do daily tarot pulls to get a sense of the day’s vibe, which calms me and gives me peace of mind.
However, an op-ed recently published in The New York Times prompted me to reflect on my own experiences. The author praises tarot readers, offering guidance on how to use tarot to make significant life choices—and to consider using it instead of consulting a therapist. I’ve been there. However, I now know you need two to make your life go right—and I want to give my own advice to those contemplating doing the same as the author of the op-ed.
As a tarot and astrological practitioner who has been in therapy, I’ve explored integrating various modalities of self-understanding—whether scientific or metaphysical—into my healing path. To me, as a Mercurial person, gaining a deeper understanding of myself is a necessity, so I explore (and implore) any route that allows me to advance my journey towards self-discovery. Seeing a tarot reader and pulling my own cards to figure out a situation calms my anxiety, as does discussing my feelings with my therapist.
In fact, the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung infused his sessions with tarot to gain a deeper understanding of his patients’ innermost sentiments. In recent times, more and more psychoanalysts are using his exact technique to comprehend one’s behavior and subconscious thoughts. The cards weren’t used for prediction, but rather as a tool to help cognitive thinking and processing.
Dr. Kristen Long, DPsa, LP, LCAT, who is a New York State licensed psychoanalyst and licensed creative arts therapist, uses tarot in the graduate-level course she teaches at New York University. Similar to the teachings of Jung, Dr. Long believes that tarot “is about meaning-making, which is at the heart of psychodynamic psychotherapy. The cards serve as mirrors, sparking insight and opening space for personal storytelling. Importantly, tarot should be understood as one tool among many therapeutic options, never a replacement for therapy itself.”
Bri Luna, owner and creative director of The Hoodwitch and author of Blood Sex Magic: Everyday Magic for the Modern Mystic—and who offers tarot readings and horoscopes on her online store and blog—agrees. In her practice, she uses “tarot and astrology to show people what they’re already doing—it’s a mirror, not ‘fortune telling.’” She adds that it is “a tool that helps someone articulate a pattern, a fear, or a desire they’ve been avoiding, it’s useful.”