The origins of the Tarot and I Ching are somewhat obscure. Like most subjects that attract a new-age crowd, there is an approximate mainstream history and a number of competing alternative histories. They’re interesting to look into, but I believe that the Tarot and I Ching are simply an alphabet—the message is more important than the letters used to write it.
There are many different ways of understanding what the Tarot and I Ching actually do. The popular conception of the Tarot is that it allows a psychic to communicate with the spirit world and predict the future. A slightly less common understanding of the I Ching and Tarot is that they tap into an underlying timeless reality, such as the collective unconscious, and present you with archetypal images to help you on your journey—which is a mythical epic, whether you recognize it or not. Some people are working hard to connect the I Ching and Tarot to the human DNA, and show that what before we considered ‘archetypes’ actually correspond to pieces of our DNA, and are hard-coded into our bodies. These are some of the more ‘alternative’ theories.
When used in a therapeutic setting, the function of the Tarot specifically is often seen to act as a Rorschach test, allowing a person to project subconscious issues onto the image presented to them. In this case, the true utility of the Tarot and I Ching are seen precisely in their ambiguity, allowing the mind to confront itself.
Feel free to use this thread to discuss experiences you’ve had with these mediums, your beliefs on what they can or cannot do, etc. Hopefully this won’t turn into a heated debate, but I can see that possibility. Just try to accept that many people can use these tools in many different ways, and they are often quite helpful. Anyone who feels that they are demonic and evil would probably do best to just steer clear of the thread. Anyone who would like to ask me questions should probably just send me a private message.
Keep tumblin’ down the rabbit hole, y’all!
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