We are excited that Terry Lively has completed her new course in how to read Tarot cards for IMU! We’ve had so many people ask for this course that it is definitely a milestone.

But along with the course comes the questions. Do Tarot cards really work? Aren’t they supposed to be evil? And all of the other superstitious questions that seem to linger any time we deal with areas associated with the occult.

First we have to ask the question ” DO Tarot cards work?” Well, just the fact that they’ve been around at least since the 12th century should answer that question pretty quickly. I mean how many things can you name that have been consistently in use since the 12th century?! Longevity alone should give some credence to the power and significance of these amazing cards. My original teacher of the tarot, Grandmother Mechi Garza, went so far as to say they were rescued from the libraries in Alexandria and date back as far as Atlantis. I obviously can’t verify that information, but can tell you that it certainly COULD be true and has a ring of truth to it in my own ears at least.

So we have to ask, if that’s the case, that they DO in fact work, that leads to the question of “WHY do they work?” Again speculation is in order. Like many others, I tend to believe that the symbolism in the cards triggers something that brings forward a communication from the higher self. It is a trigger mechanism that is not fully mechanistic but rather more intuitive. While I do believe that ANYONE can learn to read the tarot, whether you are naturally “psychic” or not, I think that those who activate the intuition will get much more accurate results than those who are just looking at the cards and regurgitating what they supposedly mean. Moreover, I have come to know that tarot is a tool for developing that intuitive sense that may have been lying dormant or untapped. For me, at least, it is true. If I’m feeling blocked, I break out my cards, ask some questions, and allow the information to start flowing. They are magic for me in that way.

I also personally believe that the tarot are encoded with information that goes way beyond symbolism. My second teacher, Helen Williams, taught us the relationship between the tarot and the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Each circle and line (path) in the tree had a corresponding card. In this way, the cards represented the journey of the soul on earth. It is for this reason that the cards are more a source of guidance than direct divination. While they can and do give you yes/no answers, it isn’t their strong suit. They are best when used as a tool to guide decisions along the path.

So that leads to the most obvious question, why do so many people perceive the cards as being dark or evil or of the devil? I personally have never understood this one. I have found though that modern religions often seek to keep us out of our power. The church wants to hold and maintain the authority within its own parish. If you begin to consult the higher forces directly they are no longer necessary and can crumble on their own footprint. It is the only reason that I can figure that anyone would deem to consider that these cards to be dark. I know for me, personally, they have been a great source of joy and they have helped to guide me along this exsquisite journey called life.

If you would like to learn more about how you can learn to read the tarot, check out the information on Terry Lively’s class.

Or read about Terry herself here.

Oh, and sign up by November 1 and we’ll give you $50 off the class. You just have to contact us directly and we’ll send you an invoice that reflects the discount. Call me at 304-295-4411.

You might also want to check out John Van Auken’s course on the Kabbalah. This is the sort of information that will absolutely transform your life. It will definitely make you a better tarot card reader.