To Tarot or Not to Tarot

Cultural Appropriation?

Before it was zucced, a group on Facebook set out to teach people not to appropriate minority religious and spiritual activities (I can’t remember the name of the group for sure, but it was something like “Seems Like Your Spirituality's Cultural Appropriation”). I joined and spent a lot of time reading. For most the most part, I had no problem with understanding the boundaries between appreciation and appropriation.

One of the areas I had trouble with, though, was tarot. Whether reading tarot by non-Romani people is cultural appropriation is a complex issue with no easy answer.

Some argue that it is not cultural appropriation, as tarot cards do not originate from any one specific culture. The origins of tarot are unclear and debated, with roots possibly traced back to ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, or even further back in time. Additionally, tarot has evolved and been adapted over centuries, incorporating influences from various cultures.

The most widely accepted theory is that tarot cards originated in northern Italy in the mid-15th century. These early decks, like the Visconti-Sforza tarot, were primarily used for playing card games, and their designs were heavily influenced by the cultural and artistic trends of the time.

The earliest tarot decks consisted of four suits (swords, cups, coins, and batons) and a separate trump suit with unique cards like the Fool, the Magician, and the Devil. These trump cards often depicted allegorical figures and scenes, which later became associated with divination and fortune-telling.

The theory goes that the use of tarot for divination purposes only became popular in the late 18th century, when French occultists like Antoine Court de Gébelin and Etteilla began associating the cards with esoteric symbolism and hidden meanings.

However, others argue that the modern popularization and commercialization of tarot in the West is largely due to the efforts of Romani people, and non-Romani people's use of tarot can be seen as taking advantage of their cultural heritage without acknowledging or respecting it. Some also point out that the widespread use of tarot by other people can contribute to the erasure of Romani contributions to tarot and divination practices.

And more importantly, we have to remember that the Romani people who read cards were forced to do so to make a living, and they were persecuted for it. Reading tarot for divination for profit is even illegal in many places.

• Pennsylvania (USA): It is illegal to "pretend for gain or lucre, to tell fortunes or predict future events," including through tarot cards. This law is rarely enforced, but technically still on the books.

• New York (USA): Similar to Pennsylvania, fortune-telling for profit is illegal. However, it's often considered a low priority for law enforcement.

• Oklahoma (USA): An old law prohibits fortune-telling for profit, but it's unclear if it's still enforced.

• Saudi Arabia: Fortune-telling and divination practices are illegal and can lead to severe punishments.

• Romania: In the past, Romania had laws against fortune-telling, but these have largely been repealed or not enforced.

To delve deeper into this topic, you can consult the following resources:

• Cultural Appropriation or Religious Syncretism? An Analysis of the “Tarot of the Orishas”

• Before Fortune-Telling: The History and Structure of Tarot Cards - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

It is important to note that there is no consensus on this issue, and different people may have different perspectives based on their personal experiences and cultural backgrounds. It is crucial to engage in respectful dialogue and consider different viewpoints before forming an opinion.

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I am a white midwestern woman. My ancestry (traced through paper not DNA) says that I am mostly German, Irish, and Scot (with a small showing from other European countries). One quarter of my family tree is dark-skinned. I grew up being told that was because they (we) were “black dutch.” That term may mean Melungeon; it may mean mixed race (up to tri-racial); it may just mean “swarthy-complexioned” Germans. It’s unclear. And, honestly, it doesn’t matter. For all intents and purposes, I’m white, and I was not raised with tarot as an ancestral practice.

For now, though I may get roasted for it, my opinion is that it is okay for me to read for myself—just not for profit. That’s always been the case for me: I’ve had tarot cards for upwards of 25 years, but I’ve never once read them for someone else for money (and I’ve seldom read them for anyone else at all). It would likely be, in my opinion, cultural appropriation for me to read for profit.

Having said that, I’m going to share my personal Litha / Midsummer Tarot Reading.

Again, as I only do this for personal insight (to help me think, more than anything), I usually pull the same spread from two decks. The Faery Wicca deck above is my first deck (received from my husband many years ago). I don’t consider myself wiccan, but at the time, I was studying it. The second deck is one I often use in the spring and summer as the iconography resonates with those seasons.

For this spread, I used the following prompts:

1. Sun’s Blessing: What is the greatest gift or opportunity the summer shines on me?

2. Inner Light: How can I best nurture and cultivate my own inner light and power?

3. Growth and Abundance: What areas of my life are ripe for growth and expansion?

4. Release and Renewal: What burdens or old patterns can I release to make space for renewal?

5. Celebration and Joy: How can I best embrace the joy and abundance of this season?

6. Harvest Time: What seeds have I sown that are ready to be harvested?

7. Gratitude and Blessings: What am I most grateful for in this moment.

I laid the cards out clockwise. I consulted the book that came with each deck. Then, I formulated my reading. The reading said what it always says—that tells me that the same stuff is always on my mind: how to let go of some past things, how to craft the life I want more and work the day job less, and it reminded me to be grateful for what I have. I think I’ve made progress on all of those things, and I think these things are the path to Becoming a Crone, but the cards tell me I have more work to do.

Don’t we all?