Tarot and Anxiety: A Complex Relationship

The keyboard roller probably isn't very aesthetic, but alas, my tarot things are on my desk's mini-shelves.

I read tarot. I have anxiety. Theoretically, this is a recipe for disaster. "What if your reading suggests a negative outcome?" you might ask. "Doesn't that trigger an anxiety spiral?" Of course it does, which is one of the many reasons I tend to avoid reading tarot when I'm feeling rather anxious.

Just like a tarot reading can potentially influence the anxiety of an already anxious person, anxiety can influence a reading. This can be interpreted a couple different ways. Some see tarot as a mirror: Whatever is inside you will be reflected in the reading. If you're anxious, those negative emotions will show up in the reading. Those who take a more grounded approach acknowledge that our mindset influences our interpretation: If you see a combination of cards in a positive headspace, you're more likely to interpret it positively. If you're in a more negative headspace, you'll see it negatively. For example, one time I literally misread a card. I thought I was looking at The Devil - which has nothing to do with Satan, for those who are new to tarot, but it's obviously not a happy card. It was actually The Hermit.

No matter what, it's important to avoid reading when anxious. The worst case scenario is you'll feel worse than before, and the best case scenario is your reading will be a bit off because you're not as objective as you should be. After all, tarot is never inherently negative anyway. There's generally a positive piece of advice to glean from each reading, if you're in the right mindset to see it.

Also, I really don't recommend reading more than once a day, and you don't even need to every day if you find there are days where it's impossible. I don't read every day but I still feel connected to the practice.

That being said, as long as I'm reading when I'm already feeling at least mostly okay, tarot can paradoxically be a healthy coping mechanism for generalized anxiety. Feel like everyone in your life hates you? That's incredibly unlikely, and the cards will make it clear how untrue that concern is. Not sure how to approach a difficult conversation? Tarot will supply you with communication reminders, making you feel more confident in your ability to handle what's to come. The advice the tarot offers is often anxiety-alleviating, if you're introspective enough to read at a good time. Being able to determine what is a realistic concern vs. an anxiety spiral has been the most effective mindset change for me, and I used tarot to help me navigate these differences. In fact, since beginning a medication that helps with both my migraines and anxiety, I've found I read less frequently. I'm simply not asking as many questions or the same types of questions. I don't think this means I'm turning away from tarot though - rather, I'm leaning on it as a coping mechanism less often.

Overall, I think the tarot can in general affirm for many of us a belief that things will happen as they are meant to happen, and we can't control everything. Sometimes, we just have to place our trust in the universe. I have struggled with this so much, but I think tarot has helped. No matter our spiritual background, I think one thing everyone can agree on philosophically is not every single thing can be controlled - we are not God, we are not the universe. All we can do is ride each wave and ask for help along the way. When used correctly, tarot can help us.