Is Tarot for Prediction or Guidance?

Ah, that's an excellent question, and one many people new to Tarot often have. In my experience, the best answer to this question is: It is both, but the emphasis leans more towards providing advice.

Let me explain with a simple analogy.

You can think of Tarot cards as a very intelligent GPS navigation system, rather than a crystal ball that can predict the future.

1. The "prediction" part is like the GPS's "traffic report."

You input your "destination" (e.g., the development of a relationship or career prospects you're asking about), and the GPS calculates an "estimated route" based on your current "location" (your present situation, mindset, surrounding environment) and "driving speed" (your efforts, actions taken).

It might tell you: "If you continue on this current road, without turning or speeding up, you will likely encounter traffic in 30 minutes (a challenge or difficulty), and it might ultimately take an hour to arrive (a possible outcome)."

This is the "predictive" function of Tarot cards. It doesn't tell you an unchangeable "fate," but rather deduces the most probable future direction based on your current energy and actions. It's saying: "If things continue this way, this might happen..."

2. The "advice" part is like the GPS's "route planning."

When the GPS tells you there's traffic ahead, what's its most valuable contribution? It immediately offers you new options: "We suggest you take Route B; although it's 2 km longer, it can avoid congestion and get you there in 20 minutes."

This is the core value of Tarot in providing "advice."

When "traffic" appears in a spread (challenging cards, like The Tower, Ten of Swords), "Route B" (opportunity cards, like The Star, Page of Cups) often appears alongside it. It's telling you:

• "Look, the reason you're encountering this challenge might be because you overlooked a certain issue (a reminder)."
• "If you want a better outcome, you could try a different mindset or take a new action (advice)."
• "Pay attention, that seemingly insignificant small opportunity might be the key to breaking through (guidance)."

So, rather than viewing it as an infallible "prophet," I prefer to see it as a wise "life consultant" or a "mind coach."

You approach it with confusion, and it doesn't directly give you answers. Instead, it acts like a mirror, reflecting inner thoughts you hadn't even noticed, your potential, your fears, and the various possibilities in your environment. It inspires you to think for yourself: "Oh, I see, so what should I do?"

Ultimately, the decision is always yours. Tarot cards don't give you a locked future, but a crossroads full of possibilities, thoughtfully marking the potential scenery you might encounter on each path. Which path to take, and how to navigate it, the steering wheel is always in your hands. It's simply a very useful tool that helps you see the road conditions more clearly.

I personally prefer to view Tarot cards as "advice," or rather, an "analytical tool," though they do indeed contain an element of "prediction."

You can think of it as a very personalized "weather forecast."

A weather forecast tells you that, based on all current meteorological data analysis, there's an 80% chance of rain tomorrow (this is the "prediction"), so it advises you to take an umbrella when you go out (this is the "advice").

Tarot cards work similarly. Through the cards, they help you sort out your current situation, your mindset, and the energy of your surroundings, then tell you what the most "likely" outcome will be if things continue on this trend (this is the "predictive" part).

However, its core value lies in "advice." It tells you "why" it might rain, for example, due to a cold front passing through. This is like how Tarot cards reveal deeper reasons behind issues that you might not have been aware of. Knowing this, you can make your own decisions. You can choose not only to take an umbrella, but also to drive, or even to simply not go out at all. Your choices will change the final outcome.

Therefore, don't view Tarot cards as an unchangeable "final judgment." They are more like a guide or an advisor, helping you see the path ahead more clearly, showing you where the pitfalls are and where the shortcuts lie, but ultimately, the steering wheel remains in your own hands.