Are the principles of Tarot, I Ching, and divination similar?

This is an excellent question. Many people find them mysterious and often confuse them as being the same thing. Having engaged with these practices for years, I can describe their relationship in simple terms:

They are all "navigation maps," but one is like Google Street View, another is a philosophical guide, and the third is a compass.

Their ultimate goal is to help you "see the path ahead," but their methods of providing information and underlying logic differ significantly.

1. Tarot Cards: More like a psychological mirror, or "Google Street View Map"

• How does it work? Tarot consists of 78 cards illustrated with various figures, scenes, and symbols. When you ask a question, the cards drawn are like a "snapshot" of your current situation. The interpreter (or you yourself) "reads the pictures," weaving these images into a story that reflects your inner state, your unconscious thoughts, and the potential trajectory of events.
• What does it feel like? It's very intuitive and emotional. Seeing the "Three of Swords" (three swords piercing a heart), you immediately feel "heartache, sorrow"; seeing the "Sun" card, you feel "light, hope." It focuses more on "How do you feel right now?" and "What is your role in this situation?", helping you organize your thoughts and understand your inner dynamics.
• Therefore, its principles lean more towards: psychological projection and synchronicity. The cards you draw precisely reflect your current state of mind and energy. It's like a friend helping you "illustrate" your tangled thoughts.

2. The I Ching: More like a wise elder, or a "philosophical guide to action"

• How does it work? The core of the I Ching consists of 64 "hexagrams," each composed of six "lines" (either solid/yang or broken/yin). It doesn't give you a simple "yes" or "no." You obtain a hexagram by tossing coins or using yarrow stalks, and this hexagram describes a "situation" or "tendency." For example, the "Qian" hexagram represents strength and creativity, while "Kun" represents receptivity and inclusiveness.
• What does it feel like? It's very abstract, rational, and imbued with ancient Eastern wisdom. It won't directly tell you "will you succeed or not," but rather: "What kind of grand cosmic trend are you currently in, and based on this trend, what attitude should you adopt (should you advance, wait, be prominent, or be discreet) to achieve the best outcome?" It teaches you the wisdom of "acting in accordance with the prevailing circumstances."
• Therefore, its principles lean more towards: worldview and philosophy. It posits that all things in the universe are constantly changing, and these changes follow patterns (the waxing and waning of yin and yang). The process of divination (i.e., casting a hexagram) is about connecting your current microcosm (your question) with the laws of the greater macrocosm, helping you understand which point in the cycle of change you are currently at.

3. Divination (Bu Gua): More like a "compass"

"Bu Gua" (卜卦) is actually an action, a general term. The process of using the I Ching to inquire about matters is usually called "I Ching Divination" or "Liu Yao Divination."

• How does it work? Compared to Tarot and a general understanding of I Ching wisdom, Bu Gua is highly purposeful. You typically ask a very specific question, such as "Will I pass this interview?" or "Will this project investment be profitable?" Then, by casting a hexagram, you get one or more hexagrams. The interpreter will provide a relatively clear judgment of auspiciousness/inauspiciousness and guidance based on a complex and systematic set of rules, including hexagram images, line texts, and the interactions of the Five Elements.
• What does it feel like? It's very direct and targeted, like using a compass to find "North." The answers often focus more on the outcome and key points of an event.
• Therefore, its principle is: It is a specific application tool of the I Ching's philosophical thought. It condenses the I Ching's grand worldview into a set of numerological models that can address "immediate concerns."

Here's a summary of their core differences:

Do they have anything in common?

Absolutely!

The underlying logic of "why they work" can all be attributed to a profound concept called "Synchronicity".

Simply put, it's about "meaningful coincidences." When you shuffle cards with a question in mind, or toss coins with intense focus, at that moment, the cards you draw or the coin faces you get are no longer merely random. They resonate with your question, your surrounding energy field, and even a certain cosmic information flow.

Therefore, you can view them as different "translators" developed in various cultural contexts, attempting to translate the invisible and intangible aspects of destiny, subconsciousness, and cosmic laws into images or words we can comprehend.

As for which one you believe in, or which one you find more suitable for you, it depends on whether you prefer to "read pictures" or listen to a wise elder explain principles.

You can understand it this way: the three of them are like 'life consultants' from different countries. Their goal is to help you answer questions and resolve doubts, but their languages, cultural backgrounds, and theoretical systems are completely different.

Their commonality lies in 'how to ask': Whether it's Tarot or the I Ching, you approach it with a question and then obtain an answer through a 'random' action. For instance, Tarot requires shuffling and cutting the deck, while the I Ching involves tossing coins or counting yarrow stalks.

Many people find this 'randomness' unscientific, but proponents believe it's precisely the key. This theory is somewhat akin to what psychologist Carl Jung called 'synchronicity,' meaning that the cards you draw or the hexagrams you cast aren't purely accidental. Instead, there's an invisible connection between them and your current state and the questions you care about. Your action at that moment reflects the state of the entire universe at that very instant.

Therefore, both attempt to peer into deeper patterns or possibilities behind things through a 'fortuitous' window.

Their differences lie in 'how they answer':

1. The I Ching / Divination: Like an ancient Chinese philosopher, an old sage.

   • Origin: Indigenous Chinese wisdom, rooted in thousands of years of philosophical thought encompassing Yin-Yang, Five Elements, and the unity of heaven and humanity. It is, in itself, a philosophical classic.
   • Language: It provides you with 'hexagrams,' such as 'Qian as Heaven' or 'Di Huo Ming Yi.' Each hexagram and its line statements are filled with philosophy and metaphors, telling you what 'situation' you are currently in, how things might develop, and offering advice on action (e.g., whether you should 'hide your dragon' or 'be beneficial to see the great man'). Its answers are very macroscopic, full of wisdom, and require contemplation and comprehension.

2. Tarot Cards: Like a Western artist with psychological insight.

   • Origin: Originating in medieval Europe, its images and symbols integrate Western mythology, religion, astrology, alchemy, and other esoteric elements.
   • Language: It gives you 78 cards filled with specific imagery, such as 'The Fool,' 'The Lovers,' or 'Ten of Swords.' These images are very intuitive, directly impacting your vision and emotions. Interpreting Tarot is more like telling a story from pictures, analyzing your situation, psychological state, and potential events through the narrative, characters, and emotions depicted on the cards. Its answers lean more towards the psychological and specific events.

For example:

You want to ask, "Should I change jobs?"

• The I Ching might give you the 'Volcano-Traveler' (Huo Shan Lü) hexagram, telling you that you are currently like a traveler, constantly on the move, with an unstable foundation. You should be cautious, seek stability, and avoid rash actions. It offers strategic advice for the general direction.
• Tarot cards might reveal 'The Tower,' 'Eight of Wands,' and 'Page of Pentacles.' The interpreter might say: "Your current job might undergo a sudden, disruptive change (The Tower), and this change will come quickly (Eight of Wands). Afterward, you will have a new opportunity to learn new skills and start fresh (Page of Pentacles)." It provides a more specific and dramatic scenario description.

In summary:

They don't operate on the same principles but belong to the same category of tools. It's like wanting to understand the weather: you can use modern meteorological satellite cloud maps (like the I Ching, systematic and abstract), or you can observe cloud shapes and wind direction (like Tarot, intuitive and specific).

Which one you choose entirely depends on which 'communication style' you personally prefer. Do you prefer to listen to the philosophical teachings of an old sage, or do you prefer to look at a series of images to spark association and intuition?