If tarot cards are just a mirror, does that mean we decide everything ourselves?

Hello, that's an excellent question, and it's a level of thought many people who engage with Tarot eventually reach. I think your analogy—"Tarot cards are a mirror"—already captures more than half the truth.

Let me share my perspective with you in a more relatable way.

You can imagine Tarot as a friend who is incredibly honest, yet a bit of a "riddler." When you ask it a question, it won't directly tell you "you'll win the lottery tomorrow" or "you must break up with this person." What it does is hold up a mirror for you to look into.

What does this mirror reflect? It reflects your current state, your deepest thoughts, your fears and desires, and the influences of your surroundings that you might not have noticed. Often, we can't see our own inner selves clearly, just like we might not know there's a grain of rice on our face until we look in a mirror.

So, back to your question: "Does that mean we decide everything ourselves?"

Yes, to a large extent, it does.

It's like looking in a mirror and seeing your hair is messy. The mirror itself won't comb your hair for you, but it reminds you, "it's time to comb your hair." The decision of whether to comb it, how to comb it, or what hairstyle to choose, that decision is 100% in your hands.

Tarot is the same. For example, if you ask, "Should I change jobs?" the cards might show a "Three of Swords" (representing sorrow, pain) and an "Ace of Pentacles" (representing new opportunities, new beginnings). This "mirror" is telling you: "Your current job is causing you a lot of pain (Three of Swords), but at the same time, there's a tangible new opportunity waiting for you outside (Ace of Pentacles)."

It doesn't say "you must leave." It simply lays out the facts: "you are in pain" and "there's an opportunity out there." What comes next—whether to continue enduring the pain or bravely seize that new opportunity—that "decision" is entirely yours to make.

However, it's not 100% absolute.

Why do I say that? Because this "mirror" not only reflects you but also your surroundings—those "major trends" or "currents of fate" that you cannot change for now.

I prefer to liken Tarot to a very personalized "weather forecast" or a "life map."

It tells you: "The road ahead might be rainy, and the conditions aren't great" (for instance, drawing The Devil card might suggest temptation and difficulties). It might also tell you: "After you cross that mountain, there's a beautiful landscape waiting for you" (like drawing The World card, representing the successful completion of a phase).

A weather forecast can't decide if you go out, and a map can't walk for you. But they can help you make wiser decisions. You can choose to bring an umbrella, or take a detour around the difficult path; you can also gather the courage to climb that mountain for the beautiful scenery.

So, Tarot doesn't present you with a rigid, "you must do this" destiny. It's more like your personal consultant, helping you sort through chaotic thoughts and external clues, allowing you to see what choices you "can" make and the potential outcomes of different choices.

Ultimately, you still walk your own path, and the steering wheel remains firmly in your hands. Tarot merely helps you see the road more clearly, allowing you to drive more steadily. It grants you not fate, but a clearer vision and a stronger capacity for "self-determination."

You've hit on a great question, one that many people have.

The "mirror" analogy is excellent. But consider this: a mirror reflects more than just what our eyes can see.

It doesn't just show you the self you "know"; it also reveals your subconscious, your fears, your desires, and the influence of your surroundings – things you might not be aware of. Often, when we make decisions, we're actually being driven by these unseen forces, without realizing it.

I prefer to compare Tarot cards to a "map" or a "weather forecast."

A weather forecast tells you it might rain tomorrow, but whether you bring an umbrella or go out is your decision. You can also choose not to believe it and go out in the rain directly; that's also your decision. Tarot cards are like that weather forecast; they tell you "what might happen," allowing you to be prepared.

A map shows you several routes from point A to point B, marking which one is shorter, which is congested, or which has better scenery. But ultimately, which path you take, the steering wheel is in your hands. You can even choose not to follow the map and forge a new path yourself, though, of course, you'll have to bear the risks.

So, do we decide everything ourselves?

You could say yes, and you could say not entirely.

The "yes" part is that the ultimate power of choice always rests with you. The cards might tell you that a certain path could lead to difficulties, but if you feel it's worth it for a particular goal, you can still take it. That's your free will.

The "not entirely" part is that we can't control all the "variables." Just like you can't control the weather, traffic conditions, or other people's thoughts. Tarot cards help illuminate these "variables" that are beyond your control, allowing you to see them clearly.

Therefore, the greatest role of Tarot cards is not to tell you a "fixed" outcome, but to clearly return the power of choice to you, helping you understand the current situation and the potential directions different choices might lead, so you can make a decision that is more beneficial and less regrettable for yourself.

They are not there to make decisions for you, but to help you make "better" decisions.