Tarot Myths
Exploring the Stories We’re Told About Tarot
Created in Canva an old worn book and the representation of a tarot card
When you start studying tarot, people will tell you things and present them as absolute truths. Some of these ideas get repeated so often they start to feel like rules. I want to explore a few of the most common tarot myths I’ve been told or heard over the years and share how I personally view them. Tarot does have structure and tradition, but one of the most important things to understand is that your relationship with your deck is personal. That relationship will shape how the cards speak to you, often more clearly than any external rule ever could.
1. Your first deck of cards needs to be gifted to you.
If this were required, many people would never own a tarot deck. Tarot is a personal relationship between you, the cards, and the energies you work with. You can buy your first deck and form a meaningful connection with it. If a deck is gifted to you, that can be lovely too. Enjoy it.
2. There are inherently good and bad cards.
Assigning “good” or “bad” labels to cards limits their depth. Every card carries layers, lessons, and possibilities that depend on context and perspective. I wrote an entire article on this topic here: https://www.aliowlrising.com/blog/reading-tarot-good-cards-vs-bad-cards
3. No one else can touch your deck unless you’re giving them a reading.
This comes down to personal preference. I let others touch my deck, and I cleanse it later if I feel the need. What matters is what feels right to you. One thing I do believe strongly in is asking permission before touching someone else’s tarot deck.
4. You need to be psychic to read tarot.
Everyone has intuitive and psychic abilities. Tarot helps bring awareness to them and gives them a language. It’s a tool that supports intuition and helps you learn how it already moves through you.
5. The cards will get mad at you for asking too many questions.
Tarot cards are a tool for understanding energy, patterns, lessons, and life paths. They don’t get angry. When the same question is asked repeatedly, the cards may start to feel confusing or unclear. This often signals that the message has already been received and that attention is being drawn inward, toward reflection and action.
Many tarot myths come from tradition, misunderstanding, or other people’s experiences being passed along as universal truth. Tarot works best when it is approached with curiosity, respect, and personal responsibility. Your relationship with the cards is allowed to evolve, change, and deepen in ways that make sense for you.
