Menu
What if Tarot isn’t just about predicting the future but also about understanding yourself? My podcast with Alice Mastroleo and Manya Upadhyay and this article explores just that.
When you hear the word “Tarot,” what comes to mind? Maybe you picture a deck of mysterious cards, a fortune-teller in a dimly lit room, or perhaps you feel a little sceptical, thinking it’s all just superstition. But here’s the thing—Tarot is so much more than pop culture makes it out to be. It’s a deeply personal tool that helps people understand themselves better and navigate life’s challenges with more clarity.
Holistic coach Manya Upadhyay calls Tarot “a mirror to my soul.” She remembers her first experience with the cards—how they laid out not just her fears, but also her strengths and possibilities. “It not only highlights my fears, but as well as my potential and all of these different outcomes,” she says. For her, Tarot isn’t about predicting the future—it’s about taking charge of your own path.
When you hear the word “Tarot,” what comes to mind? Maybe you picture a deck of mysterious cards, a fortune-teller in a dimly lit room, or perhaps you feel a little sceptical, thinking it’s all just superstition. But here’s the thing—Tarot is so much more than pop culture makes it out to be. It’s a deeply personal tool that helps people understand themselves better and navigate life’s challenges with more clarity.
Holistic coach Manya Upadhyay calls Tarot “a mirror to my soul.” She remembers her first experience with the cards—how they laid out not just her fears, but also her strengths and possibilities. “It not only highlights my fears, but as well as my potential and all of these different outcomes,” she says. For her, Tarot isn’t about predicting the future—it’s about taking charge of your own path.
Despite its growing popularity, Tarot is still widely misunderstood. One of the biggest myths, according to Tarot expert Amee ShivRam, is “the idea that each card has one meaning and that is common for all. Each card can have up to 50-70 meanings, and the same card can mean differently for a person and their reading and something absolutely different for another.”
Another common misconception is that Tarot is tied to dark magic or supernatural forces. Marylin Rodrigues clears this up: “Tarot belongs to a branch of divination known as cartomancy where you use cards to understand the current energies of a person/situation and make certain predictions basis the energies. It cannot be used to harm anyone or to perform black magic.”
As the Spirit Element study puts it, Tarot reflects what’s happening in a person’s life at the time of the reading. Instead of predicting a set-in-stone future, it shows possible outcomes based on where you are right now and the choices you make.
Alice Mastroleo, a Tarot reader and teacher, sees Tarot as a way to connect—not just with the cards, but with yourself. “When you ask for a question, when you connect really with the cards, you can like channel maybe some energies that allows you to find the answers you’re looking for,” they explain. The key, Mastroleo says, is the intention behind the reading and the personal relationship you build with the deck.
That’s why no two readings are ever the same. Even something like The Empress card, which has its own general meaning, can send different messages depending on the person receiving the reading and their current situation.
Alice Mastroleo, a Tarot reader and teacher, sees Tarot as a way to connect—not just with the cards, but with yourself. “When you ask for a question, when you connect really with the cards, you can like channel maybe some energies that allows you to find the answers you’re looking for,” they explain. The key, Mastroleo says, is the intention behind the reading and the personal relationship you build with the deck.
That’s why no two readings are ever the same. Even something like The Empress card, which has its own general meaning, can send different messages depending on the person receiving the reading and their current situation.
One of the most powerful aspects of Tarot is its ability to guide personal growth. Upadhyay shares a story about a client who felt completely lost—divorced, living abroad, and unsure of what to do next. After a Tarot session, she started to see things differently. Six months later, she reached out to share that the reading had given her the clarity and confidence to start her own business.
Mastroleo recalls another client who was stuck in grief and stagnation. Through a series of readings, she found the strength to move past the loss of her father, leave an unhealthy relationship, and eventually build a fulfilling career in floral design. “It’s not always about dramatic changes,” says Mastroleo. “Sometimes it’s about finding clarity in moments of uncertainty.”
Stories like these aren’t uncommon. As ShivRam puts it, “Tarot is about seeking guidance when needed, not a cheat sheet for every decision in life.” It’s a tool for empowerment, not dependency.
In today’s world, self-care is more important than ever, and Tarot offers a unique way to connect with your inner self. Mastroleo describes Tarot as a practice rooted in introspection. “Who I am cannot be separated from what I do,” they say, emphasising how it helps people align their internal and external worlds.
At the end of the day, Tarot is about self-reflection, clarity, and growth. It’s a tool to help you understand where you are, where you want to be, and what steps you can take to get there. As Rodrigues puts it, “There are no coincidences in the universe. Everything that happens to you is supposed to happen.”
So, whether you’re just getting curious about Tarot or looking to deepen your practice, remember this: Tarot doesn’t dictate your future—it helps you realise the strength you already have to shape it. Or, as Upadhyay wisely says, “At the end of the day, we have the key for our own transformation.”
So, if you had a way to gain more clarity about your life, wouldn’t you want to explore it?
