The Witch is Back!

(well I simply bought a tarot deck)

When I was a young, curious, and easily influenced 20-something, I dated a guy who proudly called himself a “spiritual seeker.” He was deep into yoga, the Enneagram, and, naturally, astrology. Being the Pisces that I am, I’ve always had a soft spot for the esoteric. The moonstone is my go-to talisman, I only cut my hair during the waxing crescent, and I’ve always made time to read my horoscope - even from the trashiest gossip mags. So naturally, while dating him, I got curious about his hobbies and, in true Pisces fashion, started making them my own. I got several books on the Enneagram, bought my first tarot deck, and even picked up a pendulum for those simple yes-or-no questions.

Needless to say, these esoteric pursuits didn’t last long - nor did the relationship. As I gradually navigated my way into adulthood, I began to distance myself from mysticism, or at least from actively learning and practicing anything related to it.

The last time I did a tarot reading was in 2020, back in Toronto, with a few friends (definitely not the best example of social distancing, I know), during a soirée we aptly called Witches & Whisky. It was more about the whisky than the tarot, I must say.
Then, when I returned to Europe, I realized my deck was missing a few cards, so I never picked it up again. 

Until now.

The thought of getting a new deck has crossed my mind multiple times, but honestly, I just couldn’t bring myself to spend 20€ on it. I kept wondering: Will I even use it? Do I still believe in it? Or am I just having another moment of I’m-not-sure-what-I’m-into-anymore-so-let’s-try-being-a-witch-again?

Eventually, the temptation to get a new deck won out, driven by the fact that I have a TON of questions that need enlightenment. Not that I believe tarot will solve my dilemmas, but it might offer some new perspectives - or, as it often does, bring up even more important questions.

I’ve never seen tarot as a way to predict the future or read fortunes (whatever that even means). For me, it’s more about self-awareness and gaining a deeper understanding of a particular situation. Or simply for inspiration.

Lately, I’ve been using the cards in more practical ways. For example, I draw a card each morning to ask, "How can I make the most of this day?" or pull one each night to reflect on "What’s the most important lesson I learned today?"

(Of course, I’ve asked my fair share of cliché questions, but this has been way more useful than trying to predict whether I’ll get married or fall off a cliff in the near future.)

Just to clarify, this letter isn’t a pitch for you to rush out and buy a tarot deck or hire me as your personal fortune teller. Instead, it’s simply an invitation to consider this practice from a different angle. It can offer guidance and perspective, or it can be whatever you choose to make of it - because, at its core, tarot is a system of archetypes and myths, open to interpretation.
(Plus, with the variety of beautifully crafted decks available today, it’s worth exploring for the artistry alone. Seriously, just check Etsy!)

So, in a way, you could say the witch is sort of back - not with crystal balls and potions, but with a fresh perspective on an ancient practice. 🧚

P.S. Still, I’m getting A LOT of High Priestess cards lately, so it could mean I’m about to unlock some serious mystical powers... stay tuned!