BEFORE I GO INTO WHY USING TAROT WITH FRIENDS IS BETTER THAN ANY PARTY GAME, I’D LIKE TO FIRST OFFER MY POINT OF VIEW AND STANCE WITH THE PRACTICE.
Before I go into why using tarot with friends is better than any party game, I’d like to first offer my point of view and stance with the practice. I believe tarot can be anything and everything you need it to be; sacred practice, a tool for self-discovery, finding clarity, setting intentions, and something to help you access your magic within..
The first time I picked up a deck was with one of my closest friends. We would sit for hours doing readings for each other, this was a moment that encouraged me to lean into my intuition while bringing us closer as friends in a totally new way. Since I’ve read tarot for bar patrons and bridal parties, so I recognize the appeal and how much fun it can be to hear your friends receive advice from a reader: this one time I read for a bridesmaid and revealed that her relationship with her boyfriend was so far gone that it should’ve been over ages ago. Seeing her friends nodding, giggling, and affirming with ‘we’ve been telling you this!’ was all the confirmation I needed that I was on the right track with her. I hope that she felt empowered to take my advice on how to fix things or move forward.
You see, the tarot is a great way for friends to deepen the bond of the group. It’s an easy way for everyone to have an opportunity to talk about each other — and themselves. Tarot is way more than fortune-telling. They provide prompts for confessions, deep honesty, and shocking opinions. Because their interpretations are subjective, and at the whim of the reader, you can use the cards as an excuse to say whatever you want.
Tarot is an easy way to share your feelings without having to drink a ton of wine in order to feel comfortable having deeper conversations with others. A great way to get out of your head and learn more about the people in your life — or new people you’d like to get to know better.
Times are changing with more and more of us beginning to seek out genuinely authentic relationships, with a collective shift towards spirituality. Have you noticed the great awakening, with a resurgence of the occult which has turned crystals and smudging into trendy pursuits?
To be honest, Tarot is, and has always been, a naturally social enterprise; the oldest documented tarot decks were parlor amusements for rich Europeans, dating all the way back to the 14th century. So it’s no surprise that using them at your next social gathering would probably be your next party favor and activity.
I’ve seen tarot used as playing cards, there are spreads that you can create, I’ve even played intuitive games with friends: testing our psychic abilities with the cards. Pulling a few and creating a story about someone to see how spot-on we are.
But you should try this take on Never Have I Ever with your tarot deck at your next coven gathering.
Here’s an example of how it could go:
If you draw the Ace of Pentacles “N.H.I.E. started my own business” or you could take something literally from the image like Queen of Cups “N.H.I.E. been in the ocean”
3 of Cups “N.H.I.E. been to a rave or taken 3 shots”
Justice “N.H.I.E.served jury duty”
The Fool “N.H.I.E. skydived”
2 of Cups “N.H.I.E. been married ”
3 of swords “N.H.I.E. been cheated on”
However, you choose to use the tarot, solo or with friends, have fun with it. Let go of trying to be “right” and allow your intuition an opportunity to shine through. You might just surprise yourself, and others, with your interpretations, making you the next go-to advisor of your friend group.