Today’s Question by the reader : András

For some years now I have been reading Tarot cards, and just recently became interested in knowing more about Runes (an ancient Nordic system of divination). So, I picked up a book on the subject and was delighted to find the best overview of the subject of divination that I have ever read anywhere – a perspective that is not only applicable to Runes, but to other systems as well, such as the Tarot. I’m not sure how applicable this overview would be to the I Ching, because I am not familiar with the I Ching, but I think it is a good thing for anyone to read who is considering using any form of divination in the hopes of “seeing what the future holds” – it so perfectly encapsulates the message that I always try to convey to people when they first come to me, asking to have their Tarot read. The difference is that the author of this book, Bob Oswald, sums it up so well. He says:

“It is important to remember that the runes are not a method of general prediction. They cannot foresee the future course of world events or in any way pre-ordain things to come. They are more a way of focusing psychic energy to better understand a person’s present situation, the way in which it may be affected in order to achieve a desired outcome, and a way of determining a person’s destiny. Thus, the subject’s future, as determined by his or her own actions and own personality, may be made clearer through the runes.

“Some things are more appropriate to divination than others. You may wish to have advice on the timing of an action, your conduct, relationships, decision-making, or business matters. These are ISSUES rather than QUESTIONS. (emphasis mine) The runes will answer QUESTIONS, but the answer you get will depend upon your own frame of mind at that point in time. It is more effective to state an ISSUE and let the runes make a comment on it….

“For example, you might say, ‘The issue is my relationship with John’, instead of asking the narrower question, ‘Does John love me?’ Our role in the process is just as important as that of the runes themselves. If you do no more than look for ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers, then you are not taking an active part. But by invoking the wider issues you are giving the runes the opportunity to react to your psyche and thus provide a fuller response.

“There are occasions when the response does not appear to fit the issue raised. This can happen when the runes have chosen to address a more serious issue than the one posed. This may be because the more serious issue ultimately will control the lesser issue you originally raised. This can be useful when you cannot decide which of several issues to work on. The runes will decide for you, and the response will clearly indicate the matter requiring the more immediate attention.”

In essence, the runes are a tool requiring of ACTION on the part of the querent. The are not a tool for simply predicting the future in the same way that we can open a later chapter in a novel and say, “Aha! Now I know what happens to this character!” The runes, like the Tarot, indicate a course of action and they may even indicate the outline of an outcome in the event that a certain course of action is chosen, but they will not simply tell you what the future holds in store for you as though it were already something set in stone.

This is the thing that I always try very hard to convey to people who ask me to do a Tarot reading for them, before we ever begin: This is not a passive undertaking. This reading is not going to simply tell you what your future is. Some action is going to be required on your part, and that action is not necessarily going to be easy. In other words, you may not like the answer once you get it, because it may point to certain changes that you may not feel you are ready to make. And, if you aren’t ready to make changes and take action, it is essentially useless to do the reading.

The Tarot, as I see it, is a tool that can offer one a clearer picture of where they stand now, in the present moment. It can reveal certain things that they did not know or fully understand about themselves or the extenuating circumstances surrounding a particular situation. Still, action is required to get from point “A” to point “B.” Life does not just “happen” to us – we are active participants in it at every step of the way – and, in this sense, there is no such thing as a preordained or foreseeable future that is not shaped by our actions in the present moment. Those actions are always the focus of my reading: What must the person do next? What step is required in order progress?

Similarly, I am always suspicious (and I recommend that anyone be suspicious) of any reader who claims to be able to foretell the future as though it were a settled affair – a later chapter in a book that only needs to be arrived at in time in order to be lived. The future is not merely separated from us in time; it is separated from us (and thus determined) by our actions as well. Anyone who claims to be able to just tell you what your future will be, in my eyes, is a charlatan. Even if it is true that this person, using whatever tool, can see what lies ahead, they are robbing you of your free will in not indicating how your present actions affect future events.

People generally think of “the future” as the primary subject of divination, but really it all comes back to the present – fully understanding the opportunities that are open to us in the present and understanding what actions we might take in order to fully reap these opportunities to our best advantage. Sometimes the opportunity is simply for growth: we need to grow ourselves before we will be ready to achieve our desired goals. And growth is not always easy. Even the need for it is something that we are not always eager to face. We like to think that we can simply reach out and snatch our goals out of thin air – make them manifest by simply desiring them. But life requires more of us than that. Sometimes we must make great changes in ourselves, even painful changes, before we are ready to reach our destiny.

Think of the caterpillar coming to the Tarot reader and saying, “I want to know my future. Is it my destiny to become a butterfly someday?” If the reader simply says “yes,” rather than saying “perhaps, but first you need to make some changes…,” then the reader is not doing the caterpillar justice because they have not revealed what action is necessary in the present in order to arrive at the desired future. Never look to the future for an outcome without being prepared to take action in the present. Everything in life “happens” here and now, in the present moment; everything else is merely a result.

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