Meemai,
I’m sorry to hear that you’re going through a rough time right now and my heart goes out to you. Please know that use of tarot cards for whatever reason, is prohibited. Tarot cards are a form of divination and as the Catechism states, “
[a]ll forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.” (para. 2116)
Even though you defend your position on using them for “reflection” you are actually using them for insight, to help in discerning a future course of action. You stated:
Using tarot in a therapeutic way is it allowed? What do I mean? Now let’s say I am stuck and do not know what to do and feel bad.
You also stated:
I start reflecting on that card and thinking if I have been doing such a thing lately in my life. Many a times I find out 'aha, I have actually been doing that, neglecting this and such and so on.’
So from “reflecting” on the cards are in fact
obtaining answers and your course of action is based on those answers. When you discover that you have been “neglecting this and such and so on” you make changes right? I’m sorry to tell you this but you are engaging in divination. Remember Satan is deceitful, he will have us think we are not sinning when we are.
Also, tampering with tarot cards could very well be the reason why you feel that God is distant. These practices are a violation of the First Commandment, the sin of idolatry. I want to refer you to the testimony of
Gloria Polo who had a near death experience, was judged, and was allowed to come back to give her testimony about her judgment. You are not bound to believe, but there is one portion of her testimony that came to mind in this regard. Gloria says, "[m]any Catholics, believers and practicing, go to Mass and to the magician at the same time. **Because the evil one makes to believe that there is nothing evil here, and that we go to Heaven all the same, because we certainly do not use magic to do evil to someone! The devil guides, uses and directs all of this with a very well prepared strategy. **
You know therefore that, when we have recourse to magic, it does not matter for whatever, the beast imprints his seal. When we go to some enchanter, or diviner, or fortune-teller, or astrologer, or to one who invokes the spirits, in all of these places the devil places his seal, his stamp.
I found myself in one of these places when I went with a friend, who brought me to an enchanter to consult her, to predict my future: there I was marked by the beast. The evil one put on me his seal. The worst thing was that, beginning from that day, in which by way of that lady I received the stamp of evil, I began to have disturbances: nocturnal agitation, nightmares, anxieties, fears, and even a profound desire to suicide! I did not understand the why of these desires! I cried, I felt unhappy, and never again did I feel in peace.*** I prayed, but I felt the Lord far from me: never again did I sense that nearness with Him, that instead I had when I was little*.** Of course! I had opened the doors to the beast, and the evil one had entered with force into my life."
My advice to you would be to get rid of *any and all *occult items within your home. Tarot cards are not harmless, they are a source of evil. They are considered **cursed items **and as such, evil spirits can attach themselves to them. Whether you use them or not, so long as they are in your home, evil spirits have a legal right to be there. For a listing of occult/cursed items, please visit
The Padre Pio Center for Deliverance Counseling (see the section entitled “step 2” for the list). For how to destroy these items, please see
Procedure to Destroy Occultic or Cursed Objects
Second I would advise you to go to confession to liberate yourself from any and all bondage caused by tampering in the occult. If after confession you still feel this depression, please speak with a priest for guidance. It may also be necessary for you to renounce this practice.
Also if you feel unable to turn directly to Jesus, ask the Blessed Mother for her help, the whole “to Jesus through Mary” sorta thing. Pray the rosary daily, reflecting on the life of Christ is the best “reflection” one can make. You can also do penance, acts of charity and fast. Pick up spiritual reading, The Diary of St. Faustina is my personal fav. These are all ways we can grow closer to Christ. And since the Netherlands is in a crisis (btw I used to live there), you can incorporate the mass in your daily life by following the readings for each day. Subscribe to the
Magnificat or
follow online for free.
Most importantly,
trust in God and as the Catechism states,“a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future,
and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it.” (para. 2115) Lastly, please know that
Jesus loves you. Don’t give up on Him. We don’t always get the answers we need right away but we should strive to trust, remain faithful and live in a spirit of hope.
I hope this helps. God Bless,
Josie