Story By: Courtney McCullough
Starting out as triumph, or “trump” cards, tarot decks are now known as tools for divination and fortune telling.
Madi Haynes, a psychology major at the University of Montevallo, uses tarot cards in her every day life.
“Some people get them because there are decks that look cool or really pretty… But they never use them like they’re supposed to be used.” Madi said.
Madi is just one of many who use tarot cards for divination purposes. When she wants to have a specific question answered, she looks up spreads she can use.
Spreads are positions in which someone lays the cards in order to read them, often in some sort of shape.
“I have so many different spreads saved on my Instagram and my Pinterest boards.” Madi said. “If I do a reading for someone, I let them pick which spread they want.”
Once Madi (or whoever the reading is for) picks a spread, the deck is shuffled with however many cards the spread calls for are removed and laid face down.
For the actual reading, the cards are then turned face-up. Each deck comes with a handbook to explain what each card means if it’s right-side up or upside down.
“Typically, upside down meanings are just the opposite of the right-side up meaning.” Madi explained.
By going over each card picked and what they represent, Madi and whoever is receiving the reading can interpret how a future event may go.
For example, if someone did a reading about how finals were going to go, the cards could suggest more studying or for the person to just start praying.
“I once had a lady ask me about her financial situation…” Madi recalled.
Madi gives free readings to those who ask. She will give them on the phone, through Facebook, or in person. She even carries her decks with her, just in case someone wants a reading while she’s out.
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