Tarot How-To: A Spiritualist's Guide to Connecting With the Cards
Beatrice Hazlehurst
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If you ask Syd, she might say she owes it all to the cards. The singer began her divination journey when she was a child, and gravitated toward tarot, specifically, when it started to serve as a songwriting tool.
Tarot cards are beloved as a source of comfort and creativity, helping readers explore the mysteries of life. With a rich history dating back to the 15th century, it has evolved from a simple card game into a spiritual tool. Each card represents different themes, archetypes, and situations, which can help individuals gain insight into their thoughts, emotions, and blind spots. Readers interpret the cards’ meanings, offering insights or clarity on possible outcomes.
Syd eventually turned her practice outwards, reading around New York City, and discovered tarot was in her blood — a practice performed by her maternal great-grandmother. With her debut song, "Fugitive" out this month, Syd has again turned to tarot in self-reflection, mindfulness, and a deeper understanding of one’s journey.
This Halloween, whether you are a seasoned reader or a curious beginner — Syd's approach offers a fresh, creative way to connect with the cards and unlock their hidden meanings.
What do people need to know before starting their tarot journey?
I think tarot is most helpful when it's used as a tool for collaborating with the forces and energies around you, rather than surrendering to fixed outcomes. I always advise people not to let tarot readings create self fulfilling prophecies. Every message that comes through in tarot can be worked with to shape your future in a way that's ultimately helpful, so if you're just starting your tarot journey, remember that it's a tool to empower you, not to scare or limit you!
Describe the tarot learning process.
I find the best way to learn tarot is by incorporating daily card pulls into a journaling practice. Maybe pull the card in the morning and look up the meaning in a book or online — try to find a book/website/resource that calls to you and make that your starting point, but also try to take in lots of different perspectives as you're learning because there's no singular authority on card meanings! Later in the day, journal about how the card played into your day. The card meanings stick with you more when you're able to connect them to personal experience.
What are some common misconceptions about tarot?
I've heard a common superstition about not buying your own tarot deck, and waiting for one to be gifted to you. In my opinion that sentiment is the antithesis of tarot — it’s not meant to encourage you to be dependent on other people, it should give you power and autonomy! If you happen to be gifted a deck, that's lovely, but if you're looking to get into tarot and haven't bought yourself a deck, go for it! And remember that most negative superstitions were created by people who were simply afraid of powerful women.
How does tarot inform your creativity?
Tarot plays heavily into my songwriting process — especially the storytelling aspect. Looking at a spread of cards and connecting the dots into a narrative really carries over into my lyric writing. I find both tarot and songwriting to be half intellectual and half a-secret-other-thing that feels like you're going beyond intellect and tapping into a divine source. I'm also super inspired by how rich the visuals are and how deep the symbolism can go. Once you start using tarot as a framework to understand the world, it's easy to see symbols and meaning everywhere, which definitely feeds into my songwriter brain as well.
