Right livelihood and tarot

[Eikyo]

Hi
I practice Zazen and also work closely with other spiritual practices, including mystic contemplative Catholicism, tarot cards and exploring my indigenous (one could say witchy) roots.

For me the tarot is a tool for psychological exploration that helps us see things that our unconscious may normally keep hidden, and I do readings for other people, and I do charge for them because I am not an infinite well of energy to be drank from for free.

It seems to help people and be therapeutic however I recall reading somewhere that a good Buddhist should not engage in divinatory practices - am I going against the precepts by working with the tarot in this way?

Gassho [emoji1431]
Dee
#sattoday

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[Jundo]

Hi Dee,

I personally do not practice or particularly believe in such things as Tarot myself. Maybe some people can get some value out of them like from any pursuit, such as listening to music, writing poetry, painting. So, I am not going to say that someone cannot find something valuable to learn there. Yes, monks were told not to engage in such things, but honestly, various kinds of fortune telling is still available at many Japanese and other Asian Buddhist temples.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reW9EruBxSA

Most people just do it for fun, not seriously, like the horoscope in the newspaper.

Bottom line: If it is being used in a way that leaves people better and helps them, then it is fine I suppose. But if someone is being hurt, defrauded for money, let to bad life choices ... then it is not good. Leave people better, and do not deceive them.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Kokuu]

Bottom line: If it is being used in a way that leaves people better and helps them, then it is fine I suppose. But if someone is being hurt, defrauded for money, let to bad life choices ... then it is not good. Leave people better, and do not deceive them.

I was going to say much the same thing. I left Tarot, runes and other divination techniques behind as I found it much better to rest in not knowing and learn ways of dealing with whatever arises rather than trying to control what is happening.

As the basis for some kind of counselling, I can see how Tarot could be useful. If it is being used to give people a false idea that you can determine how life is going to be, I am not so sure.

In the end there is no hard and fast rule in the precepts but there are obvious precepts on Right Speech and Right Action which should underpin all of our dealings with other sentient beings in any setting.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Cooperix]

Dee,
I have a good friend who is quite intuitive with tarot card readings and has read the cards for some of her close friends on occasion. Her astute readings have never attempted to predict the future, only shed light on circumstances, tendencies and right actions toward the goals and path we might be on. Nothing woo-woo at all, only solid worakable advice.

Gassho
Anne

~lahst~

[Eikyo]

Hi Anne,

That sounds very much in line with my approach too - I don't believe in fortune telling or predicting the future because we all have free will, and so at any moment there are infinite possibilities for us depending on what action we and all the other beings around us take.

I've found the tarot really helpful for getting past my own blind spots and gaining insight into what energies and patterns are playing out in our lives and how we can make empowered choices.

Jundo, I agree very much with "leave people better, and do not deceive them" and Kokuu also with your guidance about right speech and the precepts - thank you [emoji1431]

Gassho,
Dee


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[Kyotai]

Hi Dee,

Nothing wrong with exploring other religious practices/ philosophies. So long as they are not harmful to you or others.

Gassho, Kyotai
ST

[Amelia]

"An it harm none, do what thou wilt. Blessed be."

Not a Buddhist phrase, but one that stuck with me from my Wiccan days.

Gassho
Sat today, lah

[Kyoshin]

I bust out tarot cards myself from time to time. They're both fun and useful for helping untangle people's mental states. They're neither good nor bad in themselves, but a tool that can be used well or poorly.

Gassho
Kyōshin
Satlah

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[Jundo]

Frankly, the only deck of cards I truly believe in ... and which can determine our fates, at least where the chips fall for the night... has 52 cards and two jokers. Sometimes life is a full house, and sometimes life is a busted straight.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Bokucho]

I'm somewhat of a tarot enthusiast myself, the artwork, the psychology, the esoteric nature, I find it all incredibly fascinating! I always wondered how many others were out there [emoji120][emoji120][emoji120]

Gassho,

Joshua
SatToday

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[Risho]

Frankly, the only deck of cards I truly believe in ... and which can determine our fates, at least where the chips fall for the night... has 52 cards and two jokers. Sometimes life is a full house, and sometimes life is a busted straight.

Gassho, J

STLah

hahahaha

gotta know when to hold em
know when to fold em
know when to shikantaza-ay
know when to run

gassho

rish
-stlah