Is Tarot Bad for Mental Health? What The Experts Say

Tarot cards have fascinated people for centuries, used as tools for guidance, introspection, and sometimes even therapy. But as tarot readings become more mainstream, especially through social media and online platforms, a question naturally arises: is tarot bad for mental health?

The answer isn’t black and white. Tarot can be either helpful or harmful, depending largely on how it’s used and by whom. This article explores the psychological effects of tarot, the potential risks, and the situations where tarot can support — or undermine — mental well-being.

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What Is Tarot, Really?

Tarot is a deck of 78 cards with symbolic images, divided into the Major Arcana (22 cards representing big life themes) and Minor Arcana (56 cards reflecting day-to-day situations). While originally used for playing card games in Europe, tarot evolved into a tool for divination, spiritual growth, and self-reflection.

Modern tarot is less about predicting the future and more about exploring the present. Many readers use it as a way to reflect on emotions, relationships, and decisions. It’s not inherently spiritual or psychological — but it can take on those meanings depending on how it’s framed.

The Psychological Appeal of Tarot

At its best, tarot acts like a mirror. It invites users to interpret symbols and consider perspectives they may have overlooked. This process can lead to greater self-awareness and emotional clarity.

Here’s why some people find tarot psychologically helpful:

• It encourages introspection: Drawing cards often prompts people to think deeply about their feelings and life situations.

• It externalizes emotions: Seeing challenges represented symbolically can make them easier to process.

• It creates a safe space for reflection: Tarot provides structure and language for complex emotions.

• It offers comfort and meaning: For some, the idea of the universe offering guidance can reduce anxiety or fear of uncertainty.

Studies in psychology suggest that tools promoting narrative reflection — like journaling, therapy, or symbolic interpretation — can help regulate emotions and build resilience. In this way, tarot can function like an informal therapeutic technique.

The Risks: When Tarot Harms Mental Health

Despite the potential benefits, tarot is not universally positive. Under certain conditions, tarot can worsen anxiety, feed delusional thinking, or prevent people from seeking professional help. Here are some key risks:

1. Dependence on Tarot for Decision-Making

Some users begin to rely on tarot for every choice, from relationships to career decisions. This overdependence can erode confidence and critical thinking. Rather than trusting themselves, people might feel paralyzed without consulting the cards.

Mental health impact: This can increase anxiety, indecision, and low self-esteem, especially in people already struggling with obsessive or perfectionistic tendencies.

2. Confirmation Bias and Negative Interpretations

People often interpret tarot cards through the lens of their current emotional state. Someone feeling anxious or depressed might read even neutral cards as negative or threatening. This reinforces distress rather than providing insight.

Mental health impact: Repeated exposure to perceived “bad omens” can deepen fear, self-doubt, or hopelessness, especially for individuals prone to catastrophizing.

3. Exacerbating Psychosis or Delusional Thinking

For individuals with certain mental health conditions — like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with psychotic features, or paranoid delusions — tarot can fuel harmful beliefs. For example, a person may begin to think the cards are controlled by outside forces or that they reveal absolute truths.

Mental health impact: This may increase psychotic symptoms or interfere with medication and treatment plans. Some psychiatrists caution against using divination tools with patients at risk of detachment from reality.

4. Avoidance of Real-World Solutions

Tarot can be used as an escape. Instead of facing tough decisions or seeking therapy, some people turn to repeated readings hoping the cards will magically solve their problems.

Mental health impact: This type of avoidance can delay progress and deepen feelings of helplessness or denial. It may also keep people stuck in cycles of rumination.

What the Experts Say

Mental health professionals are divided. Some therapists see value in tarot as a reflective tool, similar to guided journaling or metaphor work. Others warn against using it as a substitute for evidence-based treatment.

The Supportive View

Some psychologists, especially those who integrate Jungian or transpersonal psychology, view tarot as a rich source of symbolic material. According to Carl Jung, symbols and archetypes can help people access the unconscious mind, making tarot potentially useful for self-discovery.

In fact, a few therapists use tarot in sessions to explore client emotions and generate dialogue. This practice is sometimes referred to as “therapeutic tarot.”

Example: A 2021 study in The Arts in Psychotherapy journal noted that when used in a controlled, guided setting, tarot images can help clients access suppressed feelings and generate new insights.

The Cautionary View

However, many clinicians emphasize that tarot should never be used to replace professional treatment — especially for serious conditions like depression, trauma, or anxiety disorders.

“For clients with active psychosis or rigid thinking patterns, tarot can feed into delusions or magical thinking,” says Dr. Asha Sharma, a clinical psychologist. “It’s essential to understand a person’s mental health history before introducing tools like tarot.”

Factors That Determine Tarot’s Impact

So is tarot bad for mental health? It depends. The outcome is shaped by how tarot is used, the mindset of the user, and whether it's integrated with or replaces other supports.

1. The Intent Behind the Reading

Tarot used for curiosity, reflection, or creativity is generally harmless — even helpful. But using it to make major life decisions or predict disasters can increase anxiety or lead to poor judgment.

2. The Person’s Mental Health Status

People with a history of anxiety, depression, or trauma may need to be especially careful. Tarot can stir up emotions or lead to unhelpful patterns of thought if not used mindfully.

For those with psychotic disorders, tarot is typically discouraged unless under the guidance of a mental health provider.

3. The Style of the Reader or Community

The way tarot is presented matters. Fear-based readings, rigid interpretations, or readers who claim to know “the one truth” can be damaging. In contrast, readers who encourage empowerment and personal interpretation are more likely to support well-being.

Online communities can also shape the experience. Supportive tarot groups that encourage reflection and growth may foster connection, while doom-based content on TikTok or YouTube can be harmful — especially to vulnerable viewers.

When Tarot Supports Mental Health

Used wisely, tarot can complement mental health practices. It can serve as a mindfulness ritual, a journal prompt, or a way to explore difficult emotions without judgment.

Here are some positive ways to use tarot:

• Pair readings with journaling or meditation.

• Use cards to reflect on strengths, not just problems.

• Treat readings as metaphor, not prophecy.

• Focus on empowerment and insight rather than prediction.

• Avoid reading when emotionally overwhelmed or in crisis.

Conclusion: Use Tarot With Caution and Curiosity

Tarot itself isn’t inherently bad for mental health — but how you use it matters deeply. Like any tool, tarot can empower or harm, depending on the intent, mental state, and context.

For people seeking guidance, self-understanding, or ritual, tarot can offer meaningful support. But for those dealing with serious mental illness, or prone to magical thinking, it may do more harm than good.

As with any spiritual or psychological practice, balance is key. Tarot can be part of a healthy mental wellness routine — but it should never be a substitute for professional help.

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Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.