WitchTok Tarot Readers

It’s a common occurrence for me to check my TikTok DMs and find a friend has sent me a tarot reading that appeared on their “For You” page. As I watch the video, I’m often struck by how accurately the reading seems to align with my friend's current situation. But how does this happen? Can these messages really be trusted?

Given how frequently I come across tarot readings on TikTok, I was intrigued to see tarot cards discussed in our textbook and to learn more about their origins. I was surprised to discover that tarot began as a form of entertainment, without any occult associations. The mystical elements surrounding tarot only emerged later, thanks to the influence of a particular scholar, Antoine Court de Gébelin. Considering its initial disconnect from divination, it was shocking to see how tarot eventually became intertwined with Kabbalah, which helped establish its reputation as a tool for fortune-telling.

While reading pages 192-245 of A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult, I made an unexpected connection to my own life. It’s interesting to reflect on how people in the past found ways to entertain themselves with whatever they had at their disposal. For instance, on page 217, there’s an image of two women in the Renaissance using ordinary playing cards for tarot readings. I loved this depiction, as it shows that even without the traditional twenty-two trump cards, people found creative ways to enjoy the practice. In contrast to today’s society, where social media and technology dominate our free time, it was refreshing to see how people found joy through simpler means.

Pages 218-219 display the twenty-two cards of the Major Arcana, and I found it fascinating to learn their true meanings. I’ve seen many of these cards in TikTok readings, but reading about their authentic symbolism was eye-opening. Two cards, in particular, stood out to me: the High Priestess and the Fool. A lot of the tarot readings my friends send me feature the Fool card, probably because they interact with videos about relationships where men aren’t treating them well (sorry to expose you, friends). The algorithm seems to grant them tarot readings telling them things along the lines of “that the man is a fool who regrets losing you.” I believe the High Priestess card is frequently highlighted because it represents a powerful woman, which likely strikes a chord with many women watching—including myself. However, it has always struck me as odd how these TikTok tarot readings tend to tell people exactly what they want to hear, yet somehow still resonate with such a large audience. In fact, the comments are typically always filled with people claiming, “This is so accurate!” or “I claim this!” as if commenting can make the reading come true.

I can't help but feel that this isn’t how tarot was originally intended to be practiced. Still, I need to dive deeper to assess just how reliable these TikTok readings are. In a future blog post, I would like to interview a TikTok tarot reader to gain their perspective, which should help me make more informed judgments about these videos. While I remain uncertain about their accuracy, I do think these readings serve as entertaining content on TikTok, offering people messages they want to hear, which can be uplifting. It also seems like a harmless way to engage with divination, likely contributing to its enduring popularity compared to other methods. Overall, I enjoyed learning more about tarot and hope to continue exploring it, especially since it’s something I encounter so often.