transitive tarot & the importance of tarot beliefs

hello, friends. if you've downloaded my free hermitage lecture pack, you've probably heard me talking about transitive tarot, which is my own practical, working language for the way that tarot beliefs and philosophy intersect with tarot practices. (don't know what i'm talking about? click here to download three totally free tarot lectures now!)

i've been wanting for some time to write out definitive principles for my personal tarot relationship — a clear, comprehensive list of beliefs that ground my work and explain why i read tarot in the way that i do. in part, this is because new people are finding me all the time, and i want them to very quickly be able to understand what i stand for, what i value, and what i believe in. in this world of grifters and MAGA and trad wives and AI users, it's important to me that people know what i care about, what i'll fight for, and what i don't fuck with.

but i also think it can be helpful to see what different people believe about the tarot, because it can help you figure out what you believe about tarot. i don't need all of you to agree with me on every single minute tarot belief and opinion and philosophy — that would honestly be kind of boring, if we all saw tarot in exactly the same way. but i do want to encourage you to get real with yourself about what you believe the tarot is, what you believe it can do, and how you believe it can help you right now.

"tarot beliefs" is my shorthand for the philosophies and worldviews that intersect with and support your divinatory practice: what you believe about fate and free will and knowledge and insight, what you think is possible to learn and know with tarot, what it means to engage with predictions or prophecy in a real way, and how those truths intersect with your general understanding of what it means to be a human being who makes choices and takes actions in this life.

and — personal tarot beliefs tend to evolve and change. as you practice, as you get to know the cards and yourself, as you test the boundaries of what tarot can do, you might decide that you want to adjust your techniques or expand your practice or pivot away from something that once felt essential to your tarot readings. you might refine and clarify certain things that you believe, or decide that something that once felt true to you no longer feels quite so black-and-white. this is good! growth is okay! change is healthy! challenging assumptions is powerful!

it's also valuable to recognize why we believe what we believe — not just about tarot, but about anything. why do you think the way that you do? where did your beliefs and values come from? what shaped your perspective? how often do you challenge your own ways of thinking and being?

the cards can help us sort through these very questions — i shared some tarot spreads earlier this week that can support you in beginning to consider what you believe, what kind of reader you are, and what might be worth pursuing next. setting aside dedicated time to really consider what your tarot readings actually mean, and why you believe the things that you do about the cards can really shift your practice — but that might feel like an intimidating prospect to do on your own.

my new resource series, transitive tarot, is presented not as a blueprint for what you have to believe about the tarot — rather, it's an opportunity for you to engage with your own beliefs about the cards, and to consider how those beliefs shape your practice in a practical way. you might agree with all of my takes, or none of them, or some of them. but the process of thinking about what you believe, what you feel, and what you know about the cards will add incredible nuance, meaning, and potency to your readings.

and if you're someone who tends to get flustered or confused or upset when you're reading tarot, if you often find yourself uncertain if you can really trust your readings and interpretations, if you end up always looking to other sources rather than listening to your own intuition, getting clear about your own tarot beliefs is one of the best things you can do to more solidly ground into your personal tarot practice.

transitive tarot is a three-month course covering nine of my personal tarot principles: beliefs, but in the form of how they practically impact my actual practice. each month i'll share a lecture exploring three of those principles, a downloadable doc where you can take notes of your own, and reflection questions and prompts that can help you start to understand and flesh out your own tarot beliefs. i'll host the lectures live with a q&a at the end, but recordings will be available for anyone who can't make the live session for anytime viewing.

the best part? transitive tarot is available to everyone who's signed up for my signature hermitage membership program, which means that in addition to transitive tarot, you'll also get access to over $2000 worth of tarot courses, resources, and activities to help you build a personal tarot practice that really feels like you for $66 per month. you can sign up any time, stay as long as you like, and cancel when you need a break.

ready to join us? i'm hosting the first transitive tarot lecture live for all hermitage members on july 23rd at 7pm EST, so if you sign up by then you can join us for the lecture as well as a live q&a on all things tarot, beliefs, and practices.

got questions? wondering if the hermitage is right for you? i'm hosting a completely free, super chill open house on july 19th at 7pm! no presentation, no expectations — come through with questions, say hello, and let's chat about your tarot practice. click here to RSVP and put it on your calendar.

and if you want some resources to explore in the meantime, don't forget that i've got three totally free lectures available for download right now to get you thinking about your tarot practice in a more holistic way. get 'em right here.