Why is tarot is so trendy right now?

With uncertain times upon us young people are looking for answers in the ancient art

It was once associated with a bit of fun at the fairground or a very niche interest in the occult, but now the ancient art of tarot is experiencing a mainstream moment with millennials.

You only have to look at the plethora of crystals on sale at high street shops like Urban Outfitters, the rise of new-age Instagram accounts with thousands of followers like @themoontarot and the popularity of tarot apps like Labyrinthos to know that its popularity is firmly on the up.

Faced with an uncertain economic future and the stresses of lockdown, it’s no wonder that many of us are looking for answers in ancient practices, finding both of a form of therapy and a source of practical advice in holistic wisdom.

Emily Thornton (@solarsistertarot) is a spiritualist and tarot reader, based in Manchester, who says the majority of her clients are young women in their 20s and 30s. Having lost her mother at the tender age of 26, she experienced a spiritual awakening and was called to help others through the medium of tarot.

“I’m drawn to the practice because I find it incredibly calming, especially when I need to get a little bit more perspective on my situation,” she says.

“I think the millennial generation is looking for answers. It can be disappointing when we feel like we’re not achieving the expectations that were put upon us.”

She adds: “I think that a tarot reading can give young people reassurance, confidence and a fresh outlook to go into that job interview, go on that date or try a new skill with a feeling of empowerment and confidence. It’s like a little voice in your ear saying, ‘You can do this’.”

So what exactly is tarot and what does a reading involve? At its essence, the practice involves using illustrated cards to gain insight into the past, present or future by formulating a question, then drawing and interpreting cards.

Fiongal Greenlaw is a tarot master, psychic and spiritual advisor who has read for hundreds of clients as well as running spiritual events for the likes of Harvey Nichols, through his company The Wellness Foundry (wellnessfoundry. co.uk). He says one reason milennials are so drawn to the practice is because it’s very visual in its nature, much like popular social media apps like Instagram and TikTok.

“Tarot differs from other forms of decks as it has 78 cards, divided into the Major and Minor Arcana – ‘Arcana’ meaning secrets,” he explains.

“Each card depicts a different archetype or aspect of life and the soul’s journey. The reader will use the cards as a prompt or reference point to intuit information about the sitter.”

A reading usually takes around 45 minutes with 10 to 15 minutes at the end for any questions or feedback.

Unfortunately, a tarot reading can’t solve all of your #lockdown problems overnight, but it can give you a better sense of direction if you’re feeling lost or aimless right now.

“A tarot reading will never tell you what to do, but rather how best to do something, what pitfalls and obstacles to avoid, as well as which opportunities and possibilities may have the highest potential,” stresses Greenlaw.