In one of the groups I am in online, the topic of tarot apps (applications for your phone, tablet, or computer) with electronic card decks came up. I think everyone I knows has had the same initial reaction: “what?! no! Can’t be!? Well… maybe…?” It’s that moment of confusion, rejection, and then reconsideration. So, I want to talk about my reasoning for using them (and when I don’t).
First, I want to go back to something I am probably telling people way too much: Tarot cards are just ink and paper (and a little plastic gloss). Ink and paper. That’s it. Those things are not inherently any more psychic or magical than anything else on the planet, my smartphone included. The most common theory regarding tarot cards and energy is that, through use, you imbue the cards with your own energy and then use that connection through energy to use the cards for divination. Creating an extension of your own natural intuition. But there is no reason why this wouldn’t work with your smartphone, too. Some people reject the idea of plastic and energy, but it IS a physical object, so it DOES have energy. Even so, the functional parts of a smartphone are metals, and those definitely DO have energy. There’s no reason that you couldn’t imbue your circuits with energy the same way you do your tarot deck.
Without anything for your client to physically shuffle, how do you connect to THEIR energy to read it? That’s a great question! And a lot of us have figured it out through trial and error in order to offer our readings over the telephone or online via chat and email. Each reader handles this a little differently. I have this big fixation on names, so that’s how I do it – I need the names of everyone directly part of the question. I use that name and the FEELING that comes with it (not all “Sarahs” FEEL the same) as an address to connect to that person through the person I am directly communicating with (kind of like when you connect with a mutual friend through the shared friend’s friendlist on Facebook). Other readers use birthdates to do that as well, and some will simply not read for anyone not part of the conversation. Experiment with this and see what works for you.
Computers use random number generators (commonly abbreviated as RNGs) in order to determine the cards you draw – that’s not REALLY TRULY random, so how can that possibly work? This is a good one, and quite the educated question, too! NONE of our readings are TRULY random, no matter what our shuffling technique. The variables involved are always affected by the long line of shuffles that we’ve done over the years. I am very bad at math, but college taught me that, given enough data, it is a simple matter to predict card results! If you’re interested in this, there’s a fantastic documentary about a mathematician at a college who, as a project, taught his students how to quickly predict upcarding card results in card games at casinos. Impressive math! Beyond me, but impressive! But since we know those formulas and system, programmers use them to create a MUCH BETTER Random Number Generator than the ones we had in the 80s or 90s – ones that are indistinguishable from a real life shuffle. Oh, and there are matrices involved (a matrix is just a table for corresponding data points). Technology is wonderful!
In fact, in regards to “randomness” or, as it’s more properly referred to, “chaos,” – that is a necessary element of divination all around the board. A certain amount of chaos, variables that you cannot control or predict reasonably easily, allows whatever source you believe influences your cards to do it’s magic thing. So you can do divination with anything that is systemitized and has a random factor. Pendulums, coins, playing cards, tarot cards, oracle cards, fire and candle flames, clouds, tea leaves, animal entrails, bones, stones, runes, books, cow pies (yes, that’s a thing!) and the newly christened “Shufflemancy!” (this uses radio stations and music played on “shuffle”). So as long as you can connect to something and chaos can be invited in, you’re all set!
It’s okay if you are not comfortable using an app or if you just WANT to use your physical cards more. Your best readings are done when you are most comfortable, and that’s just the way it is. If you want to use physical paper cards forever until the end of time, that is totally fine. But DO keep an open mind about tarot apps and, if you’re curious, try it out – do some experiments – and see what you think.
I hope that helps! Here are some free and not-free apps that I, personally, recommend (and one website):
Tarot Apps by Fool’s Dog: https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=The+Fool%27s+Dog
Highly recommend these! I just love them! They have a bunch of “official” deck apps which are great (I got my Shadowscapes Deck there, which is my favorite “working” deck), including Shadowscapes, Druidcraft, Mystical Cats, Robin Wood, Ciro, Steampunk, and several samplers (samplers are usually free and official apps are $3-4) and there are also other nice features, such as the original book text for the deck, a journal, many many spreads to choose from, and more. LOVE.
Tarot Apps by Liberus: https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Liberus
I have NOT personally tried these out (but I’m gonna!) but they look great! A lot of the standard features and some pretty cool decks are available, such as the Tarot of Marseilles. Most their apps are free, so be mindful of ads – though they may allow you to pay to remove them (which is cool, $5 is worth it, I hate ads!).
Facade Tarot Website: http://www.facade.com/tarot/
Facade has been around for a LONG time and is an AMAZING site! They have a huge collection of decks, spreads, and other features as well as a “random” function that will choose your deck and spread for you! It’s a lot of fun and definitely worth trying out! Did I mention the “free” part yet? AND they provide a widget whereby you can add free online tarot readings to your site as well – which is awesome if you are planning to do some tarot teaching, like I am. 😀 Unlike the apps, Facade will also interpret your reading for you, too, but it’s a machine, so it’s not really great at it. But it’s pretty cool if you aren’t totally confident yet and need a nudge once in awhile!
Do you have any other questions and concerns that I didn’t touch on here? Comments and experiences? Just share them in the comments below!
~ Nathara