Although tarot can be viewed as fake, even bad, in my opinion, it isn’t just about the universe giving you a message. It’s more so, your interpretation of the cards presented. Even if you aren’t fully aware, you already know the problem and relate to the cards you’ve pulled. With that, you can understand and break down your situation, using context clues, past experiences, and (sub)conscious observations to interpret the cards. Since I only started taking tarot more seriously in early 2025, it was normal that I still found myself sometimes doubting the practice, even though it has proven helpful.
A lot of tarot and spirituality content, especially on social media, can be quite toxic. Like with most other things, using tarot without clarity or boundaries can lead to toxic habits. If you let it, it can lead to addiction, psychotic breaks, a replacement for therapy, flattery, spying, etc. This is quite prevalent in love readings and paid content, as some ‘tarot readers’ have misaligned intentions and tell you what they think you want to hear. They might conflate certain cards and interpretations with toxic ideologies; for example, they may pull the 6 of Cups, which is about nostalgia, childhood memories, and reconnecting with the past and interpret this as an ex coming back.
This branch of research into the dangers of tarot came around after getting feedback on my second presentation. I got some suggestions about making a game from the perspective of a scammer/fake fortune teller, which was something I hadn’t even thought about before, but I thought was worth looking into. If I were to make this idea into a game, I would have to think about the types of customers/people who may end up wholeheartedly believing these false messages. Typically, they’ll target vulnerable people, those who:
- Need comfort and guidance after experiencing something distressing
- Are going through a difficult life situation
- Lack critical thinking skills
- Want control or certainty
- Want confirmation bias
- Are lonely
- Are naive
It should be known that there is nothing wrong with tarot when used properly, but it’s a real and quite common occurrence for fake readers to take advantage of people. The conditions for reading tarot can sometimes be quite subjective, but it is a tool that can be used without much experience and should be fun.
Since tarot and spirituality became more mainstream in 2020, many people picked up a tarot deck and began posting collective readings on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. Many creators made viewers like, share, and comment on a video to “claim the energy”, which is a hallmark of a fake reading, as this just boosts engagement. This has become so well-known that there have been parodies of these types of videos.
Addiction
In everyday life, we are often faced with uncertainty and sometimes hardships, which can lead us to seek answers or evidence before making a decision. In the context of tarot, users may consult their cards before making any big decisions, since it’s only natural to crave certainty before investing or committing to something. Tarot can be used for guidance, but when we rely on the cards to the point that we are tempted to use them for every small question we have, it becomes an unhealthy obsession.
While researching the potential negative effects of tarot, I came across a Reddit discussion about people’s experiences with former addictions to tarot readings (in-person, YouTube, etc.). It seemed as though it was quite common for many new users to be prone to addiction, which could also be a gateway to other negative effects, as tarot can be readily used for almost any query.
One user who had been through it voiced that they feel everyone experiences it at some point. Tarot readings can make it so that it’s “quite easy to get addicted to, especially when the readings are so accurate. But let’s be real, knowing everything about everybody and every situation at any given moment isn’t really how life is supposed to be lived. And I’ve found that being so focused on the outcomes of scenarios disturbed my inner peace. Tarot is definitely something I’ve had to practice moderation and discernment with”. This links back to the types of people fake readers may target, as this addiction stems from wanting control. In a short article explaining the psychology behind uncertainty (Wellness Psychological Services, 2025), it stated that we may hold onto control because we:
- Struggle with past traumas that made us feel powerless
- Fear the unknown and potential negative outcomes
- Believe that controlling a situation will prevent bad things from happening
- Associate control with success and stability
Rumination
A negative effect that manifests from being addicted to tarot readings is rumination. Rumination is defined as ‘a pattern of repetitive, unproductive thinking. When you ruminate, you aren’t brainstorming solutions or reflecting calmly – instead, you’re dwelling on the same distressing thoughts without getting new insight’ (Simply Psychology, 2025).
Continuing to seek out tarot readings that tell you what you want to hear builds false hope, and when an outcome doesn’t turn out how you desired, but you keep listening to those readings, it keeps you in a loop. One of the responses in the Reddit thread I mentioned previously was a good example, as they “started every day with an oracle card reading. It was like I couldn’t move forward with my day without knowing what energies to call on for support. In the end, though, I didn’t mind it because it allowed me to learn and connect to my decks a bit more. I think what’s toxic to me is how all these oracles and tarot readers keep telling me (for the past 8 years) I’m going to meet the love of my life soon. It’s added an uncomfortable energy around any and all relationships I find myself in”. Many people voiced their vulnerabilities in this thread, which led to more people opening up about experiencing the same, if not similar, things.
Flattery
Flattery in tarot readings can look like readers dramatising or manipulating interpretations into what they think viewers want to hear. Mentioned previously, many people who purposefully seek out readings about exes or love life are likely looking for confirmation bias or some sort of comfort. However, readings that are overly positive, vague, or insincere can create problems of avoidance. Linking back to the previous topic of rumination, it’s designed for those who keep seeking validation or spending money to get information, but not what will help or empower.
‘The Barnum Effect describes the phenomenon that people will see personal meanings in mere commonplace statements and believe them to be perfectly accurate for them, while in fact they would apply to almost everyone. The psychologist Bertram R. Forer made a now famous test in 1948 when he conducted a ‘personality test’ for his students and then gave each of them a personality analysis that each student considered most accurate. It turned out that he had given everybody the same analysis, plastered together from various newspaper horoscopes.
Responsible for this phenomenon is the mere fact that almost everybody wants to be recognized, respected and validated, and of course, to appear likeable. Everyone thinks of himself as something special and seeks almost every hint of validation to this. The vagueness of given statements in combination with the so-called ‘confirmation bias’ usually results in a most ‘accurate’ or better said ‘welcomed’ definition’ (Corax.com, 2010).
References
Corax.com. (2010). Raven’s Tarot Site. [online] Available at: https://www.corax.com/tarot/index.html?reading.
“My Tarot Addiction: Anyone Have an Experience They Would like to Share?” Reddit.com, 2025, www.reddit.com/r/tarot/comments/ucjmzt/my_tarot_addiction_anyone_have_an_experience_they/.
Simply Psychology. (2025). How Rumination Makes Anxiety Worse. [online] Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/how-rumination-makes-anxiety-worse.html.
Wellness Psychological Services. (2025). Wellness Psychological Services. [online] Available at: https://wellnesspsychologicalservices.com/the-psychology-of-uncertainty-why-we-crave-control-and-how-to-let-go.
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