When the prediction turns out to be the opposite

I’ll never forget that tarot reading so many years ago.

At the time, I was lovestruck and gooey-eyed over some dude. I was in deep. But (you knew there would be a but, right?) it turns out there was another woman that had designs on him too. They began seeing each other on the sly but it wasn’t long before my suspicious Scorpio Moon caught on. When I confronted him, he lied to my face. It didn’t take much time after that for me to gather the evidence I needed but before making a move I did what many betrayed love-sick young women do: I visited a tarot reader to see if this was going to work out.

She was seated in the back of a dusty old shop in midtown Manhattan. I didn’t tell her that I could read tarot. Instead, I shut my mouth and observed. As she laid the cards out in the shape of a pyramid, I saw a mix that illustrated the situation: The Lovers, Five of Swords, Two of Cups. I don’t remember any of the other cards but what stood out was the Three of Wands at the end.

The woman looked up at me and said “This will work out for you. He’ll be with you and she’ll be on the outside looking in.”

But that didn’t happen. Instead, I dumped him almost immediately. Because there are two things to know about me: one, I despise lying. Two, I don’t fight over men. EVER. It’s not how I roll. He couldn’t have both of us. Nope. Not unless it’s on my terms – and an informed, honest agreement.

I moved away. In the meantime, they got married and had a kid or two. I also got married to the man of my dreams and I’m still with him to this day and stupid in love. (Psst…he never lies.) Life turned out to be the opposite of that prediction.

Predictive tarot readings are not for the faint-of-heart tarot readers. They are intimidating and often humbling. Why? It’s because you risk being wrong. It requires a certain amount of bravery to look at those cards and try to see what may come with any certainty at all. As I always like to say, the cards are right but sometimes the interpretation process can go a bit sideways. It’s because tarot readers are human. Mistakes can and will be made. Even the most talented, experienced tarot reader won’t nail every single reading. It’s impossible. (Psst…no matter what your profession may be, you won’t always hit your mark either. Gloria Allred doesn’t win every case. Just sayin’…)

Also, sometimes the reading will seem to mean one thing…when it means another. As my dear friend Krisha says: “Something will happen and I’ll think that’s what the reading meant. But then something else will happen and I’m like ooooohhhhhh that’s what the reading really meant.”

There is also another element to consider: a tarot reading is a snapshot of your life at the time you get the reading. It shows where you are and where you may be heading. You always have the choice to say “cool, let me boogie forth” or “hell no to this – I’m outta here!”

In my case, that’s exactly what I did. I made a different decision. Which meant: I changed the course of what might happen. I was cognizant that the situation unfolding could have been a whole bunch of drama and that’s not the way I run my love life. So I bailed despite the promise of a future with that man.

One last thing to remember: not every reader is going to be able to work with every person. You may jive with a particular tarot reader…or not. As a professional reader, I know this, which is why I don’t take it personally if someone doesn’t feel me – or if I don’t get them. There are plenty of other talented readers who may be a better fit. It’s all good.

If you are in this industry, the best you can do is show up, with a mindset of wanting to help. You must also set realistic expectations for the client. They must know that they, and only they, dictate the ultimate outcome of their future. The cards may illustrate potential but their decisions going forward will decide where they end up. As I like to say: the cards tell a story but you write the ending.

Speaking of endings, many years after I had moved away, the old boyfriend and I became friends again. He apologized for being a douche and we healed that old wound, which was nice. A few more years go by and he breaks up with his old lady. I visit him and we’re dining at a pizza joint and there she is: standing outside the restaurant, looking in, and watching us.

Just like the tarot reader predicted. About twenty years later.

Funny how that works out, eh?

Blessings,

Theresa

image from stock photography