We do not choose tarot; Tarot chooses us…

Such has been my personal experience. Before I had set foot into a world of light, spirit, wonder and faith, I was a very narrow-minded lady who did nothing but scoff at anything that was beyond scientific explanation. Yes, dear reader, I was the Grinch to all that was mystical. Now the question is: how in the world did I end up here? Well, through fate of course!

For a Muslim in Pakistan, crossing paths with tarot was highly unlikely because most religious leaders are not very open minded when it comes to things they do not understand.

“This is also why tarot is not common in my country but here is the thing: Destiny has a way of finding us despite the odds. And just like that, I was introduced to cartomancy through a loved one.”

It was the month of September 2019, and I was living through a dark night of the soul. I remember myself feeling a strange pull to the cards as I looked at them on the internet. That narrow-minded cynic fell quiet as time froze for a second (maybe even two). Before I knew it, I was ordering my very first deck: The Rider Waite Smith Tarot.

The logic that had ruled my decisions so strongly for over 20 years was nowhere to be found. I had no idea if the art of cartomancy was ‘real’ or if it was something I had the potential for. But not once did skepticism knock on the door. I heard the melody and I followed…

One thing led to another and before I knew it, my mind was swimming in books on esoterism. The symbolism of the cards became my muse and the pure truth behind those cryptic words became my salvation. I was transforming, but this was not just any transformation; this was the transformation of a lifetime. Why? Because it was through all this that I found my faith in Islam and in myself once again.

“I saw how interconnected spirituality and religion were, I saw how it all made sense, and I realized how wrong I had been about the Universe.”

At that point, dear reader, it was clear that my feeling called to this path was no mere coincidence. As the years go by, I realize this more and more because now I know so many who had also picked their cards once upon a time. Sadly, those cards can now be found stacked on the cold inside of an old cupboard or in a storage box long forgotten. Their journeys with tarot were brief but there are also others like me who are rooted to this gift like a tree to mother earth.

For me, this is just the beginning though. What surprises me every day is the fact that even after years of working with my cards, the wonder and magic it connects me to is still as fresh as it was in the beginning.

“I believe it is in human nature to grow tired of something as time stretches on, but it seems like tarot is one of the few exceptions. Whatever the case, this is a gift I will forever be grateful for.”

With that said, this all feels like the beginning of a destiny which is not ready to reveal itself fully just yet. I am as Elsa was at the edge of a storming sea, almost ready to say to the Universe: SHOW YOURSELF! Perhaps I will be able to share these undiscovered paths with you as they begin to reveal themselves in good time. Until then, let this brief look into my journey serve as a reminder to follow the path of tarot (or any other form of light and spirituality) when it calls to your spirit. Remember these words:

We do not choose tarot; Tarot chooses us!

A few pictures of the Pakistani vibe…