Queering Tarot: Evolutions of Tarot By Queer Communities

Queering Tarot: Evolutions of Tarot By Queer Communities

Queering Tarot: Evolutions of Tarot By Queer Communities

Introduction

The evolution of tarot within queer communities represents a significant cultural shift, moving away from traditional, often rigid interpretations to more inclusive, representative practices. This article explores how and why tarot has been queered, examining the historical transformations and the contemporary adaptations that reflect and empower diverse identities, including those related to gender, sexuality, ability, and race.

Representation at all levels is necessary, not just in the images themselves, but the subject matter, and at the creator and author levels. This is what I myself strive towards in my Aspects collection.

Traditional Versus Queer Usages of Tarot

Traditional Tarot Practices

Traditional tarot, rooted in the European esoteric traditions of the 18th and 19th centuries, often emphasizes universal archetypes and symbolism. These decks, such as the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, focus on a set of standardized images and meanings. The traditional approach to tarot has been critiqued for its lack of diversity and its sometimes rigid interpretation of gender, sexuality, ability, and race. Because these traditional tarot decks originate from European cultures, they predominantly feature white European figures (Hong-An Wu, 2020).

Historical Context: Tarot's traditional practices were heavily influenced by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which integrated a wide array of esoteric symbols intended to convey universal truths. However, these interpretations often did not account for the experiences of marginalized groups (Hong-An Wu, 2020).

The Need for Queer Tarot

Queer communities have sought to transform tarot to better reflect their identities and experiences. This transformation is not merely cosmetic but fundamentally alters the way tarot is understood and used. One of the significant needs for queer tarot arises from the lack of safe spaces for queer individuals. Queering tarot is an act of creating queer cognitive spaces, where individuals can explore their identities and experiences free from societal judgment and exclusion (Sydney Sheedy, 2022).

How Tarot Has Been Queered

Representation and Inclusivity in Deck Design

Queer tarot decks often feature diverse representations of gender, sexuality, race, and ability. These decks challenge traditional binary notions and provide imagery that resonates with a wider range of users. For instance, the Pride Tarot includes artwork that explicitly celebrates LGBTQ identities and experiences.

Specific Example: The Pride Tarot by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. features contributions from 45 LGBTQ+ artists, each bringing their unique perspective to the deck. This diversity ensures that users can see their identities reflected in the cards, making the tarot experience more personal and validating.

Queer tarot representations are not meant to replace traditional decks but to expand upon them, offering more inclusive options that reflect the diversity of contemporary society (Karen Gregory, 2013).

Transformative Symbolism

Queer tarot decks also reimagine traditional symbols to be more inclusive and relevant to contemporary issues faced by queer communities, including those related to race and ability. This involves reinterpreting cards to highlight themes such as chosen family, resilience, and queer love.

Symbolic Reinterpretation: In the Fifth Spirit Tarot, the Lovers card, traditionally representing romantic relationships, is reimagined to depict various forms of love and connection, including platonic and chosen family relationships. This shifts the card's meaning to be more inclusive of queer experiences across different racial and ability spectrums (Karen Gregory, 2013).

Race and Queer Tarot

Inclusion of Racial Diversity in Tarot Decks

Traditional tarot decks have often lacked racial diversity, typically featuring predominantly white figures and European symbols. In contrast, queer tarot decks strive to represent a broader spectrum of racial identities, ensuring that people of color can see themselves reflected in the cards. This inclusion is crucial for making tarot accessible and meaningful to a diverse audience (Hong-An Wu, 2020).

Examples of Inclusive Decks: The Next World Tarot by Cristy C. Road, for instance, features a wide range of characters from different racial backgrounds, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and representation. The deck portrays powerful images of individuals who break away from traditional archetypes and embody a multiplicity of identities (Sydney Sheedy, 2022).

Historical and Cultural Contexts

Queer tarot decks often draw on a variety of cultural symbols and histories to create a more inclusive narrative. This approach acknowledges the rich traditions of divination and spirituality found in non-European cultures, integrating these elements into the tarot practice (Karen Gregory, 2013).

Cultural Integration: Karen Gregory's paper "Negotiating Precarity: Tarot as Spiritual Entrepreneurialism" discusses how tarot can serve as a means of community building and spiritual entrepreneurship, particularly for marginalized groups, highlighting the importance of cultural representation in these practices (Karen Gregory, 2013).

Empowerment Through Intersectionality

The intersection of race and queerness in tarot empowers individuals by affirming their multifaceted identities. By reflecting diverse racial and queer experiences, these tarot decks provide a more holistic and inclusive tool for self-exploration and spiritual growth.

Intersectional Approach: The inclusion of intersectional identities in tarot decks is not just about visibility; it is about recognizing and validating the complex experiences of individuals who navigate multiple forms of marginalization. This approach is supported by studies on the importance of intersectionality in spiritual and community practices, such as those explored in Rahul Mitra and R. Gajjala's work on digital diasporas (Rahul Mitra & R. Gajjala, 2008).

Why These Changes Are Important

Creating Queer Cognitive Spaces

Queering tarot creates safe and inclusive cognitive spaces for queer individuals. These spaces allow for self-reflection and exploration in an environment free from societal judgment. By creating these cognitive spaces, queer tarot helps individuals explore their identities and experiences, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance (Sydney Sheedy, 2022).

Safe Spaces Impact: The visibility of queer identities in tarot decks empowers individuals by affirming their experiences and providing tools for self-reflection that resonate with their realities. This visibility can be profoundly healing and empowering, offering a sense of belonging and validation (Karen Gregory, 2013).

Spiritual Inclusivity and Accessibility

Queer tarot makes the practice of tarot reading more accessible to those who may have felt excluded by traditional decks. By incorporating diverse imagery and themes, these decks invite a broader audience to engage with tarot as a tool for personal growth and exploration (Hong-An Wu, 2020).

Inclusive Practices: H. Fu, Yihan Li, & Francis L. F. Lee's study on the domestication of online tarot reading in China highlights how digital platforms have made tarot more accessible to diverse groups, further emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in spiritual practices (Fu, Li, & Lee, 2022).

Conclusion

The queering of tarot represents a significant evolution in the practice, moving away from traditional, often exclusionary interpretations to more inclusive, representative approaches. By reimagining the symbols and representations within tarot, queer communities have created decks that reflect their identities and experiences, offering tools for empowerment and self-discovery. This transformation underscores the importance of visibility, inclusivity, and the ongoing evolution of spiritual practices to better serve all individuals, encompassing gender, sexuality, ability, and race.

As we continue to embrace these changes, what spaces do you think tarot will expand into next?

References

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