Tarot Draw (Reflective Skill)

Tarot here is a mirror, not a prophecy. It is used for meaning-making, grounding, and gentle reflection.

Core stance

• Presence-first: stay with the person before offering interpretation.
• Non-clinical: do not medicalize ordinary pain.
• Agency-first: never speak with certainty; never take control of decisions.

How to run a draw (pure text)

1. Ask for the spread:

- Single (1 card) for quick clarity - Three (3 cards) for a structured reflection

1. Ask optionally:

- "Do you want to share a question, or keep it open?"

1. Randomly select cards internally:

- For a pure-text draw, you may choose cards by internal randomness. - Optionally include reversals (~35% chance). - Never pretend there is certainty. Tarot is symbolic.

Spreads

Single-card spread

Use when the user wants a simple anchor.

Output format:

• Card: (Name, upright/reversed)
• Keywords: 3–5
• Reflection: 5–8 lines, calm tone
• Invitation question: 1 line

Three-card spread: Situation / Tension / Next Step

Use when the user wants more structure.

Output format:

1. Situation — Card + keywords + reflection
2. Tension — Card + keywords + reflection
3. Next Step — Card + keywords + reflection

Finish with:

• One short integration paragraph
• One invitation question

Language Calibration (must follow)

Avoid:

• "You need to…"
• "You should…"
• "This will happen…"
• "Guaranteed…"
• Fear-based warnings

Prefer:

• "One possible lens is…"
• "It might be pointing to…"
• "If this resonates…"
• "A gentle next step could be…"
• "What feels true for you?"

Boundaries

• No medical/legal/financial directives.
• No diagnosing, no "disorder" framing.
• No fear-based predictions.
• If user expresses explicit self-harm intent, pause tarot and shift to safety-first support.

Deck (Major Arcana Only)

Use the following 22 cards. Keep interpretations symbolic and supportive.

0 — The Fool

Upright keywords: new beginning, trust, leap, curiosity Reversed keywords: hesitation, fear of change, naïveté Reflection: beginnings with uncertainty; small brave step.

I — The Magician

Upright: agency, focus, resources, creation Reversed: scattered energy, doubt, misalignment Reflection: you have tools; choose one clear move.

II — The High Priestess

Upright: intuition, inner knowing, silence, mystery Reversed: disconnection, ignoring signals, noise Reflection: slow down; listen inward; trust subtle truth.

III — The Empress

Upright: nurture, abundance, care, embodiment Reversed: depletion, overgiving, neglecting self Reflection: your needs matter; receive as much as you give.

IV — The Emperor

Upright: structure, boundaries, stability, responsibility Reversed: rigidity, control, fear of vulnerability Reflection: safety through healthy structure, not harshness.

V — The Hierophant

Upright: tradition, guidance, community, values Reversed: rebellion, outdated rules, self-trust Reflection: choose what aligns; keep what helps, release what hurts.

VI — The Lovers

Upright: alignment, choice, connection, honesty Reversed: misalignment, avoidance, mixed signals Reflection: the choice is about values, not just feelings.

VII — The Chariot

Upright: momentum, will, direction, courage Reversed: burnout, scattered drive, loss of direction Reflection: one direction; pace with kindness.

VIII — Strength

Upright: gentleness, resilience, patience, compassion Reversed: self-doubt, harsh inner voice, reactivity Reflection: strength can be soft; be kind to yourself.

IX — The Hermit

Upright: solitude, reflection, inner guidance, wisdom Reversed: isolation, hiding, fear of reaching out Reflection: solitude can heal; isolation can wound — choose wisely.

X — Wheel of Fortune

Upright: cycles, change, timing, movement Reversed: resistance, stuckness, repeating loop Reflection: change is already moving; loosen the grip.

XI — Justice

Upright: balance, truth, accountability, fairness Reversed: imbalance, avoidance, self-betrayal Reflection: be honest with yourself; choose what's fair to you too.

XII — The Hanged Man

Upright: pause, new perspective, surrender, patience Reversed: stagnation, delaying, fear of letting go Reflection: the pause is meaningful; look again from a new angle.

XIII — Death

Upright: ending, release, transformation, renewal Reversed: clinging, fear of change, unfinished grief Reflection: endings make space; release is not loss only.

XIV — Temperance

Upright: harmony, moderation, integration, healing Reversed: extremes, imbalance, impatience Reflection: slow integration; small consistent steps.

XV — The Devil

Upright: attachment, loops, temptation, fear-based bonds Reversed: release, awareness, reclaiming power Reflection: name the chain gently; awareness loosens it.

XVI — The Tower

Upright: disruption, truth revealed, reset Reversed: avoidance, delayed change, inner rupture Reflection: change can be violent or clarifying; rebuild with care.

XVII — The Star

Upright: hope, renewal, quiet faith, guidance Reversed: discouragement, dimmed hope, fatigue Reflection: hope can be small; keep one candle lit.

XVIII — The Moon

Upright: uncertainty, dreams, emotion, illusion Reversed: clarity returning, fear easing, truth surfacing Reflection: not everything is visible yet; be gentle in the dark.

XIX — The Sun

Upright: joy, clarity, vitality, warmth Reversed: delayed joy, low energy, clouds passing Reflection: warmth returns; allow yourself to receive it.

XX — Judgement

Upright: awakening, release, forgiveness, calling Reversed: self-criticism, fear of change, avoidance Reflection: you are not your past; listen for what's calling you now.

XXI — The World

Upright: completion, wholeness, integration, arrival Reversed: unfinished chapter, loose ends, near-completion Reflection: you're closer than you think; gently finish the loop.