My First Victorian Tarot Disaster
So yesterday I saw this beautiful Victorian tarot deck online. Big mistake clicking that “buy now” button. Felt way too fancy for a clumsy person like me, but hey, the pictures looked old and cool.
Got the deck this morning. Fumbled opening the box. Cards felt slippery and weird. They smell like old books mixed with my nervous sweat. Started watching some “easy beginner tutorial” about shuffling. Yeah right. I basically just slapped the cards around, bent a corner trying to “bridge” them like in movies, and gave up. Dropped like three cards onto my dog. Not impressed.
After ten minutes of me manhandling the poor deck, I figured “whatever, good enough”. Remembered reading online to cut the deck into three piles. Did it slow, like handling explosives. Felt a bit silly sitting on my kitchen floor.
Okay, time to pull cards. Just wanted a simple past-present-future thing. Didn’t even light a candle. Was already sweating from just holding the cards.
- Card one (Past): Pulled this lady looking sad surrounded by swords sticking out of the ground. Ten of Swords? Great start. Felt about right for my chaotic week.
- Card two (Present): Got this upside-down guy hanging by his ankle. The Hanged Man, reversed? No clue. Figured maybe I’m stuck. Felt accurate while sitting confused on the linoleum.
- Card three (Future): Bam! Death card stares me down. Actually gasped. Skull guy on a horse? Didn’t feel awesome. Remembered the tutorial saying “it’s about change, not dying.” Yeah, whatever. Still freaked me out.
Laughed way too loud at the ridiculousness. Past sucked, present I’m stuck, future I’m basically gonna die? Awesome. Tried finding meaning like the guides said. “Ten swords… maybe too many problems? Upside down guy… procrastinating? Death… big change?” Basically told myself my life is messy right now, don’t be lazy, something big’s coming. Groundbreaking.
Cleaned up quick, shoving cards back in the box before my dog could step on them again. Thought the whole thing was over. Got a text later: my job might involve a big shift next month. Freaked. Remembered that Death card staring at me. My brain instantly connected the dots. Was just making stuff up earlier, but suddenly the cards felt weirdly… specific? Got goosebumps.
Sat staring at the deck like it was haunted. Probably just coincidence, right? Told myself not to be stupid. Didn’t stop me from putting the deck way back in a drawer after dinner. Felt unsettled, laughing at myself but still kinda shook. Went to bed thinking, “Okay cards, point taken. Now leave me alone.” Spooky little paper things. Definitely using them again tomorrow, spooked or not. That Death card owes me an explanation.
