Are tarot readings useful for the grieving process? Well, I recently sought to find out. My dad passed away just over four months ago. We were very close, and I was very involved with his care. As you could imagine, this has been a difficult loss for me, and it has left me with a lot of questions. I think anyone healing from such a major loss can have a lot of questions in grief…

For this reading I used the Steampunk Tarot by Caitlin and John Matthews, illustrated by Wil Kinghan. I drew one card for each question. The questions I asked were kind of spontaneous… just what came to mind, with no real set focus.

So, let’s start:

Seven of Submersibles (Seven of Cups)

Q: Any messages for me? A: Seven of Submersibles
At first glance, this card didn’t look terribly hopeful or positive. But looking at it more closely, you can see that the viewer is sitting at the controls of this submersible. The reader is looking out at a shipwreck that is beneath an intriguing item lit from above. It almost looks like the card is saying, “yes, there is a message for you…” and shining a light upon it. It also could be saying, “look here, not there…”. Meaning, focus on what is being lit from above, not at what is lying in ruins on the sea floor.

The meaning is shown to reflect this to a degree, and it also instructs me to make sure I am viewing reality, not fantasy. It asks, “what is real and what is illusion?” It advises to “move your daydreams into reality.” The interpretation provided by the guidebook tells me that although the shining item in the card looks to be enticing, I need to make sure I do not dwell in daydream, fantasy, or imagination, but actually make my dreams into something material.

Five of Submersibles (Five of Cups)

Q: What can the tarot tell me? What does the tarot know? A: Five of Submersibles
This is quite interesting. A skeptical, flippant question has been answered with something very accurate and spot-on. The guidebook states, “The Five of Submersibles shows you what you can salvage from any loss…” It adds, “move on when the period of mourning is over, rather than being stuck in the past.” This speaks directly to my day-to-day experience currently, and though it has lessened in intensity, I am still grieving.

Three of Leviathans (Three of Pentacles)

Q: This is a naïve question, but one that many of us can’t help but ask after we have lost someone so dear to us… If we continue on after death, is my dad okay wherever he is? A: Three of Leviathans
This card isn’t exactly what I would expect (um, but what card would I really expect to draw in response to such a question?), but it actually offers some hope. I mean, if the theory that we continue on in any form is correct…

The Three of Leviathans speaks much of great reward and accomplishment, mastery, creative energy, and excellent results. I would not normally apply any of the Pentacles cards (which the Leviathan suit would correspond with in this deck) to such a question, but it works… especially if you consider my dad had been an artist, always creating, always inspired, his mind always exploring new ideas. He had high standards and great skill, which are two things the card specifically reflects. Is this card enough to assure me that “he is okay”? Of course not. Like most other ordinary human beings, I imagine that question will likely always remain answered only through faith, if at all. But, as far as tarot readings go, the draw of this card is actually pretty good.

Close-up of cards from the Steampunk Tarot
Messenger of Airships, from the Steampunk Tarot; card illustrations by Wil Kinghan

Messenger of Airships (Page of Swords)

Q: How do I go on, through the grief, without feeling like I am leaving the past behind? A: Messenger of Airships
This is another really great card for the question asked. The Messenger (corresponding to the Page, or Princess), holds confidently and cautiously to the wing of an airship traveling through a bad storm. She is balanced, she is steady, and her eyes are focused directly ahead. The guidebook says of this card, “The Messenger is a good companion to see you through trials and challenges, because she doesn’t give up easily.” It adds, “Having fortitude through difficulties. Determination. Daring and agility.” I’m not sure how much better or apt a card I could get for this question.

I Technomancer

This card fell out of the deck as I was pulling the last card. The Technomancer corresponds with the Magician. This is a pretty cool adaptation of this card, honestly, with a lot going on, and overall it looks quite exciting. The guidebook says this card is “a conduit for elemental power,” and the power of the Technomancer is “the bright spark at the heart of all creation, making him a primary God of the Machine, the dynamo of its power.” It speaks of purpose, talent, skill, potential, and self-confidence, and it predicts personal magic and transformation.

I have to say, this is a great card to see here, following up after the previous card of how to move forward. It builds on that but also ties in with the more metaphysical or spiritual aspects of these specific questions. One thing I have been stressing over since my dad died, is whether I had never lived up to my potential and was this something my dad had seen? It became oddly clear to me after his passing that although I don’t think I ever wanted to realize it, my dad did know my potential (at least, to some degree that perhaps I didn’t even myself). Grief is certainly complex, and this has been an aspect of mine. So, this card, speaking of potential as it does, seems to reflect some of these aspects of my own grieving.

Tarot insights for the grieving process…

For a handful of questions that might seem a bit weird, this reading actually supplied some very useful and insightful answers, and gave me much to think about. I found it to be rather beneficial in my situation. And about the deck – I am not any kind of expert on steampunk, other than I really like it! But every time I use this deck I get very interesting, rather precise guidance. The illustrations are very cool, and of course, anything I’ve ever read by Caitlin and John Matthews has been terrific, so it’s not surprising that this guidebook is so exacting and insightful. You can read more about the Steampunk Tarot at Amazon.

An important note:

If you are going through the grieving process you could give tarot a try, to see if it helps at least bring some sense of peace or hope. It might help you to move forward. I would caution to not get caught up in any particular answer or specific card. Please remember that tarot is only a tool, and it can only go so far. It also relies on our keen observation and reflection, and it requires some objectivity as well as a rather calm approach. I would not suggest doing any kind of divination while feeling intensely emotional or scared. Also, if you are suffering from depression please reach out for help, from a trusted friend, family member, or professional, or a reputable organization.

Thanks for reading, and as always, please feel free to get in touch with me with any questions or comments, or just to say hi.

~ Nellie