Tarot cards are often associated with antique practices and fortune telling. The truth is their meanings and interpretations haven’t changed too much over the past centuries and they still represent a mainstream solution to gain some insights into different aspects of life.
Furthermore, it’s fairly simple to observe the popularity of tarot and psychic reading in pop culture over the past few decades. With these aspects in mind, let’s see how tarot cards have built their way into modern culture.
Tarot and Music
In music, tarot cards are often seen from a fantastical point of view. There are quite a few songs out there depicting tarot cards, not to mention the smooth music specifically made for meditation, tarot readings, or other similar activities.
Lana del Rey, for example, has brought in tarot card representations in album artwork, not to mention videos. Florence + The Machine is another good sample. These are some of the famous representations of tarot, but the list is much longer.
Aether Realm and Dark Moor have both released albums called Tarot, while Huntress has a popular song named Eight of Swords.
Other names worth some attention include Blue Oyster Cult, Mike Batt, Ten Thousand Crows, Rainbow, and Bruce Dickinson, among others.
Then, while it wasn’t really common hundreds of years ago, these days, you can also find music for tarot. Gene Newton has released Tarot Music for Readings, while David & Steve Gordon have come up with Music for the Tarot.
Liz Deyoe’s The Fool Journey boosts an incredible set of instrumental pieces named after the cards in a tarot deck.
Apart from Lana del Rey, Lady Gaga has also used tarot references in Pokerface, as well as Joe Nichols in She Only Smokes When She Drinks.
Tarot and Cinema
Tarot is often mystified in cinematography. You’re less likely to see a very realistic approach here, yet there are a few good movies. Most of them take the power of tarot to another level, though.
If you love Westworld, you might be familiar with the power of Major Arcana. There are multiple references throughout the series, but the seventh season takes everything to another level, showcasing how powerful tarot cards are.
The People Under the Stairs from 1991 may have been a weird horror comedy combo, but the beginning of the movie has a good reference to tarot cards. It explains the role of the Fool in life in a very subtle manner.
If you’re after something more modern, Arcane is a steampunk adventure with a unique approach to tarot. There are no readings or explanations, but each card is played in an original manner. It’s a concept that more cinema shows have approached later, but it all started with Arcane.
If you love the series, check out HBO’s Carnivale too. The show referred to a circus in the 1930s and has numerous card reading scenes. It features some of the most realistic tarot scenes in cinema.
Looking for something more popular? Now You See Me and American Horror Stories have quite a few references to tarot.
Tarot and Games
Tarot and psychic reading in pop culture has also targeted the video games industry. More and more mystical games implement some sort of divination, and tarot is one of the most popular ideas among developers.
It sounds crazy, and you wouldn’t really expect to see tarot in a fighting game, but the notorious Street Fighter has a few references. Rose is one of the characters in Street Fighter 5, and one of her special skills relies on a tarot deck for amazing abilities.
Looking for something old school? Boosting graphics from the 1990s, Puzzle Bobble 4 tasks you with a plethora of different puzzles. One of them implies collecting tarot cards for a character. Cards are quite nicely designed, especially in the pixel rich graphics of those times.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns and Cyberpunk 2077 are a few good titles to consider, too.
Boosting occult and supernatural ideas, The Quarry is likely to impress with the amazing graphics. You’ll meet a psychic many times throughout the game. He’s actually the narrator. As you discover more cards, the psychic will give you potential outcomes for quests in the future, so it’s quite realistic.
Cult of the Lamb may seem a bit weird because you’re a lamb convincing people to join a cult around an evil figure. Each card gives the lamb some sort of advantage. What makes the game interesting is the fact that cards have different themes, as well as different meanings, so get ready to be surprised.
Last, but not least, this list wouldn’t be complete without Persona 5 Royal. This is one of the best series to feature tarot cards. Besides, it’s not just an occasional feature or mention, but most of the game revolves around cards and their meanings.
The action and gameplay are quite appealing too because the protagonist must bond with different characters, each of them connected to a different card.
Some see it as a fun and interesting quest game, but it’s just as good for training if you’re new to tarot.
Apart from music, cinema, and video games, tarot and psychic reading in pop culture can go even further. There are many modern authors introducing tarot cards into their readings.
Sure, apart from classic books on tarot, you can also find fantasy or mystery books where tarot, fortune telling, and other divination ideas are depicted as part of a story.
Plus, if you’re after a tarot deck, you can also find modern themes, such as Game of Thrones.
Despite tarot and psychic readings representing a serious industry these days, the mystical profile of such practices still persists today. When it comes to pop culture, most references somehow relate to occult practices and other similar elements with fantastic considerations.
Bottom line, there is no doubt that tarot and psychic reading in pop culture can easily become a trend. There are themes revolving around tarot cards, but the concept is also subtly inserted into different references, whether in music, cinema or games.
