Does online tarot work for you?

Originally Posted by embrace

On some other forum I read that the algorithm behind any randomly generated output is in fact quite predictable if you are a web programmer. There is no true randomness in computers. This makes me think: how can online tarot work? When the card spread is generated by the machine, can it still work?

Depends whether you can access the full range of possibilities, ideally with an equal chance.

Consider the short window of time you might choose to instigate the reading. You might for some reason or another press the button 5s earlier or later.

If the range of possible cards combination is limited over that 10s, then your state of mind during every single factor influencing when that 10s period happens will be manifesting the results. A messy reading to say the least.

I largely explain divination here:
http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/sh...ad.php?t=18873

[blackraven]

Originally Posted by embrace

On some other forum I read that the algorithm behind any randomly generated output is in fact quite predictable if you are a web programmer. There is no true randomness in computers. This makes me think: how can online tarot work? When the card spread is generated by the machine, can it still work?

embrace - The randomness of the generated computer program is just the case in point - random uselessness as far as I'm concerned. I have used Tarot cards, but when I've done a few online Tarot readings I've tested the sites by asking the same question repeatedly and gotten multiple answers that conflict with each other to a great degree. That is what made me a skeptic of online Tarot. It actually got me even thinking about the randomness of the flipping of cards on a given actual Tarot reading. It can yield different results as well. To be honest, I've migrated away from Tarot both online and in person for that reason unless I'm looking for pure entertainment and not answers to serious questions. I trust my higher consciousness/intuition for answers to life's serious issues, not Tarot.

Blackraven

[Belle]

But - surely this is a call for the skeptics. Do you believe it's a turn of a friendly card and pure random or that your energy is connected to which card is chosen. Do you believe that on computer programs, you shuffle and nothing happens and that when you flick through the cards - it's just a nice thing to believe but that the card has already been randomly generated. And if it is already randomly generated perhaps there is a chance that you at that moment were drawn to that card.

Now, I don't know where I would draw the line. My problem with it the computer programming is lack of intepretation.

[shadedragon]

Lack of interpretation can be solved by research or gradual accumation of knowledge on the cards. I started from scratch with the online tarot. After you read the description interpreted differently for each deck used, based on the card you begin to learn more and more about how to interpret the cards, eventually where you form your own conclusions just on looking at the cards drawn, without the descriptions, which you can always incorperate as well. :)

[Belle]

That's a good point shadedragon, it's very easy (for me) to be lazy to just read the words and not use my intuition.

I was wondering tho, this issue of alogrithms - how much greater and more powerful is the universe to them?

[annabelle239]

i thought they did at first but now i think nope. plus they can be very negative. i'm staying away from them.if i really want a tarot reading,i'll use my actual deck. havent had bad experience with that ever. online ones are harder to interpret as well and can have you overanalyzing imo.

[annabelle239]

i agree with the person who said they are staying away from them in person as well.i remember erin pavlina once said on her website that they are limiting. while i think they can be good every once in awhile,they can affirm for you a little or give you a good sign,i think it's best when it's just that.

[tealily]

I recall flipping through a tarot book once, I think it talked about Jung's theories? And how even if you pick cards 'at random', how can you say there wasn't a purpose behind these?

It gave the impression that even if you're not concentrating hard at all, any cards you pick out at random will be meaningful in a reading. I've only just started reading for other people, and I certainly don't feel like I'm concentrating very hard on picking 'special' cards... lol. To me it just feels like it's at random.

But I think intuition can be very useful in drawing links between cards. Now that's an area your average human still does way, way better than a computer.

[kindheart]

I'm not usually a big fan of online tarot, I've never found them all that accurate... however, I came across this one by accident and tried it, and was pleasantly surprised by its accuracy (at least, the one time I tried it haha). I also very much like their tips on the side :)

I'd like you guys' input! How is this one for you? Have fun! :)
http://www.free-tarot-reading.net/free.php

I'm no expert on any account, on using tarot or programming computers & things related.

I have limited experience with online tarot, but I THINK I used to use Lotus Tarot? It's been awhile, can't quite recall. Can't really recall if I thought it was accurate or not, either, because I've never really figured out if tarot reads reflects my own feelings and thoughts on the topic or brings insights/messages from a spirit/energy or whatever beyond me. I have more experience with my own paper card deck, but again, no level of mastery.

But I digress...

My thoughts on online tarot is that, at least in the one I used, though the cards were shuffled by the software XX amount of times that I chose, the deck was then laid out & *I selected the cards* for whatever type of spread I'd chosen...so even if the 'shuffling' isn't random (maybe it is, or not), I control the card selection, which is then guided by whatever the user believes is the influential factor in using any tools of divination. In which case, it's really not different from presuming that that same influential factor that exerts itself in the physical shuffling and selecting of cards in our hands would do thus online.

That's my 2 cents.