Cards don’t decide your fate, you do: Understanding the art of Tarot reading
As tarot makes its way from Instagram feeds to regular Dhaka events, practitioner Christina Joyeeta Munshi is reframing the 78-card deck not as a tool for prophecy, but as a medium for self-reflection and modern introspection
Beyond the stereotypes of fortune-telling and superstition, tarot is finding a surprising new home in some of Dhaka's lifestyle circles. From Instagram feeds to fashion events, the 78-card deck is increasingly used as a tool for self-reflection rather than prophecy. For many, the practice offers a way to navigate personal challenges in a landscape where mental health resources remain limited.
Leading this shift, through 'Tarotelle', is Christina Joyeeta Munshi, a Dhaka University photography graduate who discovered the medium during a time of personal struggles. Rather than claiming prophetic powers, Joyeeta treats the cards as a "structured conversation with oneself," emphasising reflection over prediction or magic.
As Tarotelle slowly gains traction at local events and on social media, it is evolving from a fringe mystery into a practical tool for the modern individual by positioning itself as a modern bridge between ancient symbolism and contemporary introspection.
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An ancient language
Long before social media, tarot began in 15th-century Italy as a simple parlour game for nobility. It wasn't until the late 1700s that French occultists reimagined the cards as a mystical system tied to astrology and numerology.
By 1909, the iconic Rider-Waite deck introduced the illustrated scenes we recognise today, making complex symbolism accessible. This history marks tarot's shift from a casual pastime to a structured tool for self-reflection and modern clarity.
What the cards never quite became, despite popular belief, was a reliable machine for predicting the future. What they did become in the hands of thoughtful practitioners was something more interesting: a structured way to hold a mirror up to the person sitting in front of them.
"Tarot was never about predicting the future," Joyeeta says. "It can show you potential paths, but the decision is always yours. The cards offer a glimpse of what life might bring, but it is you who makes the final choice."
The three faces of a deck
When asked how she categorises tarot — spiritual, psychological, or entertainment — Joyeeta does not settle on one.
"I would say it is a mix of all three," she responded. It began, she explained, as curiosity. As she learned the structure of the deck and introduced it to others, it took on an entertaining quality. Over time she came to see a psychological dimension to it, the way the cards' imagery can prompt reflection and conversation about one's own life.
"It connects to your psyche through imagery," she explained, noting that the cards helped her confront hidden aspects of her life. Whether the insights come from the deck itself or simply the act of structured reflection, the process remains a powerful medium for psychoanalysis.
Whether the cards hold power or simply facilitate self-reflection remains a point of debate. In Bangladesh, tarot faces scrutiny from both scientific and religious perspectives.
Scientifically, critics cite cognitive biases. Vague statements about "change" or "conflict" often resonate because they apply to almost everyone—a phenomenon where people remember hits and ignore misses. Furthermore, there is no empirical evidence that tarot can reliably predict the future.
Theological concerns are equally significant. In a predominantly Muslim society, practices resembling divination often conflict with mainstream religious beliefs. Joyeeta acknowledges these critiques, consciously distancing her work from prophecy. "I don't claim to predict the future," she added, welcoming constructive criticism as a tool for growth.
Joyeeta frames her sessions as facilitated conversations rather than forecasts. In this model, the cards act as prompts, while the client's own thoughts provide the substance. Ultimately, whether this approach resolves scientific or spiritual objections is left to the individual sitting across the table.
Tarot was never about predicting the future. It can show you potential paths, but the decision is always yours. The cards offer a glimpse of what life might bring, but it is you who makes the final choice.
A journey without judgement
Joyeeta has been expanding her practice beyond one-on-one sessions. Her first public event was Arka Fashion Week in December 2025, where she officially launched her work. She subsequently attended the North Wind Championship in January 2026 and Breakfast Club Dhaka 1433 in April.
In under three years of practice, Joyeeta said she had read for more than a hundred people. Her clients span a wide age range — her youngest was twelve, her oldest seventy. Some arrive through Instagram. Others are already familiar with tarot and want to revisit it. Many come simply out of curiosity.
Through her practice, Joyeeta has identified a recurring theme among those who seek her out. "One shared emotion among many of the people I have read for: feeling lost," she observes. "As a community, we are in desperate need of guidance. But often, the guidance we seek already exists within us—it sits deep inside, yet we either cannot see it or choose not to."
This perspective reframes tarot as a tool for surfacing internal truths rather than predicting external events. While Bangladesh lacks a formal tarot community, Joyeeta uses public events and Instagram to reach a diverse audience, ranging from curious sceptics to those seeking a new form of introspection.
Ultimately, her practice occupies a unique niche, offering a space for reflection that traditional systems often overlook. Whether it provides a useful psychological structure or simply the rare comfort of being heard, Joyeeta encourages an open-minded approach.
"Anyone who is willing to approach tarot without preconceptions or judgment, and simply allow themselves to explore the journey, should do so," she says. "You never truly know where that path might lead you."
