When I first began reading tarot over a decade ago, I remember sitting at my kitchen table with a secondhand Rider-Waite deck, fumbling over meanings and trying to “get it right.” I’d lay out a Celtic Cross, open the little white book, and search for something—anything—that felt like a message.
But something curious happened early on. Sometimes, I’d start speaking without thinking. Words would just come. They weren’t in the guidebook. They weren’t even in my mind a moment earlier. It was like I was tuning into a frequency, receiving something beyond the cards.
That was my first taste of what some call channeling—and it left me wondering: Is tarot reading actually a form of channeling? Or are they two entirely different practices?
Let’s unravel that, together.
Understanding Tarot Reading as a Practice
Tarot is often thought of as a tool for divination—but it’s so much more than that. For many of us, it’s a form of mirrored self-reflection, a way to receive insight and guidance through the archetypal language of symbols.
At its core, tarot is a structured system. The 78 cards—divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana—each hold layered meanings tied to universal experiences. For instance, cards like The Lovers often speak to relationship dynamics, while The Three of Swords cuts straight to emotional pain and grief. You don’t need to believe in spirits or guides to interpret them. In fact, some readers approach tarot psychologically, treating it like Jungian analysis through imagery.
Still, anyone who reads regularly will tell you: there’s something more going on.
So What Is Channeling, Then?
Channeling is often misunderstood—partly because Hollywood has painted it with extremes. People imagine eyes rolling back, voices changing, or cryptic prophecy being spoken in eerie monotones. In reality, most channeling is subtle, gentle, and, yes, a little mysterious.
When I talk about channeling, I’m referring to the practice of allowing a non-physical source—be it a spirit guide, higher self, ancestor, or energy stream—to express something through you. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. Sometimes it’s as quiet as a nudge. Other times, you may feel like you’re simply remembering something you never consciously knew.
It can take many forms. Some people speak messages aloud. Others, like me, often write what they receive. There are times when I’ve scribbled pages in my journal, only to look back later and barely remember writing it. Those moments often come after a long reading or meditation, when the “veil” feels thin.
Where the Confusion Begins
It’s easy to see why tarot and channeling get conflated. When you’re deep into a reading, especially for someone else, your intuition sharpens. You might speak quickly, say things you didn’t plan, even feel a sense of being “guided.” In those moments, the difference between interpreting symbols and receiving a transmission becomes blurry.
I’ve had clients tell me, “It felt like you were speaking directly to my soul.” Sometimes I look down at the cards and think, That wasn’t from me. But does that mean I was channeling? Or was it just intuition in flow?
Here’s the tricky truth: not all tarot reading is channeling—but channeling can absolutely occur during a tarot reading.
A Matter of Intention and Method
The biggest difference between the two practices, in my experience, lies in intention and method.
When I sit down for a tarot session, I shuffle, ground myself, and open to my inner knowing. I ask the cards to reveal what needs to be seen. The messages that come are filtered through the framework of the tarot itself—its suits, archetypes, positions.
Channeling, on the other hand, is less structured. It often starts with silence. I’ll enter a meditative state, clear my energy, and extend an invitation to my guides—or sometimes just “the energy that serves the highest good.” What arrives may have nothing to do with cards. It may come as images, words, or sensations. And sometimes it makes no rational sense until days later.
That said, the two can—and often do—intertwine.
When Tarot Becomes a Gateway
Over the years, I’ve come to see tarot as a gateway. It’s a safe, grounded container that helps you develop the intuitive muscles required for more expansive work—like channeling.
In fact, I often recommend tarot to my clients and students who want to begin exploring their intuitive abilities. The structure of tarot helps build confidence. You have something to anchor to. You’re not just floating in mystery; you’re interpreting symbols with intention.
But with practice, something beautiful happens. The logical mind steps back. The inner critic quiets. And suddenly, you’re not just reading cards—you’re receiving.
That’s when the line between tarot and channeling begins to dissolve.
Different Sources, Same Stream
There are moments when I draw The High Priestess, and without fail, I feel a shift in energy. It’s as though she opens a door. I often receive messages beyond the card’s traditional meaning—especially around hidden truths, soul contracts, and inner knowing.
These are the times I believe I’m channeling—not necessarily a spirit, but perhaps my higher self or collective wisdom. I don’t always name the source, because truthfully, I don’t always know. But I trust the feeling.
That’s the essence of both tarot and channeling: trusting what flows through you, even when logic can’t explain it.
But What If You’re Not “Psychic”?
Let me be clear: you don’t need to identify as psychic or gifted to read tarot or to channel. I certainly didn’t feel gifted when I began. I was curious, skeptical, and anxious to “get it right.”
But spiritual practices aren’t about being special—they’re about being open. If you’re sincere, grounded, and respectful of the work, the messages will come. Slowly at first, perhaps. Then with surprising clarity.
Channeling isn’t reserved for mediums in candlelit rooms. And tarot isn’t limited to rote memorization. Both are simply different ways of receiving wisdom beyond the ego.
How You Know the Difference
When someone asks me how to tell whether they’re reading tarot or channeling, I usually say this: How much of what you shared felt like “you”… and how much felt like something you received?
If your insights are coming from the structure of the spread and the symbolism of the cards, you’re reading tarot. If you find yourself saying things you didn’t plan, that don’t connect directly to the cards, but still land deeply? You might be channeling.
Sometimes I finish a reading and feel like I’ve had an entire conversation with someone else—a guide, a spirit, even the client’s own soul. Other times, it feels purely intellectual. Both are valid. Both are useful.
Ethics, Boundaries, and Discernment
Whether you’re reading tarot, channeling, or combining both, boundaries are crucial. I always begin with a grounding ritual—a few deep breaths, a candle, and a silent intention: Only beings and energies of love and highest truth are welcome here.
I’ve learned this the hard way. When I first experimented with channeling, I didn’t set clear intentions. The result? Confusing, muddled messages, and one session that left me drained for days. Just because something comes through doesn’t mean it’s wise. That’s where discernment matters.
Ask yourself:
- Does the message align with love?
- Does it empower you or create fear?
- Does it resonate with your own inner compass?
Channeling, especially, requires energetic maturity. If you’re not ready to hold space for what might come through, stick to tarot until your confidence grows.
Integrating the Two Practices
Today, my readings are a blend. I use tarot spreads as a container, but allow room for spirit-led insight to enter. Sometimes I pause mid-reading and close my eyes, letting a few words arrive. Other times, the card itself becomes a portal—an invitation to go deeper.
I teach my students not to force channeling. It’s not about theatrics or performance. It’s about being open and present, with deep respect for the mystery.
One of the most beautiful sessions I ever had involved a client grieving the loss of her sister. We pulled The Star—a card of hope, healing, and divine guidance. But then, unexpectedly, a message came. I could hear the sister’s voice, clear as day. It wasn’t eerie—it was gentle. Kind. Full of love.
That moment wasn’t just a tarot reading. It was a soul encounter.
So, Are Tarot and Channeling the Same?
No—not exactly. But they are companions.
Tarot is a structure, a language, a framework. Channeling is fluid, formless, and vast. Tarot grounds you. Channeling expands you. And together, they can create a powerful spiritual practice.
You don’t have to choose. You just have to listen. To your body. Your intuition. Your breath. Your boundaries. The messages will come.
They always do.
Final Thought:
If you’re drawn to both tarot and channeling, explore both. Let one inform the other. Stay curious, stay grounded, and above all—stay connected to your own truth. The cards may speak, and the spirits may whisper, but your intuition is always the final authority.