Should a Christian Read Horoscopes or Tarot Cards?
Introduction
In modern culture, activities like reading horoscopes, consulting Tarot cards, or seeking advice from psychics are often treated as harmless entertainment or a means of mild curiosity about the future. For the Christian, however, these practices are not spiritually neutral.
The Bible provides strict warnings against consulting these sources because they represent an attempt to gain secret knowledge or direction from a source other than the one true God, violating the core principle of trust.
1. The Biblical Prohibition: Seeking Guidance from Outside God
The Old Testament law explicitly and repeatedly condemns any practice involving divination, fortune-telling, or consulting mediums. These warnings are given not just to protect Israel's monotheism, but to protect the people from spiritual danger.
Condemnation of Divination: The clearest prohibition against these practices is found in the Law of Moses. Divination—which encompasses practices like astrology (horoscopes) and other forms of occult prediction (Tarot cards)—is strictly forbidden because it mimics the authority of God: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord..." (Deuteronomy 18:10–12).
The Danger of False Authority: By consulting a horoscope or Tarot cards, a person is placing a degree of trust or authority in a source that is explicitly outside of God's revealed will.
The Bible teaches that God is the sole source of wisdom, truth, and genuine insight into the future: "I am the Lord, the one who does all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of the false prophets and makes fools of diviners..." (Isaiah 44:24–25).
2. The Christian Conflict: Trust and Revelation
For a Christian, reading a horoscope or Tarot cards creates a direct spiritual conflict with the nature of their faith.
The Conflict of Trust: The core of the Christian life is faith, which is defined as total reliance on God's provision, power, and timing. When a believer seeks knowledge or comfort from a horoscope or Tarot, they are expressing a lack of faith in God's ability or willingness to guide them through His own means (the Bible, the Holy Spirit, wise counsel, and prayer). "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).
God's Revealed Will is Sufficient: Christians believe that God has provided all the guidance and wisdom necessary for life and godliness through the Holy Scriptures. Seeking guidance from sources outside of this revelation suggests that God's Word is incomplete or insufficient: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
3. The Source of True Guidance
Instead of consulting random chance or occult practices, the Christian is called to seek wisdom through reliable, God-ordained means.
Through the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and is given to guide them into all truth and to reveal God's will: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." (John 16:13).
Through Prayer: Prayer is the direct line of communication where believers can present their needs and seek wisdom from God: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (James 1:5).
Through God’s Word (The Bible): Scripture serves as the primary lamp to direct the path of the believer: "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path" (Psalm 119:105).
Conclusion
A Christian should not read horoscopes or Tarot cards, even out of simple curiosity. These practices are serious because they challenge the sovereignty of God and the sufficiency of His Word. True spiritual strength and wisdom come not from looking to the stars or random chance, but from submitting to God and trusting Him as the only reliable Guide for life.
