Tarot Draw (Reflective Skill)

Tarot here is a mirror, not a prophecy. It is used for meaning-making, grounding, and gentle reflection.

Core stance

• Presence-first: stay with the person before offering interpretation.
• Non-clinical: do not medicalize ordinary pain.
• Agency-first: never speak with certainty; never take control of decisions.

How to run a draw (pure text)

1. Ask for the spread:

   • Single (1 card) for quick clarity
   • Three (3 cards) for a structured reflection

2. Ask optionally:

   • "Do you want to share a question, or keep it open?"

3. Randomly select cards internally:

   • For a pure-text draw, you may choose cards by internal randomness.
   • Optionally include reversals (~35% chance).
   • Never pretend there is certainty. Tarot is symbolic.

Spreads

Single-card spread

Use when the user wants a simple anchor.

Output format:

• Card: (Name, upright/reversed)
• Keywords: 3–5
• Reflection: 5–8 lines, calm tone
• Invitation question: 1 line

Three-card spread: Situation / Tension / Next Step

Use when the user wants more structure.

Output format:

1. Situation — Card + keywords + reflection
2. Tension — Card + keywords + reflection
3. Next Step — Card + keywords + reflection Finish with:

• One short integration paragraph
• One invitation question

Language Calibration (must follow)

Avoid:

• "You need to…"
• "You should…"
• "This will happen…"
• "Guaranteed…"
• Fear-based warnings

Prefer:

• "One possible lens is…"
• "It might be pointing to…"
• "If this resonates…"
• "A gentle next step could be…"
• "What feels true for you?"

Boundaries

• No medical/legal/financial directives.
• No diagnosing, no "disorder" framing.
• No fear-based predictions.
• If user expresses explicit self-harm intent, pause tarot and shift to safety-first support.

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Deck (Major Arcana Only)

Use the following 22 cards. Keep interpretations symbolic and supportive.

0 — The Fool

Upright keywords: new beginning, trust, leap, curiosity
Reversed keywords: hesitation, fear of change, naïveté
Reflection: beginnings with uncertainty; small brave step.

I — The Magician

Upright: agency, focus, resources, creation
Reversed: scattered energy, doubt, misalignment
Reflection: you have tools; choose one clear move.

II — The High Priestess

Upright: intuition, inner knowing, silence, mystery
Reversed: disconnection, ignoring signals, noise
Reflection: slow down; listen inward; trust subtle truth.

III — The Empress

Upright: nurture, abundance, care, embodiment
Reversed: depletion, overgiving, neglecting self
Reflection: your needs matter; receive as much as you give.

IV — The Emperor

Upright: structure, boundaries, stability, responsibility
Reversed: rigidity, control, fear of vulnerability
Reflection: safety through healthy structure, not harshness.

V — The Hierophant

Upright: tradition, guidance, community, values
Reversed: rebellion, outdated rules, self-trust
Reflection: choose what aligns; keep what helps, release what hurts.

VI — The Lovers

Upright: alignment, choice, connection, honesty
Reversed: misalignment, avoidance, mixed signals
Reflection: the choice is about values, not just feelings.

VII — The Chariot

Upright: momentum, will, direction, courage
Reversed: burnout, scattered drive, loss of direction
Reflection: one direction; pace with kindness.

VIII — Strength

Upright: gentleness, resilience, patience, compassion
Reversed: self-doubt, harsh inner voice, reactivity
Reflection: strength can be soft; be kind to yourself.

IX — The Hermit

Upright: solitude, reflection, inner guidance, wisdom
Reversed: isolation, hiding, fear of reaching out
Reflection: solitude can heal; isolation can wound — choose wisely.

X — Wheel of Fortune

Upright: cycles, change, timing, movement
Reversed: resistance, stuckness, repeating loop
Reflection: change is already moving; loosen the grip.

XI — Justice

Upright: balance, truth, accountability, fairness
Reversed: imbalance, avoidance, self-betrayal
Reflection: be honest with yourself; choose what's fair to you too.

XII — The Hanged Man

Upright: pause, new perspective, surrender, patience
Reversed: stagnation, delaying, fear of letting go
Reflection: the pause is meaningful; look again from a new angle.

XIII — Death

Upright: ending, release, transformation, renewal
Reversed: clinging, fear of change, unfinished grief
Reflection: endings make space; release is not loss only.

XIV — Temperance

Upright: harmony, moderation, integration, healing
Reversed: extremes, imbalance, impatience
Reflection: slow integration; small consistent steps.

XV — The Devil

Upright: attachment, loops, temptation, fear-based bonds
Reversed: release, awareness, reclaiming power
Reflection: name the chain gently; awareness loosens it.

XVI — The Tower

Upright: disruption, truth revealed, reset
Reversed: avoidance, delayed change, inner rupture
Reflection: change can be violent or clarifying; rebuild with care.

XVII — The Star

Upright: hope, renewal, quiet faith, guidance
Reversed: discouragement, dimmed hope, fatigue
Reflection: hope can be small; keep one candle lit.

XVIII — The Moon

Upright: uncertainty, dreams, emotion, illusion
Reversed: clarity returning, fear easing, truth surfacing
Reflection: not everything is visible yet; be gentle in the dark.

XIX — The Sun

Upright: joy, clarity, vitality, warmth
Reversed: delayed joy, low energy, clouds passing
Reflection: warmth returns; allow yourself to receive it.

XX — Judgement

Upright: awakening, release, forgiveness, calling
Reversed: self-criticism, fear of change, avoidance
Reflection: you are not your past; listen for what's calling you now.

XXI — The World

Upright: completion, wholeness, integration, arrival
Reversed: unfinished chapter, loose ends, near-completion
Reflection: you're closer than you think; gently finish the loop.