There are a variety of reasons for which people seek the advice of the Tarot. However, two reasons are the most prominent when a person is troubled and needs help in resolving personal issues. 1. We have wisdom for others and not for ourselves. In daily life we have to constantly make choices and decisions when dealing with situations or people, whether they be in the home, at work, or in our social lives. When difficulties and problems abound we often feel trapped, and being close to the problems we can’t “see the wood for the trees.” Nonetheless, you may have noticed that when friends or family are in trouble, how easily you are able to help them, not only by listening, but also by offering advice from your own insight and personal wisdom. 2. We turn to others for help rather than go within. While we are capable of tapping into our own inner wisdom to guide ourselves through difficult circumstances, we mostly ignore it, or don’t know how to embrace it. People are frequently emotionally driven. When problems seem too big or insurmountable, they become anxious and feel as if they are “drowning” and “not coping with life”. Lacking inner confidence to resolve personal problems on their own, they go the easy route of turning to others for help and advice. . Some say that the stresses of modern living block us from accessing our natural inner wisdom, and consequently we turn to other people or avenues for advice. The role of Tarot as advisor. What is the role of an advisor? One who listens, and points out different aspects of problem, enabling the seeker to get more perspective on the problem at hand and formulate a solution. The Tarot can readily be used in this situation. While it cannot predict the future, it is a very effective tool in confirming events that are currently occurring in a person’s life, highlighting issues and problems that need to be dealt with. While it frequently reveals past issues that lead to the present situation, it also gives clues as to potential future outcomes. In this way the Tarot offers guidance, hope, and courage, in dealing with problems, and points the way to creating a better future. However, it is finally the choices made by the client that manifest the "to be or not to be". How did Tarot cards become associated with divination? Tarot cards appeared as playing cards in Western Europe during the late Middle Ages close to the start of the Renaissance. During this period many mystics used cards for divinatory purposes and the Tarot deck, being more colourful with intricate designs and rich in symbolism, was the perfect ideal to become “the esoteric cards of prediction”. Also, the fact that Tarot had an older pedigree than other playing cards enhanced its potential for mystery. The Tarot has however, only been used as a tool of divination for about 200 years, predominantly due to the development of the occult movement in France, in the 18th Century, once Antoine Court de Gebelin decided that the Tarot trumps carried ancient religious secret messages. His ideas ignited great interest in "uncovering" these secret mystical meanings and this led to the development of divinatory aspects being connected to the cards. By the beginning of the 20th century, Tarot cards were a main focus for occult societies and they became a common tool for divination. Historical evidence of Kings consulting esoteric advisors. Throughout history people have consulted esoteric advisors for guidance in complex situations. There is even evidence of monarchs as early as Biblical times having had a personal “soothsayer” to foretell the future and guide them in making decisions during their reign, particularly before marriages or battles. During the late middle ages and early renaissance period, there was a wide interest in “magic”. Astrologers, alchemists, sorcerers, conjurers, necromancers and wizards claimed mystical powers and knowledge of the occult and its varying practices. Kings, seeking their “wise” counsel, frequently employed these individuals as permanent advisors to their courts, and the Tarot was often one of the tools used by these “advisors” to obtain their predictions. While once frowned upon by the masses, “esoteric advice” is nowadays frequently sought not only by individuals and professionals, but also by business executives. This advice and input is respected and can often influence corporate decision-making. The Tarot has indeed, in the 21st Century, come out of the esoteric closet and emerged as a valued and sought-after alternative source for those seeking advice. Tarot Readers who are genuinely assisting clients, with guidance, understanding and knowledge, discover that this work is much more than just the intuitive interpretation of cards. If the truth be said, they are in fact counselors of the highest order, working in a similar way to conventional counselors.