Tarot for the 21st Century!
Yup, there’s an App for Tarot – How to Choose Which TechnoTarot is Right for You
This is going to be the craziest software review I’ve ever written. But then, the idea of using an electronic device for prediction is a new art. Granted, there are websites that love to quote number or statistics to prove their point, but numbers change and change quickly which leaves a great deal of doubt about their long- term accuracy. To top it off, we’re talking about Tarot readings.
Tarot – some people have a romantic view of the process, some are terrified, but for some of us it’s a tool used to make life easier. Every Tarot teacher has their way of discussing purchase of a deck. But choosing an app is beyond just pictures or symbols -- people are asking for advice from something that gives you its own built-in card meanings as well as pictures or symbols. So here’s 20+ years of experimentation with TechnoTarot boiled down to a few sentences.
First, look at the app developer’s website or blog. Does this individual have a whole bunch of different apps in a bunch of categories and looks at development as a job to make money any way they can, or is it a Tarot only or divination tools only site? It may sound crazy, but a tarot devotee has a better application. Card shuffling and selection will be more real and interactive when the developer understands the Tarot. The same thing can be said for the quality of descriptions and meanings of the individual cards. A “developer” probably will have meanings that read like a LWB; someone who understands Tarot will offer richer meanings.
Now for the fun part – how you choose a Tarot app. A word of caution -- be sure you understand your phone well enough to install and uninstall apps. No use having a bunch of applications on your phone you don’t like or will not use. Look at apps that are either totally free or give you a trial period. Don’t pay for something that doesn’t work for you. Now download and install your first choice (of course, iTunes is the place to go for iPhone and Droidapps.org for Android). Sit in conversation with someone and as you engage in discussion, click for a reading. If the cards and meanings follow what is being discussed, you have the app for you. For instance, if you are sitting talking about the dating scene in your community you should see more cards dealing with emotion or relationships than other cards (Note: if you get a ton of swords when discussing dating, get the apps for Nook, Kindle, PDF reader and plan on using your phone as a reading device. Don’t leave the house for a while).If you see the cards and get the vibes that you would get as if doing an actual reading, well, there you go; you are using Techno-Tarot and the app is a go.
Of course, if you are used to reading for yourself with a one- or three-card daily reading, then go ahead and just use the phone for a few days. If the app picks up the main themes that are going on in your life or you or it nails your day spot on then the app is the one for you. If you get gibberish or it doesn’t come close to ongoing events in your life, then it’s time to choose the next app.
Drum-roll, please, for the one word that best defines the process. EXPERIMENT! This is a new experience for most people. Just like you developed sense and skill over time with your deck(s), Techno-Tarot takes some playing and tinkering to get an app that works. However, it is well worth it. Need to figure out if you will get in trouble for blowing the family budget while standing in the mall? Just click – yes, there’s an app for that…
Comment
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Comment by George McKibbin on August 18, 2012 at 6:07pm -
Ah that's a shame! Maybe I'll have to release an android version some day. I'd appreciate the introduction :) thanks anyway
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Comment by ReeNee Cummins on August 18, 2012 at 5:35pm -
I'm a Droid(er) - sorry. I'll go look at your web site and make sure you get introduced into the community. Many have iPads and iPhones, so it should give you some business!
I'm going to seriously give you a huge tip. No one has done a REAL tarot program for the Nook. I know - it's Droid, and not the most popular......and.......however, the only thing available is a piece of crap from HayHouse that does not work.
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Comment by George McKibbin on August 16, 2012 at 11:47pm
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Hi ReeNee!
I'm in independant app developer and Tarot enthusiast. I've made an app called Tarot Wheel for iPhone under my new business called Shiny Blur. It just got released a few weeks ago and people seem to be loving it :D. Let me know if you have any feedback :)
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Comment by ReeNee Cummins on February 9, 2011 at 7:04am
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Shonna -- the Galaxy Tarot is AMAZING. It tested the BEST of any the apps I used on Driod. I love it so much that I upgraded to the "pro" version. I plan on reviewing it more in the future -- however, I kept it generic so I didn't hurt the feelings of the iPhone users (snicker). If my page comes up missing........somebody with an iPhone got their feelings hurt...
ReeNee
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Comment by Tarot by Shonna on February 8, 2011 at 10:17pm -
My partner is the creator of Galaxy Tarot for Android. I am very passionate about Tarot, and in my humble and biased opinion (I have written some of GT's content), it is the best Tarot app there is. He strives to make GT have an authentic feel, for example, when you "shuffle" the cards, the algorithm is really randomly mixing them up, and when you choose cards you really are choosing them, rather than having the computer randomly choose your cards with only the illusion of choosing. Galaxy Tarot uses the Rider Waite deck.
I don't mean to advertise, but I saw this post and wanted to mention it. Too bad you don't have an Android phone Dax :(
We would really like to know what "serious" Tarot readers would want to see in a Tarot application.
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Comment by Dax Carlisle on January 24, 2011 at 4:16pm -
Wonderful ReeNee!
I have like 20 Tarot iPhone Apps. I am still waiting for THE best Tarot App. There's the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly out there. I found some Kool features on Apps. Unfortunately I have yet to find an App that uses ALL of them. Ciro Marchetti's Legacy Tarot App is one of the best! There are also so great specialty Apps such as the Tarot Spreads App by Anthony Newell, Fred West and Nancy Hendrickson
There are some great Apps out there and we will be doing a complete review of these and many other "High-Tech Tarot" topics, such as: computer programs, ways to read online, teaching classes long distance and MUCH more....
COMING SOON! Our new "High-Tech Tarot" group to discuss all these topics and MORE!
ReeNee is our Director of Information, Science and Technology.
© 2013 Created by Dax Carlisle.
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