#OcculTea: A Tarot Nerd's Late Response

This is the text outline that I used to create my video reply to the #OccultTea tag. The video can be found at:

https://youtu.be/wxY1RwpaXM0

Text Notes:

I am Andrew. I go by “Andrew Arcana” because I was moderating a tarot stream and did not want my full real name present in that space.

I am primarily a tarot enthusiast and curious about its history. I have been reading on and off since 2010, with a renewed focus in 2019.

My participation in the online space has been primarily in forums for tarot readers. Here on YouTube, I am more of an audience member, starting with my 2019 reintroduction to tarot. Between 2010 and 2012, I also ran a podcast that blended fiction and tarot.

Section 1: Impact on Community

What is my personal reasoning / inspiration behind sharing my practice online?

I want friends to talk to. I can have serious talks with very few people, and their perspectives or practices are different from my own.

What am I looking to achieve by participating? Do I seek to educate, learn, or connect?

My style is generally to share my admittedly nerdy view of tarot with anyone who might benefit from it, while also looking for friends.

How do I believe social media, as a whole, has impacted the community?

In regards to tarot, I'd say it's a twofold situation. More people feel welcome in spaces and you can find occasional gems of really deep information. There is a lot of deconstructionism, too.

The deconstructionism in tarot comes with some very negative side effects.

I have taken some real negativity for suggesting books that cover a topic. “This goes too deep for a forum post, but here are some books to get you started.” Anything that resembles the old ways can get a person drawn and quartered.

Someone on TikTok just said to drop however many cards, and you know, don't bother with the book. You know. Just, you know, use your intuition and only your intuition. Those old ways are evilbad or something. You know?

It means that I see new readers bashing their cards together until they get enough jumper cards that fly out onto the table, the floor, or anywhere else. That's how social media taught them to draw cards. They have never seen someone spread a deck and draw cards in a peaceful manner.

And the questions people ask. “What does my crush think about me today?” Today is added because some people will ask that every day.

Please, ask your crush to lunch. Not dinner. Not a movie. Don't confess any undying love to them. Go get lunch and have a fun, stress-free conversation. You'll get a better answer directly from your crush than from any tarot deck.

I am a very shy person of the male persuasion. I'm speaking from experience.

How do I think social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have each impacted education / sharing information?

Most of it teaches habits that you wouldn't learn from a mentor or any of the traditional books. I don't think these are always good habits.

There's a saying: Learn the rules so that you know which ones to break. Social media often teaches that it's okay to despise the very foundations of a practice, dress the part, and still be accepted into that same practice.

But again, there are people providing some real gems of knowledge.

Is consuming Witchcraft content becoming a substitute for practice?

Pick a pile.

Topic 2: Influencer Authenticity

Out of what I share on social media, how much of it is staged vs. reality?

My YouTube reply is audio-only. I light and focus my videos to obscure the fact that half of my life is stored in a tiny bedroom. I don't go out of my way to be inauthentic, but I certainly filter things out.

Have I ever encountered or heard of grifters in our community? Do I recognize them? What are the significant signs of grifters in the community?

In tarot? I've seen scammy private messages on Instagram. I have seen the low-effort decks made from public domain art or generative artificial intelligence.

The signs are usually a guarantee of accuracy, and any reading that does not include helpful guidance. For example: The question of “Does my crush like me?” might be rephrased into “How can I be emotionally and visibly open to attract this relationship?”

The other sign, for me, is social media trolling.

There is a very popular person in these spaces who spent years writing social media posts that came across as hurtful. This person is extremely knowledgeable and extremely hard working. There is a lot to respect about them.

It also looks like they spent years fishing for the correct thing to say that would get them the most favorable attention.

There was one thing I read that was deeply, profoundly hurtful to me. It touched on the worst parts of my own past pain. It seemed like interacting at all would only provoke more pain. It even seemed to go against the apparent nature of the physical products they sell.

I have come across other people in forums who can point to prior social media posts that went too far. I am far from the only person who has been hurt by this person's social media posts. Whether they know it or not, this creator has a history of saying hurtful things.

People I think of as heroes admire this person's books. They probably even should admire this more rigorous work.

I am not going to name the person out loud. This is less about them.

This is about the behavior: Saying hurtful things for attention hurts people. Saying hurtful things for attention is the definition of “trolling” that goes back to the days of UseNet.

This trolling not as serious as Instagram scams or threats of curses. It can still benefit the author while author while making other people feel unwelcome.

I'll have some things to say about speaking with kindness and intention below.

Do I think there is an element of censorship in online spaces? How do I decipher what is “appropriate” to share online vs. what to keep privately? Is this based on “social media etiquette” or a personal preference?

I think the same censorship and self-censorship applies here that applies on most online spaces. Sometimes you know there is content that you never interact with unless you're ready to take some bruises.

Sometimes there are parts of a personal practice that you're uncomfortable revealing.

Sometimes you feel like it's better if anyone watching explores and finds their path on their own.

What tools are helpful to decipher misinformation, and how can we as a community prevent widespread disinformation?

I'm a fan of books. Old books or new books that openly pay tribute to the old material are my favorites. That seems to keep the misinformation to a minimum.

Preventing misinformation can be as easy as speaking kindly. The best results I've had in forums has come from presenting good information as an alternative. “Most readers I've seen use this other method.”

Be gentle. Be kind. Express your ideas with clarity and conciseness. Always show the benefits of your point of view, and present them as an alternative.

That's my alternative to disinformation as well as other pitfalls.

How does a large following impact the perception of the creator? Does this immediately make them an “expert”? Or are there other assumptions as to why they may have a large following?

In the tarot spaces I see, perceptions seem to be more parasocial than authoritative.

As a nerd, there are related channels that simultaneously earn their authority and gain it. I'm going to talk about the YouTube channels “Esoterica” and “Angela's Symposium” later on. Both are formally educated, and have earned their authority.

How does one maintain the balance of authenticity and content creation?

Keep the filters on, but be open that there are filters on.

Imposter Syndrome and FOMO

When I follow other creators in the community space, does it make me feel genuinely inspired and empowered or does it create feelings of FOMO and being less than?

I rarely feel FOMO lately. I have the tools I need to engage with my practice.

I am very comfortable and happy with these tools. There are two decks on my shelf that I once only hoped to maybe see in person in passing, and now I own them. There is a shelf full of books. There is a whiteboard of daily tasks and practices hanging in my room.

Being a nerd and a bookworm, my wishlist is made mostly of books that aren't going anywhere.

The only FOMO I sometimes feel is from crowdfunded tarot decks, especially if I admire the creator's greater body of work.

If I'm feeling taken advantage of then I look at my shelves and remember that I have what I need.

The discipline to practice daily is at least ninety percent of my process at this time.

When practicing my craft, do I find myself comparing what I do to what I've been seeing people do online?

Sometimes, but not in a bad way. Sometimes I'll do something extremely frugal and think, “The author of this would probably approve.” Sometimes I'll feel like other people are doing it right and I'm doing it wrong. Yet numerous authors I admire have set an example that maybe I'm doing things a good way too.

I compare myself to those authors more than I do to content creators, even when the same person fills both spaces.

In what ways do I combat imposter syndrome?

What would my practice look like without the social media influence of other creators?

Other community members have pointed me toward some books that are foundational to how I practice. I would have had to find those resources another way.

I tend to gravitate toward educated, well-read creators as well.

A scary thought: If I had let pick-a-pile and collective tarot readers set the example for my practice then I probably would not be involved in tarot any more.

Topic 4: Capitalizing off Community

Do I consider online communities as equally valid to in-person communities?

Often, yes. Sometimes no.

I attended a pagan community gathering locally that was, really, just shopping for things. The vendors were kind, warmhearted people but the people didn't even talk to each other.

I'm part of online communities where I feel valued and seen.

I would also say that covens or any group that provides membership and initiation IRL is probably going to provide an incredible community, too.

How have online occult/witchcraft communities impacted me as a person & practitioner?

At their best, they keep me excited to practice.

I have made some great friends.

Trying to help others sometimes teaches me or reminds me of any part of my own practice.

What are some dangers of the current phenomenon of capitalizing off of the witchcraft community?

Bogus love readings on Etsy. Scam artists who scare querents into thinking they are cursed, just to sell expensive remedies.

Video creators give people blatantly false collective readings in order to play the algorithm. All this ends up doing is playing off the emotions of vulnerable people.

It's easier to sell “intuition” as a quick fix over study. Tarot always requires an intuitive process. There seems to be a lot of money in telling people that the quick fixes will help them along.

Then there is the quiet danger of teaching new readers bad habits simply by producing flashy videos.

Have I been personally affected by this, or have I witnessed someone else be affected?

I've been on forums where people were affected by every level of scam artists.

Should there be paywalled communities and online courses?

Yes! Courses are especially valuable, at least in tarot.

Paywalled communities present a difficulty. I have found that the people who pay the most money to join a paywall community quickly take over the space in order to create a miasma of grudges and contempt. You can not ask these people for boundaries, because they pay out the nose and matter more than you. You get the feeling that the content creator would rather keep things on topic, but that top tier monthly payment is way too sweet.

The rest of the community walks on eggshells and pay for the privilege. Replying to these new de-facto leaders would only lead to pain. And all you wanted to do was talk about practice.

These usurpers are a threat to paywalled communities.

Anyone who wants to start a paywalled community needs to have a clear definition of what they do and do not deem as acceptable before accepting anyone's money.

How does one ensure the authenticity of courses / workshops / memberships / etc. as a financial investment?

Read the reviews. See if anyone on a forum or YouTube has taken part of it, what their experiences were, and even if some of their dislikes would make the investment a good fit for you.

Conclusions

What are some topics of conversation I'd like to see more of in our community?

I do think that people should be warmly presented with the “traditional” material for any practice. And, I'd like to see it expressed in kind and encouraging ways.

Even modern deconstructed practices came out of those older traditions. Let's not be strict about this. Always act for the benefit of new readers and practitioners.

What are my community needs?

People who practice similarly to how do. Kindness. Boundaries.

Where would I like to feel more held and supported?

I know there are local resources that I could tap into if some of my other circumstances were better.

And, I do find myself supported by a handful of small channels.

Where do I feel like I'm not truly being seen by my community?

I feel like “the old ways” are often despised, especially by newcomers who join through online video platforms. I'd like to not feel like I'm being beat up for saying the word “book.”

How can we help each other in removing the external peer pressure and grow in the community?

Remind each other that our practices are what matter. The tools are nice, but it's the practice that counts.

How can we, as a community, come together with more constructive criticism without it seeming shady/passive aggressive?

Again, I've learned to present alternatives in a gentle way. I won't even present my alternatives as the only ones. “I think this alternative is appropriate because of these benefits...” There's a little bit of Buddhist “right speech” and a little bit of Dale Carnegie in every successful venture I've made.

How can we, as a community, do better when we receive criticism/feedback?

Start with the same cure to FOMO. Remember your practice first and foremost. Would listening to this person help or hinder your personal practice?

Be willing to learn.

Who are some community members that I look up to that are reliable resources and aspirations?

Add any further thoughts/comments/prompt questions of your own/express further points/offer solutions.

Really, I said everything I needed to above.

About Andrew

Andrew is a home recording enthusiast, former comedian and occasional amateur stage magician.

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