Is Tarot About Predicting the Future or Understanding Yourself? – An Interview with Connie Gable
Connie Gable is a Tarot practitioner whose approach to Mystic Tarot Wisdom is shaped by decades of experience as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner. Combining intuitive reflection with the listening skills developed through caring for people during vulnerable moments, she uses Tarot as a tool for self exploration rather than prediction.
In this interview, Connie shares how her medical background influences her readings, why intuition can be difficult to trust, and how Tarot can help people reconnect with their own inner clarity when facing uncertainty or important life decisions.
Connie Gable, Founder of Mystic Tarot Wisdom
What does Mystic Tarot Wisdom help people understand about themselves that they may struggle to hear on their own?
The Tarot cards are a visual tool for reflection, helping bring those deeper thoughts, feelings and intuitions to the surface. My role isn’t to tell someone what their future will be or make decisions for them. Instead, I create a safe space where they can see things from a different perspective, reconnect with their intuition, and recognize what their own heart may have been trying to tell them.
How did your years as an ICU nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner shape the way you listen to someone during a Tarot reading?
My years as an ICU nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner taught me how important it is to listen closely, remain fully present, and create a safe, nonjudgemental space for people during vulnerable moments. I learned to pay attention not only to what someone says, but also to their tone, pauses, and concerns they may not yet feel ready to express. I’ve always had an intuitive sense regarding the layer “underneath" the words that were being spoken.
What changed when you began taking intuitive experiences that had been present since early adulthood more seriously?
Over time, I began to recognize that these experiences were not random or something I needed to dismiss. They were a meaningful part of how I perceived and understood the world. Taking them seriously did not mean abandoning discernment or critical thinking. Instead, it meant learning to honor another form of awareness and becoming more curious about what it was trying to show me.
What do people misunderstand most when they assume Tarot is about predicting a fixed future?
That is one of the most common misunderstandings about Tarot: that it predicts the future. I see Tarot much differently. The cards can reflect energies, patterns and influences that may be present around a situation, but they do not determine a single inevitable outcome. A Tarot reading is about creating a space for reflection and self-exploration.
Why do you think so many people find it difficult to trust their own intuition in everyday life?
I think many people have been taught to prioritize logic, productivity, and the opinions of others over their own inner knowing. That can make it difficult to recognize or trust the quiet signals within us. Life experiences can also affect our confidence. If someone has been dismissed, criticized, or made to feel their instincts were wrong, they may begin to second-guess themselves. Learning to trust your intuition is an “unlearning” of those old thoughts and patterns.
When someone comes to you at a crossroads, how do you help them find clarity without telling them what decision to make?
When someone comes to me at a crossroads, my role is to create a supportive space where they can reconnect with their inner knowing. Through the Tarot, we can explore the emotions surrounding the situation, any fears, hopes or patterns that may be influencing their thinking. The cards can offer perspective, but they do not replace personal judgement. I see a reading as a way to bring what may be unclear into focus so the person can recognize their own priorities and make a decision that feels authentic to them.
What does it mean to you to see your Tarot practice as a continuation of your life as a caregiver and healer?
To me, seeing my Tarot practice as a continuation of my life as a caregiver means recognizing that, although the tools are different, the heart of the work remains the same. In my nursing career, I supported people through vulnerable, uncertain, and often life-changing moments. I learned to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where people could feel seen and heard. Tarot allows me to work in that same way, but instead of addressing physical symptoms, I help people explore their experiences, relationships and inner questions. I see myself as a healing guide, helping clients reflect, gain perspective and reconnect with their inner knowing.
What would you most like someone to remember the next time they feel they need an answer from outside themselves?
I would want them to remember that the answer is not outside of themselves; it already resides within them. Sometimes when we feel uncertain or overwhelmed, it can be difficult to access our own inner wisdom. We may look to others for reassurance, direction or clarity, which is fine. Tarot can offer a mirror, a new perspective or a way to bring what is unconscious into consciousness. The answer already resides within; sometimes what is needed is a safe, compassionate space to bring it into awareness.
Read more from Connie Gable
