It is a mistake to think that the cards foretell a future which is seen as fixed and irrevocable. Instead, they take as a starting point the person's present situation and then indicate the likely outcome of current trends if things continue as they are. If the person doesn't like what the cards foresee, then they have the opportunity to make changes in their present life which will modify future trends. So the Tarot is not fatalistic; it offers us the opportunity to glimpse a little way ahead, and then take action to change or avoid anything we would rather not encounter. Of course, there are major challenges in life that must be faced. Here, the Tarot can be of help: "to be forewarned is to be forearmed", and we can take steps to arrange circumstances to our best advantage.

Looking at the present, the Tarot is a valuable tool in the hands of a skilled reader, since it can provide a detailed and accurate analysis of a person's psychological state. It can also suggest practical solutions to current difficulties.