What happens when a tarot card reader with a million followers suddenly leaves the deck behind to follow Jesus? Alexandra Ashcroft, formerly known as Alex Reads Tarot, made an announcement recently that caused intense reactions in both the pagan and the Christian world.
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On a widely circulated post, Alex shared, “Over the past nearly a year, my faith has become the most important thing in my life. Through that journey, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting, questioning, praying and trying to understand my faith more and where God was starting to lead me. This hasn’t been an overnight change. This has been a gradual journey that has slowly changed the way that I see my life and my faith.”
Leaving All the Cards on the Table
In her viral announcement, Alex stated that she would no longer give tarot readings, and subsequently, she would be deleting her channel. “I don’t know exactly what comes next for me, but what I do know is that Jesus Christ has saved my life, and I can no longer ignore that reality,” she declared.
Christian commentator Allie Beth Stuckey, host of the podcast Relatable, explained what happened after Alex went public. “Not everyone was excited to see this change. She lost over 40,000 followers when she announced that she was becoming a Christian, and that she’d be changing her content.”
The Backlash Begins
New Agers who’d been following Alex were stunned, with some suggesting that she’d been brainwashed. Others speculated that she’d suffered a mental breakdown, or was experiencing “religious psychosis.” Reddit posts reveal a wide range of reactions, but some disappointed fans accused Alex of abandoning the inclusive spirituality she was known for.
One woman, whose podcast is focused on witchcraft, spoke to her own followers about Alex’s decision by saying, “Just because Alex wants to go on her own path, doesn’t mean that you are doing anything wrong by believing in witchcraft or spirituality.” She went on to insist that tarot readings are “not harming anybody,” because they are a “valuable service that changes lives” and makes people more “aligned with their soul’s purpose.”
One tarot enthusiast complained, “Honestly, I’ve been noticing this happening a lot. Big tarot readers I’ve been following for years just quitting tarot and going full stop religious.”
Some commenters were clearly confused, with one saying that tarot came from Christianity, and another asserting that there was no need for Alex to leave tarot behind because “We are all God.”
Courage in Christ
Despite the backlash, Alex is not deterred by the negative reaction of those who don’t agree with her decision to follow Jesus. When Alex walked away from tarot, she left every card on the table. While many believed she would simply take a pause from the occult readings, or perhaps mesh her newfound faith into the practice, this isn’t what she did. Instead, she turned from the practice completely, leaving behind a lucrative career that she’d built up over the years.
Alex’s new social media handle is alexcourageinChrist, as well as “Alex Belongs to Christ” and “Alex in the Ordinary.” One account shows 54.2K followers as of early July and features the captioned verse John 15:18. If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. Thankfully, since her departure from the world of tarot, Alex has been embraced by the Christian community. She continues to receive many heartfelt messages of encouragement.
The Tarot Trend
Alex’s story of leaving the occult is refreshing, but it also highlights a disturbing trend happening across the nation and throughout the world. Since 2020, the interest in tarot has skyrocketed to levels never seen before. During the pandemic, searches for tarot decks on Etsy rose by over 50%, and the global market was worth roughly $830 million at that time. Since then, interest continues to grow, especially among youth. Some bookstores now have entire displays devoted to tarot, oracle cards, and other New Age products. Decks are being illustrated and designed to appeal to every lifestyle.
The advent of platforms such as WitchTok, Instagram, and YouTube has brought tarot into the mainstream. In fact, social media hashtags related to tarot have garnered billions of views. Research suggests that many users are between the ages of 18 and 34 years old, but children and teens experiment with decks as well. Stores such as Five and Below, which cater to young tweens and teens, sell tarot sets, as well as a large array of occult items. Just a quick walk down the aisle at this store reveals books with titles such as Wizard’s Magic, Chakras, The Egyptian Book of the Dead, The Complete Guide to Living by the Moon, Buddhism 101, The Book of Astrology, and the Secrets of Cosmic Connection. There are also palm-reading handbooks, sage-burning kits, and guides for using crystals and spells.
Communities of young people on Reddit, TikTok, Threads, and other forum-style platforms are fully engaged in not only tarot but also in utilizing chatbots that have tarot integrated into their programming. It’s no wonder that a recent survey conducted by the Springtide Research Institute found that more than half of 13 to 25-year-olds who were sampled had engaged in tarot card reading, or fortune telling.
It’s important to note that tarot content is often marketed to women in particular as a way to achieve wellness and mental health. Decks are designed with artwork that appeals to females by featuring goddesses and self-empowerment motifs.
Tarot Influencing Politics and Gender Identity
This burgeoning trend is far from harmless and, in fact, it’s becoming a major concern in today’s politically charged world. Tarot readings are popular among people who identify as LGBTQ or sympathize with the movement. Those who are seeking spirituality but want to forgo the “rules and boundaries” of Christianity are exploring esoteric methods to affirm their lifestyle and connect with the divine. There are even tarot decks that feature LGBTQ themes with “inclusive modern archetypes.”
Tarot is also well-liked by liberal activists interested in social justice, feminism, climate alarmism, and immigration reform. Readings center on racial justice, collective healing, bodily autonomy, and eliminating inequalities.
In the past, Hollywood movies and TV series integrated tarot into the horror genre, but now it’s being infused into storylines of all kinds. The goal is to make the practice not just appealing, but also an easy way to understand one’s destiny. This is being done alongside liberal themes that portray fornication, homosexuality, gender fluidity, and feminine power as brave, noble, and good.
Many celebrities have promoted tarot, or incorporated the practice into their public persona, such as Madonna, Jeff Bridges, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Megan Fox, Adele, Lucy Hale, Winona Ryder, Drew Barrymore, Vanessa Hudgens, and Emma Watson.
Millennials and Gen Z Gravitate to Tarot
Young people who are confused about their lives, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are turning to tarot readings as a way to cope or obtain spiritual growth. Disturbingly enough, there are therapists who combine occult practices with psychology and claim that it can provide healing. One licensed clinician had this to say about why the younger generation is drawn to the mystery of tarot.
“Some Millennials say these rituals give them space to pause. For example, they read their horoscope when they’re feeling uncertain or pull a tarot card during a tough week…they just want to feel connected to what they’re going through. And that makes sense, especially in a world where many things feel out of control.”
An article in Prophecy News Watch emphasizes an important point when it comes to the rise of the occult in society.
“It reveals something about the spiritual condition of our culture. Western society has not abandoned belief in the supernatural. It has simply replaced biblical faith with countless alternatives that promise enlightenment without surrender. Yet every so often, someone who has explored those alternatives discovers they never satisfied the deepest questions of the soul. When that happens, the reaction often exposes something surprising. People are not merely rejecting Christianity. Many are actively resisting Jesus Himself.”
Ex Psychic Speaks Out
Former psychic medium Jenn Nizza supports Alex’s decision to break free from the deceptive chains of tarot. After years of living under the darkness and oppression of the occult, Nizza was set free by Jesus Christ. Now she dedicates her life to serving the Lord and uses her social media platforms to warn others about the dangers of the New Age movement. Tarot card readers are quick to defend their practices by insisting that they are helping people. Nizza points out the irrationality of this claim by noting, “The new age: when you keep going to the problem for the solution.” Nizza explains that the lure of tarot cards pulled her in when she was just 13 years old, becoming a “gateway to the demonic.”
The Bible is very clear that divination is an abomination to God, and tarot card readers are, in fact, practicing the sin of pursuing hidden knowledge through occult means. Deuteronomy 18:10 implicitly states, “There shall not be found among you…anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer.” James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Pray for Alex
Alex has chosen to receive wisdom from God, but she is also receiving so much more! She has gained an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ and a vast community of believers who will support her along her journey.
As intercessors, we are called to pray for the lost to be found. This world is full of people who are searching for God in all the wrong places, and the volatile nature of society is driving them towards tarot and the occult. Instead of divination, they need the One who can give them all the knowledge and healing they desire–Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus, we are so thankful that Alexandra Ashcroft has found you! We pray for her protection as You guide her next steps. We pray that the stronghold of tarot around our youth would be broken. We also pray for those who are caught up in alternative lifestyles or sinful choices that are leading them to the occult, rather than the truth. Lord, deliver them from deception.
As Alex pursues a life with Jesus, she will need lots of prayers. Share your thoughts and prayers for Alex below.
Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger, and former teacher who studies the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride. Photo Credit: petr sidorov/Pexels.
