Artists Use Tarot to Help People Cope with Climate Anxiety

A new movement among artists is tackling the growing concern of climate anxiety through an unconventional method: tarot readings. With over half of the global population reporting heightened worry about climate change according to a 2024 United Nations survey, traditional mental health support often remains out of reach. More than 40% of adults needing mental health care face barriers such as high costs and long wait times. In response to this crisis, some therapists have developed climate-aware therapy to validate these feelings of despair.

Barbara Easterlin, president of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America, points to a phenomenon known as ‘doomism,’ where individuals feel powerless against the perceived inevitability of climate change. This mindset can lead to depression and inaction, creating a psychological defense mechanism against overwhelming emotions.

In this context, tarot readings are emerging as a creative outlet for individuals to explore their feelings about environmental crises. Tarot, a practice involving a deck of cards that represent various life themes, is being adapted to address climate-related emotions. Artists are using tarot not just as a tool for fortune-telling, but as a means of self-reflection and emotional processing.

Adriene Jenik, an artist and activist, has created an ECOtarot deck designed to offer free climate future readings. Jenik has conducted over 1,600 readings worldwide. The ECOtarot incorporates environmental imagery to reflect on climate realities. For instance, one card, representing disruption and change, depicts Superstorm Sandy, which shifted Jenik’s perspective on climate issues. ‘Before that event, people were like, oh yeah, climate change, whatever,’ Jenik recalled. ‘But after the superstorm, I felt a pull toward environmentally focused art.’

Similarly, James Leonard, a Brooklyn-based artist, began offering climate-focused tarot readings in 2015. His project, ‘the Tent of Casually Observed Phenologies,’ features a tent designed to create a serene space for readings, complete with a sky oculus that connects participants with nature. Leonard’s approach aims to foster a comfortable environment for open discussions about climate feelings.

Historically, tarot has served as a medium for connecting with the natural world. Professor Debra Burris, a meteorology educator and practicing witch, notes that weather divination has roots in agriculture, where people used it to make decisions about crop management. Today, tarot serves various purposes: some use it for glimpses into the future, while others see it as a tool for introspection.

Burris believes climate tarot could reach audiences who might shy away from traditional environmental science education. ‘This is a tool that will reach an audience that would not necessarily pick up a science book,’ she stated.

Interestingly, tarot readings have attracted individuals skeptical of climate change. Leonard noted that the ritualistic aspect of tarot can disarm critics. For example, someone might jokingly ask if cheeseburgers will exist in a century due to climate change, but by the end of the reading, they often engage in serious discussions about food systems. ‘It was fascinating to watch people tumble through their thought process,’ he said.

Both Jenik and Leonard have encountered a diverse range of participants, from professionals to everyday individuals, which highlights the widespread concern about climate issues. Jenik expressed surprise at how deeply people contemplate climate change, with many grappling with significant life decisions, such as whether to have children.

The intimate nature of tarot readings often leads to emotional revelations. ‘Sometimes people just sit down and they just start weeping,’ Jenik shared. The act of sharing and witnessing these feelings helps individuals process their anxiety surrounding climate change. Jenik envisions a future where environmental tarot readers are present in every community, fostering spaces for critical reflection.

However, tarot readings alone cannot resolve climate change or alleviate eco-anxiety; participants must also engage actively in the process. Jenik describes tarot as a tool that empowers individuals to understand their own narratives regarding climate action. ‘I’m a conduit for the possible interpretations,’ Jenik explained. ‘But in the end, you’re co-creating with me a narrative understanding of what this means in your life.’