Why I Am a Terrible Gambler

It's no mystery... those aren't the cards I'm good at!

For me, a trip to a casino is an opportunity to dress up in something slinky, ala Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, sip on a girlie cocktail, and go out for a fabulous meal. What it is not is an opportunity for easy money with minimal work. Because I am a god-awful gambler. Yes, a tarot reader that’s a terrible gambler. It’s true.

I always start out with a “I’m feeling lucky” streak. I sit down at a slot machine that I’m damn sure will hit it big. And I put my money in. And put my money in. And…. well, you see where this is going. The power of “just one more time” compels me, and within minutes I’m hitting the bottom of my quarter bucket with no winnings in the bucket I set aside for what I’ve “earned.”

The only card game I play at a casino is Blackjack. What happens during Blackjack is I “see” what card is coming up for me. Unfortunately, it’s usually not the next card… or even for me. I see the card that I thought would be the next card coming up a card later than I presumed. Not helpful. Furthermore, if you act counter to what you should do when you have a certain number, the rest of your fellow gamblers won’t thank you for it… especially if you take a card that was meant for them, and would have resulted in a Blackjack for them. Yes, it’s happened to me. My friends had to form a protective cocoon around me as they escorted me away from the table to keep me from being throttled.

I think that most people in the divinatory arts are probably also terrible at gambling. I have a few theories as to why this is:

• A vested interest in the final outcome. Sorry, I can’t properly interpret any psychic signals coming into my noodle when I’ve got a hundred bucks riding on whether the roulette wheel will hit the number 13 (or any other number, for that matter).
• Money messes with the mojo. When I do a reading for someone, I end up helping that person. That person in turn pays me for my time in reading for them. There is an equal exchange. When I use my “skills” specifically for gambling, it even FEELS unequal. Signals go kaflooey. If I was gambling for a truly altruistic purpose, then maybe the story would be different.
• Overstimulation and loss of direction. Casinos are designed for glittery lights that distract and get you to play the game, and no instantly definable exits to keep you in them. I like quiet space when I do readings. A casino is just way too the opposite of the ideal conditions for psychic work.

Luck may be a lady, but she ain’t THIS lady,
Hilary

Image: Graeme Weatherston / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

P.S.: Are you a terrible gambler or a diviner that is similarly cursed with the “not at the Blackjack table” psychic block? Leave your thoughts in the Comments section below!