TikTok has proven to be a vast platform where users can express themselves in any way they please, through funny skits, journaling, and even books. It has also made a name for itself in creating and strengthening communities and fandoms.
It’s easy to get distracted by what you are doing, and endlessly scroll on your For You Page for hours on end. Though, sometimes the issues you have at the back of your mind become the center of attention thanks to your FYP, which might be able to provide some guidance and solace as well.
Wondering if they’re thinking about you? Are they actually worth it? What or who is coming towards you? If you’re seeing this, it may be a sign meant for you. Explore the spiritual side of TikTok with the help of these Filipina Tarot readers.
21 year-old Aly Dimaculangan, @theblessedbhie on TikTok, and 27 year-old Shelina Villacorte, @__dempress444, both use TikTok to reach out to people who could use some help from the messages in their tarot readings.
For Aly Dimaculangan, tarot reading and divination have always been topics that have interested her since her high school days. While for Shelina Villacorte, she was introduced to tarot readings just last year.
Villacorte states that “naging curious at interested ako sa tarot cards dahil sa guide and answers na nabibigay nito sa isang tao na nangangailangan ng kasagutan sa mga tanong na walang mahanap na sagot.”
@dempress444
Both have found great comfort in the act of tarot reading.
Dimaculangan recalls “the day I started reading- it was the night when the Taal volcano erupted.” Adding that “Being from Batangas myself, I found that doing a reading for myself helped me ease my anxiety and fear.”
In Villacorte’s experience, tarot readings helped her navigate the immense pain she felt after a traumatic romantic fallout. She explains that “I am now in my spiritual awakening journey. Hanggang sa nakamove on ako, naging okay ako.”
Villacorte has made tarot reading a part of her daily routine, she believes that “everyday someone needs a message” As for Dimaculangan, she reaches for her cards whenever she feels called to them, stating that “the time can range from 3 in the afternoon to 3 in the […] morning.”
How do they determine the theme of their readings and TikTok videos? Dimaculangan states that it’s intuition.
@theblessedbhie 🐸
Dimaculangan explains that “I always felt called to readings for other people.” With both users realizing how much time people spend on TikTok, including themselves, they believed this to be the perfect place to spread the solace and guidance they themselves have received from tarot readings.
Both users have thousands of followers, and millions of likes on their videos. Villacorte adds that “nakakatuwa [yung comments] kasi ang sabi ng mga tao nagresonate sa kanila, and then may nag thank you din sa akin.”
Are users seeing their videos because they were really meant to see it, or is TikTok pumping them the videos they think they would enjoy? It may be valid to consider the effect of the different algorithms that TikTok uses to show users content that would best suit them based on the content they’ve previously enjoyed.
How do tarot readers like Villacorte and Dimaculangan know that the right people are receiving their messages?
Short answer: they don’t. But Villacorte answers that “I don’t believe in coincidences,” continuing that “naniniwala ako that everything happens for a reason, at kung sino man makakita [ng message/video] was really meant to find them.”
Knowing that they have no control over who actually views their readings, Dimaculangan and Villacorte reminds everyone “to only take the messages that resonate or nothing at all.”
Dimaculangan adds that “I can’t deny that the algorithm [has] something to do with it.” She also tries to “avoid hashtags as much as possible and pre-save my videos” to prevent the effect that TikTok sounds have on the algorithm.
If one of their videos ever appears on your For You Page, Dimaculangan explains that you should “Take my readings with a grain of salt.” Both explain that tarot reading is not meant to “predict outcomes” but serve as “a guide more than anything.” They hope that their videos can provide some direction in any problems a person might be facing.
Other POP! stories you might like:
BookTalk: TikTok creators’ most recommended books that are worthy of the hype
5 As-seen-on-TikTok dog friendly recipes of your fave dishes (for your pup)
5 gaming creators on TikTok who might inspire you to start streaming too