Imaginal Research for Unlearning Mastery: Divination with Tarot as a Tool for Decolonization

Abstract
This paper proposes “imaginal research” as a way to challenge mastery-based knowledge habits—especially the presumption that legitimate knowing must be extractive, objectifying, and controlled. It explores divinatory practice (Tarot) as a structured imaginal tool that can surface alternative insights, disrupt colonial epistemic defaults, and support emancipatory inquiry when handled critically and ethically.

Key Points

• Frames decolonization as requiring epistemic change, not just political slogans.
• Positions Tarot as an imaginal method that can expose hidden assumptions and constraints.
• Emphasizes disciplined practice: divination isn’t “anything goes,” it’s method + interpretation.
• Argues for responsible use to avoid reproducing dominance, manipulation, or mystification.

Recommended citation: Sosteric, Mike, & Ratkovic, Gina. (2024). "Imaginal Research for Unlearning Mastery: Divination with Tarot as a Tool for Decolonization." *Anthropology of Consciousness*, 35(1), 111–122. https://doi.org/10.1111/anoc.12219
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