Tarot Tips: A Look at The Tower Card
Published: Wed, 11/01/17
"The Tower. We all know that it represents a transformation, often one..."
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Newsletter of The Tarot School
http://TarotSchool.com ISSN: 1529-0565 Vol. 9 #9 / November 1, 2017
In this Issue: - Welcome
- Tarot Tip: A Look at the Tower Card
- Tarot School Aphorism
- What's Gnu? - PsychWise: Experimenting with Tarot - Best Practices: Caveats, Disclaimers and Other Notices - Cool Free Reading Site: TBA - Upcoming Events Welcome to a new issue of Tarot Tips!
And a special welcome to our new subscribers.
Although we at Tarot Tips and The Tarot School do our best to maintain an attitude of gratitude throughout the year, we're happy to have this opportunity to thank you directly for your presence in our lives and support of our work. This time of year is filled with holidays of all sorts, no matter where in the world you live. May the awareness of gratitude, for things large and small, unite us all as we work towards a more peaceful world -- both inner and outer. We are joined this month by Beverly Frable, who has a very informative Tip on the source of The Tower card. (It is an unfortunate coincidence that once again, a Tower experience has made headlines. Our hearts go out to all those affected by yesterday's terror attack in New York City!) In PsychWise, Dr. Art Rosengarten, who will be presenting at the 2018 Tarot and Psychology Conference, discusses experimenting with tarot. We also discuss notices, caveats and disclaimers in the Best Practices column. And one more thing...
If you haven't already seen it, take a few minutes to read this exciting article in the New York Times about how tarot is trending! It's beautifully written, and features people we know, too. Click here to read the article. With love and gratitude on the tarot journey, Ruth Ann, Wald, and Gina
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A LOOK AT THE TOWER CARD
by Beverly Frable transformation, often one that’s abrupt and unexpected. Have you ever thought about the source of this image? Or wondered how it has changed from the earliest decks to more “current” ones? There are two theories regarding the inspiration for the origin of the image. Theory #1: One thought: The image is based on the Genesis story regarding the Tower of Babel, depicting the tower as it collapsed. The Tower of Babel story tells of the descendants of Noah building a tower that would “reach to the heavens.” Their goal was to be like God, no longer needing Him. This displeased God, and He destroyed the tower. The image of the Tower, consequently, is a depiction of God’s anger: a toppling building, punishing those who were building it, and displacing the crown representing human vanity. The painting shown below captures the Tower of Babel from a Book of Hours for the Duke of Bedford, completed with falling figures. Image reference: https://goo.gl/images/2S65DU Theory #2: The second theory is the most likely (in my opinion). This one claims that the inspiration for the image of the Tower is based on the legends of the Infancy Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (that’s a mouthful!). The Infancy Gospels were popular in medieval times, telling of things such as destruction of false idols and other Divine acts against falsehoods. Petroglyphs (basically rock carvings) dating back to the 13th century capture scenes that depict these stories. Check out the one below. This particular one is located at Amiens Cathedral, the largest of the three great Gothic cathedrals located north of Paris, France. The highlighted scene is what some claim inspired the Tower image we recognize today. A close-up clearly shows how similar this image is to the Tower card: Image reference: https://goo.gl/images/vGBQpR The Flames: You’ll notice that neither image includes flames. None of what I’ve read so far offers explanations of why flames were added, other than to possibly highlight the destruction of the tower. However, it is noted that the direction of the flames differs depending on either the region that created the deck or the deck’s creation date. Early TdM decks show the Tower with flames shooting FROM the tower and TOWARD the sun. Decks that show this image are sometimes referenced as “Type I” Tarot de Marseilles (TdM). Check out the image below, a Jean Noblet (c. 1650), restored by Jean-Claude Flornoy. Image reference: https://goo.gl/images/oMZwoP Other decks that are considered “Type 1” TdMs include the Dodal (c. 1701), and Jean-Pierre Payen (c. 1713). This differs from what is sometimes referred to as “Type 2” TdM decks, which show The Tower with the flames shooting TOWARD the Tower, FROM the sun. See the example below. Image reference: https://goo.gl/images/zPau74 This image is taken from a Conver TdM (c.1760). Other TdM decks that fall into the Type 2 category include the Claude Burdel (c.1751) and the François Chosson (c.1736). FYI: There are other differences between Type 1 TdMs and Type 2 TdM decks. In fact, I’m aware of at least 10 other Major Arcana image variations between the two types. It’s an interesting topic to research for those who may be so inclined. Fun comparison: Check out The Tower as shown in a TdM deck, Rider-Waite-Smith, and Thoth. Which style do you prefer? Feel free to share your thoughts on the Readers Studio Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReadersStudio/ ======================================= About Beverly: Beverly Frable is a professional tarot consultant, having studied divination under the direction of many of the world’s renowned experts while attending tarot events across the United States. You can learn more about her at: www.tarotconnections.com https://www.facebook.com/beverly.tarotconnections Tarot School Aphorism JOIN US AT THE 2018 TAROT & PSYCHOLOGY CONFERENCE! TarotAndPsychology.com (NOTE: If you have already registered for the 2018 Readers Studio and would like to add the Thursday, Tarot & Psychology Conference to your registration, contact us for the coupon code to get the special 2-conference discount.) PsychWise: EXPERIMENTING WITH TAROT by Art Rosengarten, Ph.D. The unseen and invisible worlds operating beneath
the Tarot process will be brought into clearer focus and understanding by “experimentation.” A wider meaning of experimentation is called for, however, not necessarily the narrow application of strict scientific procedures, but more generally “taking a course of action tentatively adopted without being sure of the eventual outcome” as the word ‘experiment’ is defined. “To try out new concepts or ways of doing things,” from the Latin experiri or 'try'. “Try it!” is the message. Studying card patterns that appear “randomly” via divination in a slightly more scientific manner requires a little more structure and procedure. My own way has first been to contemplate the manifest structure, and possible meanings of a given spread. Then take the additional steps of quantifying, comparing, contrasting, wondering about, analyzing, and eventually, assembling and organizing this data into a formal study of sorts. This study could be coherently presented to others, though not likely replicated, (a cornerstone of hard science), which cannot easily be done here due to the very nature of nature. This essentially is what empirical investigation of Tarot has meant to me. The essence of my scientific attitude is, in effect, “try it,” and then ask the question “What can be learned from this?” Study subjects are abundant. They can be found literally anywhere –– ordinary life, friends, family, complete strangers, and special populations from presidential candidates to truck drivers, to fleeing Syrians. It’s up to you. All of them can be studied through the synchronistic lens of readings. Why not? In my doctoral research (1985), I studied readings of eight members of an experimental dream group I was conducting in San Francisco. Subjects should not be limited by time or space either. They could be your friends and neighbors today, or just as easily, public and historical figures of the past, fictional characters, even larger entities, such as nation-states, ethnicities, gender studies, planets in the solar system, or rats in the castle. Some experiments I’ve tried have been addressed to the dead. Some might be to the ‘yet-to-be born,’ the “undead,” or even the “seemingly dead” like your Aunt Agnes or Uncle Joe. There really is no limit to whom or to what an experiment might be directed, or invited in for questioning. As with all good science, the experimenter must come to the investigation with an unbiased and open mind. This is no different than the proper attitude of a Tarot reader coming to a reading, a psychotherapist coming to a therapy session, or a nuclear scientist coming to an electron. In fact, it may be a general rule of life. Rule number one: Leave your “ego” behind, it’s contaminated. This includes your personal beliefs, theories, preferences, credentials, accomplishments, and opinions, even your knowledge itself. Leave them at the door. This way the Tarot oracle can do the heavy lifting, as it should. (Excerpted from Art's new book, Tarot of the Future: Raising Spiritual Consciousness.) About Art: Dr. Art Rosengarten is Director/Psychologist of Moonlight Counseling (www.moonlightcounseling.com) in Solama Beach, California and creator of Tarot of The Nine Paths: Advanced Tarot Deck for the Spiritual Traveler. He is a featured presenter at the 2018 Tarot & Psychology Conference in New York. Best Practices for Professional Readers CAVEATS, DISCLAIMERS AND OTHER NOTICES By Gina Thies www.tarotadvisor.com / www.facebook.com/tarotreaders www.tarotcoupling.com / www.oraclesoup.org Read the fine print! One may suppose that this commonly used verbiage isn’t necessary for simple interactions. But for those of us in the business of foresight, forewarning and “parahelper” roles, it is a very necessary part of business. The fine print and warnings on such things as coffee cups like CAUTION: CONTENTS VERY HOT! or PROFESSIONAL DRIVER - DO NOT ATTEMPT amuse me. However, it’s very entertaining until it isn’t. The realization is that people need such warnings because, well – we’re only human! I’ve learned over years of providing readings that it is imperative to inform querents of what you can and cannot do as a reader. I have also learned to use caveats and notices all over my website, and I also give a brief “spiel” to new clients on what to expect in a reading with me and my services. Why?...because people tend to gloss over the fine details. One of the other areas where it is important to provide a notice is about the terms of using your website and acceptance of payments. In the last few years many payment gateways or merchant services have declined business with tarot readers/psychics because they have to deal with too many charge-back issues. I have managed to only encounter 3 in over 15 years, 2.5 of which I’ve won! Clear stipulation for using your services whether in the form of a notice, disclaimer or otherwise informing the end user of the terms of service will save a lot of confusion and unpleasant surprises. Resource: You'll find my own Code/Caveats here: http://www.tarotadvisor.com/buyorder/codecaveats/ Tarot Salon
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