Tarot Tips: "Proper" Tarot Divination
Published: Wed, 04/01/15
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![]() Vol. 7 #4 / April 1, 2015
In this Issue: - Welcome
- Tarot Tip: "Proper" Tarot Divination
- Tarot School Aphorism
- What's Gnu?
- Tarot Card Showcase: 4 of Pentacles
- Best Practices: Time's Up! How to Avoid the Overtime Trap
- Cool Tarot Project
- Featured Tarot Blog: Queen of Wands Tarot
- Upcoming Events
HAPPY DAY OF THE FOOL!
![]() Welcome to a new issue of Tarot Tips!
And a special welcome to our new subscribers.
April is here and we're psyched and (almost) ready to
host our biggest event of the year – the 2015 Readers Studio (RS15) and the 3rd Annual Tarot and Psychology Conference. We’ll be delighted to see new and old friends, while raising the bar once again on the learning, networking and fun. This is truly a team effort, and our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who helps make it all happen! We'll be taking a much-need break afterwards, so the next issue of Tarot Tips will be in June. In the meantime, here's what we have in store for you this month… Tarot divination has come such a long way from its mysterious origins. Well, maybe divination is not as mysterious as the origins of the cards but, nonetheless, intriguing to many. What constitutes "proper" tarot divination? In this issue we will pull directly from the Hermetic Order of The Golden Dawn’s lessons on the elements of proper tarot divination. Joining us in this issue is the Lord of Earthly Power, known as the Four of Pentacles to most of us. Just as the figure clings to the pentacles, some of your clients may cling to your every word, to the point that they go beyond the time they've scheduled. The ‘Best Practices’ column talks about the importance of boundaries and working within timed appointments. Lastly, we are excited to have another great blog to share with you. By the way, if you happen to know the artist of the above depiction of The Fool, please let us know. Thanks! And one more thing...
![]() Artwork by Carrie Paris
May your tarot journey be a safe and happy,
Ruth Ann, Wald & Gina
Tarot Tips is here to help you with the practical side of your Tarot journey. In order to take the greatest
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questions regarding any aspect of your tarot study
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Spread the experience of tarot - share this newsletter with other Tarot Enthusiasts! Tarot Tip
"PROPER" TAROT DIVINATION
In the evolution of tarot, there are many traditions that
never seem to dissipate in terms of the rules of "correct" tarot divination. Many tarot teachers and practitioners speak of various formulas for a "proper" tarot divination, and highly recommend that their students follow them. These formulas sometimes include such things as what types of question to ask, and who does the shuffling -- querent or diviner. The uses of tarot are vast and fluid due to its personal significance and relevance for everyone who explores this tool. While some are non-conformists about following the nineteenth century methods of the Golden Dawn, there are some who are sticklers about utilizing their formula. So why are there certain protocols in reading tarot and where do they come from? Noted occult author and former Golden Dawn member, Israel Regardie in his 1937 encyclopedic work The Golden Dawn, made public the rites, teachings and ceremonies of the Order and their rationale, including some instruction in tarot divination according to the Order’s principles. Some of these instructions may have evolved out of the combined influence of esoteric giants like Eliphas Levi and A.E. Waite. See if you do or recognize these in your own approach to reading the cards. The guidelines mentioned are: 1. Invoke a Higher Force. 2. Dress using a distinguishing emblem or insignia. 3. Make a hexagram or Pentagram over the deck with hand or wand. 4. Mix or shuffle the deck with a clear and unprejudiced mind. 5. Have a completely passive intention. 6. Possess a sound knowledge of the correspondences of the symbols used. 7. Only attempt to answer questions in which you are not emotionally involved. 8. Diviner should be able to employ clairvoyant and intuitive faculties. 9. Avoid strained interpretations. 10. Avoid divining repeatedly on the same matter. In a tarot reading, you could reasonably say that you are working with elemental forces. The deck itself can be likened to a portable temple in which reverence and care for the deck and the reading process itself are appropriate. Tarot School Aphorism
![]() ![]() ORACLE SOUP:
Kitchen Table Conversation – Schooled on Tarot
with Wald Amberstone One of the more unique tarot podcasts out there is
co-hosted by Gina Thies and Katrina Wynne. Oracle Soup features a series of "Kitchen Table Conversations," which are just as intimate, informal and delightful as it sounds! Wald was their special guest recently, and opened up about philosophy and where Tarot finds it’s home in our hearts. Listen in and enjoy a hearty portion of Oracle Soup: http://oraclesoup.org/podcast/kitchen-table-conversation-schooled-on-tarot/ Tarot Card Showcase
In this section we will feature tidbits on a specific tarot card. While there are many systems and decks to choose from in
the world of tarot, here we use the Universal Waite Tarot
images and symbols.
Copyright 1992 U.S Games.
![]() 4 OF PENTACLES
Attributions:
Astrological Attribution:
Sun in Capricorn
Qabalistic Attribution:
Mercy in the World of Manifestation
Element: Earth
Esoteric Title: Lord of Earthly Power
Traditional Meanings:
Though rooted in prosperity and crowned with success,
possessions can be cold comfort. Security is the result of care and order, but habit dominates behavior, creating fear of change. Influential, focused, centered. Rigid, suspicious, closed. Self-sufficient. Miserly. Responsible. Tense. Structure and standard support a sense of personal worth. Generosity, though uncharacteristic, is not unknown. Uncompromising. Unapologetic. Imagery:
Crowned King on Stone Throne: The qualities of
The Emperor in the world of Manifestation. His arms are held around the central pentacle in the gesture of the lemniscate, symbol here of free-flowing abundance. Crown: Symbol of the connection between heaven and earth, the channel for the exchange of energy between Above and Below. City: The King’s empire, source of his earthly power. The Four Pentacles: Correspond to the letters of the Tetragrammaton and the four corners of the earth: the pentacle crowning the head is the letter Yod, ruling the East; the pentacle at the heart is the letter Vav, ruling the West. This pentacle is also emblematic of the Sun in Capricorn. The pentacles at the feet are the two Hehs. The pentacle on the right is the first Heh and rules the South. The pentacle on the left is the second Heh that rules the North. Excerpted from The Tarot School Correspondence Course
http://tarotschool.com/Course.html ![]() Best Practices for Professional Readers
TIME'S UP! HOW TO AVOID THE OVERTIME TRAP
By Gina Thies
You cannot do this type of work without building rapport and
sustaining a supportive relationship with your querents. You have to have the capacity to hold space for your clients as they process the information you give them, as well as working efficiently so that they can get the most out of their sessions. For some of us, no matter how hard we try to give the best possible reading, there will always be clients that seem to never want to get off the phone or out of our chairs. They are enchanted with your eloquent explanation of their lives and before you know it the half-hour reading is about 10 minutes from coming to a close. Then it happens. They suddenly remember what they really wanted to know -- they have one last question. Typically, this question requires a new spread or doesn't tie into what you’ve already discussed, so they’ll need more time. You know it won’t happen in ten minutes. The half-hour reading is now becoming 45 minutes. For most of us, using a timer is an all too obvious hint, but it rarely stops this from happening. One of the fastest ways readers end up in the state called “burn out” is by not staying conscious of time and working within time constraints. Another aspect of this issue is that as we spend more time with clients than we should, we are in a sense fulfilling their need for familiarity: to have connection and interaction with another human. We end up being “gratifiers” who in the end will barely be able to help ourselves. Some clients come to us in very harsh circumstances and are trying to heal and gain some sense of direction. There is no harm in empathizing with their plight but we can’t take it personally and lose focus. In relating to their troubles, we can lose objectivity in the reading, and thus get thrown off our timing. Clients rarely have just one question. They may have difficulty formulating a question or articulating their many concerns into one focus that works in 30 minutes. It’s always good to space out appointments just in case you do go into overtime; however, you'll want to nip the behavior in the bud. You can say, “I normally do not allow for more time than scheduled, but just this once..” or “I have other obligations pending. Can we look into scheduling another time for this?” Going overtime is really a big boundary issue for both of you. I understand it is really hard to turn down payment if they are willing to pay for the extra time, but trust me, it is a huge red flag. One last thing I want to say that may be the most valuable take-away from this article is to learn the importance of closure. We talk about closure in terms of ending relationships, etc. The way you end a reading is just as important as beginning a reading. You can do this without losing the human touch by incorporating little personal cues to help the client’s awareness that the “time is nigh” for things to come to an end. Some readers draw “one final card” or speak in terms of an outcome, or give a summary, recapping everything that was covered up until a certain point. At about 10 minutes away, I ask if the reading resonates with them and if it all makes sense. For the grand finale, I say “this reading “feels” complete to me and tell them I hope to work with them again soon. For some of you it may be time to take payment or schedule future appointments. The most important thing, next to getting paid, is to stay within your boundaries. Cool Tarot Project
TAROCCO: A SOLDIER'S TALE
![]() A breathtaking new stage production from the Fox & Beggar Theater fusing circus arts, visual arts, music, technology and dance. The Italian tradition of Comedia dell’arte comes alive in Tarocco: A Soldier’s Tale, a kaleidoscopic narrative about one soldier’s journey out of the trenches of the first World War and into the mesmerizing dreamworld of a 15th century Italian Tarot deck… The level of creativity, talent and dedication that's going into this production is outstanding! It's not too often that a tarot-themed project of this magnitude comes along, and we're happy to give it our enthusiastic support. We encourage you to check out their Kickstarter campaign and contribute what you can to this worthy effort! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1103780390/tarocco-a-soldiers-tale Featured Tarot Blog
QUEEN OF WANDS TAROT
Jenna Matlin, the intuitive engine behind the Queen of Wands
site, is a professional reader and business coach. She works to develop some of the best in the business. Jenna blogs about her interests as a tarot professional, giving you an upfront seat to her world as she embodies the Queen of Wands. Upcoming Events:
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