Tarot Tips: Quickie Reading Prep / Meteormancy / Surprise News!
Published: Sat, 04/01/23
"It is with deep sadness that we commemorate the passing of Lelia..."
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Newsletter of The Tarot School
http://TarotSchool.com ISSN: 1529-0565 Vol. 15 #4 April 1, 2023
In this Issue: - Welcome
- Tarot Tip: Quickie Reading Prep - Wald's Words of Wisdom - Diviner's Corner: Meteormancy - What's Gnu? - Meet the Reader: Winifred Tannetta-Costello - Upcoming Events Welcome to a new issue of Tarot Tips!
And a special welcome to our new subscribers.
This month you came from: Australia, France, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Norway, Philippines. Romania, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We're glad you're here! It is with deep sadness that we commemorate the recent passing of Lelia Dickenson, one of the co-founders of The Tarot School. Back in the 20th Century (the Winter of 1994 to be exact), we were hanging out with Lelia and another friend, Irene Kendall, at The Open Center, a wholistic learning center in SoHo. Although the four of us were very different, we all shared one thing—a love of tarot. On this particular evening, we were discussing how although we knew of occasional one-day or weekend workshops on tarot, and even a 6-week introductory course or two, there was nowhere to study tarot in New York City on a continuing basis –– no place where one could study the cards in-depth. If you went to a class, there was only enough time to spend a few minutes on each card. After that, except for a few good books, you were on your own. (The tarot community as we know it now didn’t exist at the time.) “Wouldn’t it be great if there were someplace we could meet to study tarot every week,” asked Irene; “someplace where we could take time with the cards?” Not being content to just talk, we made plans to change this sorry state of affairs, and a couple of months later, The Tarot School opened its doors. The two of us made the commitment to lead a weekly 3-hour class at the Source of Life Center in midtown, and Lelia and Irene agreed to come as often as they could to help out. We put out a flyer at the Source of Life, bought an ad in a local New Age newspaper, and waited for a flood of students. At first, there were only two or three students each week. The truth is, there were a couple of times when nobody came at all. But optimism, patience and perseverance eventually paid off, and The Tarot School grew in surprising ways. 28 years later, our weekly classes are still going strong. After awhile, we started planning our first tarot conference, The New York Tarot Festival, which was held in 2002. The following year, we started producing the annual Readers Studio. Lelia and Irene managed the on-site operations all those years. If you attended and had a good experience, they had a lot to do with that. Sasha Graham summed up how so many of us felt about Lelia when she wrote the following: "Lelia’s warmth and energy were among my favorite things about her. No matter what was going on for the Readers Studio staff, she always grounded us and made us feel like everything would be okay. Her deep laugh, soft eyes and kindness were a salve for the soul." Lelia has been a dear friend for over 30 years. Her laugh, her smile, and her magic will reside forever in our hearts. ~ Ruth Ann & Wald Amberstone P.S. If you would like to watch the replay of the memorial tribute to Lelia Dickenson, the ceremony begins at the 1 hour 5 minute mark here: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/41456434 And one more thing... "Joi" is a statue that Lelia created for the Rivers Run Community Garden, which was very dear to her heart. If you would like to honor Lelia's memory, please consider a donation toward the upkeep of her statue and support of the garden's community programs here: https://paypal.com/paypalme/RiversRunGarden Wishing you joy along the tarot path, Ruth Ann, Wald, Gina and Sharonah
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QUICKIE READING PREP
[Note: This article originally appeared in the August 5, 2002 issue of Tarot Tips, before reading over Zoom was even possible. While the specifics of how and where you conduct "emergency" readings –– if you even do them –– may not apply to you, the self-care techniques are useful in many contexts. ~ Ruth Ann] QUESTION: I would like to know if you can give any suggestions for a quick way to get prepared to give a reading. I usually do meditations and clearing as a part of my personal ritual to prepare but this is a bit time consuming and I allow for it, but sometimes I get people who want to get an emergency reading after I have just walked in the door from running errands. Is there a good technique for preparing or is it necessary at all? Thanks as always, Georgina ANSWER: Thanks for this interesting question, Georgina. The first thing to do is check your inner state. If, even though you've been rushing around, you feel up to giving a good reading, then there are some quick and easy things you can do to help you settle your energy. If, however, you feel pressured, hassled, or imposed upon by your client's "emergency," you'd both be better off if you can reschedule the reading for a time when you can give them your best. If a phone client calls the moment you walk in the door and you decide to do the reading, ask them to call back in ten minutes while you prepare yourself to give them your undivided attention. Here are some simple ways you can center your energy just before a reading -- whether your day has been hectic or not. Feel free to use as few or as many of these suggestions as you like. None of them take more than a few moments. PERSONAL PREPARATION --------------------------------------- • Running Water Running water is one of nature's best energy cleansers. If you can take a quick shower, that's best but often there's no time. In that case, go to the sink and let cold water run over the pulse points at your wrists. Splash some inside your elbows and just below your earlobes. Finally, dab some cold water on your third eye, the space between your eyebrows. None of this should disturb your makeup if you're wearing any. If you're not, you can wash your face more thoroughly but end with some extra attention to the third eye. • Clear Your Space The rest of your house may be a mess but make sure the area where you're doing your reading is as clear as possible. Even if the session is being held on the phone, you want as few visual distractions as possible in your immediate area. • Incense If allergies/asthma are not a problem for you or your querent, light some incense before they arrive. This will help to raise the energy vibration of the room and also help to shift your consciousness. I recommend a light scent such as Nag Champa or Sandalwood. You may wish to extinguish the incense right before your guest arrives. • Music Put on some soothing music as you prepare for your querent's arrival. You can keep it on or turn it off during the reading as you both prefer. • Silence As an alternative, sit in silence for a short while -- even if its only for 30 seconds. Watch your breath and quiet your mind. You may feel that for meditation to be of any use, you need to sit for longer. Of course if you have longer, that's great. But to sit with intention for even a very brief period is still beneficial. Close your eyes, take three really deep breaths, and let your thoughts drift away. BEFORE THE READING BEGINS ----------------------------------------------- • Water Here's that water again. Offer some to your client and make sure to pour yourself a glass as well. Even if you don't tend to drink much water at other times, I find it very helpful to keep my energy balanced during a reading. • Crystal Place a piece of your favorite crystal on the table. Crystals are known to have specific properties and one of the following may be useful as a quick energy balancer: HEMATITE: Grounds, protects MALACHITE: Dispels stress, anxiety OBSIDIAN: Wards off negativity, grounds PYRITE: Dispels anxiety QUARTZ, ROSE: Tranquilizes, calms QUARTZ, SMOKY: Balances emotions TOPAZ: Relaxes, balances • Centering Especially if this is an "emergency reading," the querent's own energy could use some centering before you begin as well. There are a few ways you can do this together at the beginning of your session: 1) Breathe together - two deep breaths should do it. If you feel comfortable with each other, hold hands while you do this. 2) Pray - offer a brief opening prayer. 3) Chant - a simple OM for one or two breaths is a marvelous way to connect and center. Ask your querent to join in if you think this is appropriate. • Clear the Deck Even if you do nothing else, clear your deck before you begin the reading. A very simple but effective method of doing this is to place your cards face-down in a stack on the table in front of you. Cross your hands at the wrists and hold them over the cards. Then separate them with a quick, forceful movement and feel the energy clear. I strongly recommend doing this (or another clearing method of your choice) before every reading –– even those you do for yourself. I have noticed that my readings go more smoothly and have more power if I've taken a little time for myself before I begin, even if it's just a few minutes. Oh, and one last tip -- always remember the BIG rule: Breathing Is Good! Wald's Words of Wisdom Diviner's Corner METEORMANCY
Meteormancy is a form of divination that involves the interpretation of meteorological phenomena, such as clouds, lightning, thunder, and wind, in order to predict future events. It is an ancient practice that has been used by many cultures throughout history, including the Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Native Americans. In meteormancy, the diviner typically observes the behavior of the natural elements and interprets their patterns and movements. For example, the direction of the wind, the color and shape of clouds, the frequency and intensity of lightning, and the sound of thunder may all be analyzed in order to make predictions about the future. Some practitioners of meteormancy also use specialized tools, such as weather vanes or barometers, to aid in their readings. Meteormancy has been practiced for thousands of years and has been an important part of many cultures and religions. In ancient Greece, for example, the philosopher Aristotle wrote extensively about meteors and their relationship to the earth and sky. In the Middle Ages, meteors were often seen as omens or signs of divine intervention, and their appearance was closely monitored by astrologers and alchemists. One of the most well-known forms of meteormancy is storm divination, which involves observing the behavior of thunder and lightning in order to predict future events. In some cultures, thunder was thought to be the voice of the gods, while lightning was seen as a powerful force that could strike down enemies or bring good fortune. In addition to storm divination, other forms of meteormancy include cloud reading, wind divination, and rain prediction. Cloud reading involves interpreting the shapes and colors of clouds to make predictions about the weather or future events. Wind divination involves analyzing the direction and strength of the wind to make predictions about future developments. Rain prediction involves observing the behavior of rain and moisture in the atmosphere to predict future events. Today, meteormancy is not widely practiced as a form of divination, but it remains an important part of many cultural traditions and can be a fascinating way to explore the connections between the natural world and human destiny. We’d love your suggestion or submissions for this column! If you have an idea or would like to contribute, please contact us at [email protected]. UNLOCKING THE TAROT 22 Keys to Understanding Its Symbolic Language by Wald Amberstone and Ruth Ann Amberstone Well, this was a surprise! Apparently, Weiser Books is re-releasing our book, The Secret Language of Tarot with a new name and a new cover. What's particularly surprising is that they haven't told us! It's not coming out until November, so maybe they haven't gotten around to it yet? We found out when we were approached by a company wanting to help us market the book with a video trailer. Their email featured the new cover. With so much piracy going on these days, our first reaction was to be very suspicious. But it's legit! We're excited that our book has been given a new lease on life and that a whole new generation of people will be introduced to our unique approach to tarot symbolism. It's available to pre-order from Amazon but please be advised that if you already own a copy of The Secret Language of Tarot, it's the same book. Or... You can order an autographed copy of the current version directly from us right now –– and get a bonus recording of our class on Pillars! Learn about it here: https://tarotschool.com/secret_language_of_tarot.html Meet The Reader WINIFRED TANNETTA-COSTELLO By Sharonah Rapseik, Ph.D., CMAP Winifred Tannetta-Costello has been learning and practicing Witchcraft, in one form or another, since she was 16. She has over 35 years of direct experience, study and knowledge in Paganism, Goddess Traditions, Witchcraft, Faery Seership, Tarot, Folk Magick, Reiki and Energy Healing. From 2010 - 2016 Winifred was the Lead Coordinator for Western Massachusetts Pagan Pride Day, a community based a group that provides education, resources, and events for folks interested in Paganism. From 2006 - 2020, Winifred operated her own brick and mortar business "The Awentree" in Easthampton, Massachusetts, which she now operates as an online shop. She has a healing studio space where she works with students and clients in Northampton, Massachusetts. Sharonah Rapseik: Winifred, what makes your tarot practice unique and how do you express it? Winifred Tannetta-Costello: I was given my first tarot deck, The Morgan Greer, on my 16th birthday. (And, yes, I still have that very same deck.) Since that day, I have been an intuitive tarot nerd. As a lifelong practicing Earth Mystic, Intuitive Healer and Witch, my approach is an integrative one. I draw from intersecting crossroads of knowledge, intuition and spirit communication to bring forward the combined wisdom of old world mysticism, divination and spirituality. I believe in empowering your personal agency and free will rather than telling you a “possible” future as I connect with my Spirit Guides, while drawing upon a strong knowledge based foundation. Standing between the worlds, my tarot readings are heart-centered and spirit-led as we peer through the Veil; seeking guidance from the cards. Sharonah Rapseik: Thank you Winifred, it’s been a pleasure to meet you! To follow Winifred Tannetta-Costello: Sharonah Rapseik is an Artist / Designer, Author, Tarot Reader, Radio Host and Producer for Psychic Talk Radio. Visit her at: https://psychictalk.net/sharonah/ Upcoming Events: Tarot Salon on Zoom! 7:00 - 9:00 pm EST Our popular Monday night classes are now online so you can attend no matter where you live. Classes are recorded and all levels of experience are welcome! April 2023: 3 - The Moon 10 - The Sun 17 - Birth Cards: World – Empress 24 - TBD Get on the notification list to see what we'll be teaching each week. Find the form and register here: https://tarot.salon Readings with Ruth Ann Running The Tarot School with Wald keeps me pretty busy, but I still love giving readings! My specialty is using your Birth Cards and Elemental Array (techniques Wald and I have developed) in conjunction with random draws to give you an extremely personalized and powerful reading. I excel at giving Readings for Readers so if you're always giving readings to others, let me help you with some self-care for a change! Click Here to book your private reading with me over Zoom. 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