"I don't usually like to vent my frustrations online, and..."
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(left to right: Ruth Ann Amberstone, Wald Amberstone, 

Irene Kendall holding a photograph of the late Lelia Dickenson)

QUESTION:

I love this course. I am learning so much! I'm doing a really good job at intuiting the meanings of the cards in the lesson. When I go back to the Comparison portion I am generally right on and match the lesson's given meanings. I know there are layers and layers of meanings, but how can I turn the mechanics of the meanings into an intuitive reading that will be accurate and benefit the querent?

Sometimes when giving readings to friends/family, I pick up things right away, then the rest of the cards I have to think about and this usually takes several minutes. How can I speed up the process?

Love and light,
Helen

ANSWER:

Wald and I are glad you're enjoying the course, Helen. And thank you for your question. The answer that's the shortest to say and the longest to do is "Practice." The more you read, the smoother your readings will become. It's really that simple. In the meantime, however, here are a few tips you may find helpful:

• Trust Your Intuition

You're already off to a good start here. By continuing to do the lessons and have your instincts validated, you'll grow to trust yourself even more. Of course, the greatest validation will come from your querents in the form of feedback. This leads me to the next point...

• Dialogue

The best way to do "an intuitive reading that will be accurate and benefit the querent" is to be in touch with the querent's needs. Unless you are a talented mind-reader, this means talking, asking questions, getting feedback.

Clarify the primary question as much as possible and check in with them along the way: "The cards are telling me that ....... Does this resonate with you?" If they say yes, you'll know you're on the right track. If they say no, here's your chance to find out why and change the direction of the reading. Even experienced readers are off-base from time to time. As long as you keep an active dialogue with your querent, you'll be able to give a satisfying and beneficial reading.

• Find the Connections

Look at all the cards and find which ones support what you're discussing at the moment. Sometimes, a card that you've already read will have new information as the reading progresses. Sometimes it just underscores a point. Go back and revisit these cards as you go along. Occasionally, you may wish to jump ahead briefly for the same reason.

• Add Knowledge to the Mix

Once you know some of the esoteric associations for the cards, you can always draw upon this information to supplement your intuition. You'll find there are times when that is just what you need to best answer the question. These are things like astrological and numerological associations, as well as seasons, elements, esoteric functions and even esoteric titles. The more you learn, the more you'll have to work with. Eventually, all this information will also become "intuitive." It'll just show up when you need it.

• Go with the Flow

If you reach a card where you have a little to say at first but know there's more that's just out of reach, you can mention what you know and suggest, "Let's come back to this card later." This will help the flow of the reading and perhaps subsequent cards will point you in the right direction.

Another technique you can try when you're not sure of what to say is to hand the card to the querent and ask how it makes them feel or what it reminds them of. Involving the querent in the reading is another way to make sure you stay on track with what they need.

It's also fine if you need to take some extra time with a card or two. The querent will appreciate that you're allowing enough time for your intuition to work. Allow time for silences. Let the reading find it's own pacing -- don't feel you have to talk non-stop in order for the session to be valuable.

• Practice

This bears repeating so I'll say it again. Practice. And stick with the exercises in the correspondence course. The more you study and do readings, the easier it will become and the more confidence you'll gain! 
 

Resource:

The Tarot School Correspondence Course

https://tarotschool.com/Course.html

Wald's Words of Wisdom

Rhapsodomancy, also known as rhapsodomantia, is a form of divination that interprets passages from poetry or literature to gain insight into questions or situations. This ancient practice dates back to the Greeks, who often used works like Homer's epics for guidance.

Historical Background The term "rhapsodomancy" combines "rhapsode," referring to a person who recites epic poems, and "mancy," meaning divination. Practitioners believed that the random selection of a poem or literary passage could reveal hidden truths or guidance from the divine. The practice was common in cultures with a strong literary tradition, including ancient Greece and China.

How Rhapsodomancy Works
Rhapsodomancy can be performed in various ways, but the core idea is to let fate or intuition guide the selection of a poetic passage. Here are some common methods:

Book Method: 

A practitioner randomly selects a book of poetry, asks a question, and then opens the book to a random page. The first verse or passage that catches the eye is interpreted as an answer.

Scrolling Method: 

With digital texts, a similar method involves scrolling through an online poetry collection or e-book and stopping at a random point.

Prepared Slips: 

Write verses or lines of poetry on separate slips of paper, place them in a container, and draw one at random.

How To Use Rhapsodomancy

Here are a few examples of how this divination technique can help you.

Decision-Making: 

Suppose you're unsure whether to accept a job offer. You might take a book of Emily Dickinson's poetry, ask your question, and open to a random page. You land on the line, "Dwell in possibility." This might suggest that the new job holds many potential opportunities.

Emotional Guidance: 

Feeling lost or overwhelmed, you decide to seek comfort through Rumi's poems. You ask for emotional guidance and select a passage: "The wound is the place where the Light enters you." This could provide solace and encouragement, indicating that your struggles are a path to greater understanding.

Creative Inspiration: 

As an artist seeking inspiration, you turn to a collection of Pablo Neruda's works. After focusing on your intention, you draw a slip that reads, "I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees." This vivid imagery could inspire a new creative direction or project.

Interpretation Tips

Context Matters:

Consider the context of the poem and how it relates to your question. A line about nature might suggest natural cycles or growth, while one about love might point to relationships.

Intuition: 

Trust your intuition in interpreting the passage. The meaning might not be immediately clear, but reflect on how it resonates with your situation.

Multiple Passages: 

If one passage seems unclear, it's acceptable to draw another for additional insight.

Rhapsodomancy is a fascinating blend of literary appreciation and divination. It invites us to explore the deeper meanings within poetry and to find guidance in the beauty of words. Whether for personal insight, decision-making, or creative inspiration, rhapsodomancy offers a unique and poetic way to connect with the wisdom of the ages.


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].

Tarot and Past Lives 

You have lived before — and your past lives hold answers to questions that cannot be explained by this life alone. Using only a tarot deck (without hypnotic regression), you will learn to remember and experience past lives in detail, from birth to death.

In this 5-part audio course you will:

Learn how to relive your own past lives and personally experience their impact and reality.

Find out how past lives hold answers to questions that cannot be explained by this life alone.

Find out how and why your many lives are linked together.

Listen to actual past life experiences as they happen, complete with detailed technique and in-depth discussion.

Discover the secrets of who you are now by discovering who you have been with this simple, yet extremely effective, technique taught exclusively by The Tarot School. Even if you've never read Tarot before, you can quickly master this powerful skill. Use it to uncover hidden truths about yourself, or help friends, clients and loved ones find their answers to this life's most pressing questions. 

Meet The Reader
BENEBELL WEN
 

By Sharonah Rapseik, Ph.D., CMAP

Benebell Wen is the author of of Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth (2015), The Tao of Craft: A Primer on FU Talismans and Casting Sigils in the Eastern Esoteric Traditions (2016), and most recently, I Ching, The Oracle (2023), all published by North Atlantic Books.

She is also the creator and illustrator of the Spirit Keeper's Tarot which comes with a companion guidebook, The Book of Maps which you can order directly from her website.

Benebell is a corporate attorney practicing law in California and New York, who also happens to be a practitioner of various metaphysical arts. She studies tarot, feng shui, the I Ching, numerology, and both Chinese and Hellenistic astrology. She currently lives in Northern California with her husband James.

The name "Benebell Wen" is actually a pseudonym. It's based on her Chinese name which means "good" or "benevolent" and "bell" like the musical instrument hence Benebell.

According to Benebell Wen, she opted for this pseudonym in a determined attempt to keep what she does in tarot separate from her professional life as a corporate attorney. Also according to Benebell, "Throughout occult history all the cool people had pseudonyms and if nothing else I want to be cool." 

Sharonah Rapseik:
Benebell, what makes your tarot practice unique and how do you express it?

Benebell Wen: 
Let's be clear about something, okay? I am a content creator. I create content. I'm not a teacher. I don't have a single degree or even a certification that qualifies me in any way whatsoever to teach you anything. I'm not even qualified to teach you how to tie your shoes, let alone the meaning of life or how to save your soul. I don't lead. I'm not part of nor do I steer any sort of movement. I'm not motivated by a grand mission to get everyone on some agenda.

I'm not a master of anything. Although technically I could try to call myself a Certified Tarot Master except... well, that gives people the giggles more than it impresses anybody. (sigh.) I'm not a thought leader because I don't have any original thoughts. I'm sometimes a mouthpiece sharing other people's ideas that I really like.

Yes, admittedly, I have deeply-held religious beliefs, but part of my religious beliefs is that there is no one single "right" religion. In fact, I believe in a complex and layered account of karma, unique personal backstory, and authentic character development, which means your path to transcendence has to be and will be unique to you. It won't mirror mine and mine won't mirror yours. And that's the way it's got to be. That's the way it is.

Which means I don't preach. I'm like any other human being who struggles with her personal spirituality, and so sometimes I will talk out loud about my beliefs or exploration of the intangible. Please do not misinterpret my real-time vocalized ruminations as preaching. I do like to give my opinions, of which I have many, as do you. One of the cool things about the internet is any idiot from any corner of the world can give an opinion and publish it, which is all I'm doing here on my own platform. If you're treating my opinion as some sort of espoused gospel of truth for you to follow loyally to the end or, the opposite, something for you to refute with vitriol driven by some subconscious fear that my ideas are dangerous, then I think you may have completely missed the point. Of, like Life.

I don't consider myself spiritual and I get unnerved when I hear people who clearly don't know me well refer to me as spiritual. I don't try to be high vibe. Frankly people who try too hard to be high vibe annoy the hell out of me. I'm love and light when I'm actually feeling it, but when I'm not, you bet I'll let you know. There are times when I'm perfectly content with being an asshat and make no apologies to you about it. I embrace being a "jerk-face" as much as I embrace being compassionate. Basically, you can't count on me to be the bigger person, but you can count on me to tell you what I really think.

I'm not initiated into any longstanding lineages and I don't consider myself to be part of any established traditions. I'm not a religious teacher, or a religious scholar. I'm not a spiritual teacher. Maybe I'm your online BFF who likes to share notes with you. In the same way you might be more experienced than me in some areas, I might be more experienced than you in some areas, and to that limited extent, perhaps I might offer you my thoughts. 

Sharonah:
Thank you Benebell, it’s been a pleasure to meet you!
 

To Follow Benebell Wen:

Website: 
https://benebellwen.com

(You can sign up there for her blog, online courses, purchase her tarot deck, and also find lots of goodies.)

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/benebellwentarot

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bellwen/
 

About Sharonah:

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!

JUNE 2024:  
  3 - Issues of the 4 Queens
10 - Esoterics of the 4 Queens
17 - The Secret of Strength
24 - Secret Path Reading Technique

NOTE:

The Tarot Salon will be on hiatus during the first 2-3 weeks of July as Ruth Ann recovers from knee replacement surgery. 

Get on the notification list to see what we'll be teaching each week. 

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. 

If you are familiar with the Tree of Life, you may request a Birth Cards Synastry Reading. I will compare your Birth Cards with those of one or two others to give you a deeper understanding of your relationship with them.

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!