The Tarot

I don't know what you missed but in summary I asked Tarot practitioners to explain exactly what it is that they do.  I asked a similar set of questions on a number of websites. 

By all means start a different thread because discussing Tarot would be a distraction from the topic of this one.

Crystal wrote:

I don't know what you missed but in summary I asked Tarot practitioners to explain exactly what it is that they do.  I asked a similar set of questions on a number of websites. 

By all means start a different thread because discussing Tarot would be a distraction from the topic of this one.

There is a really interesting thread over on the Mediumship board that discusses different aspects of reading and the confusion that seems to be around the difference of what is and what isn't a reading etc.  So as not to distract from that discussion I thought I would open a thread here to see if we can discuss Tarot in a similar way.

Personally I don't ever use the word practitioner with regards to Tarot. I think it is easier to say Tarot Reader, Tarot Teacher or even Tarot Master and leave practitioner to therapies.

Not sure what the question is exactly "what it is that they do?" Maybe if I throw a few ideas out there then we might see if the discussion takes off or not?

1. Anyone can learn to read the Tarot.  You do not need to be a believer, spiritual, psychic or a medium or even have a good memory, but you do need to understand what the Tarot is and how to read it, otherwise you may just as well use pictures cut from a magazine or postcards.

2. There are layers of depth to the Tarot, from scraping the surface and just looking at the pictures to using the symbology and learning the arcane lessons.

3. There is nothing evil about the Tarot only evil readers!

Crystal wrote:

I don't know what you missed but in summary I asked Tarot practitioners to explain exactly what it is that they do.  I asked a similar set of questions on a number of websites. 

By all means start a different thread because discussing Tarot would be a distraction from the topic of this one.

There is a really interesting thread over on the Mediumship board that discusses different aspects of reading and the confusion that seems to be around the difference of what is and what isn't a reading etc.  So as not to distract from that discussion I thought I would open a thread here to see if we can discuss Tarot in a similar way.

Personally I don't ever use the word practitioner with regards to Tarot. I think it is easier to say Tarot Reader, Tarot Teacher or even Tarot Master and leave practitioner to therapies.

Not sure what the question is exactly "what it is that they do?" Maybe if I throw a few ideas out there then we might see if the discussion takes off or not?

1. Anyone can learn to read the Tarot.  You do not need to be a believer, spiritual, psychic or a medium or even have a good memory, but you do need to understand what the Tarot is and how to read it, otherwise you may just as well use pictures cut from a magazine or postcards.

2. There are layers of depth to the Tarot, from scraping the surface and just looking at the pictures to using the symbology and learning the arcane lessons.

3. There is nothing evil about the Tarot only evil readers!

Auras wrote:

Crystal wrote:

I don't know what you missed but in summary I asked Tarot practitioners to explain exactly what it is that they do.  I asked a similar set of questions on a number of websites. 

By all means start a different thread because discussing Tarot would be a distraction from the topic of this one.

There is a really interesting thread over on the Mediumship board that discusses different aspects of reading and the confusion that seems to be around the difference of what is and what isn't a reading etc.  So as not to distract from that discussion I thought I would open a thread here to see if we can discuss Tarot in a similar way.

Personally I don't ever use the word practitioner with regards to Tarot. I think it is easier to say Tarot Reader, Tarot Teacher or even Tarot Master and leave practitioner to therapies.

Not sure what the question is exactly "what it is that they do?" Maybe if I throw a few ideas out there then we might see if the discussion takes off or not?

1. Anyone can learn to read the Tarot.  You do not need to be a believer, spiritual, psychic or a medium or even have a good memory, but you do need to understand what the Tarot is and how to read it, otherwise you may just as well use pictures cut from a magazine or postcards.

2. There are layers of depth to the Tarot, from scraping the surface and just looking at the pictures to using the symbology and learning the arcane lessons.

3. There is nothing evil about the Tarot only evil readers!

That is your interpretation on what tarot cards are.

Tarot cards, Is a deck of cards, You read. Simply as that.

mac wrote:A simple definition of practitioner:  "One who practices something, especially an occupation, profession, or technique."  I see nothing wrong with using the word 'practitioner' as a general term for anyone using Tarot, be they a reader, teacher or master.

in summary I asked Tarot practitioners to explain exactly what it is that they do".  I didn't ask who can do it or learn to do it.  I didn't ask about the complexities of the technique.  I didn't suggest there is anything evil about either Tarot or its readers....

None of the points above answer the question about what a Tarot reader actually does.

mac wrote:

Auras wrote:

Crystal wrote:

I don't know what you missed but in summary I asked Tarot practitioners to explain exactly what it is that they do.  I asked a similar set of questions on a number of websites. 

By all means start a different thread because discussing Tarot would be a distraction from the topic of this one.

There is a really interesting thread over on the Mediumship board that discusses different aspects of reading and the confusion that seems to be around the difference of what is and what isn't a reading etc.  So as not to distract from that discussion I thought I would open a thread here to see if we can discuss Tarot in a similar way.

Personally I don't ever use the word practitioner with regards to Tarot. I think it is easier to say Tarot Reader, Tarot Teacher or even Tarot Master and leave practitioner to therapies.

Not sure what the question is exactly "what it is that they do?" Maybe if I throw a few ideas out there then we might see if the discussion takes off or not?

1. Anyone can learn to read the Tarot.  You do not need to be a believer, spiritual, psychic or a medium or even have a good memory, but you do need to understand what the Tarot is and how to read it, otherwise you may just as well use pictures cut from a magazine or postcards.

2. There are layers of depth to the Tarot, from scraping the surface and just looking at the pictures to using the symbology and learning the arcane lessons.

3. There is nothing evil about the Tarot only evil readers!

That is your interpretation on what tarot cards are.

Tarot cards, Is a deck of cards, You read. Simply as that.

You aren't adding anything, Josh....  This thread needs an experienced Tarot practitioner's input.

Auras wrote:

mac wrote:

Auras wrote:

Crystal wrote:

I don't know what you missed but in summary I asked Tarot practitioners to explain exactly what it is that they do.  I asked a similar set of questions on a number of websites. 

By all means start a different thread because discussing Tarot would be a distraction from the topic of this one.

There is a really interesting thread over on the Mediumship board that discusses different aspects of reading and the confusion that seems to be around the difference of what is and what isn't a reading etc.  So as not to distract from that discussion I thought I would open a thread here to see if we can discuss Tarot in a similar way.

Personally I don't ever use the word practitioner with regards to Tarot. I think it is easier to say Tarot Reader, Tarot Teacher or even Tarot Master and leave practitioner to therapies.

Not sure what the question is exactly "what it is that they do?" Maybe if I throw a few ideas out there then we might see if the discussion takes off or not?

1. Anyone can learn to read the Tarot.  You do not need to be a believer, spiritual, psychic or a medium or even have a good memory, but you do need to understand what the Tarot is and how to read it, otherwise you may just as well use pictures cut from a magazine or postcards.

2. There are layers of depth to the Tarot, from scraping the surface and just looking at the pictures to using the symbology and learning the arcane lessons.

3. There is nothing evil about the Tarot only evil readers!

That is your interpretation on what tarot cards are.

Tarot cards, Is a deck of cards, You read. Simply as that.

You aren't adding anything, Josh....  This thread needs an experienced Tarot practitioner's input.

Due to my knowledge, They where being use in the 15th century, As playing cards. It is just a pack of cards, with detailed drawings on.  There are 78 of them, if am I correct. Not used them much but have studied quite a lot of them. The tarot its-self has many other name, I only remember one of them and that is "Tarock" This was back when they where first invented of course. Knowing that, They where only played by europeans at the start but as time developed they grew else where. As I said as time developed they became mystics, psychics, mediums, occultist and they actually made a lot out of them. I hope this gives you a better understanding mac.

mac wrote:

Auras wrote:

mac wrote:

Auras wrote:

Crystal wrote:

There is a really interesting thread over on the Mediumship board that discusses different aspects of reading and the confusion that seems to be around the difference of what is and what isn't a reading etc.  So as not to distract from that discussion I thought I would open a thread here to see if we can discuss Tarot in a similar way.

Personally I don't ever use the word practitioner with regards to Tarot. I think it is easier to say Tarot Reader, Tarot Teacher or even Tarot Master and leave practitioner to therapies.

Not sure what the question is exactly "what it is that they do?" Maybe if I throw a few ideas out there then we might see if the discussion takes off or not?

1. Anyone can learn to read the Tarot.  You do not need to be a believer, spiritual, psychic or a medium or even have a good memory, but you do need to understand what the Tarot is and how to read it, otherwise you may just as well use pictures cut from a magazine or postcards.

2. There are layers of depth to the Tarot, from scraping the surface and just looking at the pictures to using the symbology and learning the arcane lessons.

3. There is nothing evil about the Tarot only evil readers!

That is your interpretation on what tarot cards are.

Tarot cards, Is a deck of cards, You read. Simply as that.

You aren't adding anything, Josh....  This thread needs an experienced Tarot practitioner's input.

Due to my knowledge, They where being use in the 15th century, As playing cards. It is just a pack of cards, with detailed drawings on.  There are 78 of them, if am I correct. Not used them much but have studied quite a lot of them. The tarot its-self has many other name, I only remember one of them and that is "Tarock" This was back when they where first invented of course. Knowing that, They where only played by europeans at the start but as time developed they grew else where. As I said as time developed they became mystics, psychics, mediums, occultist and they actually made a lot out of them. I hope this gives you a better understanding mac.

I can research history as easily as you, Josh, but please read my words again.... 

I didn't ask about the cards, their history and/or their origins and saying, as you have, "...as time developed they became mystics, psychics, mediums, occultist and they actually made a lot out of them." doesn't tell me or anyone else anything about what modern-day practitioners actually do with them, what they're used for, what the intention is when using a Tarot deck for example. 

My question was simple but to enlarge a little I asked what practitioners do with their Tarot cards meaning what do they use them to do?  Yes I understand that they 'read' them but what does that actually mean?  What comes from their reading?  Is anything learned from that procedure and if so, what?

Crystal wrote:

mac wrote:A simple definition of practitioner:  "One who practices something, especially an occupation, profession, or technique."  I see nothing wrong with using the word 'practitioner' as a general term for anyone using Tarot, be they a reader, teacher or master.    For simplicity I've used coloured text to respond directly into this quote box - hope this works...

Yep, ok, nothing wrong per se but the inference of practice and practise, repeating, doing again and again, but each reading is not the same the only constant would be the reader and the deck? But if you prefer practitioner then fine :)  Let's leave it that we each use whatever word we find best.

in summary I asked Tarot practitioners to explain exactly what it is that they do".  I didn't ask who can do it or learn to do it.  I didn't ask about the complexities of the technique.  I didn't suggest there is anything evil about either Tarot or its readers....

None of the points above answer the question about what a Tarot reader actually does.

Well if you asked that question on most forums then I am sure most 'tarot readers' would be dumbfounded and look blank.  Why do you think they would? If they can't explain what they're doing might I be forgiven for wondering if they understand themselves?  Or are there few questioners, all members being readers/teachers/masters?    I suppose I can offer two answers, one about me personally and one about what I have seen from my experiences.  I'm more than happy to hear your own take on things....

Tarot is whatever the reader decides!  Oh dear, that doesn't help someone seeking to understand....

For me, a Tarot reading should be enlightening and empowering. OK....Although others may presume to bring through spirit or messages from their loved ones that is not the traditional use of the cards; there are mediums to do that.  It may not be traditional but does it work as a means of achieving evidential communication?  A reading can be about any subject but the aim for the reader should be simply to read the cards and to explain their meaning or message to the seeker according to the position and fall of the cards.  Sorry but that sounds like so much gobbledegook to me - how does that work....?



The more information that a Tarot reader is given, the more information the Tarot reading will give back.  For this simple soul you'd need again to explain how that works... The more precise the question, the more precise the answer can be. I can go with that - I hope others will note that I try to make my own questions as concise as possible and hope answers will match that conciseness.... I often liken this to the Mona Lisa painting. If one was to stand in front of it and look at that enigmatic smile and ponder on what might be the reason? Where to start? Now, if underneath the painting was a title 'Mona Lisa and her driving test' might we be more able to think she was quietly confident, or perhaps she had just passed?  Sorry again but I just don't follow how that analogy works....




Now if one adds in a psychic Tarot reader then the reading will have that added energy.  Again what does that mean?




In the hands of an experienced Tarot reader the cards could predict the stock exchange next week or the gender of an unborn child, but those experienced readers that read ethically and morally to today's standards would do neither.   Now that's easy to claim but can you substantiate your claim?  Which practitioner has used her/his attributes to successfully predict stock values?  Instead the aim might be to offer support and shed light on options and opportunities so that the seeker could more easily make decisions that empower themselves. Giving the seeker back confidence and power rather than the reader dictating and being in power.  Now that sounds something like personal counselling....????  Am I right?










I have made a start and I am sure there may be lots of contrary comments so before I spend more time trying to paraphrase a lifetime into a paragraph I will wait and see the reaction.  Thank you for opening the subject up again.  I've tried to make my responses directly relevant to what you've written and I hope you'll respond yourself to the further points I've made.  I know that others seem to find my questions very demanding, and some get uptight presumably because they feel threatened in some way, but what I do is only ask to try to better understand their speciality.

None of the points above answer the question about what a Tarot reader actually does.

Tarot is whatever the reader decides!  Oh dear, that doesn't help someone seeking to understand....

For me, a Tarot reading should be enlightening and empowering. OK....Although others may presume to bring through spirit or messages from their loved ones that is not the traditional use of the cards; there are mediums to do that.  It may not be traditional but does it work as a means of achieving evidential communication?

A reading can be about any subject but the aim for the reader should be simply to read the cards and to explain their meaning or message to the seeker according to the position and fall of the cards.  Sorry but that sounds like so much gobbledegook to me - how does that work....?

The more information that a Tarot reader is given, the more information the Tarot reading will give back.  For this simple soul you'd need again to explain how that works... The more precise the question, the more precise the answer can be. I can go with that - I hope others will note that I try to make my own questions as concise as possible and hope answers will match that conciseness.... I often liken this to the Mona Lisa painting. If one was to stand in front of it and look at that enigmatic smile and ponder on what might be the reason? Where to start? Now, if underneath the painting was a title 'Mona Lisa and her driving test' might we be more able to think she was quietly confident, or perhaps she had just passed?  Sorry again but I just don't follow how that analogy works....

Now if one adds in a psychic Tarot reader then the reading will have that added energy.  Again what does that mean?

In the hands of an experienced Tarot reader the cards could predict the stock exchange next week or the gender of an unborn child, but those experienced readers that read ethically and morally to today's standards would do neither.   Now that's easy to claim but can you substantiate your claim?  Which practitioner has used her/his attributes to successfully predict stock values?

Crystal wrote:

None of the points above answer the question about what a Tarot reader actually does.

Well if you asked that quest...................add a different dimension to the reading and the reading becomes a psychic tarot reading with added energy and information.

In the hands of an experienced Tarot reader the cards could predict the stock exchange next week or the gender of an unborn child, but those experienced readers that read ethically and morally to today's standards would do neither.   Now that's easy to claim but can you substantiate your claim?  Which practitioner has used her/his attributes to successfully predict stock values?

I don't need to prove anything and do you really think that all readers would share or advertise this?

Things are getting messy but I've tried to make them as clear as I can.  The website software has spaced paragraphs out more than I wanted but my words are like this and where I have quoted the text is in italics like this.  I hope you're able to follow who said what!   


You say: "I don't need to prove anything and do you really think that all readers would share or advertise this?" 

My question was simple but to enlarge a little I asked what practitioners do with their Tarot cards meaning what do they use them to do?  Yes I understand that they 'read' them but what does that actually mean?  What comes from their reading?  Is anything learned from that procedure and if so, what?

Crystal wrote:

My question was simple but to enlarge a little I asked what practitioners do with their Tarot cards meaning what do they use them to do?  Yes I understand that they 'read' them but what does that actually mean?  What comes from their reading?  Is anything learned from that procedure and if so, what?

Pulled this bit from a post you (mac) wrote to Auras.


Reading the cards is simply like reading a book. Each card is different and therefore has a different meaning and interpretation. When they are all put together the reader could make a story book or a reference book or a single one word message.


I must be missing the point because to me it is so obvious what Tarot is and does, and mac, it is obvious from your posts you are intelligent and educated and should not be finding this difficult to grasp at all, so it makes me wonder what are the minute details that you are asking about or looking for?

It's like asking how long is a piece of string and what can you do with it?

Crystal wrote:I don't take offence easily, especially when someone has tried so eloquently to really explain what they are looking for, but, and I am really laughing here with amusement, I wonder if words can do this justice?

I am a Tarot reader, heck I teach Tarot, online and in person,  and have never come across the confusion I have in this thread! Now don't get offended either, but laugh with me. And I am not being disrespectful at all or in any way trying to belittle my predicament, words just don't seem to be enough, what we may need is to chat in real time so that each point is raised clearly and answered. Here we are going round in circles with the software confusing quotes and italics and the obvious post lag as one replies and then the other and then more points come to mind and questions just get missed as if posts suddenly appear out of nowhere back earlier in the thread.

AhHa!   

Here is an idea...... perhaps I should ask the Tarot and do a Tarot Reading on this and post it? Might that speak for itself? Roflmao.

mac wrote:

Crystal wrote:I don't take offence easily, especially when someone has tried so eloquently to really explain what they are looking for, but, and I am really laughing here with amusement, I wonder if words can do this justice?

I am a Tarot reader, heck I teach Tarot, online and in person,  and have never come across the confusion I have in this thread! Now don't get offended either, but laugh with me. And I am not being disrespectful at all or in any way trying to belittle my predicament, words just don't seem to be enough, what we may need is to chat in real time so that each point is raised clearly and answered. Here we are going round in circles with the software confusing quotes and italics and the obvious post lag as one replies and then the other and then more points come to mind and questions just get missed as if posts suddenly appear out of nowhere back earlier in the thread.

AhHa!   

Here is an idea...... perhaps I should ask the Tarot and do a Tarot Reading on this and post it? Might that speak for itself? Roflmao.

OK I'll go along with your reactions but honestly I am not confused....  But let's leave all that aside and get down to brass tacks, should we?  Here's my idea. 

Do a reading for me in the way you'd do it for anyone else.  I'll pay you if that's what normally happens.  Other than online neither of us knows anything much about the other so it would be the same as dealing with any other person.  I am comfortable for you to post what the outcome is publicly along with anything you'd usually tell the recipient - what it means, how I should view it, your advice and comments etc. Would that be a better way for you to explain things to me?

I'd be happy to give feedback if that's OK with you - what do you say?

Auras wrote:

mac wrote:

Crystal wrote:I don't take offence easily, especially when someone has tried so eloquently to really explain what they are looking for, but, and I am really laughing here with amusement, I wonder if words can do this justice?

I am a Tarot reader, heck I teach Tarot, online and in person,  and have never come across the confusion I have in this thread! Now don't get offended either, but laugh with me. And I am not being disrespectful at all or in any way trying to belittle my predicament, words just don't seem to be enough, what we may need is to chat in real time so that each point is raised clearly and answered. Here we are going round in circles with the software confusing quotes and italics and the obvious post lag as one replies and then the other and then more points come to mind and questions just get missed as if posts suddenly appear out of nowhere back earlier in the thread.

AhHa!   

Here is an idea...... perhaps I should ask the Tarot and do a Tarot Reading on this and post it? Might that speak for itself? Roflmao.

OK I'll go along with your reactions but honestly I am not confused....  But let's leave all that aside and get down to brass tacks, should we?  Here's my idea. 

Do a reading for me in the way you'd do it for anyone else.  I'll pay you if that's what normally happens.  Other than online neither of us knows anything much about the other so it would be the same as dealing with any other person.  I am comfortable for you to post what the outcome is publicly along with anything you'd usually tell the recipient - what it means, how I should view it, your advice and comments etc. Would that be a better way for you to explain things to me?

I'd be happy to give feedback if that's OK with you - what do you say?

Don't mean to but in, But, I see you said you would pay for a reading, I would not like you to do that, Simply because you do not know crystal as well, as it could be anyone sitting behind the computer seat. No offense crystal.

Crystal wrote:Well it doesn't look like any others are going to contribute, which is a shame but then you were pretty abrupt when you posted to Auras? Perhaps people may be reluctant to post and risk an upsetting reply? Nothing worse than posting and then dreading the result?

And actually although it may seem to the ignoramus (whom ever they might be) that what I wrote may be considered a form of counselling it is really the opposite.

Mr.Whitmore wrote:Do You do thèse readings?

mac wrote:

Crystal wrote:Well it doesn't look like any others are going to contribute, which is a shame but then you were pretty abrupt when you posted to Auras? Perhaps people may be reluctant to post and risk an upsetting reply? Nothing worse than posting and then dreading the result?

And actually although it may seem to the ignoramus (whom ever they might be) that what I wrote may be considered a form of counselling it is really the opposite.

Regulars ought to be familiar by my lack of floweriness - it isn't abruptness simply because I don't do 'pretty please with sugar on top'.  In turn I much prefer directness and simplicity when folk respond to what I say.  Auras knows my style well but that posting came from another thread anyway.

I admit to ignorance of dreading the result of posting although I do sometimes feel like I am walking on egg shells when I question what I can't follow. 

In connection with your last observation I was speaking only about this ignoramus, about me, mac.  What I read, what I quoted, is my understanding of counselling but I'm comfortable in having that misunderstanding corrected.  Will you tell me how you see it?