Newsletter of The Tarot School
http://TarotSchool.com ISSN: 1529-0565 Vol. 13 #14 / October 1, 2021
In this Issue: - Welcome
- Tarot Tip: Cooperative Readings - Tarot School Aphorism - Meet the Reader: Joanna Powell Colbert - Diviner's Corner: Gyromancy - Best Practices: Navigating Sole Proprietorship Insurance Needs - Upcoming Events Welcome to a new issue of Tarot Tips!
And a special welcome to our new subscribers.
CONGRATULATIONS, WALD!! We're excited to announce that the World Divination Association has named Wald Amberstone as Best Divination Teacher 2021! The awards ceremony launched their new YouTube channel and you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_Mk9ujpsL0 Thank you to everyone who voted for him. Wald is deeply honored. After a several months-long hiatus, we're happy to welcome back Gina Thies! Always on the lookout for guest submissions and interesting topics, Gina's Best Practices for Professional Readers column has been a valuable resource for those of us who have chosen to make tarot a career. This month her focus is on insurance. Also in this issue... Sometimes a reader and querent may disagree about how to interpret the cards. This month's Tip suggests a way to resolve the conflict for a more productive reading. There's an introduction to reader, teacher and deck creator, Joanna Powell Colbert, a dizzying look at Gyromancy, a new Tarot Aphorism from Wald, and the schedule of upcoming Tarot Salons. (Join us –– they're lots of fun!) We have been issuing refunds to everyone who rolled over their 2020 Readers Studio and/or Divination Day registration since we will not be holding the event in 2021 or 2022. To facilitate the process, if you have not yet received your refund, please send a request with your current PayPal email address to tarot@tarotschool.com. Requests will be honored in the order in which they are received. Wishing you health and bright blessings, Ruth Ann and Wald
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COOPERATIVE READINGS
Robyn asks... I am fairly new to Tarot and recently enrolled in your Tarot Correspondence Course. My question concerns the way in which the cards present themselves in a reading if both the reader and the querent are familiar with tarot but each has a very different viewpoint regarding interpretations. I have only one friend who is also interested in tarot. She spent a long time taking lessons from a teacher who is no longer in our area, and her method of reading a card never varies according to what deck she uses or its relative position in a layout. She learned particular keywords and phrases, assigned to each card and never wavers. I respect the differences in our approaches. I feel that whatever works is appropriate, and it is my understanding that the cards will present themselves accordingly. My own approach is very different. Let me give you an example. If The Magician card were to come up in a reading, her ironclad interpretation is that it represents Fear and the Creation of negative potential realities. Reversed, it represents Belief and Negating the creation of negative potential realities. I would view that card as reflecting self-confidence rather than fear. I might also see this card as reflecting skills in occult areas, or perhaps as representing a particular person in the life of the querent. My interpretation would also take into consideration the position in the layout, the surrounding cards, and the question that was asked. My friend recently gave me a reading though and it is what prompted all of this. She did the shuffling (until I said it was enough) and then I cut the deck and she proceeded from there. When she did the reading I noticed that I would have read it very differently. It's not that I don't think she was accurate or that her method lacks validity. I have a lot of respect for this person and she is a close friend, so I didn't mention anything, as I didn't want her to feel I was being critical. But it made me think. I copied down the cards that came up and their position in the Celtic-Cross layout. When I got home I spent some time with it, looking at each card and the overall differences and similarities between our interpretations. I felt it would add some depth to my understanding. That was when I began to wonder how the cards come up in the first place. She did the actual reading, but we both had a hand in the way they came up, with her shuffling until it felt right to me and then with me cutting the deck. So, in this case (or any time both people are familiar with Tarot yet have very different viewpoints) which one of us influenced the cards that came up? Do they present themselves for the Reader or the Querent? Answer: You'll notice I gave this Tip the title "Cooperative Readings." There are actually several questions in this question but I think that expresses the core of my answer. Any time one person does a reading for another person, it's a joint process. The ideal is for it to be cooperative –– where a real dialog can occur. To answer one of your last questions first, both the reader and the querent put their energies into the shuffle. BUT... the INTENT is that the cards drawn should be specifically for the querent. Once the cards are drawn, however, their interpretation is often a matter of viewpoint. A reader can only read from his or her own state and knowledge base. Your friend's approach then, will tend to be constricted because she is apparently not open to learning beyond what she has already been taught. (And don't forget that a teacher can only teach from his or her own state, too!) Does that mean that your friend's readings are inaccurate? Not necessarily. However, they probably don't represent the whole picture either. One of the reasons I am a big fan of "cooperative" readings where both the reader and the querent offer their input, is because the querent will often see things in a way that is uniquely applicable to them. Even people who have never seen a tarot deck before can have valuable insights when they look at the cards. For example, a number of years ago I did a reading for my daughter who had only a basic familiarity with tarot. Her question involved choosing a major in college. She was considering Anthropology, a subject in which she had not yet taken any courses. The first card that came up in her reading was The Chariot reversed. I interpreted it in a way that I didn't think was totally appropriate but when I admitted to her that I felt there was more to it, she said, "Oh, I know what that is! Three times my advisor told me I'm putting the cart before the horse!" Now, I've never seen The Chariot reversed that way before and when I related the story to Mary Greer, who had written a whole book on Reversals, she told me she'd never seen that either. My daughter's viewpoint was very valuable to the reading process even though she wasn't an expert. Readings between two people who do know tarot can really look at an issue in-depth. The key here though is to have a give-and-take approach and for both parties to be open to the other's insights. In cases such as yours where that doesn't happen, working on your own can, as you said, add depth to your understanding. Your question also implies the bigger question of what to do when your own interpretation is diametrically opposed to that of the reader. The main thing to understand in this situation is that the querent is ALWAYS responsible for deciding the applicability and appropriateness of what a reader says. It is, after all, your life and you know it best. Also, you're the one who is going to be acting on whatever advice you are given so the decision has to rest with you. It's not just a question of opposing interpretations, this is true in every reading. Where your interpretations are different but not opposing, chances are good (unless the reader has ignored your question) that both viewpoints are valid and bear contemplation. ~ Ruth Ann Running The Tarot School with Wald keeps me pretty busy, but I still love giving readings! If you would like to book a private reading with me over Zoom, send an email to tarot@tarotschool.com and we'll discuss it. Tarot School Aphorism Meet The Reader JOANNA POWELL COLBERT By Sharonah Rapseik, Ph.D., CMAP Joanna Powell Colbert is a sacred artist, soul guide, earth mystic, beach walker, moon lover, and caller of circles. She is the creator of the Gaian Tarot and the Pentimento Tarot, and the co- creator of the Herbcrafter’s Tarot. Her work as a teacher and guide is grounded in earth- centered spiritually, seasonal contemplative practices, creativity as a devotional path, and using the tarot for inner guidance and self-exploration. She was named by SageWoman magazine as one of the Wisdom Keepers of the Goddess Spirituality movement. She lives on the edge of the woods and lake near the shores of the Salish Sea in Bellingham, Washington in the Pacific Northwest. Sharonah Rapseik: Joanna, what makes your tarot practice unique and how do you express it? Joanna Powell Colbert: My relationship with the tarot is threefold: as a deck creator, as a reader for self and others, and as a teacher. Underneath those three roles, I am always a seeker with the tarot, returning to “The Fool” time and time again, to learn new practices and new ways of interacting with the cards. I decided to ask The Herbcrafter’s Tarot to help me answer your question. How is my tarot practice unique? - Adelitia of Earth / Yucca (Knight of Pentacles) ( The Adelita of Earth crafts a Brigid’s cross out of yucca, a common plant in her own bio-region, marrying her blood ancestry to the spirit of the land where she lives.) I am always fascinated by deck creators who put a new spin on the time-honored traditions of the tarot. I’m especially excited about the intersection of an earth-based spirituality and the tarot, which is my particular niche, as you see in the Gaian Tarot and The Herbcrafter’s Tarot. How do I express my unique tarot practice? - Ace of Water (Cups) / Plantain (Plantain is a common weed that is prolific and easy to dismiss, yet it is a powerful healer.) When I see plantain growing everywhere on my walks, I often think “Love is everywhere!” We just have to be careful not to miss it. My tarot practice is unique in that it is rooted in devotion and expressed through it –– devotion to the land, to the Sacred Feminine, and to the community of tarot lovers and seekers to whom I’m connected. What else? - 10 of Air (Swords) / Alfalfa (A scythe cuts into a field of alfalfa, which adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down) My professional tarot practice as deck creator, reader, and teacher has been laying fallow for the last year or so. During the pandemic, I turned my attention to other generative creative projects that kept me going. Compost engenders fertility in addition to this personal reading of the cards for myself. I also see the tarot as a powerful tool when it comes to helping people make it through the most difficult times of their lives. Sharonah Rapseik: Thank you Joanna, it’s a pleasure to meet you! Follow Joanna Powell Colbert here: https://joannapowellcolbert.com You can purchase The Gaian Tarot or 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/ Diviner's Corner
GYROMANCY
Gyromancy is a method of divination in which a person spins around inside or walks the circumference of a circle drawn on the ground, the perimeter of which is marked with the letters of an alphabet. The divination is inferred from the letter at the position where the person either stumbles or falls across the circle's edge. The person would repeat the practice "...till he evolved an intelligible sentence, or till death or madness intervened."[1] The dizziness brought on by spinning or circling is intended to introduce randomness or to facilitate an altered state of consciousness. The word gyromancy is derived from Medieval Latin, gyromantia, which is derived from Greek gyros (circle) and manteia (oracle). Gyromancy can be combined with other fortune telling methods such as astrology or tarot. The circle can be divided into the zodiac signs, astrological houses or planets. Walk or spin around the circle continuously until you fall into the house, sign or planet that has a message for you. For example, if you fall into the Fourth House, perhaps future events will be focused on your home. Similarly with the tarot, you could divide the circle into the 22 cards of the Major Arcana and see which character "catches" you when you fall. Dividing the circle into four sections of earth, air, fire and water will show you whether future events will affect your physical, intellectual, energetic or emotional nature respectively. Gyromancy is an extremely energetic form of divination and, therefore, a certain degree of health is required to perform it. It would be advisable if you are aware of any contraindications to performing gyromancy, such as asthma or epilepsy, that you avoid this method. Instead, consider using a spinning top on a small board or poster marked with the the letters of the alphabet or another system of your choice. There is a curious connection between the practice of this divination and the familiar technique of psychic circles or ouija boards. In this practice all siting in a circle place a finger on a glass surrounded by letters of the alphabet. The glass will touch letters in turn to indicate words or messages. [1] Arthur Edward Waite: Occult Sciences: A Compendium of Transcendental Doctrine and Experiment Best Practices for Professional Readers NAVIGATING SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP INSURANCE NEEDS By Gina Thies www.tarotadvisor.com / www.facebook.com/tarotreaders www.tarotcoupling.com / www.oraclesoup.org Being a business owner can deliver so many advantages in terms independence and flexibility. The frightening part of being your own source of income is to think about the “what-ifs”, especially if something unfortunate happens. No business owner when starting out wants to shell out more money than they are earning to cover expenses. It may be wise to keep overhead costs to a minimum but the area of insurance is one that you’ll not want to cut corners on if you can help it. Here are insurance types a sole proprietor will need to consider for purchase: Health Insurance. This is possibly the most costly of all insurance premiums to cover. Business Insurance. Covers a wide range of losses that may not be covered under regular insurance such as homeowners. General Liability. This covers personal liability and can be purchased with business insurance. Income Protection or Disability Insurance. This is protection for lost wages due to not being able to work. Workers Compensation. This is typically not required for self-employed people but could be if you are a sole proprietor who subcontracts. For some who contract with universities or schools for events it may be a requirement. You don’t want to second-guess about business insurance needs and you’ll want to contact a local insurance specialist. There are some organizations and clubs that offer insurance for a variety of needs for single or self-employed individuals. Resources: The National Association for the Self-Employed - https://www.nase.org/ Entrepreneur - https://www.entrepreneur.com/ US Dept. of Labor - https://www.dol.gov/ Upcoming Events: • Monday, October 4, 11, 18 and 25 • Monday, November 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 Tarot Salon on Zoom! 7:00 - 9:00 pm EDT Our popular Monday night classes are now online so you can attend no matter where you live! http://tarot.salon Join our 11K+ fans and join the fun!
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