You are Invited to Tea!

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The 2014 Samhain Tarot Blog Hop

Welcome to the Samhain 2014 Tarot Blog Hop. Whether this is a spiritual holiday for you, a time to party, both or neither, I hope this October 31^st has found you in good spirits!

You might be joining me from TABI, the Tarot Association of the British Isles. If you are working backwards, perhaps you are visiting me from Ethony’s blog.

For this round of the Blog Hop, our wrangler, Louise Underhill of Priestess Tarot, has given us an interesting task. Louise has asked us each to write about one person, living or dead, with whom we would like to have tea this Samhain, and to somehow entwine tarot into that story.

When my American ears hear “have tea,” I am thinking of a beverage instead of a meal. But, to me, tea is not just a beverage, it’s a ritual.  More than that, it’s political. Here in the US, coffee drinkers can usually find an acceptable cup of coffee. Tea drinkers are not so lucky.  I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been served stale, moldy tea, or tea obviously brewed in a coffee pot, while my husband has enjoyed a fresh cup of dark roast. I am an activist for decent tea.

Tea is not just a beverage, or an administered dose of caffeine, or an infusion of herbs. A cup of tea is an opportunity to talk. That’s why it goes so well with tarot.

I learned the power of a good cup of tea from my family, now in spirit. The thought of having one more cup of tea with my mother, my grandmother or my father, whose birthday is today, is certainly alluring.  

In the world of the living, my best tea buddy is my daughter, who manages a tea shop. Since she works retail, I won’t see much of her until January, so a cup of tea with her now would be nice.

What if curiosity and admiration were my deciding factors? I have a feeling I wouldn’t be the only tarotist in the Blog Hop sitting down today with Pixie.

Of course, my closest friends might assume I would extend the invitation to the late great Jerry Garcia. That would be cool if would bring his guitar.

The fact is, here I sit, early Samhain morning, without a clue whom I want to invite.

I really like talking with everyone. I fiercely love my close family and friends. Beyond that, I have a world-wide tarot practice I have built over more than two decades. That’s a lot of talking with people. Even beyond that, I seem to be talking with those in the spirit world quite regularly.

So out of all those people, living and dead, whom would I most like to talk with today?

Honestly, I most want to talk with whomever wants to talk with me.

Maybe there is a kernel of truth there to explain my unusual tarot practice. Some of my peers in tarot call me “the hardest working woman in tarot.” They don’t always say it with admiration. Over the course of my career, my peers have looked at me with worried glances, wondering if I should slow down lest I burn out.

The thing is, tarot reading energizes me. Part of that is technique, I know. But I think part of it is owed to the same reason I can’t answer the question for today’s Blog Hop.

Out of all the people on Earth and in Heaven, how could I possible choose only one with whom to speak? And how could I know if that would be the one who would most want to speak with me?

I’ve noticed a recent trend in our society; one I blame on the Uranus-Pluto square. These days, people only want to be friends with people who agree with them on a handful of random issues. If you dare give an opposing opinion on anything, you risk losing friends.

To me, this is a dangerous trend. I understand its astrological reflection, and that, in time, as the planets move, this trend will dissipate. In the meanwhile, I am actively trying to respectfully talk with, and value, people with whom I disagree. I believe that our diversity and our differences make us a healthy society. Our ability to compromise, and to understand that no one person has all the right answers, is what makes civilization possible.

Many of my peers have a sweet spot as tarot readers. That is, each has a particular demographic, or type of client, they prefer. I can honestly say, I don’t have that. My favorite type of client is every. My favorite type of reading is all. My favorite place to read tarot is everywhere.

Perhaps that’s why I’m the “hardest working woman in tarot.” In one business day I might help a high school student find the right college, a business owner develop a new strategy, a bride-to-be plan a wedding and a bereaved spouse find closure.  With which of those people wouldn’t I want to talk?

So, who will I invite to tea this Samhain? You! Tell me your opinions. Let me read your cards. On this day, even more than any other day of the year, I know that in this lifetime I am doing precisely the thing that is my most natural thing to do.

When I was a student at Hartford Public High School for a year, I received one Major Disciplinary Offense. Can you guess what my crime was?

That’s right. I was disciplined for TALKING. So, no Silent Samhain Supper here. Let’s have a chat! We don’t have to agree on everything. We don’t even have to like each other. In the process of communicating with each other and with Spirit, in the process of exploring symbols, images and archetypes, we will find a common truth.

Now it’s time to have a cup of tea with Ethony, the next blogger in the chain. If you are working backwards, go see Chloe, writing for TABI, the Tarot Association of the British Isles.

If you find a break in the chain, don’t despair! A hop over to the Master List will put you right!

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Some Business Advice for Aspiring Tarot Professionals

It’s amazing how much misinformation I hear about the legalities of professional tarot reading – from tarot readers.

I am always honored when new tarot professionals seek me out for mentorship and professional advice. I’m happy to share; that’s why I wrote “Fortune Stellar.”

There is one type of question I hear a lot that I am uncomfortable answering. In fact, that an aspiring professional is asking me these questions, or posing them for peer perspective in social media groups, is a clear indication to me that the student might not be ready for professional tarot.

The questions that set off all sorts of red flags for me are about legalities. Is tarot reading legal where I live? Do I have to pay taxes? Do I need some sort of permit? Is an ordination necessary? Should I become an LLC? Do I have to state that readings are for entertainment only?

You would not believe the number of people, from all over the country, who ask me these sorts of questions. I can help those who are in my local area, in that I actually do know something about the local laws. Outside of my geographic area, I am not the right person to give good information on local business law.

One of my rules as a tarot reader is this. Always go to the easiest, best and most trustworthy source for whatever information you seek. Don’t ask a tarot reader if you are pregnant (although I have been the first to see many new lives). If you think you might be pregnant, get a pregnancy test. Then get a tarot reading to discuss what comes next.

The same is true for the legalities of business. If you are going to open a business, speak with a local attorney. Talk with your City Hall, and your local zoning board. These are the people who will give you the solid information you need. If you are afraid to make those phone calls, or unwilling to pay the fees that go with them, you are not ready for professional tarot.

If you believe that another tarot reader is a better source of legal advice than a local attorney, you may not be ready to give helpful guidance to those in need. If you can’t be logical, you aren’t ready to be mystical.

The legalities of tarot reading change from state to state, city to city and county to county. As I discuss in “Fortune Stellar,” there are still places in the US with laws on the books against tarot in specific, or fortune-telling in general. Overall, these laws are seen as archaic, and unable to withstand a challenge in court. If you have such laws near where you live and you feel like being an activist for a good cause, go ahead and get arrested for tarot reading. But please, don’t do this without the guidance of an attorney. If you don’t want to get arrested and worry what your exposure might be, seek clarification with an attorney. If you are worried about civil liability as a tarot reader, again, consult an attorney. Get the facts.

When we read for the public, we stress the importance of referrals. If you need a doctor, see a doctor. If you need an attorney, see an attorney. In our professional practices, let’s follow the same advice we give our clients!

The Wheel of Fortune Again

This week, on my Tarot Topics Community Blog, I wrote about recurrent tarot cards. I’ve been having a recurrent tarot card that is becoming more insistent as we approach my late-October Scorpio birthday.

That card is the Wheel of Fortune.
That makes sense as a "birthday card." The Wheel of Fortune can refer to the end of one cycle, and the beginining of another.

In meditation with the Wheel of Fortune, this thought came to me.

Getting older is not as bad as one might think. I have fewer responsibilities than I used to, now that my kids are grown. I have more tools, skills and experience to draw on to handle whatever might arise, than ever before in my life.

The Wheel of Fortune can mean many things when it comes up in a reading. Today I add a new meaning to my Wheel of Fortune vocabulary.

“No matter what comes next, and no matter where I’ve been, I feel lucky to be here today.”

That is the Wheel’s message to me today.

What does the Wheel of Fortune say to you?

Tarot by Numbers: Seven, Eight, Nine

Here are more Minor Arcana pip card numerology exercises, this time with a twist! I’ve included the Major Arcana cards, and posed some thought-provoking questions about the cards and their numbers.

These exercises are great for journaling, study, and group work. I’d love to hear your results!

To begin, sort out the Sevens, Eights, and Nines from your Minor Arcana, and the Chariot, Strength and Hermit from your Major Arcana.  Take these fifteen cards and sort them by number.

Sevens: Introspection, Valor, Self-Reliance

Are there Key Words that you would include for Seven?

What Key Words would you use for each of these four cards?

Look at the images of the Minor Arcana Sevens. Are there things these four images have in common? How do those things reflect the energy/meaning of Seven?

How does Major Arcana Seven, the Chariot, reflect the Key Words of Seven?

How does Major Arcana Seven, the Chariot, compare and contrast with the Minor Arcana Sevens?

Shuffle the five Sevens, and pull one at random to give insight into your personal challenges.

Eights: Motion, Balance and Power

Are there Key Words that you would include for Eight?

What Key Words would you use for each of these four cards?

Look at the images of the Minor Arcana Eights. Are there things these four images have in common? How do those things reflect the energy/meaning of Eight?

How does Major Arcana Eight, Strength, reflect the Key Words of Eight?

How does Major Arcana Eight, Strength, compare and contrast with the Minor Arcana Eights?

Shuffle the five Eights, and pull one at random to give insight into your personal power.

Nines: Completion, Success, Almost There

Are there Key Words that you would include for Nine?

What Key Words would you use for each of these four cards?

Look at the images of the Minor Arcana Nines. Are there things these four images have in common? How do those things reflect the energy/meaning of Nine?

How does Major Arcana Nine, the Hermit, reflect the Key Words of Nine?

How does Major Arcana Nine, the Hermit, compare and contrast with the Minor Arcana Nines?

Shuffle the five Nines, and pull one at random to give insight into your personal achievements.

What stories do you see in the sequence of Seven, Eight, Nine within the specific suits?                    

Three Ways to Vet a Professional Tarotist

There are more options in quality professional tarot available now than at any other time in history. Whether you are looking for a competent tarot teacher, a great telephone reading or psychic entertainment at a party or special event, you have your pick of many intelligent, gifted, ethical professionals.

Unfortunately, you have to weed through the con artists, the ego-centered and the inexperienced readers to get to the good ones. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference.

Here are three things you can do before you make your choice to ensure you are happy with the tarotist you hire.

1. Ask questions of the reader.Does your prospective tarot professional hold any certifications? Do they belong to any tarot organizations? What is their educational background? How long have they been reading? Where did they learn?
   If you are booking a reader for a party, what agencies does the professional usually work with, or what sort of entertainment have they done in the past?
   If you are looking for a tarot teacher, how many years of experience as a tarot reader does the teacher have?
   If the reader is uncomfortable answering these sorts of questions, or if you don’t like the answers you hear, move on.

2. Perform an internet search on your prospective reader. Most great readers keep blogs and have an active online presence. You can get a good sense of their priorities, integrity and style when you see how they present themselves to the world.
   A legitimate tarot professional will make full contact information readily available, that is, a phone number, mailing address and email address. If you can’t easily find this information for your prospective reader, you have reason to be concerned about their professionalism and integrity.

3. Educate yourself about tarot. Take a little time to learn a bit about the culture and business of tarot. What kind of reader are you hoping to find? How do you think a tarot professional can help you? The more you know about tarot and what is possible, and the more you know about what your desires are, the easier it will be to connect with the right tarot professional.

Tarotists can provide you with everything from entertainment to business strategy to spiritual counsel and personal growth. With just a little effort on your part, you can find the tarot professional to meet your needs.