The Tarot School: Tarot Tips Newsletter

HAPPY DAY OF THE FOOL!

Welcome to a new issue of Tarot Tips!

And a special welcome to our new subscribers.

April is here and we're psyched and (almost) ready to
host our biggest event of the year – the 2015 Readers
Studio (RS15) and the 3rd Annual Tarot and Psychology Conference.

We’ll be delighted to see new and old friends, while
raising the bar once again on the learning, networking
and fun. This is truly a team effort, and our heartfelt
thanks go to everyone who helps make it all happen!

We'll be taking a much-need break afterwards, so the
next issue of Tarot Tips will be in June. In the
meantime, here's what we have in store for you this month…

Tarot divination has come such a long way from its
mysterious origins. Well, maybe divination is not as
mysterious as the origins of the cards but, nonetheless,
intriguing to many. What constitutes "proper" tarot
divination? In this issue we will pull directly from the
Hermetic Order of The Golden Dawn’s lessons on the
elements of proper tarot divination.

Joining us in this issue is the Lord of Earthly Power, known
as the Four of Pentacles to most of us. Just as the figure
clings to the pentacles, some of your clients may cling to
your every word, to the point that they go beyond the time
they've scheduled. The ‘Best Practices’ column talks
about the importance of boundaries and working within timed
appointments. Lastly, we are excited to have another great
blog to share with you.

By the way, if you happen to know the artist of the above
depiction of The Fool, please let us know. Thanks!

And one more thing...

Artwork by Carrie Paris

May your tarot journey be a safe and happy,

Ruth Ann, Wald & Gina

Tarot Tips is here to help you with the practical side

of your Tarot journey. In order to take the greatest

advantage of this newsletter, please send us your

questions regarding any aspect of your tarot study

or practice and we'll do our best to answer them

in an upcoming issue.

Spread the experience of tarot - share this newsletter
with other Tarot Enthusiasts!

Tarot Tip

"PROPER" TAROT DIVINATION

In the evolution of tarot, there are many traditions that
never seem to dissipate in terms of the rules of "correct"
tarot divination. Many tarot teachers and practitioners
speak of various formulas for a "proper" tarot divination,
and highly recommend that their students follow them.
These formulas sometimes include such things as what
types of question to ask, and who does the shuffling --
querent or diviner.

The uses of tarot are vast and fluid due to its personal
significance and relevance for everyone who explores
this tool. While some are non-conformists about following
the nineteenth century methods of the Golden Dawn, there
are some who are sticklers about utilizing their formula.

So why are there certain protocols in reading tarot and where
do they come from? Noted occult author and former Golden
Dawn member, Israel Regardie in his 1937 encyclopedic
work The Golden Dawn, made public the rites, teachings and
ceremonies of the Order and their rationale, including some
instruction in tarot divination according to the Order’s
principles.

Some of these instructions may have evolved out of the
combined influence of esoteric giants like Eliphas Levi
and A.E. Waite. See if you do or recognize these in your own
approach to reading the cards.

The guidelines mentioned are:

1. Invoke a Higher Force.

2. Dress using a distinguishing emblem or insignia.

3. Make a hexagram or Pentagram over the deck
with hand or wand.

4. Mix or shuffle the deck with a clear and
unprejudiced mind.

5. Have a completely passive intention.

6. Possess a sound knowledge of the correspondences
of the symbols used.

7. Only attempt to answer questions in which you are
not emotionally involved.

8. Diviner should be able to employ clairvoyant and
intuitive faculties.

9. Avoid strained interpretations.

10. Avoid divining repeatedly on the same matter.

In a tarot reading, you could reasonably say that you are
working with elemental forces. The deck itself can be
likened to a portable temple in which reverence and care for
the deck and the reading process itself are appropriate.

Tarot School Aphorism

ORACLE SOUP:

Kitchen Table Conversation – Schooled on Tarot
with Wald Amberstone

One of the more unique tarot podcasts out there is
co-hosted by Gina Thies and Katrina Wynne.
Oracle Soup features a series of "Kitchen Table Conversations," which are just as intimate,
informal and delightful as it sounds!

Wald was their special guest recently, and opened
up about philosophy and where Tarot finds it’s
home in our hearts.

Listen in and enjoy a hearty portion of Oracle Soup:
http://oraclesoup.org/podcast/kitchen-table-conversation-schooled-on-tarot/

Tarot Card Showcase

In this section we will feature tidbits on a specific tarot card.

While there are many systems and decks to choose from in

the world of tarot, here we use the Universal Waite Tarot

images and symbols.

4 OF PENTACLES

Attributions:

Astrological Attribution:

Sun in Capricorn

Qabalistic Attribution:

Mercy in the World of Manifestation

Element: Earth

Esoteric Title: Lord of Earthly Power

Traditional Meanings:

Though rooted in prosperity and crowned with success,
possessions can be cold comfort. Security is the result of
care and order, but habit dominates behavior, creating fear
of change.

Influential, focused, centered. Rigid, suspicious, closed.
Self-sufficient. Miserly. Responsible. Tense.

Structure and standard support a sense of personal worth.
Generosity, though uncharacteristic, is not unknown.
Uncompromising. Unapologetic.

Imagery:

Crowned King on Stone Throne: The qualities of
The Emperor in the world of Manifestation. His arms
are held around the central pentacle in the gesture of
the lemniscate, symbol here of free-flowing abundance.

Crown: Symbol of the connection between heaven and
earth, the channel for the exchange of energy between
Above and Below.

City: The King’s empire, source of his earthly power.

The Four Pentacles: Correspond to the letters of the
Tetragrammaton and the four corners of the earth: the
pentacle crowning the head is the letter Yod, ruling the
East; the pentacle at the heart is the letter Vav, ruling
the West. This pentacle is also emblematic of the Sun in
Capricorn. The pentacles at the feet are the two Hehs.
The pentacle on the right is the first Heh and rules the
South. The pentacle on the left is the second Heh that
rules the North.

Excerpted from The Tarot School Correspondence Course
http://tarotschool.com/Course.html

ReadersStudio.com

Best Practices for Professional Readers

TIME'S UP! HOW TO AVOID THE OVERTIME TRAP

By Gina Thies

www.tarotadvisor.com

www.facebook.com/tarotreaders

www.tarotcoupling.com / www.oraclesoup.org

You cannot do this type of work without building rapport and
sustaining a supportive relationship with your querents. You
have to have the capacity to hold space for your clients as
they process the information you give them, as well as
working efficiently so that they can get the most out of
their sessions.

For some of us, no matter how hard we try to give the best
possible reading, there will always be clients that seem to
never want to get off the phone or out of our chairs. They
are enchanted with your eloquent explanation of their lives
and before you know it the half-hour reading is about 10
minutes from coming to a close. Then it happens. They
suddenly remember what they really wanted to know --
they have one last question. Typically, this question requires
a new spread or doesn't tie into what you’ve already discussed,
so they’ll need more time. You know it won’t happen in ten
minutes. The half-hour reading is now becoming 45 minutes.

For most of us, using a timer is an all too obvious hint,
but it rarely stops this from happening. One of the fastest
ways readers end up in the state called “burn out” is by
not staying conscious of time and working within time
constraints. Another aspect of this issue is that as we
spend more time with clients than we should, we are in a
sense fulfilling their need for familiarity: to have
connection and interaction with another human. We end up
being “gratifiers” who in the end will barely be able to
help ourselves.

Some clients come to us in very harsh circumstances and are
trying to heal and gain some sense of direction. There is no
harm in empathizing with their plight but we can’t take it
personally and lose focus. In relating to their troubles, we
can lose objectivity in the reading, and thus get thrown off
our timing.

Clients rarely have just one question. They may have
difficulty formulating a question or articulating their many
concerns into one focus that works in 30 minutes. It’s
always good to space out appointments just in case you do
go into overtime; however, you'll want to nip the behavior
in the bud. You can say, “I normally do not allow for more
time than scheduled, but just this once..” or “I have other
obligations pending. Can we look into scheduling another
time for this?”

Going overtime is really a big boundary issue for both of
you. I understand it is really hard to turn down payment if
they are willing to pay for the extra time, but trust me, it
is a huge red flag.

One last thing I want to say that may be the most valuable
take-away from this article is to learn the importance of
closure. We talk about closure in terms of ending
relationships, etc. The way you end a reading is just as
important as beginning a reading. You can do this without
losing the human touch by incorporating little personal cues
to help the client’s awareness that the “time is nigh”
for things to come to an end. Some readers draw “one final
card” or speak in terms of an outcome, or give a summary,
recapping everything that was covered up until a certain point.

At about 10 minutes away, I ask if the reading resonates
with them and if it all makes sense. For the grand finale,
I say “this reading “feels” complete to me and tell them
I hope to work with them again soon. For some of you it
may be time to take payment or schedule future appointments.
The most important thing, next to getting paid, is to stay
within your boundaries.

Cool Tarot Project

TAROCCO: A SOLDIER'S TALE

A breathtaking new stage production from the Fox & Beggar
Theater fusing circus arts, visual arts, music, technology
and dance.

The Italian tradition of Comedia dell’arte comes alive in
Tarocco: A Soldier’s Tale, a kaleidoscopic narrative about
one soldier’s journey out of the trenches of the first
World War and into the mesmerizing dreamworld of a
15th century Italian Tarot deck…

The level of creativity, talent and dedication that's going
into this production is outstanding! It's not too often that
a tarot-themed project of this magnitude comes along,
and we're happy to give it our enthusiastic support. We
encourage you to check out their Kickstarter campaign and
contribute what you can to this worthy effort!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1103780390/tarocco-a-soldiers-tale

Featured Tarot Blog

QUEEN OF WANDS TAROT

Jenna Matlin, the intuitive engine behind the Queen of Wands
site, is a professional reader and business coach. She works
to develop some of the best in the business. Jenna blogs
about her interests as a tarot professional, giving you an
upfront seat to her world as she embodies the Queen of Wands.

http://www.queenofwandstarot.net/queen-of-wands-blog

Upcoming Events:

The Guardian Spirits of Nature Telesummit is a free event
that will show you how to create relationships and
partnerships with Nature Beings of all kinds.

20 wonderful teachers are coming together April 1-14 for two
one-hour calls every weekday. There's no cost to attend, and
even if you can't attend the talks live, you'll get access
to each replay for 48 hours.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER