The Tarot School: Tarot Tips Newsletter

Welcome to a new issue of Tarot Tips!

And a special welcome to our new readers.

When you go through the RWS deck, you will find that
many of the figures are holding, grasping or leaning on
something. The most referenced are the swords, wands,
cups and pentacles. Keeping in mind that the symbolism
on Waite's deck has Masonic and occult influences,
these tools have deeper esoteric significance.

This issue will call attention to other tool imagery
found in the deck. Some tools are of a more practical
use, such as the hammer shown on the Showcase card, the
Eight of Pentacles, while others indicate the role or
position of a tarot character.

The 'Best Practices' column has suggestions for a
Tarot Reader's Toolbox. From altar supplies to
office supplies, a reader should be prepared. We also
received some feedback about the November issue to
share. Thanks to our lovely subscribers for your
comments!

And one more thing...

The holidays can be stressful, so make sure to set aside

some "me time" for yourself. Cozy up with a good

tarot book, play with your favorite decks, and plan

to feed your soul with some classes and a trip to the

2012 Readers Studio in the months ahead. In the

meantime, we wish you a very joyous holiday season!

Yours in the celebration of tarot,

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

WHAT DO THOSE TOOLS MEAN?

The largest detail on a specific card often grabs our
attention. More often than not, we start rattling off
what a card means, never being attentive to the smaller,
less well known details in the card, such as the lantern
held by the Hermit, or the bell around the neck of the
figure on crutches in the Five of Pentacles.

Try this reading for yourself or for another querent:

Shuffle the deck and choose 1 to 5 cards and lay them
out in a spread of your choice.

Without doing the usual interpretations of the cards,

choose one tool or object in the card that either has

never caught your attention before, or that you know

nothing about.

Proceed to do the reading based on the object you

have chosen. List all the possible meanings, messages

or significance of the tool that you can think of.

Do this for each card.
The tool /object will have a lot to tell you.

Here are a few interpretations of tools found in the

Rider-Waite-Smith deck:

Scales - Impartiality. Equilibrium. Weighing the pros
and cons. Measuring value.

Apron - The apron is the working apron of the ancient
stonemasons. Innocence. Purity. Distinction. Changes.
Dignity.

Scepter - Wielding creative power and authority.
Royal or spiritual power. Virility and fertility.

Lantern - Search for truth and virtue.

Chains - Connection to something. Servitude. Bonds.
Self-limitation. Association with a person or group.

Linkage.

Crutches - Dependence. Prop. Tau cross. Assistance to
those less fortunate.

Bell - Messages. Stay alert. Awareness. Warning.
Protection. Inner guidance.

Vase/Urn - Receptivity. Vessel. Storage. Containment.
Feminine.

Pole - Personal and divine power. Intention and focus.

Hoe - Agitation. Cultivation. Harvest.

Hammer - Symbol of masculine strength. Tool of divine
skill. Creative vigor. Creative intelligence. Productivity.

Breakthroughs.

Setting Maul - Used to align and set stones.
Placement. Finalized. In Masonic lore, it was the final
weapon used to kill Hiram Abiff and is symbolic of a
violent blow. Patience and guidance.

Keys - Access, freedom and liberation. Keeping
secrets. Protection. Entry. Crossed keys represent
papal authority.

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.

EIGHT OF PENTACLES

Astrological Attribution: Sun in Virgo

Qabalistic Attribution: Hod in Assiah

Esoteric Title: Lord of Prudence

The Eight of Pentacles shows a man crafting a pentacle.
The results of his precision detailing are seen on the
pentacles that have been finished and are displayed on
a panel next to him.

Waite's design demonstrates the theme of skill,
productivity and detailed work. The figure concentrates
on perfecting a certain technique, making each pentacle
more beautiful than the previous one. The goal is high
quality and perfection.

Traditionally, this card is associated with work and
industriousness. The Sun in Virgo aspect makes this a
card of hard work, the ability to work with many
details, and a flair for putting talents to the best
possible use.

Learning, school, training and continuing education may
be under consideration when this card appears in a
reading. This card indicates working to improve the
physical world.

In a reading this card can indicate a trophy, plaque or

award. Internal and external development may be also be
a major theme.

Positive Keywords: Technical skill, employment,
craftsmanship, apprenticeship, training, progress,
improvement, maintenance, productivity, and
organization.

Negative Keywords: Lacking, lazy, unreliable, cheap, of
poor quality, forgetful, overworked, under paid, lost
wages, untrained, and problems with work.

Tarot Affirmation: Prudence is demonstrated through my
ability to know how to do the right thing at the right time.

Upcoming Events:

CARD STUDY COMPLETE: SUIT OF PENTACLES

Card Study Complete is a course that aligns itself as
closely as possible with the energy of the seasons.
With this series we take a look at the Minor Arcana in
the form of the Suit of Pentacles, usually associated
with the upcoming season of Winter.

In these four classes, you'll find out that the Suit of
Pentacles is magnificent. It's a whole world all by
itself, and one quarter of all there is. And if you
don't already know it, you'll also begin to realize
that the Minor Arcana cards are anything but minor.

Pentacles is the suit of the body, symbol of earth, of
what is complete and solid and real, the gift of freedom

and connection to every individual person and thing.

This series will be full to overflowing with information,

with new perspectives, and with exploration. If you

treasure the useful, the provocative and the enjoyable,

join us!

11/17    The Symbol of the Pentacle
12/01    Ace - 5 of Pentacles
12/08    6 - 10 of Pentacles
12/15    The Court of Pentacles

4 Thursdays: November 17, December 1, 8 and 15.

(You can still join us and we'll send you the first class

recording right away!)

9-11 pm Eastern time

Tuition: $80 for the series -- includes .mp3 recordings!

Earns 8 Degree credits

You'll receive the mp3 recordings even if you can't attend

the classes.

http://tarotschool.com/Teleclasses.html

Sunday, January 29

Free Readers Studio Teleconference
Open to all -- Join us for an informal get-together

which is often surprising and always fun!

1:00-2:30 pm Eastern time

Sign up and get the call-in details at:

http://tarotschool.com/RSTC.html

April 27-29, 2012

The Readers Studio

LaGuardia Marriott Hotel

East Elmhurst, New York

Speakers include: James Wanless, James Wells,

Shawn Nacol, Nancy Antenucci, Marcia McCord,

Jude Alexander, Mary K. Greer, Barbara Moore,

Thalassa, James Ricklef, Courtney Weber, Frances Ktenas,

Paris Finley, Chanah Liora Wizenberg, Ciro Marchetti,

Sheilaa Hite and Mike Hernandez.

http://ReadersStudio.com

Best Practices for Professional Readers

A TAROT READER'S TOOLBOX

By Gina Thies -
http://www.facebook.com/tarotreaders

http://www.tarottactics.com

I am a big believer in having the right tool for the
job. I am often away from my home office and am a
stickler about having supplies for my "portable"
tarot office. These are the things I consider tools of
the trade for a professional tarot reader:

1. Props. These would be items such as decorative

candle holders, statues, etc.

2. Battery operated tea lights or candles. Make sure

       they are working and have fresh batteries.

3.    A small flashlight or another light source.

4.    Extra decks.

5.    Crystals or crystal balls.

6.    Altar or table clothes. Scarves.

7.    Box of tissues.

8.    Sign-up sheets or notebook and pens.

9.    Timer. This is on most phones.

10. Voice Recorder. Make a CD or email readings to

your client.

There are some really great technology tools that are
great for readers as well, such as:

Card Reader Apps - Allows you to accept payments

on your phone or iPad.

Voice Recording or Phone Recording Apps

Business Card Readers and Scanners

Mobile Scanning Apps

Hour and Scheduling Apps

I would suggest researching what would meet your needs
best. There are so many tools for professional and
business owners it will be easy to find the right
solution for you.

Questions arise when developing or transitioning
to professional Tarot Reading status to earn
income. These can range from "How can I make
money with Tarot?" and "How do I get started?"

to more complex technical and business questions.

You may already be up and running and have

questions about how to enhance or ramp up your

business. We would love to hear from you. Send any

questions, or interest in a future class on the

Business of Tarot, to tarot@tarotschool.com.

Join our international event as hundreds of tarot

readers, teachers, authors and artists gather for three

extraordinary days of tarot study and play.

THE READERS STUDIO
April 27 - 29, 2012
LaGuardia Marriott Hotel, New York

Visit ReadersStudio.com

for all the details!

READER FEEDBACK...

We received a couple of interesting emails in response to

"Dealing with Naysayers and Non-Believers," the featured

Tarot Tip in last month's issue. If you missed it, you can

read it in the archives at http://tarotschool.com/Newsletter.html

Marty of Dream Work Counseling wrote:

Greetings,
I read your article on Tarot naysayers with great
interest and agree with what you said. In my own
research I have found historical references to the ban
on Tarot cards in Italy by the early churchmen in the
13th & 14th centuries. As you know, this narrow view
has plagued Tarotists since that time.

What most people don't realize is that the ban on the
Tarot was due to its association to gambling, not
fortunetelling. Card games were the gambling activity
of the day at that time, and the church authorities
wanted their "flock" in church and not playing card
games. The result is that they became labeled (by the
church authorities) as "tools of the devil."

The interesting thing is that Tarot was not actually
used as a divination tool until much later, in England.

Blessings,
Marty

Robert Moyer had this to say:

This is a wonderful and timely Newsletter. We, our
group at the PA Ren/Faire, had some interesting
repercussions during one of the school days. It seems
that two of the "chaperones" were very concerned about
the "Tarot Readers" presence at the Ren/Faire. (I'm
sure that it seems obvious that the "chaperones" were
from a Christian Academy in the area. I was so proud
of the way the management of the Ren/Faire handled the
arguments.

The Mistress of the Merchants simply replied that

"Tarot was apart of the Middle Ages and Elizabethan

Times. Queen Elizabeth had advisors who studied the

stars and the cards. So, it has every right to be here,

as does the Bible or the Koran. My suggestion is to

walk away from the temptation."

I've shared this newsletter with my Readers and other
friends. Thank you for the forum and the ability to share.

Ed: And thank you both for sharing your insight

and experience!

Featured Tarot Blog

IT'S ON THE CARDS

We thought this blog was really cool. Dave Thornton

shares his unique ideas, and brings a broader view to

interpreting tarot. Check out the interesting card

combinations and how Dave interprets certain

card pairings.

http://davethorntonstarotblog.wordpress.com/