First joy at your stories; next hope to hear more as well
Very lovely, because I seem to read as we grow in our own spiritual and personal ways, we took a small book of images with us along the way.
I'm afraid I missed seeing Firemaiden's wonderful story, and the tarot fun I've enjoyed in her threads at AT only hints at the lovely background that spans continents, decks...and days and nights of song and story.
Here I go:
1. First section:
-How did you find the tarot? (or how did it find you?) -What drew you to it? -What was your first reaction? -How old were you? What was going on in your life at the time? Why do you think you found it when you did? Was it an important discovery for you?
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=93113&page=1&pp=30
2. Second Section:
-What sort of social environment were you in when you found tarot -- religious, anti-religious, liberal, conservative? Hostile or friendly to tarot, etc. -Did you keep it secret? Is it still secret? Why? If secret, when did/will you come out of the tarot closet?
Since I've been independent as an adult since graduating university, the above is all a matter of personal choice and responsibility. I understand family
members have their own choice of religion, belief, ways of living and most of them all are healthful and kindly, with their own approaches. I respect if they want to play card games, or do sports and I do have my own interests as well. When I practise music or study art history, or have friends that enjoy tarot cards--it's all a choice of creativity or relaxation.
2. Third section:
-Do you read? for yourself? for others? live? on-line?
Yes, yes, yes, yes. On-line not so much any more. Maybe with the Skype/Video cam connection, my friends and family whom I enjoy doing such things with will get into more online readings. My artsy friends like old fashioned postal mail--we grew up in a time that paper arts felt good for the soul.
-How many years have you been reading? - since 1995, 1996.
-Do you feel like you are a good reader? Not always.
-How did you learn to read? I had taught myself early to read my own dreams, read illustrations and filmic images that I didn't understand to form stories, but they weren't necessarily cartomancy or for others. I knew how to read my own images and ideas, but not for others all the time.
What were your first readings like? -How long did it take you before you felt you could do a meaningful reading?
--for family members and people that I knew for a few years, we were in tune and able to talk and discuss the images. That conversational approach worked because they were really open and able to look at things outside of their subjective view if they could see a different image and through conversation, a different viewpoint.
It took me time to be able to tell if a relative stranger wasn't really interested in learning something new or wanted a reading that was helpful. Sometimes people were are forming questions with specific expectations--it was likely they didn't really need a reading with cards for the answer.
For instance, someone who asked if a relative was going to change their ways but had no plans to participate in helping or dealing with the issue--they had no expectation of anything was going to change at all. A free or any reading, in that case, was a waste of energy for the relative--and it told me something about the questioner
-How has your way of reading evolved over the years? Do you like to experiment and try new things?
I usually do creative readings for myself and certain family and friends. We try different things all the time.
---Or do you get best results with tried and true methods?
Usually if the spread is a bit different, that helps.
---Has your power to read insightfully improved steadily? or was it an inborn talent?
I have no power. Sometimes my conversational skills have improved if people can hear and listen and we have wonderful moments of exploring, even fun together. But it's not anything inborn or within me that speaks of natural insight or psychic or psycho energy. I don't have any of that.
-or does the magic to "see" come and go with periods of being "on" and periods of being "stuck". Do you enjoy reading or find it draining?
Sometimes being with people with imagination who enjoy creative ways to discuss their looks at some idea or work or issue--they are empowered for themselves. Their inborn talent to turn the mirror of insight on themselves increases if they are open to looking at such things--with others who trying to be gentle or strong or inspiring or sympathetic if need be. Sometimes my attempts at being a good conversationalist or listener has improved so we together feel happy and connected.
Sometimes people do not connect with me and my style of reading or looking at things--that is bound to happen. In that case, nice to meet you, hope things go well with you...
-Do you feel you have something to teach others about reading?
I don't know.
-Do you believe the tarot works?
For me, it only works with certain people. Other methods of problem-solving or creativity works, other means of relaxation or talking or not talking. Sometimes action speaks louder than words and tarot isn't going to help or should not be consulted.
-Were you skeptical at first? Did you grow to believe it more or less as you became more familiar with it?
I understand for me, some teachers or ways of tarot study works and some teachers or ways of tarot study do not. To be honest, I don't think tarot is for everyone.
It is up to each individual (in my humble opinion) to be able to
(1) say if they want to 'believe' in being able to learn from creative allegorical teaching stories -- whether the stories come from tarot conversation, their spiritual teacher's writings, their own creative insight
(2) Do something about what they learned
(3) Be able to put down the cards and shut off the forum chat and stop reading books and just do what needs to be done--in a good and helpful way
that has impact to the matter of concern.
I believe in that way, a tarot reading made into a positive action will 'work.'
Best wishes,
Cerulean
), so this just sounds magical...
