Tarot Issue

[WpingWllow]

I've read two books on Tarot in the past 2 days, one says the reader should be facing north, the other south.

Any ideas? Send them my way.

Wping Wllow

foolishmortals@hotmail.com
norrisa@csvrgs.k12.va.us

AOL IM: WeirdSisters123

[tarotbear]

There are no absolutes in Tarot. In another magickal setting, you would be told to face EAST since that is the direction of enlightenment. I suggest you try it several times in each direction and see if it makes any difference, but I dont feel that it actually will be noticable.

Facing North or South has to do with power flows, your dominant side, and lots of esoteric stuff dealing with Magick and High Magick.

Once you start burdening yourself with limitation after limitation, you will find you waste more time setting up to do a reading than doing the actual reading... ( I have to face this direction only and only burn this incense at this time of day in front of an altar covered only in this color cloth woven during the dark of the moon while I stand on my left foot while I stick my right big toe in my left nostril...) you get my picture.

Read the cards...don't worry about the trappings.






PS - This is a FORUM; that means you post a question, people post answers, and everyone gets to read them. Sending you private answers to your questions defeats the purpose of being a FORUM. ( Maybe I read into your last statement, but I thought I'd add my two cents)

[Sequoia]

. . . You're supposed to face directions? *looks a little confused/embarrassed*

I mostly uhh. . . just read in whatever space I have cleared off *winks* I usually put down a special scarf or something, though. Gives the cards their own little special space while I'm working with them.

[tarotbear]

Puma -- before you get on the plane, sprinkle pepper all over yourself so the plane will not eat you, but rather, spit you out since you taste bad.

Yes, Puma, every book author has a different 'take' on things and some people believe that THEY MUST do thus and so or that the reading will not work, the moon will turn into yogurt, or the world will end.

My only requirement for readings is a cloth to spread the cards on so that it gives me a neutral background and cuts down on distractions, and also keeps my cards clean.

{The color, weave, fibre, size , and shape of the cloth is immaterial; what deck I use is immaterial; what way I face is immaterial; if I am wearing clean underwear so that if I go to the hospital I wont embarass the nurses is immaterial...just read the cards!}

[tarotbear]

Let me amend this so wping Willow does not think I'm trashing what they wrote....

When I first 'got into' the big wiccan/occult picture, I thought I needed every damn piece of equipment, altar tchotchka, ritual tool, coordinated incense, and a new robe for everything I did. To accomplish this is a big layout of $$$.

True- when you are a newbie at this stuff you think that every author is giving you the keys to the kingdom and want to 'make sure' that you do everything 'right'.

In time I found out all I needed was a space; any flat surface is an altar; candles are necessary for light but their color and if they are annointed or not does not make much difference except in the mind. Instead of the fancy-assed athame, I found my right index finger works just as well or better. I also found doing work skyclad ( that's NUDE for the newbies out there) worked better than having a robe over you unless you are outside and it's cold.

What does being naked in a space with a flat surface, an index finger, and two white candles cost me? About 50 cents. So, the next high muckety-muck who was initiated by Joe Blow I Dunno who tells me I MUST have this, that, and the other thing OR ELSE gets an up close and personal shot of my hairy butt.

Learn the cards. Use the cards. The rest will come.

[WpingWllow]

Thanks. I figured I was reading too far into it. I appreciate the detailed responses, along with the humurous ones.

Blessed Be.

P.S. I know you don't have to spend major bucks, ect, but I was just making sure the direction wouldn't affect the reading.

[Flaire-FireStar]

I usually face north when I do my readings, but that's the way I have my tables laid out. :lol: Completely coincidental.

[Silver Venus]

:) Merry meet.
I'd say dont worry about following any set rule, surrounding the cards, or with the cards themselves, explore and discover your own way & sit wherever you feel comfy and intune with your energies and those around you the best.

Tarotbear, thanks for your feeling of unity in this forum recently, its great!

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

Originally posted by tarotbear
So, the next high muckety-muck who was initiated by Joe Blow I Dunno who tells me I MUST have this, that, and the other thing OR ELSE gets an up close and personal shot of my hairy butt.

LMAO.....a visual I didn't need! lol

But you are absolutely right as far as ritual goes! The great thing about Wicca/pagan path......you don't need to spend the $$$ to practice the craft!

As far as which direction to face when reading?? I'm with Puma. I don't face a particular direction. I feel that as long as I'm facing the querant, all is well! ;) It's about comfort and available space for me. :D

My advice, do what is most comfortable for you....and if it sounds like Whooey, it probably is.

Just center yourself, relax and go with the flow! ;)

~D

[cherrywind]

I've never used directions. I just plunk myself down where ever it feels right and read away :D.

[tarotbear]

Interesting, Dagda, I usually sit with the Querent off on one side, not directly across from me, so that they see the cards as I see them, instead of seeing them upside down.