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Protagonist
February 4th, 2005, 09:56 PM
As I've mentioned before, I do readings for friends, often in public. The other day, before a class started, I gave a couple of them readings. As the class started, the lights went out, the prof turned on the projector, and we all got ready to take notes, one of them asked to look at the cards some more during class. I didn't see any harm in it, so I went on taking notes while they fiddled with the cards. I usually cleanse my cards, and I sometimes get a rush from the cameraderie that gets associated with them when I let other folks handle them, oddly enough.

I was a bit worried the prof would notice, but, that didn't happen. As I took notes, I glanced over at them, examining the cards, spreading them out, putting them together, etc. Then, it happened. At one point during the lecture, the prof went to turn on a second projector, and everything was silent. What do I hear eminating from the darkness near my two friends?

"Got any cups?" "Nope. Go fish."

I actually vaguely yelped, "Holy crap," and watched as they played Go Fish with Tarot cards, having had the ingenuity to develop rules for the Major Arcana (they divided them into two suits, I think.) I cleansed my cards as I usually do when I got them back, and have been using them for readings since then as always. They asked to play with them again, and I agreed. It just seemed so cute and fun. My question here is this: is this a really, really bad idea? I've heard a joke that goes, "I played poker with Tarot cards. Two people died, and the rest of us met handsome strangers." I don't think anyone would actually die, but is it bad to use a divination deck for this sort of thing? It seems to work okay afterwards, and it feels kind of... innocent and soft when I hold it.

On a side note... the other day, I was famous among my classmates for about an hour or so after one of my predictions was dead-on. Usually, my readings are as accurate as anyone else here, but they don't necessarily tell the future; they'll often reveal things about a situation that the person didn't realize or give advice, like, "If you take that job, your boyfriend will probably not like it." Part of it is that I rarely get asked a truly predictive question. It's usually "Why does so-and-so feel such-and-such?"

The other day though, a guy asked me for a reading. He shuffled the deck and asked the cards, honestly, "What's for dinner?" I thought it was some sort of joke, but he said he was really looking forward to the meal and was hoping for something special (he used the phrase "roast beef" about five times. I looked at the spread. The Empress card came up, as did certain sword cards and pentacles. I told him that his mother (I kind of assumed the Empress was a mother, after all, we WERE discussing dinner!) wouldn't be able to make him dinner and he'd have to find something for himself, but it wouldn't be very good. The next day, for some odd reason, he tells me excitedly that his mother had been working late and he had only managed to get cold Wendy's for dinner. Honestly, I've never seen someone so ecstatic about cold Wendy's.

Aine of the Fae
February 4th, 2005, 10:04 PM
:lol: The Tarot originated as a game!!! It was a trick taking game similar to bridge, or Euchre (my personal favorite...) I often spend bored hours in doctors waiting rooms playing solitaire with my Tarot deck. If hubby is with me, we'll play go fish or other various games, although I don't really know many two player card games....

I even have developed a fairly simple way to play solitaire with Tarot cards. You play much like regular solitaire, building up in suit from King to Ace on the field and from Ace to King above. With the Major Arcana you build in suit from World to Fool on the field and from Fool to World above. I lay out the cards in 8 rows, the last one you can only play Majors on. Empty slots can only be filled by a King or a Major Arcana card.

It's tough to beat, but it passes the time, and when your life is spent in doctors offices and waiting rooms, you have to pass the time somehow!!!

It also brings some interesting reactions as well. I get everything from dirty looks, and nasty glares, to fearful curiosity, to outright "Can I get a reading..." I've even had one woman give me $50 after a reading in a doctors office, although I certainly didn't ask for it, and I even told her she didn't have to!

I suppose it really depend on who YOU feel about them playing with your cards. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, then don't let them. But it seems you don't mind, so let them enjoy it, and be glad they aren't screaming "You're the devil... get that Satan's picture book away from me!!!!!"

wolf
February 4th, 2005, 11:56 PM
The other day I was playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died.

--- Stephen Wright

halfwaynowhere
February 5th, 2005, 12:05 AM
tarot cards were originally playing cards, i tried playing ottocento the other day, which i guess is similar to hearts... of course, playing go fish with the cards is something i would never do, i think that might be a bit disrespectful... i dunno, cleansing the cards would be good, especially if you felt uncomfortable with what they were doing...

Maverynthia
February 5th, 2005, 12:26 AM
I remember in a reception after an SCA meeting someone broke out some tarot cards and we all gathered into the circle and played some for of really fun game with them.