Tarot Certification with the TCBA (v. 2.0?)

[Zephyros]

But Shade, what in your opinion would constitute a "real" Tarot reader vs. a non-real one? Charlatans, from what I can see, don't limit themselves to giving "fake" readings (whatever those are) but extort exorbitant sums of money in exchange for potions, lifting of curses and restoring estranged lovers. On the other hand, there are practitioners who do similar things "for real" so the gap isn't always apparent.

Prove to me anyone is a "real" Tarot reader. Prove to me that I am. I can't prove I really am, and I can make anyone fall asleep with hours of esoteric droning, given the chance. One might as well ask someone to prove God exists. There is nothing wrong with having faith in either God or in Tarot (I wouldn't be here if I had none) but I see certification bodies of this sort as simply a misguided, apologetic, dare I say bourgeois attempt at taking the "sting" out of something that, in my opinion, should retain it.

Not to be too geeky, but this debate brings me back to the trauma of midichlorians.

 

[tarotbear]

Well they certainly aren't a "Crock of shit".

That is only your opinion, as is mine: not only did I discover that the entire certification process was a crock of shit - it was a GILDED crock of shit.

Your milage may vary.

benebell: Well isn't that a great way to make a newbie feel at home.

Actualy, everyone's opinion here on AT is valid. Your error is to state that I said such organizations were bogus - which I did not. I implied that they are worthless - like buying an air conditioner when you live above the Arctic Circle. Your next error is to imply that since I don't agree with you that I am wrong.

My experience in a nutshell: I tried to meet the 'standards' the organization created - many which were juvenile, such as one-word keywords for each card (that had to be approved by a mentor), tape recordings of readings, pay for this, pay for that, etc. from which after weeks of work I receved an 'Tarot Reading Apprentice Certificate' that had an expiration date on it! Does knowledge expire? It was all a money-making hierarchy.

I have written three books on Tarot; I would never be as pompous as to title myself 'Tarot Grand Master' (TGM) -{{ Oh-! at one point the shortcut to get that qualification WAS to write a tarot book and I've written three}}, but I feel that I damn well know my way around a Tarot deck, little dorky piece of printer paper on the wall or not. I have sold over 12,500 copies of my books which means I have a potential 12,500 Tarot students ~ I DO NOT feel I need 'certification' to be considered legitimate.

 

[benebell]

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[benebell]

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[Zephyros]

Although you make some good points, and I'm not a Libertarian by any means, there are still aspects in life I would prefer to keep robust and as far away from the bureaucracy as possible. It already intrudes into practically every aspect of life, perhaps apart from having sex.

Codes of ethics, prosecutable practices, legitimacy, recognition... all these words mean is "safe." Let's make our misconceptions about magick in general and Tarot in particular... "safe." Not only do I not think it is not safe, I don't want it to be. If you go to a witch and ask for her services, that's unsafe. If you go to a Tarot reader and they turn out to be charlatans, that's part of what Tarot has always been. Part of the reason people today satisfy themselves with the odd crystal and "love and light" is because of the dogmatic way society has been brainwashed to eschew anything that is not, as Doreen Virtue put it, "100% safe and gentle." Any sort of spiritual seeking is padded to an absurd degree and when it can't be, it is suggested it be castrated through the use of the all-powerful Paper God.

Rape your virgins and sacrifice your children and then, maybe, any insight will be gotten.

 

[Grizabella]

I was against it too but then decided it looked fun so went for it. And found many of my preconceived notions to be wrong. Also, when did you take those cert exams? The certs I got so far don't have expiration dates.

They probably don't have expiration dates because Tarotbear made it public how absurd it was and how wrong to require a payment to keep it current.

GoldenWolf: I'm curious how many of the names on the TCBA members lists actually went through each level of examination and how many simply were awarded honorary titles. It would be nice to see that distinguished somehow on the website. Having just the names there like that without any further explanation, especially if what you say is true and so many of the better known ones were just granted the titles, is borderline misrepresentation. That's disappointing to know.

The people who elected themselves as overseers of the certification process to begin with were all "honorary", for heaven's sake. They chose themselves, nobody else did. To be perfectly honest, if someone were to award me an "honorary" title so I could be on that list, I'd reject it. I'd be embarrassed.

 

[benebell]

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[Annabelle]

That would better legitimize tarot readers as spiritual counselors.

Well, speaking just for myself, I don't want to be legitimized (whatever that means) as a spiritual counselor.

When I read tarot for others, I'm not intending or wanting to counsel them. My intent is to seek answers for them in the cards . . . and quite simply to tell their fortune.

(I don't read professionally, I should add.)

 

[gregory]

I don't read professionally either. But I cannot see HOW you can certify tarot. How can someone say it was or wasn't anything; it can take years for whatever to show up - to name but one thing. So you get a complaint - I believe in Romania you can now SUE if a prediction doesn't come true.

This kind of thing doesn't work, plain and simple - because it isn't concrete enough to quantify. You can post your ethics - but that is about it. BTW doesn't the TCBA have "required meanings" or am I thinking of somewhere else ?

 

[Debra]

Well they certainly aren't a "Crock of shit" - they were created with the intention of helping real Tarot readers separate themselves from con-artists.

This a really good observation.

First, I don't know of any evidence that the organization is a deliberate rip-off in any way. I believe they are sincere and have worked hard to establish a program with reasonable standards to the best of their ability. Someone might dispute their methods or think that they deserve a certificate without going through their exercises. Tarotbear I'm looking at you But this doesn't make their process a "crock of shit" gilded or otherwise.

Second, of course there can be standards. I judge readings--they're not all equally good--that's why the forum requires that people explain how they come to their "conclusions" in reading the cards. If someone says, "This card means you'll be taking a journey" and it's a Rider-style 4 of Pents--this means to me that the reader needs more practice, unless there's some unusual explanation which I sure as heck want to hear. I was asked about reading where the client was really worried about her husband, having had dreams and cards that indicate he might die. The reader reassured her that all was fine. Reader said, "There's no card for a widow." Well yes there is. And there sat the bereaved Q of Swords right in the middle of the client's layout. That reader was operating beyond her skill level.

Third, about con artists. For a long time I underestimated the importance of taking a firm stand against the "tradition" of using cards to scam people who are superstitious and needy. Then I started getting clients who'd been intimidated and exploited by the local Madam Ripoff. In some neighborhoods and communities, having something to help show you really mean business and take pride in your work as a reader--not conning people--might make a difference. Shade is right, too, in saying, that certification might not be the best way to accomplish this.