Welcome!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Feb 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

aeonx	21 Feb 2002
Greetings all. I'm sitting here thinking about something that could be a great experience, with emphasis on the word great. Maybe even a tradition. It would be fantastic if we could do this! Ladies and gents. I'm proud to announce my suggestion (visualize this banner): "Welcome to The Aeclectic Tarot Convention"! What do you think? Imagine if we all could, i.e. every second year, meet up somewhere and talk/discuss/trade experiences/trade decks/do readings and most importantly: LEARN. There is so much wisdom in Tarot that you could go on for a whole lifetime and still not learn it all. These conventions could really improve our understanding and expand our 'sight'. I'm eager to know what your opinions/idéas/suggestions on this is. Imagine all the fun we would have! *s* Warmest regards, ~aeonx~

Pollux	21 Feb 2002
Well... a convention would be gorgeous - I always play the spoil-your-game-dude!!! part - but that would be so difficult!!! People belonging to this forum are from different countries all over the world... In addition, there's someone who struggles to save the money to buy a most-wanted deck (i.e. me for example :p ) imagine them coming to Perth, Hong Kong, San Francisco or Avignon! :) Some (well, most of them) have also children to care for... BUT, surely it would be great to traspose the wondrous and magickal feeling of thi Firums and this Web Community into a real life, real decks, real converstion experience - I'd love to! Who knows! After all, there's plenty of conventions all over the world. Why not try to meet at these ones - without getting bugged with having one? For example, if you know there's one in Chicago, post ths and tae appointments with other people of the Forums who intend to come. That would be easier, I think. For example, Naples is a great sight in Summer - although there's no Tarot Convention. But, If someone comes, and tells me - we might organize one! I know the Place - with a gourgeous sight of the coast! - and you know the stuff!!! :)

Kiama	21 Feb 2002
I would love to meet all you guys in real life, so a convention would be great. However, like Pollux said, it would be difficut, esp. since it would probably be in America (Most of he netties here are American) and people who live in Australia are gonna have trouble getting there! But, I'm sure if we had 2 years to save up, it could happen. "If you build it, they will come..." Kiama

aeonx	21 Feb 2002
Greetings Pollux. *s* I know that there are all these things that should be taken into consideration... But. We can still do it. For example, the convention doesn't have to last for more than, let's say, three-four days? And it doesn't have to be all fancy schmancy either, in other words: not that expensive. As you also point out, there are a lot of different conventions around the world, and these people take their time to do it. I just want to see how many are interested in this. So people, tell me what you think. Wouldn't it be great with a huge camp in Naples filled with devoted tarot-enthusiasts! In sync with Mother Nature... Wow. *s*

kayne	21 Feb 2002
This would be FANTASTIC!!! I am saving up for travel right now :) (I plan to be on a working holiday in the UK this time next year...) I could pop down to Naples I think :) Wow - Imagine, all my Aeclectic friends in one room together! (aeonx, since it is ok to ask dumb questions on this forum... would you mind telling me what *s* is?)

Pollux	21 Feb 2002
In Latin: "Fortuna audax adiuvat" Which means: fortune helps he who dares... I thought My idea and proposal (i.e. Naples ;P ) were so much brazen that one could only laugh at them... Instead you guys keep being for me a source of constant surprise. I' in AWE! And my love for you grows day by day! It's in moments like this that I feel such a great impulse to cry for happiness! :'( Well, if you ARE serious - I am asking coz there's so much humorism around: I might mention Tarotbear, Talisman, blue, Liliana (a breakthrough! :D ) and, why not, even Kiama and myself :D - if you ARE serious, you just have to tell me. Got a good idea for the place. And it's in the greenest place of Naples, in Camaldoli, near the wood - YES, I live in a wood! :p Jealous?! :p . And... Kayne, the city is a sight itself. Of course, if you intend to pop up, I can't even miss Rome, that's 1h distant. Hey GUYS, if you really mean this serious, YOU GOTTA TELL ME, RIGHT? POLLUX *eyes winking*

aeonx	21 Feb 2002
Dear kayne: Answer to Dumb Question #1: *s* means smile, and I always mark my RT (real time) gestures in stars. Cute huh? *bs* (which means big smile) Dumb Question #2: how do you guys get those smileys in your posts? *giggle* Pollux: we got to make something of this! *waving arms*

Major Tom	21 Feb 2002
Naples is as good a place as any though I might suggest Framlingham (we could use an 800 year old castle as a venue for a camping convention). }> We could set up tents and sell readings to tourists to defray the costs no matter where it was held. :D

Melvis	21 Feb 2002
I love this idea! I've been thinking about this myself...that it would be cool to go to a tarot convention and have a little "A.T." pin or something that would designate that you are a member of this crazy Aeclectic crew! I'm sad that the first Aeclectic convention is being planned for a location over the ocean from me though...I'm not a good flyer! I'll have to get myself on some excellent medication before then in order to even get ON a plane! ;P Maybe we could get together before then in the States, so if some of us can't get to Naples we can give those of you who ARE going a great send-off! Aeonx: (How DO you pronounce that name, anyway? ;) ) Next to the white box where you type your reply to a thread is a little link that says, "Emotions Legend". It shows the keyboard combos that you type (separated by spaces) to get the smiley faces. Such as :* :) :( }> :D ;D ;P :P ! Peace, Melvis

sif	22 Feb 2002
Hi! I have a tiny concern. If, as Kiama mentions, most of the Aeclectics are in the US, let's have a convention in the US! ... I haven't got the money to go to Naples! How about the wild jungles of NYC?...... *knows no one will agree and is already sad* Kiama, is it true that you have over 1100 posts? I see it next to your name but I just can't fathom 1000 posts.

aeonx	22 Feb 2002
Melvis: thanx! ;) this is fun... :-) Well, my name... is pronounced something like 'ionx'. Should have written it using the phonetic alphabet, but I'm a bit rusty... So people, you suggest USA. OK, where? I think the forest of Naples sounds great! One things for sure, though, The Aeclectic Tarot Convention does not belong in a huge city (no offense sif). I would really like to camp outdoors. Seriously. Major Tom: I think your idéa is great! Let's read to people! I could use the money, especially for the ticket over. :-p

kayne	22 Feb 2002
Well Pollux, It looks like the Americans in Aeclectic will have as much sway here as MacDonalds has on the world... (this is intended as a JOKE!!!) Looks like I will be stopping off in the USA before going to Europe then... Of course the Karri Forests of the South West of Western Australia would be ideal too! (If you don't know about Karri trees which only grow in this region of the world - check out: http://www.ifa.unimelb.edu.au/images/karri2.jpg and http://www.worldenglish.org/images/introduction/mpwa1.jpg )

Pollux	22 Feb 2002
Hmm... as I've already posted, my proposing Naples started as a joke, and then aeonx and Kayne - if I recall well - got me thinking about it seriously! :D I don't care if it is in Naples or in Aussie. The fact is that SURELY I won't have the money to fly the ocean, AT ALL!!! I think Kiama would be in my same situation, and all the teen people from Europe - there are some, you know :p The point is: if it must be held, please! Let's have it in Europe! After All, it is in Italy the whole stroy started because of Bembo and the Visconti family. :p I think we should bring our regards to them! :D Or, we could have an AT Convention for each continent: one in Europe, one in US, one in Aussie. So "everyone" can participate to it. And we could hold them in the same days. (The ggod thing is I'll meet Kiama, Major Tom and the others... the bad is I won't see Kayne, Meewah and the others! :'( )

aeonx	22 Feb 2002
I know... you can all come to Norway! I live (almost) all the way up north. If you are fast, maybe you can catch a ride with our outstanding, fantastic, great, superb, super, spectacular athletes... }> No, really, I wanna go to Naples. It sounds intriguing... being in Naples, in a beautiful forest, it's warm and friendly, we're drinking red wine and eating garlic bread, discussing all kinds of aspects of Tarot. *dreamy look in her eyes* OK, who wants to present a similar scenario, only this one situated in the US?

Kiama	22 Feb 2002
I agree with the Naples idea. And the camping out in a forest idea. And thereading for people idea. We could form our own travelling circus! ;p Kiama

Pollux	22 Feb 2002
REALLY, I'm talking seriously, If you mean to do that, you GOTTA tell me coz there's so much stuff to do to get organized! I know a camp area will be soon opened in the Park of Camaldoli, but I don't really know when, and where specifically. In addition, I think I must ask for some permission to host 780 people! :D Tourists are not the be seen around easily in the area, but it would be better to give readings in the city, Park of Capodimonte would be great; therefore we need some permissions. The Good point of NAples is that there's a lot of OLD OLD OLD libraries... but they sell Italian or Neapolitan or LAtin Books, no english at all! And, so far, I don't know there are metaphysical shops. Of course you can buy tons of souvenirs, but I don't think you could be able to find so many decks to pick - I only know there's two libraries selling decks, mostly Scarabeo Modiano and Meneghello. But, of course, that's not the main point of the convention, right? :)

Jewel	22 Feb 2002
Quote: Pollux (22 Feb, 2002 22:33): The point is: if it must be held, please! Let's have it in Europe! After All, it is in Italy the whole stroy started because of Bembo and the Visconti family. :p I think we should bring our regards to them! :D Or, we could have an AT Convention for each continent: one in Europe, one in US, one in Aussie. So "everyone" can participate to it. And we could hold them in the same days. (The ggod thing is I'll meet Kiama, Major Tom and the others... the bad is I won't see Kayne, Meewah and the others! :'( ) Pollux, One your first point here ~giggles~ I would be careful proclaiming the origins of Tarot, there are several here that go with the Egyptian origin philosophy ... trust me you do not want to open that can of worms again ;) As for your second point, or better said suggestion, I think it is the perfect solution. Being in the US I would like to put my vote for the US convention to be held in Sedona, Arizona. It is a very spiritual place with wonderful energies. (My first choice was really Maui but I know I could not afford to go *LOL*). Love & Light,

faunabay	22 Feb 2002
OH MY GOD!!!!! Jewel, You've done it again!!! :o Within the last month I've been thinking about visiting Sedona!! I'd love to meet with the forumites there. :) aeonx, You've come up with a great idea!!! Good Job!!!! (clapping and cheering) I do believe it's more feasible to think about continental get togethers though. I'd love to come visit everyone in Naples, but there's NO WAY I could afford it from America. :( Maybe someday though. I've always wanted to go to Europe and this would be a great way to do it - get to see all of you!!!!

Jewel	22 Feb 2002
Quote: faunabay (23 Feb, 2002 05:25): OH MY GOD!!!!! Jewel, You've done it again!!! :o Within the last month I've been thinking about visiting Sedona!! I'd love to meet with the forumites there. :) *ROFLMAO* What can I say my dearest soul sister ... GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE!!!!!!! ;P ;P ;P So what deck are we buying this week anyways *ROFLMAO*. Love & Light,

fairyhedgehog	22 Feb 2002
I think the continental idea is best, but on different days, maybe a month or two apart. Then anyone who /can/ travel has the option of going to more than one. I'd love to meet some of you guys from the US and Australia, but I'm not going anywhere. Maybe a day to Cambridge, Reading, Portsmouth, but not Italy I'm afraid. I can imagine my husband's expression if I tell him I'm off to Rome to meet a lot of Tarot enthusiasts :o How can we easily get a useable list of where people are and who might be willing to travel? Regards, FH

Pollux	22 Feb 2002
fairyhedgehog: I think that before doing that, we must understand if this idea CAN be put into practice. Because I don't think people are eager to give personal information on the Internet :) Even though I constantly do on the Forums!!! :D However, you could just start up a new thread for this. Please, let's make so that I can come! :(

Melvis	22 Feb 2002
This is just TOO COOL! :D I love the continental idea, Pollux. So far it sounds like America, Europe, and Australia may have participants...but we may still hear from those Tarot-totin' penguins in Antarctica, so we won't count them out! ;P I have so many ideas in my head, fighting to get out, that I'm just going to brainstorm a bit. But remember, these are only suggestions! WHERE? For the U.S., I really like the Sedona idea, Jewel! (Never been there, but sounds lovely, as long as it's not a million degrees in the shade when we're there! ;P ) Artsy community...gorgeous country all around...can you tell I've been perusing the Sedona Chamber of Commerce website? But the really important question: Do they have plenty of places to buy Tarot cards in Sedona? ;D WHEN? Dear me, we need a year at least, don't we? Spring of 2003, perhaps? I think each continent/convention should start it's own post, to get everyone else involved without making this Thread too long. Does anybody have any organization skills that they could put to good use in organizing our American convention? I can do research, and take info like addresses, etc., from people who may want to participate, but I'm not much good beyond that. I've never organized a full convention before, but I'd guess lodging, travel, and meeting space arrangements are the big ones to take care of. Maybe people could email me where they live, their vote for where to have the American convention, and when they'd like to see it happen. Then at least we're not splashing our personal info all over the internet, if people don't want to do that. I can keep posting the vote breakdown up until some sort of deadline, maybe in 6-8 weeks, when we really should make a decision. So, that's what my brain has to offer today. What do all those other Aeclectic brains out there think? Peace, Melvis

faunabay	22 Feb 2002
Melvis - A WHOLE YEAR??? I can't wait that long! Pretty please can't we do it sooner than that. LOL I hesitate to bring this up as I quit doing this because it stressed me out so much BUT.....this is almost exactly what I used to do for a career. I used to work in the video business doing conventions. I was the production coordinator. (oh no what have I done here - cringing) LOL Maybe, just maybe - as long as it doesn't get too too stressful - I could help with the planning and details. ;D I really would love to see everyone in person!!!!!!

faunabay	22 Feb 2002
Hey - there was a thread a while back asking where everyone was from!!! But I think it was in the Chat section so we'll have to wait until it comes back up. That would be at least a partial list of people and where they live though.

DeLani	23 Feb 2002
Quote: faunabay (23 Feb, 2002 05:25): OH MY GOD!!!!! Jewel, You've done it again!!! :o Within the last month I've been thinking about visiting Sedona!! I'd love to meet with the forumites there. :) aeonx, You've come up with a great idea!!! Good Job!!!! (clapping and cheering) I do believe it's more feasible to think about continental get togethers though. I'd love to come visit everyone in Naples, but there's NO WAY I could afford it from America. :( Maybe someday though. I've always wanted to go to Europe and this would be a great way to do it - get to see all of you!!!! ___________________________________ Faunabay, Girl, we gotta do this! If we pitched in on the travel/lodgding costs, we could go together and I might actually be able to go! This is a great idea. We certainly should have a real convention, and one on each continent is probably going to be the most logistically possible. Maybe one of us could at some point arrange a "historical tarot" tour around Italy, France, & Spain. Just an idea, DeLani

jmd	24 Feb 2002
duplicate post with next one... please delete

jmd	24 Feb 2002
Well... I was going to announce the following soon! I had already e.mailed a couple of people on Aeclectic (and I few others who I do not know if they are part of Aeclectic or not) as some of us are in the early stages of organising an International Tarot Conference in 2005... At this stage, it will be one week long, in either Melbourne of Brisbane (as yet to be decided). More details coming...

kayne	24 Feb 2002
Great jmd, I am sure I will try and make it for that :) (Bit of a treck from Perth but it may be a possibility...)

Pollux	24 Feb 2002
For all those that like my Naples' idea, I asked a "friend" of mine if it was possible and "easy" to get permissions to camp in the park, and if he could help me for the rent of the room for the convention (if any is needed - he told me he could maybe gimme it for free! :) ). He has assured me that I could get the permission and the stuff to host you in the park camping... Now, you just need to tell you if you MEAN it. I thought we could be conversating Tarots on mornings and in afternoons and evenings I mighttake you sightseeing in Naples and not only... Pompei, la Reggia di Caserta... I think it would be great in summer, as the city is almost deserted! :D Yes, most Neapolitans go on vacation out of the city, so we have plenty of space to walk, cheatchat and scream down the streets!!! :D Really, I'm serious, I found out I can make so that you come and camp, and we could even have some convention rooms... ;p I'm waiting for you to ignite my engine now... :)

aeonx	24 Feb 2002
Greetings again! Wow. :o I've not had the chance to check in on Aeclectic all weekend, and I'm really exited to see all you guys being so enthusiastic about my idéa. :) faunabay: thanx. I think so too. *lol* fairyhedgehog: different dates on the conventions sounds good, so some people get the oppertunity to visit more than one. Melvis: you have some good suggestions there, and I agree that maybe we should start one thread for each convention. then things won't get so mixed up either. :) I also agree on the date, this thing needs serious planning. jmd: sounds really interesting, keep us up to date Pollux: all that sounds just great! 8) I'm for sure coming to Naples.

Kiama	25 Feb 2002
Quote: jmd (24 Feb, 2002 18:12): At this stage, it will be one week long, in either Melbourne of Brisbane (as yet to be decided). More details coming... Although its great you've decided to take the initiative, why did you choose Australia? The majority of the forumites who would go to the conference live in America. I think if it was held in Aus, not many would go. Its a 23 hour flight from where I am to Aus, and some of us wouldn't recover from the jet lag and changed time zones until 3 days after the flight anyway. It also may be more expensve for most of us to get to Aus than to America, or somewhere in Europe. It'll cost me £500 just for the flights, that's about $750 (American dollars). Then there's the accomodation, and miscellanea to buy... Maybe instead of planning the place now, you should put up a poll, or voting system, or something. I also head about another conference sometime ago, that got people from the area the conferece was held in, to pitch in a bit of money each, to help subsidise the people who had to travel all around the world to get there. That way, as many people as possible could go. However this wouldn't be possible for us cuz there aren't very many people on this forum who actually live in Australia! Kiama

kayne	25 Feb 2002
Kiama: I might be wrong but I think jmd was refering to a tarot conference being organised for Australians that is not necessarily related to Aeclectic... It would be great to see some Aeclectic people there if they could make it though :)

Kiama	25 Feb 2002
Ah well, my mistake! :-D Kiama

The Welcome! thread was originally posted on 21 Feb 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.