Tarot investing

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Jul 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Red Emma	19 Jul 2002
It's such a treat to be back. My membership got all screwed up thanks to a dead/dying computer, and I've felt like the Spy Who Was Left Out in the Cold. Way, way out! And, Boy, was it cold out there! Anyhow. I recently discovered that an IRA (for non-US'ers, that's some funds you can invest early in life and get a tax break when you take them out when you're retired) -- anyhow, thanks to the current stock market, this fund lost $500 in a few months. I was trying to decide whether to leave the money alone, hoping the market would recover, or cash in the IRA before it's all gone. I decided to ask the Tarot. So I drew two cards, the Tower and the two of swords. I wasn't sure what the tower meant, but I suspected it wasn't good news. The two of swords, in this instance, meant that I had to make up my mind between two options. THANKS A LOT, TAROT! That's a lot of help! I'd pretty much all ready made up my mind to let it ride, which I did. But I watched the market pretty closely for a few days. And boy, did it get shaken up! Which probably means that my little IRA has bit the dust! Oh well, I'm sure the Goddess will provide. I sure hope the Goddess will provide! I don't want to move in with my kids! Goddess Bless

Sam	19 Jul 2002
uh oh. the tower, (I think) was saying that the stock market was destruckting, and you should've taken the money out. (at least that's what I think)

HudsonGray	19 Jul 2002
Yeah, tell me about it! My account went from $15,000 to $7,000 in less than a year. I moved them all out of the stocks & put them in Mutual funds which have a growth rate of a mere 3% but at least they're not going down. Don't wait too long, things are still in a downslide till possibly Sept. Then will drop again at end of Dec. (historically they do this).

MeeWah	19 Jul 2002
Red Emma: The Tower is significant. It seems to indicate that the traditional approach to savings & investments towards retirement no longer apply, or at least not at this time. In effect, the "old system" has been "destroyed"; at the very least, its foundations are compromised. That seems to suggest that it would be helpful to seek alternative means, if only to try to preserve the capital investment. The old adage about not putting all of one's eggs in one basket still applies. Diversifying the savings/investment venue is always prudent over the long-term to accomodate the fluctuating cycles. Depending on the specific means, sometimes the slower-gaining investments are the more stable since their growth is not always directly subjected to the volatility of the stock market; however, there are no guarantees even in a healthy economic climate & the current climate is not. Regarding the 2-Swords--In order to make the right decision for *your particular circumstances*, you need to know more about what you can conceivably implement. Thus, I strongly urge you to be an informed consumer. Research online; or via conventional means such as consulting with the company that is holding your IRA. Or inquire at one of the larger banks in your area as to what general information is available. Most such banks have investment advisory facilities to offer a prospective customer. The current trend seems to encourage private individuals to take a more active role in overseeing their retirement funds.

Umbrae	19 Jul 2002
1) “How to read a chart”: Go to bigcharts.com and bring up a chart of either the Dow (an arbitrary index of 30 stocks) or the S&P 500 (an index comprised of 500 stocks with the largest market capitalization). Go to ‘time periods’ and set it to at least 10 years. Stand across the room. Notice how it has been going down since early 2000? Many folks have lost 10 years of savings. The money is gone. Fat cats do not have it because they have lost it too. 2) I had a client call and ask why one of her accounts went up (gained value) last month. An index is an index. It is not ALL stocks. Some stocks go up. The media created an illusion in the late nineties, and is further creating an illusion right now. Not everything is going down. The tower is collapsing, but the well-made unattractive buildings hidden by the tower are just fine. 3) In the nineties, it was attractive to tell consumers they could do, what brokers who have spent years learning their craft do, with no learning or training at all. Illusion. The tower and the two of swords. 4) I would like you to send me $500. 5) If you are not willing to do that (give it to a complete stranger or lose it to a complete stranger), then save what you have!

midnightmerry	19 Jul 2002
The first thing I thought when I read your post is that the Tower was warning you that losses/destruction of established ways was imminent, but the 2 of Sw. was saying you were not seeing 'the writing on the wall' and were putting off a necessary decision. I'm not a financial wiz in any shape, form, or fashion, so other than what you said, I know nothing about IRA's etc... But this was the immediate impression I got.

The Tarot investing thread was originally posted on 19 Jul 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.