Tarot in a murder case...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 18 Sep 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

wavebreaker	18 Sep 2002
There's currently a murder case going on in the Netherlands of a nurse who allegedly killed 13 patients. Part of the evidence is an entry in her diary, which supposedly refers to her compulsion to kill. However, she now claims it refers to her compulsion to use tarot cards: Quote: "I gave in to my compulsions ... I don't even know why I am doing it ... I will take this secret with me into the grave ... Today I gave in to my compulsions. Still I hope I am helping people by this!" she was quoted saying in the diary. The accused -- who is also charged with five counts of attempted murder -- told the court she had been referring in her diary to her compulsive interest in Tarot cards, which are commonly used in fortune-telling. She told the court she had laid out Tarot cards for some of her critically ill patients but had been concerned this would land her in hot water with hospital authorities. You can read the full story here.

catlin	18 Sep 2002
Phht, I hope the judges won't believe this person but I fear that others will take this excuse to cast a bad light on tarot or on ppl involved with tarot just because of this.

David River	18 Sep 2002
I only want to mention this. Like it was mentioned in another thread...Tarot creates a door. It really does open up the mind not only to other concepts, but depending on the person quite different realities. I remember when the door first opened to me and quite literally both light and dark came through that door. It took me three months to fight off some of those temptations, but happily I was guided away from all that. I suppose what Im saying is that I can honestly see some truth in what she is saying. Ultimately though we are responsible for everything we do, so in that respect she is in denial. Its unfortunate for the victims, bless their souls. David

wavebreaker	18 Sep 2002
Maybe the quote is not very clear, but the woman is not saying that the tarot cards told her to kill, she denies having killed anyone at all. What the quote is about is that the prosecution claims that the "compulsions" she wrote about in her diary refer to the killings, but she claims they refer to the secret tarot readings she did for patients and that she was afraid to talk about tarot to anyone, even in her diary. So the real issue here is that she was afraid to admit to anyone that she was using tarot. If she's telling the truth, that is. However, I'm afraid a lot of people will make that connection between tarot and the killings, so whichever way you look at it, it's not exactly going to improve the image of tarot... :(

DarkElectric	18 Sep 2002
Oh, Good Grief! Thanks, Tarotlady, for posting this, and the link to the story. Please, people, go to the link and read the CNN report on this. I too am concerned about uninformed folks who would possibly likely to connect interest in the metaphysical to psychopathic behaviour. Unfortunately, the media seizes anything at all which they can sensationlise. I have seen this all too many times. When reading about some particularly gruesome murder case, in a prominent place in the story is the quote "An occult altar was found, as well as the remains of small animals..." Ad nauseum. The implications of this are, of course, horrible for anyone who practises an alternative religion.

Kazz	20 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by tarotlady I'm afraid a lot of people will make that connection between tarot and the killings, so whichever way you look at it, it's not exactly going to improve the image of tarot... :( Yes Tarotlady ...this is exactly what Tarot DOES NOT need. There is enough of that coming from others (mainly sceptics) as it is, without this adding more fuel to fire...very sad indeed :mad: Cheers Kazz :TQC

wavebreaker	20 Sep 2002
Update: The prosecution is now looking for patients that got a tarot reading from this nurse, to check whether her claim that her "compulsions" referred to tarot is true. It's beginning to look more and more as if she's just using tarot as an excuse though. Apparently, they found books about serial killers in her home (it doesn't say whether they found tarot cards by the way...) and they even had an FBI psychologist testify who said she showed all the character traits of a serial killer, although he couldn't say whether she actually was one. From what I've read about the case, they might never find out, because they only seem to have circumstantial evidence.

catlin	20 Sep 2002
Can't help but this investigation reminds me of the former witch trials. At least the mass media have something to glee about.

meatbox666	01 Oct 2002
David has been really honest and I agree with him.

wavebreaker	09 Oct 2002
Update on this case: the judge was supposed to pronounce the sentence this week, but he decided he can't, based on the evidence presented. He has ordered the nurse to be examined to see if she's "of unsound mind" or not. As for the influence of this case on the public opinion on tarot: I haven't heard any negative things about tarot as a result of this case, not in the media or among friends or colleagues, anyway. People probably think this woman made up the story about the tarot cards as an excuse, and aren't linking it to murder. Edited to add: final sentencing will be in three months, so early January 2003...

napaea	09 Oct 2002
tarotlady: thanks for keeping tabs on this case for us all...please keep us informed about how this influences those around you, and what happens with this woman. sheesh! there is so much going on in this world right now!

The Tarot in a murder case... thread was originally posted on 18 Sep 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.