The Tarot Bad For Your Health ??

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Sep 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

ming	27 Sep 2002
I was trying out a new set of cards, & wanted a stranger to read for, to see if they workin ok. So at work last night i thought of the new security guard in my office building, & read him...The present was all lovely--peace,contentment,family happiness, love for wife & family. The future was ok--a setback then advancement, momney ok, health ok, etc.THE PAST --I got an odd reading. Danger,conflict,crisis,turmoil,evil, lack of direction,lack of willpower....So I went downstairs at the end of the night & told him--he very nice, easy to talk to, been in the building a couple of weeks. Well, as soon as i started on about his past--his face changed. He went pure white, stared at me like I was a spectre in chains,stood up and BACKED AWAY....I thought to myself-for Gods sake, its just the Tarot cards !!! He could hardly speak for fear.But i sat down and talked, & found out...In the past he was involved with paramilitaries in Northern ireland. He was an orangeman. .my name is mary, im half irish & I look Irish.....he thought the IRA were onto him & I was with them!!!!!!!!!!JUS SHOWS YOU---ALLL YOU CRIMINALS OUT THERE;;YOU CANT HIDE FROM US !!!old ladies who read the tarot are onto you !

Lee	27 Sep 2002
Hi Ming, I hope you don't mind my saying so, but I have some real concerns about the ethics of walking up to somebody and telling them you've done a reading for them which they didn't ask for, and then telling them about the reading. People disagree about whether it's ethical to do a reading for someone who's not there and didn't ask for it, but I think it's definitely unethical to do such a reading and then walk up to them and start telling them about it. What if he doesn't want to know? What if he has religious objections to the Tarot and doesn't want anything to do with it? You're basically forcing a reading down his throat, and you seem to be doing it for entirely selfish reasons, without any regard for his feelings. Now, I apologize in advance if I'm not understanding correctly what you wrote and if it wasn't like that. But if it *was* like that, then I honestly think that you should think twice before walking up to someone and starting right in to tell them about "danger, conflict, crisis, turmoil, evil, lack of direction, lack of willpower." This is not, in my opinion, what Tarot reading is all about. -- Lee

ming	28 Sep 2002
okay, petal. firstly, its the tarot cards, not a frontal lobotomy I'm performing. Secondly, he loved it and has asked me to bring them in on sunday night to do a full readin. Third, I never met anybody whose religion forbids them the cards, and Fourth, I use them all the time on people without their permission----checkin out son's new girls, daughters new men, new workmates, new neighbours....etc, etc. God gave you a talent---you USE it. You are taking yourself way too seriously.

Diana	28 Sep 2002
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Scorpion	28 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by ming I never met anybody whose religion forbids them the cards Have to disagree with you there, I'm afraid, Ming - my partner's strict Protestant upbringing is one example: he's only come round to the idea very slowly and still has lapses. A friend's equally strict Catholic upbringing had the same effect. For all I know there are other religions that take the same view. OK, so you say he loved it. But from what you say you frightened him out of his skin first! It does sound rather as though you're trivialising his fear - your Irish heritage should tell you what the IRA (and other factions) are capable of. He would have been totally terrified. I can agree with you that if you've got a gift you should use it and as Diana said there are times when you need to know for peace of mind - I'm just not sure about enforcing it on unwilling recipients.

Lee	28 Sep 2002
Hi Ming, I'd just like to clarify that I'm not taking a position on whether it's ethically correct or incorrect to do a reading for someone without their knowledge. What I *do* object to is then walking up to that person and informing them of your interpretations of the reading, unasked. And if you're going to dump a load of negative cr*p on somebody, then yes, it very well may feel like a frontal lobotomy to that person. Also, I'd like to point out that the security guard who works in your building may not feel free to say "no" to you, since he's probably been told that it's part of his job to be nice to the people who work in the building. I'm absolutely, 100% in favor of not taking tarot too seriously. However, that only applies to a person when they're in the privacy of their own room. Once you start interacting with other people, then yes, there are things which are right and things which are wrong. Walking up to a stranger and scaring them for no other reason than your own ego gratification is wrong. -- Lee

Mojo	28 Sep 2002
Hey folks... please do me a favor and apply your "ethics" to yourself and only yourself and do not judge others for having their own personal set of parameters. Othewise, I'm going to have to go on another one of my rampages and end up pissing everyone off.... again. How ming chooses to practice her art is her business and her concern. Not yours.

WillieHewes	28 Sep 2002
Ming, that's an amazing story! Amazing what some harmless picture-cards can lead to, huh? As for your question on whether tarot is bad for your health, perhaps a little more discretion is preferable, even without the ethics of reading for strangers. I mean, what if he'd become aggressive rather than scared? I know it's a bit of an extreme example, but still... I'm going to have to think about this. (Not that I ever read for anyone but me, but...) Anyway, thanks for the story, it rules! (And ignore the privacy police. And Diana, the CIA can read your email, whether you like the idea or not.) Willie

Diana	28 Sep 2002
edited

zorya	28 Sep 2002
ming, i'm glad the situation worked out well for you, but it may not have. frightening someone like that, may cause them to act in manners dangerous,not only to themself but to you as well. what if the man had a heart attack? there are many who's faith tells them that the tarot is evil. there are also those who are spooked by the tarot. giving unsolicited readings can cause trauma. i'm not sure that i understand your take on the cards. on one hand you seem to believe what you see in them, on the other, you seem to not take them seriously at all; ", its the tarot cards, not a frontal lobotomy I'm performing. " the gift of seeing and/or knowing comes with responsibilities

Lee	28 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Mojo How ming chooses to practice her art is her business and her concern. Not yours. The value of a forum like this is it allows us to get outside our heads and see others' perspectives. In this case, maybe what I said is something that Ming hadn't thought of, and maybe it will be valuable to her. Perhaps in another thread Ming will say something that I hadn't thought of, and that will be valuable to me. Presumably, as Diana points out, Ming doesn't mind discussing the event that she describes, or she wouldn't have brought it up. -- Lee

Alex	28 Sep 2002
the Mormons are against the Tarot and are forbidden to read cards or have their cards read. Info from a mormon friend. On the issue of Tarot and religions.

Lee	28 Sep 2002
Hey Mojo, are you saying that it's unethical for me to say that something is unethical? If so, then perhaps it's unethical for you to say that it's unethical of me to say that something's unethical... ;) -- Lee

Bings	28 Sep 2002
IMHO... I would personally never read tarot cards for a person without them asking me to do so. I feel strongly in this because I hate to have someone read my cards. If a complete stranger came up to me and told me they had just done my tarot cards I would be EXTREMELY upset. I would react angrily to this. My simple point is that you just don't know how a stranger would react to this. I would think of it as a HUGE invasion of my privacy. I also think of my ability to read cards as a gift. But a gift I only share when I am asked to do a reading. Dianne

Alex	28 Sep 2002
because I see the act of reading cards as an iteractive one. I can throw a couple of cards here asking about Ming's personality, or why Mojo was in a bad mood when responding to this thread, but as I see the matter, it doesn't mean a thing. Nothing that I could not guess on my own just by the way people write etc. The cards act like a bridge between myself and the other person, and giving meaning to them is an excercize that involves two. If someone walks to me and says "I've read your cards" I will just say "all right, good for you". Having my cards read by a third part does not import in my privacy any more than posting this public msg or the other hundred I've already posted. Interacting with the reader, that's another thing. But that is something we can always refuse to do. Regards Alex. Quote: Originally posted by Bings If a complete stranger came up to me and told me they had just done my tarot cards I would be EXTREMELY upset. I would react angrily to this.

Diana	29 Sep 2002
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fairyhedgehog	29 Sep 2002
There are at least two different ethical issues at stake here. 1. Should you read the cards for someone else without their consent in the privacy of your own home/mind? The answer to this one depends on your view of the cards. If you believe that using the cards gives you access to information that you couldn't have got any other way, it seems to me your answer might well be 'no', on the grounds that you would be invading someone else's privacy. If you believe that using the cards is either a matter of accessing your own subconscious thoughts, or of interacting with someone else, then there is presumably no problem. Using the cards for someone who is not there is no more than thinking about them, which is not an invasion of privacy. 2. If you do read the cards as above, should you tell the other person what the cards have shown you? If you've already answered 'no' to the above, you'll be answering 'no' to this one too. But if you answered 'no problem' to question 1, there are more ethical issues involved here. You might distress the person you tell, because their belief system opposes divination You might distress the person you tell, because the content of your message is distressing to them in some way You might distress the person you tell, because they believe that the cards tell secrets and they may feel that their privacy has been invaded That is aside from practical issues like the person becoming hostile, angry or threatening. Guess what? I'm coming to the conclusion that if I do read for someone else without their consent, I'd better not tell them about it :)

ming	29 Sep 2002
YES FAIRY HEDGEHOG----FROM NOW ON, ME TOO!!!I wont tell ANYBODY what I'm reading !

Strega	29 Sep 2002
Well said, fairyhedgehog. :)

Scorpion	29 Sep 2002
Definitely, Strega: I agree entirely! FH, you've managed to put the case most succinctly: thanks for that! Wish I could break things down into such clear and lucid pieces. Ming, I hope your response means that you can see why some of us have reacted as we have and not that you're offended by the views expressed? Of course people here want to exchange takes on readings etc and your input is valued, but it doesn't mean people aren't going to take issue with each other from time to time. Hopefully it's given you something to think about.

Laurel	29 Sep 2002
I'm just glad the situation worked out and Ming is okay. What if that security guard had taken his past even more seriously, or was still involved in that kind of lifestyle and let his paranoia that "They are onto me" take a violent turn? That sound's wacky, but its possible. Ming, if I sound cautious in my enthusiasm regarding how well your experiment went and hesitant in supporting cold readings on strangers who haven't approached you first, it is not because I am condemning your ethics. Its not a "right/wrong" "black/white" situation for me; but it is the sort of thing I personally urge caution or discretion in..... because sometimes our actions cause reactions we were not prepared for, but nonetheless are ultimately responsible for. In this case, it sounds like all went well. I'm glad. Laurel

Scorpion	29 Sep 2002
Quite true, Laurel - alternatively the security guard could have had a heart problem or some other life-threatening condition (asthma, say) that could have been triggered by the stress of thinking his past had caught up with him. Certainly a case for discretion.

Umbrae	30 Sep 2002
IRL some folks know I am psychic, and others do not. I do not advertise I see things. So does my sister. It is the way we are. It is the way I am. Our images come unbidden and unasked. However, how we handle the knowledge is important. It would be irresponsible for anybody to run up to another person and say, “Hey, you need to get your prostate checked!” However it is something that many “new” psychics do. However, when I see something, a medical or vital family issue, how I handle it, is of more importance than the knowledge itself. I don’t run up and say, “You have uterine issues…” Instead, we find ways in conversation to allow others to make the discovery themselves; to discover that possibilities exist. The crux of the issue is how others see us. If you see and/or know me as a psychic, or a reader and I start a consultative conversation out of the blue, it is usually accepted (if you exhibit tact). But if the others do not know or see you as a psychic or a reader…to walk up an unsuspecting…that is irresponsible. However we have this yes-no right-wrong good-evil, binary dualistic view of our world. You can do this, you can’t do that. It all depends on; how others see you, how you relate to their opinion, and have you the tact. 8)

ladycj	30 Sep 2002
I guess it is all in how you look at it. I agree that if you are given knowldge about someone, trust that a time and place will present itself for you to reveal what you know. Just walking up to someone with no warning can be more harmful to your case. After all if they don't believe in that kind of thing, then they will just laught at you anyway, and then, where would your message be? Blessings.

The The Tarot Bad For Your Health ?? thread was originally posted on 27 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.