children and tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

mrsjvan	15 Dec 2002
I have been reading for about 4 months I think and I have never really hid it from anyone in my personal life including my kids. I have a seven year old and a four year old. They see me doing my spreads and ask if I'm playing a game. My son really is interested in them but I'm not sure if I'm ready to try to explain it all to him. Is seven old enough to distinguish between absolute and guidence? I'm afraid if i try to explain it to him, he may think that the cards determine our destiny. Although he is pretty smart I think I could probably explain otherwise. But also quite frankly I'm a little concerned about him talking to his classmates about it especially since I teach in the same district. People's ignorance about the subject could lead to some messing situations. I know of at least one parent who would pull her children from my class if she knew I read tarot. Does anyone have any insite on this issue they could share with me? I do hope to teach my kids about it someday but is it too soon? Thanks, mrsjvan

truthsayer	15 Dec 2002
i can understand you concern about the impact tarot could have on your job. since you are a teacher and parents can be particular about the ppl who are in a position to influence their children, i would hold back on telling my kids the whole truth. i would just explain that it's a game which isn't lying. tarot is a game of sorts. i encourage you to wait until your children are more of an age that they can understand the significance of social prejudice against tarot and things considered pagan. i remember what happened to my family when it slipped out to our fundamentalist community that we were into divination, spirits, etc. the social stigma and pressures were ridiculous. the local churches gave us a fit. parents didn't want me to play with their children. my friends parents pushed me into going to church with them. i experienced a lot of social isolation and abuse b/c i was being brought up differently than the other kids. i never doubted my parents wisdom about letting me choose my own spiritual leanings. however, it was pretty distressing to me while growing up b/c i didn't really understand why ppl were being so "mean" to us. i would only give them age appropriate info. the risks and stigma are too great for your career. the social pressures could be extremely distressing to your kids. i know it was horrendous on me. just a few years back, a wiccan teacher was suspended from teaching b/c she had a website about her coven activities at her home that included nudity and body painting. i don't know if she lost her job over it or not. i just know that parents were extremely upset. i wish i remembered the name of her site. i think i read about it in the witches vox. it happened in mecklinburg county, north carolina. i know that tarot is less inflammatory than wicca but it might be worth checking out. a lot also depends on the age group you are teaching.

lawguy51	16 Dec 2002
I have two boys, both with birthdays in the next couple weeks, one turning 8 one turning 11. The 10 year old has had his own deck since the summer and both are getting Lord of the Rings decks for Christmas. The 10 year old is the studious type and is into memorizing meanings. He gives his staunchly Catholic grandmother readings and she enjoys receiving them. The 7 year old knows what's going on. He watches me and looks at my cards. I try to de-mystify the process. I am fortunate that my children live in a tolerant environment, and are exposed to friends of mine who are, shall we say, unusual, from actors to clairvoyants. It all seems normal to them. They think I'm a bit weird. My 10 year old thinks that when I put a deck under my pillow, I'm going a bit too far. As far as what other people think...well, frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. It's a personal choice, of course. Whether your children are interested in Tarot or not, I think there is a way to include them in what you do that will both interest and enlighten them. But to the extent that you feel your job could be threatened, of course you have to play that situation as you deem appropriate. Lawguy51

Woof	16 Dec 2002
Maybe I'm paranoid but I hide tarot from my 9 year old daughter. I live in So. California and there are all kinds here. Contrary to popular opinion, California isn't all sunshine and granola. This part of the state is very conservative. I'm afraid of the fundamentalist types and we have more here than you think. One of our local school boards was taken over by the religious (christian) right and in another local town we have the museum of "creation science". My daughter is in a special ed class for kids with severe behavior problems and I'm afraid of the info getting back to the school psychologist or anyone in position of dictating her future. It doesn't matter that their perception is wrong, their perception carries a LOT of weight. I don't want to open what may potentially be a can of worms. If you have doubts, and you do, I wouldn't go into much detail. Let them continue to think it's a game. Woof

Diana	16 Dec 2002
Before I joined Aeclectic, I would have said to you "just be open with your beliefs". But since then, I have read so many testimonies from people in the United States who have had serious trouble when they step out of the fanatical fundamentalist line, I would advise you to keep your Tarot to yourself and away from your kid. Until he is old enough to keep secrets to himself and understand why they must be kept secret. You're not doing him a favour right now by putting him in the Tarot bath. Anyway, at his age, he can live without it - he needs toys to play with, and things to create with his hands, not bother about existential stuff. However, if I lived in the United States, I would find some way to fight against this fundamentalism which takes away your basic freedoms. You people fought fanatically against Stalinist-communism which took away basic freedoms in many countries. Don't let the same kind of mind-set take over your own country. Dictatorship is dictatorship, whatever the colour. It's not with Tarot that you're going to fight it. It's a political fight. Get up, stand up, and don't let those fundies win. And don't let CNN take over your mind either (switch it off when your kid walks into the room, even better, don't watch it at all). If you don't fight the good fight now, before it's too late, then all that will be left are tears to cry with.

anjocoxo	16 Dec 2002
"the land of the free, and the home of the brave..." I totally agree with Diana. I thought that I lived in a third-world country, and that people were narrow-minded here, and I used to say that the portuguese were just a bunch of idiot catholic-robots who could only see christ and the priests... actually I was very wrong. It's true that in the country side things are a bit worse than here in lisbon, but it keeps changing every minute (thank God!). I cannot believe that the US are trying to start a war on countries like Iraque b/c of human rights, when they have that kind of problems at home... when I read stories here in the aeclectic about people's reactions to others reading tarot, all I remembered was the days of the ku klux klan! That is unaceptable these days. mrsjvan, this is up to you; if you feel you are strong enough to face the lions (the card "strenght" just came to my mind), go ahead; however, if you are not sure how bad things are really gonna be, you if you don't want to shake the waters, don't tell. I believe this kind of thing only depends on you, no matter our opinions. good luck, anyway :) Anjo

jmd	16 Dec 2002
I do not know the social situation you are in, mrsjvan, but I just do not personally think that explaining Tarot to such young ones would be that useful. On the other hand, telling them a story which incorporates the images in Tarot seems so appropriate - and you do not have to use the word 'Tarot' at all! After all, the word may be even more misunderstood than the Tarot itself. In terms of a wonderful tale, here is Diana's The Bateleur's Tale: A Tarot Story for Children. Now why didn't Diana give that link to her own wonderfully rich story herself :)?

allibee	16 Dec 2002
maybe because her post was more about battle, than bateleur?? But I too find it difficult - as an English person - to understand how a country so full of diversity like th US, and the actual encouragement of diversity, is so like an emu with it's head buried in the ground sometimes. In England we say: This is me, this is what I do....what are you going to do about it, meaning: don't even go there. But I think the story aspect is a good thing, and even your children painting out their reactions to it. This will help them learn the tarot. Also passing along analogies about the cards like: I heard about this lady once, she was so mean, all she could think about was how sad she was, what a terrible time she'd had, and that made her mean to everyone else around her.....what do you think of that lady? She reminds me of Queen Victoria. On the 'up' side she was a great leader of her people, she made very wise decisions from her head, not her heart. This made her country very strong. But on the 'down' side, she was a real menace, and thought only of herself...... She had a bit of a cold heart. But sometimes it is necessary to be like that. You couldn't rule a country for eighty years if you were all wishy washy and all the other countries made you cry and took all your land from you, could you? or something along those lines anyway *LOL* allibee

Trogon	16 Dec 2002
jmd... thanks so much for posting that link to Diana's story. That was a fun read! As for the topic du jour. I live in the U.S. and I don't understand us either. There is a very strong element of so-called "fundamentalist Christians" (or whatever name they want to go by at the time) who just confuse the heck out of me. These are people who profess to be followers of Jesus, yet are full of prejudice, bigotry and hatred that I just can't see how they can consider themselves to be Christians. Of course, the problem isn't with Christianity, the problem is with Humanity. Over the centuries, people have perpretrated increadible cruelties in the name of God or Jesus. This sort of prejudice in the name of any given religion is, to me, incomprehensible. I guess I've been lucky over the past few years that I've been interested in Tarot. I haven't been subjected to any overly negative reactions (even by my "Christian" friends), but it may just be a matter of time. Who knows, someday I might be sitting in one of the local coffee houses doing a bit of studying on a card, or maybe my daily pyramid reading and I might get thrown out of the place. But it hasn't happened yet. I study the Tarot and do readings while I'm at work... I even access the A.T. forums while I'm at work (I'm here now), but it hasn't been a problem... yet. But I'm not the kind of person who will back down easily. I live in a relatively liberal (on some issues) community and I work for the state. If it were to become an issue, I would have some recourse because of infringements of my own rights. However, I would never tell someone who felt they needed to stay in the "Tarot closet" to avoid persecution, that they should come out of said closet. You have to do what you feel is best for you and your family. But, in this day and age, the thought of anyone having to conceal their beliefs because of persecution by some fanatical religious bigots just sickens me.

Kiama	16 Dec 2002
Hello Mrsjvan! I am wondering whether or not a 7-year old and a 4-year old would even bother to tell others about what their Mum does at home... I hope that didn't sound nasty or anything, but I can't think of another way to put it: I remember when I was that age (Which wasn't too long ago either! Gosh!) I didn't really care much for talking to my friends about my parents and their hobbies. I only cared for talking about the games we wanted to play, where we would play them, and ways of getting an extra half hour before having to be in. :D And hopefully, a 7 and 4 year old will not really see much in the practice of Tarot other than 'what it is'. Because they're so young, I doubt they'd really see it as different to any other hobby you may have. When I was 9, I began studying Tarot, but I didn't see it as any different to other hobbies I knew of. I didn't brag about it to friends or family, cuz I didn't see the need to... or me, it wasn't some mystical, weird, occult thing: It didn't have the extra bonus therefore of making me seem different, so I didn't talk about it much. So, I guess what I'm saying is, if you DID want to tell your children about Tarot, you may find that they see it in just the same way as knitting or crochet... Introducing it to them as a guidance tool instead of a future-telling tool would also be easier maybe, aswell as perhaps introducing it as a tool to make up stories with. This way, you could do readings and interpret them, but it would seem as thogh you were creating a story from the pictures, nothing more... I hope this helps! Kiama

mrsjvan	16 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama I am wondering whether or not a 7-year old and a 4-year old would even bother to tell others about what their Mum does at home... I hope that didn't sound nasty or anything, but I can't think of another way to put it: I remember when I was that age (Which wasn't too long ago either! Gosh!) I didn't really care much for talking to my friends about my parents and their hobbies. Kiama, no offense taken, however you do not know my son. I am not concerned that he will tell people what I am doing, if that were the case I wouldn't be doing it in front of him in the first place. But I can see him, if I started to teach him about it, wanting to take a deck for show and tell at school. He would just think it was a cool game and want to share it with his buddies. He loves to learn new things and then teach them to others. This is just the way he is. You'd be amazed how much the lunch lady knows about my life at home. lol. My son is a talker, very social and I love that about him. I live in a small rural community and open minded isn't the first phrase I'd use to descibe the people who live here. Unfortunately. My district has approved the suspension of using the "Harry Potter" books for instruction. They can still be available to the kids to read, but we can't read them to them or use them in our classroom as an instructional instrument in any way. My son and I read them together at home. I really do appreciate your input though, I am so glad there are people out there who are willing to voice their opinion without trying to offend. Thank you. I also, agree with you that it will be just like any other hobby they may learn. I plan to teach them to sew too. lol.

Bings	16 Dec 2002
When I got my first tarot deck my daughter was 9. She was so fascinated by it that I got us a Universal Waite deck to share and learn with. I was very quickly shown that a child of 9 who has had no religion forced upon them still has that open mind that is so wonderful to see at work. I could draw a card and ask her what she saw in that card and she could, from looking at the picture, give the meaning better than I could. Unfortunately her best friend's mother was a "born again christian" type. My daughter told them about tarot and they started to tell her how "evil" tarot was. It took her a few months to want to use her tarot cards again. I think once she saw that her mommy wasn't turning into some kind of "evil monster" while using her cards she realized that they were just cards and could not hurt her. Now almost 2 years later we still sit on my bed in the evenings and do tarot together. She has an open wonderful mind that is so good when it comes to tarot. But we have also learned that she only talks about tarot to the same people I talk to tarot about. Dianne

mrsjvan	16 Dec 2002
Everybody, Wow, you have all given me so much to think about! What great thoughts! The whole perspective on America and its attitudes is such an oxi-moran. Funny thing is I teach high school (learning Disabled) Government, history, economics and geography. This topic comes up often in my classes and I try to steer my students to open minded decisions. This has come back to haunt me a few times in the past because parents often do not appreciate you allowing their children to see things in a different light. I do not try to teach them WHAT to think, however. I try to teach them to THINK FOR THEMSELVES. Sorry got a little off topic there. Anyway, I like the story idea. I think it will give them a little intro to it and enough to satisfy their curiousity for now. Thanks for all the input all, it has been helpful. mrsjvan :)

Khatruman	16 Dec 2002
Hello mrsjvan, There is so much I would love to say on this subject, but I don't have time (I am a teacher too, and my time today is gone..*L*).. just know that I am in full sympathy with you.. Right now, in my Adult High School program, I have worked a unit on tarot into it, for a few years and so far no backlash, but then again, this is adults. I wouldn't do it at my high school. Also, I have a 5 year old son, who, so far, isn't old enough to ask about it. Know that I am in sympathy with you, and wish our joyous free society consisted of a few more free thinkers! Peace!

Yami Yugi	16 Dec 2002
Well well well. I do believe you have insulted my integrity.

Yami Yugi	16 Dec 2002
I've been into tarot since I was 10. But I know how to keep my mouth shut. plus I cover all my tarot books. so I can read them at school without problem. But it slipped out once and I was cast out of the social circle for months. People gave me black eyes on a bi-weekly basis. the judo lessons sure paid off though.HeHeHe '-l

jlbvt	18 Dec 2002
ok, I apologise that I didn't read the entire thread before posting this, but here is an idea that maybe plausible and could ease your worries. Get the Whimsical tarot which is based on fairy tales and kid friendly. It really looks like a kids game sort of. Do your readings with it, and when the kids want to know what you are doing, tell them as much as they will understand at their age, which is that you put the cards together and make up a story about what they are telling you by the order in which they lay in the spread. I would not use the word Tarot around them if you think it might slip around other kids and cause problems. Just call them story cards or something! I hope this is helpful! p.s. you could use any cartoon-like deck you like with the same results, but I have seen good reviews on the Whimsical, and I plan on buying it for my son's first deck when he is older.

jlbvt	18 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by allibee But I too find it difficult - as an English person - to understand how a country so full of diversity like th US, and the actual encouragement of diversity, is so like an emu with it's head buried in the ground sometimes. In England we say: This is me, this is what I do....what are you going to do about it, meaning: don't even go there. You Europeans and Austrailians must be getting a strange picture of the good old US-of-A. THis may be just slightly off this thread's topic, but here's my 2 cents... I think (just guessing) about 20% or less of our population overall is on that end of the scale- you know, really biggoted, paranoid of anyone who doesn't go to their church, looking in the neighbors' windows for upside-down crosses, etc. I have lived in 3 different states on the east coast and new-england and I have run into very few of these people. One is my boss though, so I feel like I can't mention it at work. We do have a computer lab, and I changed the home page on one computer to Aeclectic (she won't know who did it!) just to irritate her and to see if she will spaz out! LOL!

DeLani	18 Dec 2002
I don't think talking about social bigotry in the USA is off-topic, since that is the primary cause for her concern about sharing. You are right, jlbvt, that the fundamentalists are in the minority, but it's the minority that controls the school boards, the judges, the congress, all the way up. Even though they are only maybe 20% of the population, they are so well-organized that everyone feels the need to pander to them. I've been an out Wiccan and Tarot reader since age 13 (quite a few years ago now), and I have paid dearly for it. Even up to losing custody of my son. And to address what Kiama said about "who would your kid talk to about what mom & dad do," I have to tell you, we live in a Big Brother state, and it's gotten a lot more so under George Bush II. Teachers, cops, and counselors regularly pump kids for info about their home life. When my son started Kindergarten, the teachers came to my house for a "home visit." No reason, they just want to see what kind of environment he's in. It goes on. You Europeans and others who live in relatively free countries count your blessings. America hasn't been free in a long time (if ever), and is getting less free by the minute. In peace, D.

Diana	19 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by DeLani I've been an out Wiccan and Tarot reader since age 13 (quite a few years ago now), and I have paid dearly for it. Even up to losing custody of my son. There's no "smily" for a person with a tear falling from their eyes. So you're just going to have to imagine it. DeLani: for some reason, the gods required the village idiot to be the ruler of the most powerful country on our planet. Let's just hope and pray that they knew what they were doing. (((((DeLani))))) and (((((America))))))

truthsayer	19 Dec 2002
religious freedom is such a joke. before dubya came into office, he promised the christian coalition that he would have wicca declared against the law. in fury one time i said i thought that dubya is the antichrist but a friend corrected me. dubya is a puppet to the antichrist. <<<<<>>>>>>>> i don't know what the truth is but i am happy being who and what i am. i hurt no one believing the things i do. but they hurt many ppl. i can't describe how angry i get when i hear some one say-we are a christian nation. when did this happen? there are many different religions represented here-buddhists, muslims, wiccans, jews, catholics, hindus. there's no place left for us to go. ancestors came here for religious freedom and new chances only to have the religious freedoms of their children's childrens children, etc. to experience similar problems. it makes me sick at the heart. when i was working, my "different" beliefs came out. i can't tell you the years of religious persecution i suffered from my co-workers and management. at one time i was so exhausted from it that i just pretended to be christian to get them to leave me the he** alone. i didn't realize that until years later that i could have sued them for religious persecution. it never occurred to me that i had that right b/c i was so frightened. i don't know if i would have anyhow b/c it's so easy to get blackballed out of holding any job. when i was in spiritual counseling, the minister who worked w/ me made me feel accepted and safe. he worked hard at helping me know that he believed that god was okay with my beliefs. however, he did warn me that there weren't many open minded ministers out there. i knew i was safe with him and that helped me heal a lot of broken places. it's hard to completely relax about my spiritual beliefs even if i feel better. it all feels like a house of cards and could fall down on me at any time.

jlbvt	19 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by DeLani it's the minority that controls the school boards, the judges, the congress, all the way up. Even though they are only maybe 20% of the population, they are so well-organized that everyone feels the need to pander to them. I've been an out Wiccan and Tarot reader since age 13 (quite a few years ago now), and I have paid dearly for it. Even up to losing custody of my son. And to address what Kiama said about "who would your kid talk to about what mom & dad do," I have to tell you, we live in a Big Brother state, and it's gotten a lot more so under George Bush II. Teachers, cops, and counselors regularly pump kids for info about their home life Wow, I am so sorry. I hope there is some righteous cosmic reason for your situation, although I can't see what it could possibly be. I will do a meditation to send some positive power your way tonight! It is strange to me that things like that can happen in the same country I live in- where I live in Maryland, I can talk about Tarot in public and not feel scared about the reprocussions. My community has few religeous fanatics, and lots of different churchs, including an Islamic one. We all get along pretty well. I really wish that people like you with non-mainstream beliefs could just exist peacefully with the rest of society. :THERM

Trish	20 Dec 2002
I myself don't have any children yet. So I suppose I'm fortunate in that I have not yet had to face this situation. Tarot for me is a personal thing, and I try to keep it as private as I can. But, if in the future my children become curious about my cards and/or Tarot, I would explain it to them. I would also not object if they wanted to get into Tarot themselves. As for your position as a teacher, here's how I see it. Some people might not like this opinion, but I feel that what a person does outside of work -- whether that work is with children or not -- is completely irrelevant to what they do when they're on the clock. A person's private life is a person's private life. That is the bottom line. And any parents who have a problem with you practicing Tarot outside of work should mind their own business. Furthermore, anybody who thinks Tarot is evil, bad, or inapplicable to Christianity doesn't know a single bloody thing about Tarot. sigh. That's all I have to say about it. :D hehe!

mrsjvan	13 Jan 2003
Well all, it's been a while since I asked this question. I just thought I'd update on it. My kids have sort of taken matters into their own hands. I told them the cards told me stories and they wanted to hear one. So, I told them a watered down version of Thirteen's. Well, that got them really interested and wanted to start making up their own stories. They have taken out my RWS deck a couple of times and told me and each other stories from the cards they've drawn. I guess at this point I don't care what people say. I can't be fired for reading tarot and if people want to debate me about it I'll handle it then. I'm not going to cut my kids out because I'm worried what others will say or do.

Teal	13 Jan 2003
To the forum member from Portugal who thought America stood for human rights-----I'm a rebel and a revolutionary at heart, my friend, and I can tell you for sure that there's a lot of lip service going on about that freedom thing and human rights here. America tends to give their meddling in the matters of other countries a pretty name, but really it boils down to other motives. Americans are not free, and they're voting away more of their freedoms every day voting day, buying the propaganda of the politicians about how we need more prisons, we have to tackle this country or that because they might mess with us, yadda yadda. Well, this woman was a teenager when America sent my schoolmates off to war. I asked why we had to go over there and mess with another country's affairs. I was told that we had to "fight communism over there so it won't ever come to our country". On the nightly news that very night, (I remember it like it was yesterday, they showed the headquarters of the communist party in California!!! And they let the communist party pass out their literature in our colleges!!!) Well, I was 15 then and that's when I saw the naked Emporer. I've never kidded myself since. Then there's the matter of electing our officials-------popular vote elects the President, right? WRONG-------the electoral college does it, not popular vote. A person can get all the popular votes but if the "electoral college" says the other candidate is president, then he's president. OR, if the candidate has a father who is a past president and a brother who is governor of Florida, they'll blatantly rig the vote. Waco and the Randy Weaver incident were warnings to the citizens here not to rock the boat and try to do anything about our government. Free speech? Yeah, right! In a certain respect------but only because we won't change the constitution. But just try openly criticizing our government eloquently enough to get some followers to pay attention and you'll see what kind of "free speech" we have. We have political prisoners here who are in prison to shut them up. Leonard Peltier is just one example in thousands. America did to the Native Americans what Hitler did to the Jews and they're still doing it. America lets their poor sleep and die in the streets. They spend millions to bring a child here from some other country and do special surgery on them for publicity while denying poor American children health care that would save their lives. Iraq isn't bothering us------we shouldn't be letting our president do what he's doing, but here we all sit--------we the sheeple, like a website I found says. OK I'll quit my ranting. Sorry to the moderators. I don't know WHAT topic this would fit under. I had to get it off my chest, though. It does pertain to tarot though, because it's that Christian "moral majority" mentality that's part of our problems here----a big part. America is SUPPOSEDLY based on religious freedom-----you have religious freedom here so long as you choose from the approved Christian column, basically. Choose anything else and you're a social pariah, a satanist or worse. Lots of people have fought long and hard to change that but it's still hard to be anything but a spit and polish Christian in this country. Again, though, we haven't let them change our constitution so we do have that religious freedom. However, Native Americans-----the people who were here first------didn't get their religious freedom till 1979! Till that late date, it was against the law to even possess a religious artifact or conduct any religious ceremonies if you were Native American. So-----that's why so many of us here feel we have to hide our tarot and other non-conformist beliefs.

Teal	13 Jan 2003
Before someone takes offense to what I've just posted and tells me if I don't like this country------leave. I have a bumper sticker on my van that says "America---love it or give it back" and another that says "United We Stand" and others of similar ilk. I do love this country and that's why it makes me so mad what the elite have done with it and are continuing to do.

Teal	13 Jan 2003
Oh, I forgot to respond to the thread question. What I tell my two grandchildren that I'm raising is that not everyone understands tarot. That it's just best not to talk about it in certain places or to certain people because they don't understand it. That works. The kids go to a wonderful alternative school called Blue Mountain school and other kids there are tarotists, too, so at school it's not an issue. When we travel and I'm homeschooling it won't be an issue, either, because the gatherings and friends we'll be associating with are very creative and accepting groups as well. Just explain to the kids that it's not something everyone likes or understands, just like you wouldn't describe in great detail if you had a liking for eating raw meat or something like that. Kids are pretty savvy little individuals. You just have to talk to them at a level they can understand, like the raw meat thing. Any seven year old is going to understand that, where they wouldn't probably understand an explanation that involved any talk of religious taboos and such. It also gives the explanation more of a tone of "well, you don't like spinach------some people don't like tarot" so that it's not a matter of what's socially acceptable or unacceptable and would cause them to feel they have a dirty little secret from the rest of society.

Teal	13 Jan 2003
One of the most evil human beings in the world (in my opinion and I don't miss much) is Jerry Falwell. He doesn't even have the decency to pretend he's not evil and powerful. Watch him smirk in his smugness! And he's the head of that so-called Christian moral majority that's causing so much bigotry and hatred in the US. We're in a heap o' trouble here in America, but for awhile, the voting public was given jobs and money and more toys so they wouldn't notice what was going on in politics and now we're really in the soup!

amyel	13 Jan 2003
Try living as an American in another country! That's a treat. Not. In reference to the comments being made about the "moral majority" I recall a line - maybe from a song - from several years back which said: "The moral majority is neither". BUT, mrsjsvan, in response to your original question, I have two stepkids and I introduced them to tarot last spring/summer out of desparation - it is so hard to find a peaceful moment to review or do any tarot that I gave up & tried it "publically" in the living room. Now I didn't use tarot privately becauase of fear, but because I need a quiet place and I use the cards for personal guidence and so it really had no reason to be made public. Anyway, my stepkids - 12 & 10 at the time - were very interested. My stepson (10) lost interest, and my step-daughter is still keen, and even has her own deck that I got her for her 13th b'day. She leaves it at our house. I have no idea if she's spoke to her mom about it or not. I really don't care - the mother & I have a mostly good relationship, so I know I could handle it. And I think she respects me enough to know I would never do anythingharmful to or around her children. BUT. Stepdaughter showed her neighborhood friend the cards, and friend must have spoke to her Catholic parents about it, and we did have some uncomfortable times. I hope I resolved it by pointing out that we'd all had a good neighborly friendship before they knew I read tarot, and I personally could not understand why the new knowledge should change that.

Teal	13 Jan 2003
I bought a great big fat book to leave lying around called Meditations on the Tarot: A journey into Christian Hermeticism. LOL I'm reading it, slowly but surely, too, in addition to it lying on the coffee table. I figure it's a foil--------they'll see the word "Christian" and back off some, maybe. 99% chance that they don't know what hermeticism is. Maybe I should get one of those Christian decks to leave out beside the book? Bottom line, though, I love tarot. I've taken the time to learn about it, learn that it's nothing to be afraid of, and if they want to keep their minds slammed shut out of fear and letting someone else tell them what to believe without investigating for themselves, that's their problem. However, I do think everyone should be very circumspect about flaunting it in the school or neighborhood unless you're prepared for a brouhaha.

heartsdesire	14 Jan 2003
mrsjvan - let me offer up - because I'm from a rural portion of Michigan as well - are you downstate or UP? my 10 year old son is very interested in my Tarot cards. He has seen me do readings - and has asked many questions. he loves the Harry Potter books - reads a great deal, mostly book that are of a more high school level. he also collected Pokemon cards and Magic cards - and is a very sensitive, intuitive child. He asked for his own deck of Tarot cards a couple of weeks ago, and after veiwing some samples on line he chose the Inner Child. They arrived yesterday and he has been "playing" with them since. He is aware that they are special cards - and must be treated as such. He doesn't wish to take them to school for fear some girl (YUCK!) might touch them! I personally would have no problem with my son's teacher using Tarot cards in their home - quite frankly I wish I could find other people up here that are as into it. I know only a few people who have told me -"oh - Tarot - I had some of those cards years ago" But so far all the people who know me, and know that I use these cards are either mildly amused or curious. But never narrow-minded.

mrsjvan	14 Jan 2003
I am from southwest Michigan. Are you a Yooper or a troll? I don't really know anyone who's very interested in Tarot either. I wish I did. Although I have noticed that there seem to be a great deal of us on this forum. Thank you for your input. Thank everyone for all of your advise, it has made me feel a little more comfortable with everything.

reds97	14 Jan 2003
I am up here in Canada. I agree with everything that people have said on the american society. (even though i am not american.) WE have some pretty strong beliefs here in the west about government (or lack of). As for Tarot, i am still mostly in the closet although most of my friends would love to know. I just don't feel ready yet to do a tonne of readings when they find out. *L* As for my job, i don't wish anyone to know/discuss it there cause it is strange. There are two distinct types of people who work there and they don't dare talk religion or a war would break out. Either you are an atheist (sp?) or you are a born again/fundamentalist christian, wouldn't miss a day of church even if you were dead... (haunting it from the grave). And since sometimes you can't tell and you are not sure if they will tell someone else, it is just best left unsaid! And my kids, when i have them, should be use to seeing mommy's cards lying about... unless daddy decides that they are evil and the kids are going to be tramatized by seeing them! Sandra

heartsdesire	14 Jan 2003
oh - I'm a Yooper - all the way. I've only been downstate twice in my life - not counting the one time I had a lay-over in the Detroit airport. Although I was born in Wisconsin, my dad's family is from the UP. And the shopping might not be too hot here - hence my trips to Milwaukee and Chicago - I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world!

Artemis Sans	12 Aug 2003
Welp, this thread died over 6 months ago, but here I am putting in my thoughts... Enjoy... Okay, being a child (or, a very immature 15 year-old) and from the God-fearin', gun-lovin', ammu-nation Bible belt, my input might be helpful. First of all, people knew I was an atheist for years. All I usually got was a "Why don't you believe in God." I'd give a brilliant, but ultimately superficial, answer, and all would be well. No one even batted an eye-lid. The one good thing about having conservative Christ-fearin' friends is the religious discussion. Never boring. But, I should say, had I come out of the atheist closet earlier, it might not have been as easy. Another point: flaunting your "alternative" religion will get you beaten up. I never brought up religion or wore shirt advertising my beliefs (a fasion-statement advocated by most CC's). So, my opinion, (as formed through experience) make sure your kid is happy with his/her beliefs and has an intelligent group of friends. Not nessecarily open-minded even, intelligence compensates. Believe me. Here's to America! The most powerful Theocracy since the Third Reich! (That said, I'm neither a Nazi nor anti-American. Just a man who loves America and loathes American values) Smiles! Artemis

punkangelgcm437	13 Aug 2003
mrsjvan I've only skimmed over the posts....so I'll prolly repeat something. Sorry if I do. My advice...I wouldn't tell him much about it yet. He's pretty young...only about 11 right? I didnt start til I was 13...so...I'd give him another couple years. Make sure he can keep his mouth shut. It's just sad that he'd HAVE to keep his mouth shut to protect your job becuz of closed minded people who can't keep their noses out of other peoples' business & hobbies. I figure...tarot isn't any different than any other hobby. Some people go play basketball, some go lay out tarot cards. Either way, people can be cruel and I'd just kinda let them think it's a game for older people.

catti	13 Aug 2003
i just got my daughter her first set of cards.. she turned 9, i was going to wait but she seems ready..she knows she cant take them to school. she understands how weird and cruel kids can be when someone is "different" . We have moved alot. She reads fairy tales and always wonders why the witch is bad...and I cant explain it all but I do use that do be the reason why she cant talk about rituals or magic outside of us. She goes to a catholic school and i am glad she has a religion class. I dont feel like she has to be drummed into any religion so a class cant hurt, and we live in a Christian based environment. to be part of this society you need to have a working background in christian mythology ( just dont call it that!) i read Dianas Bateleur story to them at night sometimes..i think this is one of those parenting questions that has no "answer" only the parent knows their child, knows what the environment is like.....each situacion as unique as each family to the OP if you are worried then do the introduction with care - the storytelling way, and say it just isnt for everybody, it is something special...

Diana	13 Aug 2003
catti: I am very touched that you read my story to your children. Thank you. :) My son will also be starting at a Catholic school in ten days time. Although I am pretty anti-Catholic myself, I don't think it will do him any harm to have some general knowledge about such an important religion. Luckily, they also do comparative religious studies, so he will be able to understand also something about other religions. They also study Roman and Greek mythology there. And anyway, as I use the Tarot of Marseilles, which has a lot of Christian symbology in it, it will only give him a deeper understanding of the Tarot that I love so much. Tarot is so spiritual.... there is no way it can go against true Spirituality - Christian or other.

jmd	13 Aug 2003
This post just reminds me that I was asked to pass on how wonderful Diana's story was found to be by a number of people who read it from its re-publication in the Newsletter (for the 2005 Conference) a few months back. One of the shops which has the Newsletter had people ask to return that feedback after telling it to their children.

The children and tarot thread was originally posted on 15 Dec 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.