Tarot Readers Syndrome (TRS)

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

WallyTuggs	20 Jan 2003
TRS - Tarot Readers Sydrome A term that was dubbed up by me just within the last hour of sitting here thinking about a whole load of things. This came up as I was reading through many posts here at Aeclectic and I noticed how many "elders" and other people have a different outlook on life than many normal people do. Here goes the explanation! As you become more and more familar with doing readings and acually learning and knowing the cards with which you are working with, you start to become more understanding and more wise about the world around you. With this new-found gift, you also realize how hard and challenging things are in life and what it takes to get through things. You also notice how answers are readily available to you through Tarot. This is what I call TRS. Its this feeling that you cannot learn enough and even when you have the answers you feel unfullfilled. Using this gift you are also giving people very good and somethings very bad news and it weighs on you. Classic symptoms of TRS: - confusion over what true knowledge is - high enlightenment, low confidence - low feeling of control - always feel like you are rolling the dice - the need to help people in everyway you can - a constant hole inside you can never fill After doing Tarot for a year now I am starting to feel this all inside of me and I can see it present in many of you out there. Please post your feelings on this.

patter	20 Jan 2003
If the syndrome is out there I am either immune or insufficently exposed to tarot (so far) to develop it. I feel confident and well in control of my life, find the very idea of 'true' knowledge to meaningless to waste my time on and am only somewhat altruistic. Even if the syndrome is out there it may reflect the type of people the become (or become deeply) involved in tarot -- rather than something tarot 'does' to people. It is a fate-oriented helping tool, after all.

wavebreaker	20 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by WallyTuggs have a different outlook on life than many normal people do. So we are not normal?? :D ;) Quote: Classic symptoms of TRS: - confusion over what true knowledge is - high enlightenment, low confidence - low feeling of control - always feel like you are rolling the dice - the need to help people in everyway you can - a constant hole inside you can never fill [/b] I actually feel like I'm more in control and I have more confidence since starting to use tarot, because tarot helps me find the answers to a lot of questions I have, and thus helps me take control. And I would also say that there is no longer a hole inside since I started to use tarot, because I've learned more about where I stand, what I believe in etc.

Major Tom	20 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by WallyTuggs TRS - Tarot Readers Sydrome Classic symptoms of TRS: - confusion over what true knowledge is - high enlightenment, low confidence - low feeling of control - always feel like you are rolling the dice - the need to help people in everyway you can - a constant hole inside you can never fill After doing Tarot for a year now I am starting to feel this all inside of me and I can see it present in many of you out there. Sorry to hear you're feeling like this. :( We can almost always see most clearly in others what is most definitely present in ourselves. }) Annoying isn't it? :P Speaking on strictly personal terms, I've never felt more confident and in control than I do now. :D

MeeWah	20 Jan 2003
WallyTuggs: We are not *normal*? Viva la diferancia :D (With apology for spelling errors.) Regarding your various points: We each in our way are striving for knowledge, whether it be through Tarot or another means. Aquiring knowledge is an on-going process. Whether it be true knowledge--now that may be relative according to the individual. Knowledge confers responsibility; also changes. The more I know, the more I know that I know little. There is nothing actually "bad" in that. It helps to maintain one's perspective. Very humbling. I respect that there are some things I have no control over nor would I seek their control; but I do have control over aspects of self. What dice? I canna help everyone. That is a sheer impossibility & unrealistic. Helping the self ought to be of the first order. As in that old saying: "Physician, heal thyself!". No, no "hole". Only a curiousity, & a desire to offer what I can.

Kiama	20 Jan 2003
I don't think Tarot creates certain character traits in a person, other than giving the person a deeper udnerstanding and wisdom, but then, these aren't traits. I think instead, that certain kinds of people are more ttracted to Tarot than others. So... Maybe Tarot doesn't CREATE the feelings of holes and helplessness which you refer to in your TRS, but the person who has these is genersally more attracted to Tarot than others. I agree with previous posters however, that Tarot has made me more confident, given me very high self-esteem, and made me feel more in control of my life, simply because it has given me one of your points: Deeper understanding. Kiama

tarotbear	20 Jan 2003
Even though I do not agree with the symptoms of TRS, I did think it was funny. Didn't anyone else interpret this thread as a humorous posting? I did.

MeeWah	20 Jan 2003
Tarotbear: Yes, but I decided to approach from a more serious standpoint just in case!

Centaur	20 Jan 2003
Tarot Readers Syndrome? Is that like Repetitive Strain Injury? HEHE

reds97	20 Jan 2003
I knew i was different a long time ago. What i am finding with tarot is that i sometimes do not want to know all the answers. In fact the knowledge that i can "identify" (searching for right word) all the problems in my life is a scary one and i would rather help other people that to help myself. Sandra

WolfSpirit	20 Jan 2003
TRS does sound funny but maybe that's because I don't have it. I don't read that much for others. And for myself, I find that the cards are often more grounded than I am myself, telling me there is a time for daydream and a time for action, and that it is often necessary to ground and center. I have often had lots of ideas of things I want to do "some time" and I think tarot is helping me to make changes without going all wild all of a sudden, to not be afraid of changes but to prepare them before jumping.

Karenwhe	21 Jan 2003
I don't think that it is funny though I know what you feel and I personally think that it is not tarot based. I went though all that you described when I was 17. In approx. 1 year (18) I had to enroll into the army and serve for 2 years(compulsory - not like I could actually get away from it). As, I read cards from an earlier age, at that time I was feeling just the way you described about the cards and my readings. But it had nothing to do with the cards, it had to do with my life and my fears, anxieties and distresses those feelings just mirrored into my activities one of them was reading cards. I don't know if this helps, but that was my experience then, and I know what you are talking about.

Marion	21 Jan 2003
Well tarotbear, that is what I would call 'half a joke''. I have observed that when intelligent people want to make an point they are not completely comfortable with, they cloak it in humour. WallyTuggs, to respond to your request for comments on the TRS: tarot does change the way you look at things. Does it make you more wise and/or tolerant? I think that depends on the starting personality. It makes some folks cranky and intolerant. Theoretically knowledge should bring wisdom, but taoism for example says you can't be wise unless you give up all knowledge. (that one always caused my eyes to cross, maybe I misunderstood it). Does it cause you to want to help other people? Yes, if you always wanted to help other people and see the tarot as a way to do that. Otherwise, not. Does it make you lose confidence? No. But then, I am an aries with leo rising so self-confidence isn't a big issue with me. Maybe to my friends, hehe. Once again, it is the reader, not the cards that matters. I am certain that it can boost self-confidence. Constant hole you can never fill? Cannot relate to that idea. So, those are my comments. :D

Kazz	21 Jan 2003
Hi Wally, I agree with Karenwhe......I too think the things in your life like work, family, activities, TAROT...are greatly affected by your feelings toward them...fear, love, anxiety etc, and so they play a major role in the way we approach them. For me, through the tarot, I have so much more confidence in myself than I ever had, and I feel the more I learn and study the tarot, the more I feel comfortable in facing my feelings when life throws it's wobbly's at me. I feel more in control and I have more patience with my self as well as others. I love the way the tarot helps me to help others, and gives a sense of peace in doing so. But in saying that, I know where you are coming from, and I think you just need to find some balance and patience. Cheers Kazz :TQC

tarotbear	21 Jan 2003
Well, Marion, I think Wally had a 'funny' idea but did not know how to execute it properly. If I were to rewrite this posting in a book, I would possibly use Wally's initial writing as 'pre-symptoms' possibly leading to TRS, then build it into the initial stages or 'Beginning TRS.' This would be a 'knee-jerk' reaction to Tarot. Then, using my experiences gleaned from my years of study, I would amend them into 'Advancing TRS.' This would be a more realistic approach to Tarot. I would then take them into hyperbole, possibly into 'Terminal TRS' where I would 'close the holes', so to speak. Here humor and wisdom would blend. There would be no mistaking from the first word on that my tongue was drilling through my cheek. Let's cut some slack here, folks! We have beginners asking us the most moronic questions that we all take the time to answer - for the 8th or 10th time - and don't jump down their throats when we get asked for the 15th or 20th time. I still feel Wally was making a (rather sophmoric) attempt at humor.

Laurel	21 Jan 2003
I think this is a great thread, and see both humor and wisdom in TRS. My thoughts on the proposed "symptoms" - confusion over what true knowledge is I don't feel confused, only appreciative that knowledge, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder and that everything I "know" could well change. - high enlightenment, low confidence Tarot provides me enormous opportunities for confidence-growth and I am a more confident person because of it. I don't consider myself particularly enlightened, but I've been called enlightened and I think of a lot of ~other~ Aeclectic folk are extraordinarily enlightening to me, and I imagine most of them would say the same thing. - low feeling of control I feel an enormous sense of control over myself, my actions and reactions. I don't think I have any control over other people's actions and reactions and lately, have been extremely moody because of world events and a growing sense of "wrongness" with actions being taken on the "behalf" of myself by my gov't, without my consent. Yet even this goes back to my realization that if I am unhappy, I need to take a stand and do everything that *is* in my control to create change. Doing nothing is exactly that, and against my principles. - always feel like you are rolling the dice *thinks on this* No, I don't think so. While I believe that life is rather chaotic, on principle, and this is good but stressful, I don't have that 'rolling the dice' feeling. I feel instead like a gardner. Not every seed I plant is going to grow up and bloom, but some of them will, and the more proper care I give my plants and seedlings, the more luscious my garden will be in the end. - the need to help people in everyway you can Yes, that's true but I'd call it a willingness rather than a need; I can respect those who don't want/ask for help without feeling unfufilled. My altruism was born out of a sense of intense compassion, that developed slowly over time. However, I have my bad and cranky and ungiving and unsympathetic days. I am many things, but no saint. :) - a constant hole inside you can never fill I'd reframe this as a hunger for wisdom and insight that perpetuates itself like a passion; the more I read and hear, the more energetic and excited I become, fueling me to continue in my question for understanding of myself, humanity, nature, the spiritual realm, and our all interrelationships. ~LAS

Macavity	21 Jan 2003
I have always been slightly WARY of people who claim to know "THE truth" ;) Re. the "hole". I only ever met one person claiming to be completely happy :) But I suspect this inner questioning is part of MOST peoples lives? As one gets older these feelings do seem to wane somewhat! I do believe the worst mistake is for people to see themselves as somehow "lacking" or "odd" to feel so... or worse still that someone else TELLS them that they are. The measure of all such things must be how much someone is inconvenienced or it impinges negatively on others? Otherwise - a little of what you fancy? :D Macavity

WallyTuggs	22 Jan 2003
Well, first off I am glad it has sparked some ideas and views. I am not going to venture to say if wsa meant for humor but it is definately not to be taken as a direct statement. I like to be different in thinking and maybe as I post alittle more on the board you will see how my thought process is alittle strange at times. Quick comments on things I have read in responses: - As regards to whether or not Tarot readers are normal; I think people who practice Tarot are very special and lucky people to have found something as wonderful as Tarot. To say that we are "normal" - what is normal? Its a hard thing to describe but I can say one thing, we are far from it :) - Man, I have to go back to work. I will edit the post later or post again. I don´t know yet. Maybe I will do a reading and see what the best approach is :)

Francesca	23 Jan 2003
--I am not going to venture to say if wsa meant for humor but it is definately not to be taken as a direct statement.-- Didn't you write it in the first place? SUrely you know if what you wrote was meant to be funny or not? THese 'symptoms' seem to me to be what is sometime called 'the dark night of the soul'. I think it is when you go from your old self--in this case the person with no understanding of tarot--to the new self. The transition towards the person you are becoming. It's a kind of void place, you are niether the person you were nor the person you will be. Francesca

Eowyn	27 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by WallyTuggs TRS - You also notice how answers are readily available to you through Tarot. This is what I call TRS. I think that MAYbe also because you start to realize about the questions you are making. Some of them has already an answer inside you, or has not much sense to be askend and then you feel you already know the answer.

The Tarot Readers Syndrome (TRS) thread was originally posted on 20 Jan 2003 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.