The face you present to the world

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Aoife	23 Jan 2003
I'm not talking here about private or self image, or how we are with friends/those close to us. I'm wondering about the face you present to the outside world. Do you glory in your love of tarot - does it come through in your everyday language, or maybe signalled through the type of clothes or jewellery or accessories you wear? Or do you hide it away completely from strangers? Or like me, do you try to give out small signals so that like-minded strangers would see/hear things others wouldn't notice? If you sat near to me in a public place - bar, coffee shop, you'd maybe notice my hematite ring. You wouldn't hear me use specific, identifiable words but perhaps the way I express ideas, particularly when talking about emotional issues would give you a cue. Would I recognise you? Not you specifically but someone like you, in similar circumstances? I've just read this through and I'm a bit anxious you might think I'm being too personal. The sub-text to my question is connected with my current pre-occuption with shielding, particularly when I am out in the world.

Jewel	23 Jan 2003
Well I am not quite sure if you would recognize "me" or not. I go to no lengths to let poeple know I love tarot and I go to no lengths to hide it. If we were at the same airport you would probably know because I am usually reading some tarot book or another *LOL*. If we were in a book store you would probably know because we would be standing in the same section. Other than that you would probably just walk by me and never know. Now if you had a deck in your hand ~grin~ then you would definely see me eyeing it ;)

Aoife	23 Jan 2003
Jewel, How I long for your balanced attitude - I still feel I need to be careful. The bookstore situation however, is slightly more problematic! I've noticed a tendency to see others as potential rivals for the single copy of the book/deck I've come in to find!

truthsayer	23 Jan 2003
i don't think you would recognize me unless you saw me at a bookstore in the new age section. even then i try to disguise what i'm doing. i do tend to dress in a rather artistic way but i don't know if that would be a signal or not. i do like looking gypsy-ish. i'm rather deeply entrenched in my closet. people are simply too conservative here that i'm afraid it would have a profoundly bad impact on my life. i have been amazed lately at what i've been hearing from the younger students at the college in regards to wicca, etc. one young woman even admitted her father loved to study wicca. she didn't understand why ppl got so upset with her when she tried to talk about her liberal beliefs. i didn't say anything overtly revealing b/c i'm too nervous about repercussions to be too honest but i hope to talk to her again one day. she was like a breath of fresh air compared to what i usually hear.

Demonesse	23 Jan 2003
Like truthsayer, I enjoy looking a bit gypsy-ish too, but I'd say there's nothing recognizable besides the tarot book/deck secreted inside one of my handmade bags. Like Jewel, I go to no lengths to let people know I love tarot and I go to no lengths to hide it - I have learned to be casual with some people and in some situations, and discreet in most others, though. "Normal" people will probably either view you somewhere between the extremes of "Cool!" and "You weird, devil-worshipping freak!".

Jewel	23 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Aoife I still feel I need to be careful. The bookstore situation however, is slightly more problematic! I've noticed a tendency to see others as potential rivals for the single copy of the book/deck I've come in to find! Since I do not live where you do I certainly cannot speak for the level of cautioness I would feel were I where you are ... honest truth is that I really could care less if others appreciate what they might consider my excentricities, or don't. I am comfortable with who I am :) As for the rivals at the book store ~giggles~, well hon all I have to say is that if someone snatches the book or deck you want just log onto to Aeclectic and in no time one of your friends here will have located where you can get immediate access to the treasure you seek. We try to be helpful that way *LOL* ~sings the siren song that leads the inclined to follow the road of taroholism~

Sulis	23 Jan 2003
Like Jewel and Demonesse I would say that I neither broadcast my beliefs or hide them away. Well actually I probably do hide them away a bit . A couple of months ago I started a thread asking advice as to whether I should tell the people on my reflexology course that I`m a witch, considering that 2 out of the 8 on the course are VERY vocal Jehova`s Witnesses *lol*. I`ve decided to keep my mouth shut at least until the end of the course (November) when I`ll let it slip and see what they say. I`m used to people judging me on my appearance as I`ve always looked a bit wierd, both my husband and I have dreadlocks and quite a few piercings but apart from on-line I usually keep my spiritual beliefs to myself. Love and light Crystalmynx xx

Macavity	23 Jan 2003
I have to grin at some of this book-store etiquette ;) Living near a city with a large student population, I can easily blend in with the slightly more "unusual" looking? Hopefully the 70's, where my wardrobe stopped are making a comeback? LOL. But I also observe that at least in some shops Tarot related stuff always seems to be placed (rather mischievously?) next to the... uhm "sex manuals" or sundry "self-help" books. I'm never quite sure whether folk are browsing Tarot books or shy people are using them as cover before moving on! Me? Whaddya mean me? :D

Laurel	23 Jan 2003
I tend to dress very plainly and keep to myself in public places. However, the subjects I browse in a book store might tip one off and if you caught me on a bus or coffee house, and glanced at what I was reading, it might be a book on tarot or other esoterica. And if you listened in on the conversations I had in those same locales, when I'm not alone, tarot is very likely a topic. My "public" self in person is not unlike my "public" self on the forum and everything I write about here, I'm likely to be thinking about and discussing IRL as well. ~LAS

RedWood	23 Jan 2003
I dont hide it or put it out there...I have been tempted to slap a bumper sticker on my butt saying "Tarot Reader"...The section in my local bookstore is next to the bathrooms..So there is a lot of traffic and most times I am by myself looking or..some girl comes looking for a book on love spells..I dont think you would know me...People look at me..but more likely i am just a passerby..

cjtarot	23 Jan 2003
Hi, I am a typical housewify looking lady...jeans and shirt stuff... I do love to talk to people and will often mention my bags..casually mentioning that they are good for jewlery, but were originally designed for tarot decks..and oh yes I doo read...hehe.. I also have a moldivite ring and pendent, if you know the stone you would recongnize it, someone actually asked if it was a type of jade????... The best bookstore story: was in the new age section, looking at decks and books, listening to a women discuss wicca with a few other shoppers when another rather LOUD woman came into the isle with a bright orange BIBLE and started telling us we should be reading the bible not this trash..and on and on she went..when se finally left she promised to pray for us..it was about the only thing she said that makes sense to me... we should create a pendent that says TAROT..is there any pendents worn in tarot artwork that is unusally...just add a moldavite stone to it and I'm buying...hehe CJ

reds97	23 Jan 2003
I am also a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal. I do browse the new age section of the bookstore. But i have since i was a kid and know that if someone i don't want to know comes up to me.. grab a book of dreams and start looking up something odd. It is the one that people accept the most! *L*.. then i will go back to tarot or to angels or whatever i was looking up in the first place. I also talk to a few people about it but i only know one other person here that reads cards herself. I am not letting alot of people know yet cause i don't wish to be inodated with pleas for me to read for them.

wavebreaker	23 Jan 2003
At first, I didn't tell anyone about tarot, except two good friends, because I had no idea how other people would react to it. However, by now I've found out there are basically two types of people: either they are interested or they are not interested and simply ignore it. But I haven't had any abuse or people telling me I'm possessed by the devil or anything ;). So now I don't really care anymore. I don't talk about it in public or have decks all over my desk, but I don't hide it either. I dress very informally (usually jeans and sweater) and always wear a small pentacle pendant; nothing too obvious, but it has already worked has a "sign" to recognise like-minded people ;).

DarkChild	23 Jan 2003
I do have a tendency to dress "diffrently" then others,and because a lot of my classmates are so closed minded and "trend surfers" you are likely to find me either alone working on my art and sometimes reading about tarot, devination, wicca, or other such things. and if you saw me in the book store again you would most likely find me in the new age section looking at decks and such things with any type of science fiction book, or an art book/magazine in my hand. i to do not hide it, nor prononce it to the world. If someone were to ask me, i'll tell then the truth. i've had a lot of diffrent reactions from people, ive had the ever popular "O My God, your going to burn in hell for that!" (we have a Mormon church on one side of our school, and across the street we have a christian church, so naturally the majority of our school is either Mormon or Christian) and i have had som people ask for me to read for them, and ive also had quite a few people who i thought would freak out about it be rather querious and ask about it. other then that i do not have very many conversations with people about it.

Logiatrix	23 Jan 2003
darkchild, sounds like you are at ASU. if that is true, i apologize for your run-ins with the terminally suburban! :D i am not normal, thank Buddha! besides, i am inclined to believe that "normal" is a myth, like bigfoot, or sightings of elvis... anyhoo, i don't fit into any niche--looks or otherwise, and i like it that way. this has been true about me even before i delved into tarot. when tarot came along in my journey, i melded with it nicely, and no one who knows me was suprised. people who are new to the experience of Tauni (that's me) are consistently pleased to learn that i know tarot. it is very evident that i am not just "dabbling", and people respect that. i find that as long as i am credible with my practice of tarot (or anything else), my appearance is irrelevant. i am respected for my knowledge, and that is enough. :)

mrsjvan	23 Jan 2003
I'd have to say, I fit in with the don't hide it or flaunt it crowd, with one exception, my students. I used to worry about anyone at school finding out because of the fact that we have some pretty closed minded people in our community and I worried that some people might want to take their kids out of my classes (i talked about this in another thread about whether I should let my children get to know tarot). I figure I don't need to advertise it to my students but if they find out I'll deal with it then. They already think I a little weird anyway. "not in a bad way Miss, you're just kinda weird ya know" lol Anyway, I have just found that most people who know me are either curious or indifferent. The more people I tell about it, the easier I find it to do because I haven't really had any really negative reactions to it.

Alex	23 Jan 2003
Or it takes one to no one? I don't think anyone would know I like Tarot unless that person were interested in it too. Alex.

truthsayer	23 Jan 2003
all this talk about book store adventures reminds me of something that happened to me in a barnes and noble once. at the time i was even less comfortable browsing in the new age section than i am now. now i'm just cautious and prepared. i was really engrossed in something when someone came up to me tapping insistently at my shoulder. i wasn't paying a lot of attention so i never saw who did this. i turned partially and the person thrust a Bible into my hand. i was so stunned and frightened that for a moment i couldn't move. by the time i recovered the person was long gone. i put the Bible on a table and stalked off. i was truly outraged and walked around the store trying to find someone who acted guilty but no such luck. i don't know what i would have done b/c for me it was a lot at the time for me to feel outraged and violated. after a while i went back to the new age section again to look at books but that "lost in space" feeling i get in book stores was shot for the day. i think i bought a tarot deck or something just to show i wasn't intimidated. now everytime i go back to that barnes and noble, i hope that person does it again b/c i want to say something about them minding their own *******business! i don't stick tarot decks in their hands while they're trying to look in the religious section and i expect to be shown the same kind of respect!

patter	24 Jan 2003
How is a tarot lover 'supposed' to look? Deck range from medieval, to wimsical, to modern abstract and through every style of art. Users range from wicca to atheist, gypsy to high society...? There may be a somewhat haphazard association with new age etc, but most nouveau hippies don't know the first thing about tarot. So I guess the answer is, unless they're dealing cards, I don't think you can tell.

firemaiden	24 Jan 2003
hmmm...I think a tarot reader is supposed to look like a gypsy with big hoop earings and poofy pants with moons and stars all over them. I used to wear such a pair of pants. They were absolutely my favorite, and I had a green string strap t-shirt to go with it. Now my sister wears them (she didn't ask if she could have them...arg) when she wants to dress up like a witch for Halloween to amuse her classroom. (She is a wonderful elementary school teacher) Now you might tell I am a bit weird from my eyes. Once in Austria, a young girl walked right up to me and asked me if I were clairvoyant. I didn't understand the german at first, cant remember it now, I had to ask her several times to repeat the question. I answered, 'not yet'. No...I dress like a singer, dresses, long grand coat...high heels, etc.

renard	24 Jan 2003
Maybe because I live in a fairly liberal, easy-going community, or because I wasn't raised in a church-going family, or because I have always found refuge in books, nut I'm really shocked by these stories of wackos tackling Tarot browsers. Where do these folks think they get off? I'd immediately complain to the manager -- and go back to reading whatever I wanted. I'm not an in-your-face kind of person -- quite the opposite in any other situation -- but I can't imagine feeling anything but righteous indignation over any interference with my freedom to look at whatever damn book I wanted. Remember, folks, you are customers, and that store wants your business. (And heaven knows we tarot-holics are *good* customers!) As to weird people who hang out in bookstores -- well, there they are. One time I was looking through the Erotic shelf (you think the New Age section is shameful) and noticed a guy hanging around behind me. My guess is that he hangs out there a lot, spying and fantasizing. Should I have slunk out the door just because this guy doesn't have a life? Nah. My Barnes and Noble is a well-lit, public place. I stayed where I was. Even if you don't feel like a confrontation, KNOW in your heart that you have a right to read. No one, no matter how sincere that person's beliefs might be, has the right to take that away from you, even for a minute. Grrr. Namaste. y'all. Renard

sagitarian	24 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Aoife Do you glory in your love of tarot - does it come through in your everyday language, or maybe signalled through the type of clothes or jewellery or accessories you wear? Or do you hide it away completely from strangers? Or like me, do you try to give out small signals so that like-minded strangers would see/hear things others wouldn't notice? you'd maybe notice my hematite ring. You wouldn't hear me use specific, identifiable words but perhaps the way I express ideas, particularly when talking about emotional issues would give you a cue. Would I recognise you? Not you specifically but someone like you, in similar circumstances? I don't glory in my love of tarot. I wear two rings that MAYBE would be questionable. One's a cat and the other is a stars and moon, but neither do I wear for spiritual reasons. I don't hide it from strangers either. I probably do give out small signals but if so, I don't know about it. Where I live, many people wear hematite rings b/c they think their neat, so I wouldn't think anything of it. I'm one of those people that I am completely oblivious to what people are trying to say when they don't want to be blunt, honest, and open. So I wouldn't notice any cues either. I used to dress very gypsy. Used to belly dance too and used to wear my dancing clothes (scarfs and all) as my usual everyday clothes. I carried my deck every where I went and set up shop at any local coffee place (usually denny's). Never charged but never made less then 10 bucks doin it. I used to be VERY OBVIOUS. Now, after becoming a house wife with three young kids, I rarely ever get out, don't have the desire or passion to dance anymore, and when I do get out, the last thing I want is for my energy (the very little I have now) to be zapped from reading. However, I do carry them with me once in a while. Commonly bringing up subjects like reincarnation, alternative beliefs, etc.

Silverlotus	24 Jan 2003
I don't really hide the fact that I'm Wicca, or read Tarot, or any of those other odd things. :) I'm just a normal jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. I do tend to wear sturdy "witch boots" (aka granny boots, but with big square heels) as my mother calls them. But they are in style now, and the ones with higher heels help me look taller! :-) My jewelry is pretty plain right now. Small ying-yang studs in my upper holes, tiny ankhs hanging from the lower ones. So I guess the signs are there is you look for them. I used to wear pentacle necklace until my boyfirend gave me a fab puffy silver heart. People rarely noticed it since it was heavy enough to fall inside my shirts most of the time. I worked at a rather busy video game store at the time, and had one or two questions about it when it did pop out. But one day a lady was being very friendly, then she seemed to stop and take a good look at me. She quickly finished up her purchase and all but ran out of the store. I couldn't figure out what had happened until one of my co-workers pointed out my pentacle had popped out of my shirt. lol! Poor lady! I'm sure she is now convinced that video games are the work of the Devil! ;)

tarotbear	24 Jan 2003
You would pass me in the supermarket and never notice me, other than to notice my handlebar mustache. When I am reading Tarot at a Mardi Gras, psychic faire, or doing a party in your living room, I dress somewhat theatrically (see my website), as is expected by the public. I taught class at a community college for two years and never met the director. One day when a new class was 'tentative' due to low enrollment, I stopped in the office and met her for the first time. Her first comment was '"You're not what I was expecting." No black 'Goth' clothing, robes, Dracula capes, army boots, artsy bags with drippy beaded fringe, black lipstick, nailpolish, too much eyeliner, stringy hair, too many rings, or too many pentacles the size of cookpot lids. {stereotyping, I know.} Try jeans, a flannel shirt, ballcap, varsity jacket, comfortable shoes, and a watch - oh - and a tube of mustache wax!

DarkChild	24 Jan 2003
Quote origanaly by Patter: "How is a tarot lover 'supposed' to look? Deck range from medieval, to wimsical, to modern abstract and through every style of art. Users range from wicca to atheist, gypsy to high society...? There may be a somewhat haphazard association with new age etc, but most nouveau hippies don't know the first thing about tarot. So I guess the answer is, unless they're dealing cards, I don't think you can tell." i think that there is a lot of truth in that, i don't think that all tarot lovers look the same, or dress the same, or have a specific "look" to them, they just are. i also know quite a few people who dress and act like they're tarot lovers, but they don't know the diffrence between a major arcana from a minor, shot they probably don't even know what an arcana is! (goes back to the hole "trend surfer/"poser" thing) Quote originaly by Metaz "darkchild, sounds like you are at ASU. if that is true, i apologize for your run-ins with the terminally suburban!' lol...i live in that area, i actually go to corona del sol (in tempe) ...the land of rich kids..i call it.... after i get out of here im hoping to go to a place with more 'accepting' people yea i do wear a lot of black "goth" clothes as tarotbear calls them, i have a lot of dark clothing, sweaters and pants, and i wear a lot of jewlery, exept rings, i lsoe them to often. all of my jewlery is hand made. i too have a backwards hat that i wear. i have a foundness for converse all start (which ive been wearing sence i was like 2) thats just what i wear because i think its the most comfortable thing in the world, not because its the cool thing to wear. and, i can go to savers and buy 3 pairs of pants for under 10 dollars. which is always nice.

Osher	24 Jan 2003
Heck, I wear a suit, and even when seeing friends sometimes dress in a tie-less suit. By the standards here I am seem to be the odd one out. Actually, I find that people find it hard to pigeonhole me. I suppose I am the most untarot looking person there is. I just let tarot drop in conversation, then check responses. One thing that amazes me is how many people have secrets, and are so glad to find someone who they can talk to about them. Things they have seen, visions, noises, thoughts, whatever. Also, amazing how many people want readings. I used to carry my 1 inch RWS around with me!!!

amyel	24 Jan 2003
I don't hide nor advertise. I am who I am. I have a Wicca calendar on my cubicle wall at work, often talk about moon phases, tarot, feng shui, astrology...but also Dilbert cartoons, Monty Python, joke-of-the-day - but mostly about work, because, well, I am at work. I don;t hide my beliefs from my stepkids, my husband supports and even sometimes participates, I talk about deep things with my mom & sister and don't care who is around to hear it. Once people get to know me, I think the most common thing they would say about me is that I am aeclectic - or eccentric....which probably explains why I'm here!

Kiama	25 Jan 2003
Y'know, I've never really thouhgt about this recently. To me, I just dress in what I think suits me, and put on jewellry that either has some personal meaning for me, or which I think is pretty. (I'ma sucker for pretty things!) I probably do dress a little differently, but that's only cuz I like the look of me in the things I wear. It's been years since I've bothered dressing to try and look like a Pagan/witch/Tarot reader/occultist. Of course, my interests affect my taste in clothes eveyr now and then, and I leave my hair flowing and long, never cut it, becauseof my love of long, red, flowing hair.. . It reminds me of the Celts y'see. I wear a pentagram if my top is low-cut enough, because it was an 18th birthday present from my Mum which ave it extra special meaning. I'm not a Witch, nor a Wiccan, and the pentagram has less significance for me than a Triskele, but it was a beautiful gift from somebody I love deeply, so I wear it. I have never thought about dressing or appearing looking like a Tarot reader. I've not yet seen any jewellry that is Tarot-oriented pretty enough for me to wear! When it comes to advertising my interest in Tarot, anybody who comes to my houe will know instantly, but that's cuz they are friends and I LET them come into my house and on't care whether or not htey know about any interests I have. Other than that, the only way I think people would know that I am a Tarot reader is if they saw me reading for others in a public place, which I have no qualms about doing and in fact do do very regularly! Kiama

firemaiden	25 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by tarotbear You would pass me in the supermarket and never notice me, other than to notice my handlebar mustache. ;) Gee Tarotbear, that would catch my eye for sure. And I would instantly know it was you...was it ...perhaps...something in your avatar that tipped me off? :D

Marion	26 Jan 2003
I don't think you would pick me out as a tarot reader. I dress in dark conservative business suits, and wear jewellry to add at least some feminine touch. Regular jewellry, not tarot or wiccan jewellry. I would never consider broaching 'new age' topics of any sort at work, where a more likely topic of conversation would be the latest advances in physical parameterization. No one at my work ever talks about anything but work, be it policy, science or modeling (computer modeling, not the other kind). And I hate to think what the reaction would be if I ever did. :( I 'made' my family know about it starting about a year or so ago, by insisting on mentioning it. Also Aeclectic and so on. Not one of them has ever asked for a reading. My older sister is the most tolerant because she is an 'imm' in a MUD, (don't ask) so she sees this as an internet thing. Thank goodness for all of you, is all I can say.

scheherazade	26 Jan 2003
Like many of you have said, I don't hide it... and yet I'm careful as to whom I share myself with, as well. I am Catholic, after all. People look at me and are aware that I'm not quite commonplace - I wear clothes that look gypsyish, as someone had said, or clothes like the ladies of Avalon - long, flowing sleeves of light material. I wear a cross pendant on my neck - but it's not a traditional crucifix - it's a silver knotwork celtic piece, perfect for representing my beliefs. People ask me about it, but I don't tell until I know them quite well. As for whether or not I'd recognize a fellow divinator, I would say that I would not be able to tell what mediums you read, but I could tell by the openness of your eyes, or the sincerity of your tone, whether or not you would have the depth to understand such things, or the wideness of horizons to be able to open your mind to it. Thus, I would be attracted to you, in a completely non-sexual way, and yet, still attracted.

amyel	27 Jan 2003
Having met Marion in real life, since we are the sole aeclectic Ottawans, I can attest to the fact that neither of us would be picked out as Tarot readers in our everyday lives....unless you listen on one our coffee shop conversations or catch us at Sunnyside Books! LOL

Mystica	28 Jan 2003
What an interesting thread, kind of represents the diversity of Aeclectic, don't you think? Kiama, I know what you mean about the long red hair. I've kept my red hair long and simple for too long to think about :D no trendy hairdos for me. I guess you could say I'm stuck in rut or something, but it's just me, I could never change it and feel right. I think basically my appearance is just ordinary, but my friends do describe me as "eccentric" with the expected eye roll...Actually I think I could be eccentric if I had more money, at my level it's just weird. :D

magpie9	28 Jan 2003
Because I work in a hospital doing direct patient care, I try to blend into the wallpaper..almost. The new-age signs are there, if you look close. My sedate silver specs aren't quite...normal. The small earrings frequently feature stars, planets or pentacles if you bother to look. I do always wear a celtic knotwork pentacle, the chain is long enough for it to fall inside the neckline of my scrubs, most of the time. If you see me on break, theres a good chance I'll be reading Tarot, Wicca, Metaphysics.....altogether, if you take the time and trouble to take a second look, you might twig me as odd, eccentric, into something not mainstream. I would be more open about it, I think, but there are enough people further up the food chain who are staunchly christian and close-minded about religious/spiritual/other belief-systems and practices that I consider it wise to stay under their Radar systems. However!! On my own time, I don't blend well, nor do I particularly try. And I will whip out a Deck in a public place in a heart-beat. Usually I will meet with clients for readings in coffee shops, restaurants, etc. and have never had any problems with it. I started doing that years ago..I'm domesticaly challanged, and not about to clean house just to do a reading. lol. Being a designated bookstore Tarot reader on and off for years has made me, perhaps, uninteresting to roaming bible-holics. Sort of like having repellent phrenomes. :)

anjocoxo	28 Jan 2003
If you would see me walking down the street in a working day, you probably would not guess that I read cards. I wear classic clothes with high heels boots, and I don't wear jewelry that can indicate anything related to esoteric stuff. On weekends, just jeans and shirt, and usually I don't wear jewelry.... As for speaking about it, I don't have problems about talking about tarot in public. I've never had any problems with it, and if anyone has ever the courage to speak to me about the bible or demons, I will kick his/her ass! I don't have the pacience to hear that kind of religious trash, specially when I don't ask for it. so, these were my 2 cents Anjo

DarkElectric	28 Jan 2003
I think I look really mainstream. Usually low rise jeans, chunky shoes, and pretty shirts are my regular costume. Add sweaters in Winter, change the shirt to skinny strap tank tops in Summer. My jewelry taste runs a little to what we would call "Hippie" around here. Natural stone necklaces, or bead chokers.(Even the guys wear those!) It's sort of morphed skater chick fashion. So I don't really stick out at all. But for some reason, people are always coming up to me and asking me questions about metaphysical "stuff". Maybe it's the tiny pentacle ring I wear on the ring finger of my right hand, but it's so small and unobtrusive that no one really sees it. And usually, I'm approached by complete strangers. I'll be out, like at one of my shows, and somebody will start asking me metaphysical questions. I have inquired as to why they think I know anything about whatever the subject is. They usually say something like "I don't know, it just seems like you might, that's all." So, it might be some kind of subconcious energy vibe thing. Or, the association of chicks with long black hair as being sort of witchly anyway. Who knows, maybe it's some kind of counterculture stereotype.

Jenny-Li	28 Jan 2003
Well since I came back just yesterday from a tarotholics-meeting in the Netherlands, I can only say that I don't think anyone would have guessed about us what our common interest was! :D Like most people on this thread I have never really done anything to show people my interest and love for the Tarot, nor have I tried to hide it or deny it. I haven't tried to hide my tarot-stuff in my home, my desk is right beside the bookshelf where the tarot-section is the most central one, right beneath the shelf on which my decks are. But STILL, nobody who has been in my house has every asked about it, and I find that a little strange. Perhaps. Or maybe it's like tarotlady says - maybe they just don't care...? I do feel sad for people who feel they need to hide their interest from others, I have never felt that way. At worst I think people would just think I'm weird, but usually they do anyway, so that doesn't really matter. ;) But I would probably never have any problems with people thinking I worship evil powers or whatever. Swedish people usually worship rationality over all other golden calves, and I would probably be put off as a victim of extreme superstition, but nothing else than that. I more often find myself WANTING to share, but not daring - out of shyness - than fearing to be "found out"! Light and love, Jenny :)

Moongold	28 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer i was really engrossed in something when someone came up to me tapping insistently at my shoulder. i wasn't paying a lot of attention so i never saw who did this. i turned partially and the person thrust a Bible into my hand. i was so stunned and frightened that for a moment i couldn't move. by the time i recovered the person was long gone. That is very close to an assault, Truthsayer, and says a lot about the values of the person who did it. I am very lucky to work in an organization which uses a holistic approach to drug rehabilitation. Staff and consultants have also sorts of interests which they can be very open about. You can walk into the foyer or the kitchen and join in a conversation about herbs, astrology, group dynamics, peer support, the approach of 12th Step groups as opposed to psychiatric therapy, massage, diet, the new court diversion programs, liver detoxification, parenting groups, the computers which freeze all the time, dual diagnosis or tarot, and the list goes on. Or your nose might prick at the pungent smell of herbal remedies in alcohol and massage oil mingling with burning frankincense and the heavy aroma of yesterday's lilies. You can momentarily close your eyes and let your senses absorb these familiar and comforting smells. It is the only place I've worked in where the kitchen is always sparkling, watched over incessantly by smiling folk who just like things that way. NEVER have I seen this before! There is a lot of love here. People are dealing with the darkness and distress that accompanies addiction on an ongoing basis and I think that many of the staff are very spiritual people. We even have spiritual counselling and reiki here for people who want it, and employ staff with those skills in conventional programs. I can walk out into the street outside and encounter all sorts of exotic poor and wealthy people so I guess I am very lucky. Australia is generally a fairly inclusive and welcoming society, although there are pockets which are not. There is suffering and poverty here, let me not mislead you. We have people overdosing in the streets outside our office on a fairly regular basis, and soliciting on the corner. I dress casually in the office, as do most of us. We are formal when the occasion warrants it. I am fortunate to have been able to do this most of my working life. Some weeks ago a lovely woman at the office asked me to give her a tarot reading for her birthday so this evening we will sit out in the garden when everyone has gone home, and the evening heat begins to float away, and let tarot's gentle mysteries unfold. I have been a little nervous about this as it is my first reading for someone that I don't really know and I am not feeling on top of the world but she has been quietly insistent. So I'll ground myself before the session and hand over to the powersthatbe. It is the kind of place where you can take risks because people will not judge you. Moongold

truthsayer	28 Jan 2003
moongold, thank-you so much for sharing your story with me. i did feel assaulted that day in the book store but i didn't speak for myself b/c i felt that my side wouldn't be heard and my attacker would have been praised. yeah, lots of ppl have screwed up ideas about spirituality here. :( hearing about parts of the world that are open-minded spiritually gives me hope for the human condition. i hope your risk doing the tarot reading goes well for you. let us know. i know you'll be fine.

Moongold	29 Jan 2003
Greetings Truthsayer, The reading went really well. It has been a very hot day but for some reason the cool change arrived a little earlier than expected. I grounded myself using techniques I'd learned about here and I meditated for a little bit and said a prayer, handing the whole thing over to my Higher Power (whom I really don't know). It was really beautiful actually. The reading just flowed and became very participative. The knowledge and the words were simply there. What was very interesting is that my colleague just picked things up and put them together herself intuitively and it was fascinating to observe her doing this. I genuinely had the feeling of being simply a channel but a part of a truly profound process. I also quite cleansed afterwards, as though something had been washed away and had left a lightness of spirit. Thank you for your encouragement. I would like to do another one. There is something very different about a face to face reading. Blessings, Moongold

Dakini	04 Feb 2003
I don't go out of my way to hide my interest in the tarot. I wear regular clothes, jeans mostly, and I like to wear jewelry. I have a moonstone with amethyst and garnet pendant that I wear all the time. Then I found a lovely tarot bracelet and I wear it all the time too. I just love it. It's silver, the links are 1 cup 1 sword 2 pentacles and 2 wands. Its rather unique I must say.Not many people have commited on it just the people I know that are also into tarot. Dakini

Wildchild	05 Feb 2003
Most people are surprised when they find out I read tarot. I'm a short middle aged Asian woman wearing glasses and comfortable clothing. I really don't stand out much in a crowd. Unless you look closely, you probably would never guess. The jewellry that I wear all have special meanings to me and can be considered pagan if you know what you're looking at. I don't go out of my way to hide my interests but I don't wear a big neon sign either.

The The face you present to the world thread was originally posted on 23 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.