Whachamacallit? The Vote

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 May 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Major Tom	05 May 2003
In my thread Whachamacallit? I asked the question: I was talking about a name for people who love tarot - for whatever reason. I'd still like an answer to my question. I haven't voted in this poll, but you may vote for as many different options as you like. })

Khatruman	05 May 2003
I look at myself mostly as a tarotist in that it seems to me to be the closest one to describe myself as a worker in tarot. I didn't want an appellation that sounded mystical or aloof, but one who gets down and uses them practically, as a machinist or therapist. I think tarot has been too long in the occult and it is reaching a time where it can be a valid profession. Also, the -ist to me associates artist, as one who performs and works at an art. There is a craftiness in tarot, but also an art that is honed through use. The -philes and -logues and such seem to connote those who buy and admire the art, rather than the one who works in it. I hope someday to be a published novelist, and I know that will happen through writing and developing my writing skills. These are also my hopes in becoming a better tarotist. I do call myself a tarotholic jokingly, but there is a thread of truth in that I find myself desiring another deck, though I am not sure if I will use it or not, but I am trying to curb this habit..:D

Diana	05 May 2003
Major Tom: You left out Whatchamacallit in the list.

lunalafey	05 May 2003
I like Khatruman's explination for tarotist. I'm amused by tarotmaniac....reminds me of my kids and legos. I could get rid of every toy in the house and keep the legos, they still would never be board. What to get them for thier birthday? legos. So a tarotmaniac, has loads of decks, is never tiered of them....never! and a gift guarenteed to be a hit....a tarot deck. I would love to be able to support a tarotholic life style.....so many pretty decks....but since I'm not a habitual type, I aspire to be a tarotisseur.

skytwig	05 May 2003
:laugh: I agree with Diana, Major Tom, you forgot whatchamacallit! I voted for Tarotamor because it is a soft word that expresses my love for the cards. How I longed for them as a child in a 'born-again' crazy, anti-witch family. Holding them was homecoming for me. Tarot is such a deep part of my being, beyond comprehension, like an ancient river buried beneath aeons of self. I am truly enamored of this olde form of Spirit communication and calling!

rota	05 May 2003
Of all the choices, I picked 'tarotist' because it seemed the simplest, most straightforward, and most likely to be understood by a non-tarotist. [it seems obvious that it would be pronounced without (taro-ist), and spelled with (taro-tist)... ]

Khatruman	05 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by rota Of all the choices, I picked 'tarotist' because it seemed the simplest, most straightforward, and most likely to be understood by a non-tarotist. [it seems obvious that it would be pronounced without (taro-ist), and spelled with (taro-tist)... ] Excellent point and one that I overlooked, but also one that goes with how I would want others to understand me. It doesn't make me sound snobbish, or as if I am saying that I have some secret knowledge that the non-initiate can't have. It is like any -ist, it takes much study and work to become a decent one, but it is not unreachable or exclusive. And that is exactly how I pronounce it.

Melvis	05 May 2003
I agree with Khatruman's reasons for choosing Tarotist. I also like it because it connotes the idea of activity, that you don't just let the cards sit around, but you actually work with them and use them. That being said, I probably shouldn't mention that I have over 100 decks, but I only work with about a dozen of them during any particular stretch of time. Oops. I guess that 'Tarotholic' moniker fits me as well! ;) Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

cjtarot	06 May 2003
Hi all, I chose taroholic..because of the addictive nature of the word... Addicted to the beauty, the colors and the endless possibilities of the cards... Blessings, Cj

allibee	06 May 2003
I'm afraid I haven't been able to vote because I don't feel any of them are right for me :( There MUST be a word out there that maybe hasn't been thought of yet, blowed if I know it, just know it's not one of these, sorry. allison

Kiama	06 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by skytwig [bhow i longed for them as a child in a 'born-again' crazy, anti-witch family. holding them was homecoming for me. tarot is such a deep part of my being, beyond comprehension, like an ancient river buried beneath aeons of self. i am truly enamored of this olde form of spirit communication and calling! [/b] Amen to that, Skytwig! What you wrote there was beautiful, and summed up my relationship with the Tarot succinctly... I've actually just thought of something else... What do you call somebody who's Spiritual path is centred around the Tarot? Somebody who gets their lessons and learns from their experiences in life through the concepts in the cards, just as a Christian would the Bible? What do we call one who's spiritual path IS the Tarot? Cuz that's me... PS: I voted Tarotholic amongst a couple of others, simply for ease of definition. Kiama

allibee	06 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama What do we call one who's spiritual path IS the Tarot? Cuz that's me... Kiama Yes Kiama, that's what I'm getting at...... options for a Spirit based tarot 'person' please! allison

Umbrae	06 May 2003
I think this is too unfair. It would be best to have you foist your tarototalist upon us. It’s the way things are done. Voting allows a rule or decision making process by consensus…imagine a baseball game where the fans voted if the runner was called out. Voting is not fair – it gives everybody an equal voice – as though their opinion counts. And I only got to vote once… ;smoker:

firemaiden	06 May 2003
I voted tarologue because it is actually a word, and it is French :)

Khatruman	06 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae I think this is too unfair....Voting allows a rule or decision making process by consensus…imagine a baseball game where the fans voted if the runner was called out. ROTFLMAO.... ummm, actually it wasn't fair..the ball was FOUL!!!}) non-smoker

galadrial	06 May 2003
I voted for Cartomancer, and I'd love to say that I had some deep, valid reason but it is because that is the term Neil Gaiman uses in his books and I am a huge Gaiman fan!

jlbvt	06 May 2003
How about (if it's two words, does that disqualify it?) Tarot Witch? Pagan Taroholic? Nude in the Moonlight with Tarot Cards? Tarot Diviner? Speaker for the Tarot? (that one is inspired by the book Ender's Game, where Ender becomes a "speaker for the dead") Taroterpreter? Voice of god and nature and layer of cards? Better things for better living through Tarot? I know- I am a "card-carrying" aeclectic member! Or maybe I am just a watchamacallit. ;) JOAN

bec	06 May 2003
I woted tarotist in lack of "tarot reader" i dont consider my self to be any of the fancy descriptions (of which I dont understand half of anyway - maybe that is why it dont ring a bell ) reading tarot is what I do, so that would be - a tarot reader

rota	06 May 2003
"I think this is too unfair. It would be best to have you foist your tarototalist upon us. It’s the way things are done." (Umbrae's quote) ++++++= Um... the way I understand this, nobody's trying to get us to decide on THE word, like there can't be any other words, ever. Major Tom's a pretty fair-minded guy, I think, and I doubt if he'd try to hold us to a decision like that. I'm pretty sure the idea is just to get us thinking about words for what we do, in its various forms. And, probably one or two or three words wouldn't be enough anyway. We don't have to be 'tarototalitarians' about it...! People constantly make up neologisms to cover new situations, and there's no reason we can't too. Continuing to think about it, I kinda like the word 'tarotherapy' now. It explains one aspect of tarot reading, and also neatly tucks in the second 't' sound without ruining the rootword 'tarot'. (Have you seen any of the websites devoted to new words and phrases found in print? Fascinating! If you haven't, try this one: http://www.wordspy.com/)

allibee	06 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama What do you call somebody who's Spiritual path is centred around the Tarot? What do we call one who's spiritual path IS the Tarot? Cuz that's me... By jove, I think I've got it ....... Tarotheist! ...... Kinda trips off the tongue, and it's got t's in all the right places :O) Allison

rota	06 May 2003
I like Tarot becuz it tells the Tarooth...! :)

skytwig	06 May 2003
TAROTHEIST! Good word! Maybe that's it, Kiama. And Taroist rather than Tarotist; it rolls off the tongue better, sounds like a country, the Land of Tarot. How about tarotoon......... :joke:

Violet Gargoyle	06 May 2003
Unfortunately "Bob" and "Ned" were not options. So I will suggest in the manner of the Coyote (again): Bona Tarotitus Slobberalloveritus

allibee	07 May 2003
i'd have voted for Bob, VG, hehehe

Kiama	07 May 2003
'Tarotheist'... *Rolls it around her mouth for a while* I like it alot... But surely theist denotes more of a God-like Tarot? I don't actually worship Tarot, but learn wisdom from it, and use it as a 'map of the Universe' (Which can, I have realised after reading Diana's 'Its Not the Fool's Journey' thread, be arranged in any order!)... Pagan Tarotheist? Tarot Mystic? Kiama

Moose	07 May 2003
I read it, live it and love to teach it. Once a Tarot Junkie~forever a Tarot Junkie! Blessings..............Moose

ihcoyc	07 May 2003
My choice was for "Cartomancer," mostly because that seems to be the most general term for anyone who reads using playing cards. All things considered, I'd rather be a Haruspex. But mutton is so expensive anymore. . . .

allibee	07 May 2003
as in train and plane spotters, could we not also have the TAROTHUSIAST? :O)

DarkElectric	07 May 2003
I had to pick "PhilotarotOMGwhatever" because there was no category for "Tarotphreak", and this is probably the closest thing.

Major Tom	09 May 2003
Tarotist in a runaway lead... Somehow Scalawag Tarotist doesn't have the same ring as Scalawag Tarologue. I do rather like Tarotheist, but share Kiama's misgivings about it making Tarot into some sort of god... (and yes, I do think tarot is God - but so is everything else :laugh: ) I also like Tarotherapist but worry about taro-the-rapist... Cartomancer is good too, but you lose the tarot element. Maybe it just isn't possible to come up with a concensus, but it looks like we're going to have to deal with a lot of Tarotists! ;) I'm going to have to give it some serious thought before I start to use it though. :laugh:

jmd	09 May 2003
(a little side note to ihcoyc: were you giving another clue as to the origin of your online name with regards to its era by mentioning your preference for haruspical practices? and by the way, if mutton is expensive, have you tried roadkill?!)

MeeWah	11 May 2003
Card reader.

allibee	11 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by MeeWah Card reader. hehehe, can't say fairer than that! If I was working out of Harrods I would call myself a "Purveyor of Fine Truths", LOL allison

The Whachamacallit? The Vote thread was originally posted on 05 May 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.