Predator and Prey: Reading the Careful Way

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Jun 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Umbrae	04 Jun 2003
I recently have done a lot of reading through the archives, looking at old posts…I ran across a reoccurring theme(s) that I ‘d like to address. Folks write: “I’m scheduled to be burned at the stake tomorrow for using Tarot, did I really copulate with the devil?” Or, “I’m a Creedish Biddy, and I found a Tarot deck in the house I’m cleaning…” Or, “Should I tell my gun-toten Jaysus fearin’ parents that I read Tarot?” Or, “The Baptists burnt my house, because of my Tarot Reading sign in the window.” “The Amish have sent me away…” “I’m going to get stoned…to death…” The other day I was walking through the woods and got the be-jeezus skeered right out of me. I was looking at a tree, and the bark came alive! Then I realized it was just a sparrow. Birds look different from above than they do below…they look different at rest. Deer blend in with their background. Gazelles run as a herd, and jump funny and at odd times. Protective colorations and behaviors protect animals from predators in the wild. For most, it’s blend in or die…for others it’s distract or die…others run like the wind. Screw up, and you are food. We, as sane ‘thinking’ intelligent species, consistently want to assume risk. We risk the love of our families, husbands, wives, neighbors…in some cases we risk the safety of those we love… It’s all about ‘coming out the closet’. Bringing ourselves out into the open. In cases like this…it’s really about pride. “I read Tarot – look at me – I’m different and special – Weeeeeeee” For others… We may risk it all in the attempt to educate and enlighten others, to push the darkness out of our little corner of the world. For me though, it all comes down to this… You can’t educate, ‘save’, or enlighten everyone… And we are old enough, and mature enough to identify those who will become our predators… So use some common sense… …and as my father used to say, “You can’t burn the devil.” So let’s be safe out there… :smoker:

genna	04 Jun 2003
Thanks Umbrae.We need to be reminded that many people are not very open-minded about the Tarot. Some people really want to talk about others,and Tarot is one excuse for them to start on you.They might be envious of you,or angry with you,or just scared of, or having an unhealthy interest in, anything "occult"(or anything they find "mysterious" and do not understand).

Woof	04 Jun 2003
Read for yourself. Read because it helps you understand life, understand yourself, connect with something, connect with others, appreciate life more, etc. There is no need to flaunt anything about the cards, no need to expect others to agree with you about anything in life. Don't expect others to accept it, nothing requires others to accept you or anything about you. There is no substitute in life for maturity and good judgement. Woof

zorya	04 Jun 2003
congratulations on your sagedom, oh wise one! :D thank you for 2000, thought provoking, entertaining, and educational posts. can't wait to read your next 2000! what a sanctuary aeclectic is. i feel blessed to have found a place to talk tarot safely, a place to be myself without fear.

galadrial	04 Jun 2003
As my dad used to say about pedestrians crossing the street in places other than the carefully marked crosswalk (pedestrians legally always have the right of way in California), "there is no point in being dead right." I keep a low profile Tarot-wise in my very small, very "Churchian" town both for my sake and that of my son, who has a few years to go before he can leave- not that there aren't close minded people in all geographies. Thanks for the sage advice, I always enjoy your posts:-)

firemaiden	04 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae I recently have done a lot of reading through the archives, [...] Folks write: “I’m scheduled to be burned at the stake tomorrow for using Tarot, did I really copulate with the devil?” Dang!! Them be some ANCIENT posts, I didn't know the archives went back that far!! :) :) :) ((((Umbrae)))) thank you for 2000 gifts to us all.

little	04 Jun 2003
I think I agree with you, Umbrae. I don't bother to hide the decks in my apartment, not even when my conservative parents come over, but I don't make an issue of my interest in Tarot, either. To people who don't know much about it (and that's pretty much everyone), it is a strange and somewhat scary thing to be interested in, and in the end, what does anyone gain by my making a big deal about it? They think I'm odd and either bad or gullible, and I lose, not gain. It's not really a secret, but it's not really a subject that comes up in the circles I move in. And I think that's okay.

Major Tom	05 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae did I really copulate with the devil?” And we are old enough, and mature enough to identify those who will become our predators… So use some common sense… …and as my father used to say, “You can’t burn the devil.” :smoker: :laugh: Bravo! :laugh: It's dead easy to tell when you're prey. Just look for that red laser eye appearing over your heart. :laugh:

Trogon	06 Jun 2003
Great post Umbrae! WTG on hitting 2K!! So... I'm guessing that, since you've written that many posts, were the one who wrote the original "I’m scheduled to be burned at the stake tomorrow for using Tarot, did I really copulate with the devil?" post? That would explain how you knew how to find it... As for being prey... I prefer to be a Tarot predator... it's fun to watch "them" run when the tables are turned. "You want to save me??? I'm sorry... I'm already saved - and I happen to know that it is very unchristian to be judgmental of other human beings. You think Tarot is evil? Its not nearly as evil as the persecution of other human beings simply because they disagree with your own narrow-minded viewpoints." Well... I find that, for me, being open and bold works out very nice... but I'm lucky to be living in a town which sports a few new-age shops downtown and those are some of the busiest shops down there...

Rhiannon	06 Jun 2003
Woo hoo! You're a SAGE! And now you just need a little garlic and I'm sure you'll be super tasty! We love you seditious one! R :)

Silverlotus	06 Jun 2003
Very good advice, Umbrae. I'm of the opinion that what you do is your own business. If you want to share with peopleyou know that you read tarot, go right ahead. You surely know how they are likely to react, and can be prepared. But don't advertise to the world at large! Argh! Walking down the street all decked out in your High Priestess T-shirt, covered is sparkly occult gems, etc. is annoying. And beyond that, it helps fuel the stereotypes that all people interested in tarot and the like are odd. If you are a normal person, dress like one! :P (Sorry for the rant. I just spent a couple of days in Toronto, a city filled with people dressing just to get attention.)

isthmus nekoi	06 Jun 2003
oh no, we don't do that for attention b/c no one's paying attn ^_~ Attn getting outfits are the leather crowd at the Pride Parade lol. But back to the topic... I don't hide the fact I use tarot although I certainly don't broadcast the fact. If it comes, up it comes up... if it doesn't, it doesn't. For the most part, I've never had any trouble. This is probably b/c I'm a student and the majority of ppl I hang out w/are students. But people in general are usually curious and accepting. Maybe b/c of the high percentage of immigrants in the city, ppl are used to living w/different cultures and beliefs, they're not shocked easily by alternative lifestyles. Not accepting other's differences is viewed as embarassing as it makes you out to be intolerant - very very negative trait in Canadian ideology. But even still, it's prudent to err on the side of caution.

Silverlotus	06 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by isthmus nekoi alternative lifestyles. Not accepting other's differences is viewed as embarassing as it makes you out to be intolerant - very very negative trait in Canadian ideology. But even still, it's prudent to err on the side of caution. I certianly didn't mean my post to be intolerant. I am Canadian as well, so I am well aware of our various cultures, beliefs, etc. There are people who dress to call attention to themselves, and there are people who will not take them seriously because of that. It isn't right, but it does happen. But that's not the point of this thread.

isthmus nekoi	07 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Silverlotus I certianly didn't mean my post to be intolerant. Oh, I didn't think you came off as intolerant! To clarify my intent, I wasn't refering to you or your post in the part that you quoted. I wrote that last bit b/c this is an international board and I find ppl outside of Canada often are unaware of Canada's unusual policies towards immigrants (and of Canadian ideology in general).

Alex	07 Jun 2003
Now, who amongst us here can report one incident in their lives in which the fact that they read the Tarot has played a role in a REAL (as opposed to immagined) loss. The loss of a job, a partnership, a good opportunity etc. Alex.

Sobeknofret	07 Jun 2003
I think it helps that I live in a very large college town. There's not a whole lot that I can do to attract negative attention here that hasn't already been done long before I ever got here. The only person I anticipated potentially having trouble with was my dissertation advisor-- until I learned that his wife was an astrologer into tarot herself. No worries now :D

The Predator and Prey: Reading the Careful Way thread was originally posted on 04 Jun 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.