Talking Tarot?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Jun 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Major Tom	29 Jun 2003
Psssst. Wanna talk tarot? ;) I know this place we can go. }) I am talking of course, about Aeclectic Tarot Forums. More than a bulletin board, it's a community. The most supportive community I've ever seen. More supportive and inclusive than anywhere I've ever seen in real life. The perfect place to learn about tarot and develop individual spirituality while having fun. Like any community, you get from Aeclectic in proportion to what you give. I suppose I speak from a somewhat priviledged position as a moderator and subscriber and editor, because having given, I get so much in return. I could not begin to describe my gratitude for the gifts I've received. My love for this community is such that I will continue to contribute to the best of my ability until such time that I perceive that I'm doing more harm than good. So what does that have to do with the price of a tarot deck (preferrably a Marsailles)? :confused: :laugh: Having set the tone, I wanted to ask everyone a question: Why do the Aeclectic Tarot Forums exist? I am passionately interested in everyone's answer. })

le-mat	29 Jun 2003
This forum exists... ...because we humans need to find people with same or similar interests, so we don't feel "alone" or "strange". ...because our beliefs are strenghtened if other people have them too. ...because we need to share. we need to express how we feel and what we think to others. Social psychologist Pichon-Rivière said that groups "have an implicit or explicit task which becomes its goal, and interact through complex mechanisms of rol awarding and assumption" This means that: a) we have a common task to fulfill. maybe it has something to do with what i've said above, maybe it's unknown to us. that is: maybe we consciously think we are here for something, but are really here for somthing else. Of course that maybe people are here for different reasons, but we still have a common goal. b) we have been awarded roles in this group. we have a part in this play. And Pichon-Riviére said that there are four possible roles that we can assume: -Leader: the depositary of the group's positive features. It's the one who is always listened and followed. -Scapegoat: the opposite of Leader - it's the depositary of the negative aspects of the group. -Spokesman: the one who speaks for the group in general and puts into words the group's thinking. -Saboteur: the one who is against group change and tries to avoid it. This isn't just theory, it's actually pretty interesting - I'm sure most of you have already recognized WHO plays this roles, both here on Aeclectic and in your personal lives. (Specially the Leader and Scapegoat.) LOL, I think i've digressed just a little... I just can't avoid it... What do you think?

lunalafey	29 Jun 2003
Because Solandia planted a seed & shined her light upon it & nurtured it. It has grown from a tiny seed into a lovely garden. Within the garden visitors come to enjoy the beautiful surroundings & breath the fresh sweet air. While they stroll around they find others like themselves & start up wonderful conversations. It has become a meeting place for a community that is realitivly small in numbers, yet is global. It continues to thrive because of the monitary dues some visitors offer & then there are the garderners who donate their time to water, prune, transplant, pull weeds & get rid of the bugs. as long as there is love & devotion within the garden, it will continue to grow tall healthy & beautiful......

catti	29 Jun 2003
i am just so thankful the forum does exist....i have learned so much i knew but didnt understand , seen the other perspective of a card i thought i thouroughly understood and have spent long nights delightedly watchig the drama over reversals... finally busting out of old habits and spreads and trying on new ones, gaining confidence through long distance tarot readings.. it is all so cool! i have never in 15 years of tarot reading been able to discuss tarot so candidly , and seen it discussed so thouoghly. where i live you just cant talk to people about tarot...they either want a free reading or tell you its devils work .. so so happy to have these forums to read and write on.... and you are all really nice people. nobody has ever slammed me for grammer or spelling errors Oh i have an answer it exists because people like myself all over the world had a need for it.

Cerulean	29 Jun 2003
...we're collectors or students of similar topics and enjoy the set-up and discussion threads. I really like the setup and the way we can browse topics. I cannot contribute to most topics, but I usually find something interesting related to a deck that I'm studying or have...or a topic that I've been curious about. Take care, Mari H.

Astra	29 Jun 2003
Why do the Aeclectic Tarot Forums exist? MajorTom, are you implying that the universe is causal? Tut, tut. Maybe because they work? Because it was "time to railroad"? (I dunno either.)

Umbrae	30 Jun 2003
To share, and thereby learn, and expand, which deepens our passion for our commonality – Tarot.

Logiatrix	30 Jun 2003
Because the other ones suck.

jmd	30 Jun 2003
On the thread I started for my 500th post - and before I was mature enough to realise it's OK to party - Diana mentioned something so important about Aeclectic: that it has also the qualities of a spiritual school! Here we focus on Tarot - but Tarot, as mentioned, in its myriad guises. Amongst other factors, it also provides for the spiritual and personal development of us, its members... :):):)

wavebreaker	30 Jun 2003
Because of many people sharing a common interest that they want to discuss so they can learn from each other, regardless of their different backgrounds and different approaches of tarot.

baba-prague	30 Jun 2003
I think perhaps this forum CONTINUES to exist just because it IS supportive and, on the whole, remarkably unjudgemental. There is another tarot forum (that I won't name) that is very learned but also very confrontational. Personally, I find it hard to get much out of a place where people tell me I'm an idiot if I make a mistaken, non-academic or simply careless or quick posting. Aeclectic isn't like that - I feel I can put in a throw-away remark or a much more thought-out and serious response, and both usually get taken in the right spirit. A really great atmosphere's been achieved here, and - for me - that's the reason I go on coming and taking part.

Trogon	30 Jun 2003
Why does Aeclectic Tarot exist? Because we (those of us who make up this community) have a need for it to exist. Without all of us being here, supporting it and contributing to it, it would fall by the way side. How does it exist? Now this is a good question as well. Aeclectic Tarot exists through the untiring and magnificent efforts of one "Solandia" whom we all love and admire. Without her dedication to, and love for this community it would have crumbled to dust. I must also add, in this vein, that the thankless efforts of our forum moderators is also not to be dispensed with. Without their hard work the A.T. forums would have dissolved into mindless twaddle, egotistical elitist powerplays, and virulent flame wars ages ago. [/i][/size] (How's that for shameless kissing up? ;) )

Diana	30 Jun 2003
Why do the Aeclectic Tarot Forums exist? Oh, I think I know the answer to that one, Major Tom! What's the prize if we guess correctly? Once upon a time the Tarot Gods got together for the umpteenth time to ask "What can we do to provide a decent place for real Tarot lovers to get together whenever they want to learn about this Sacred Art of Divination, regardless of place or time?" "HEY, I KNOW!!!!!", said the youngest of the Gods. "Stop shouting", said the Chairgod. "We're not deaf. And wait your turn." So he waited patiently while all the other older Gods made all sorts of preposterous propositions. When his turn came, he said "There's this new thing they've got down on Earth. Called "The WorldWideWeb" or sometimes they call it the "double-u-double-u-double-u". Allows people to communicate instantly through those things they call computers. Now there's a really nice lady in Australia - Solandia - you know the place where they all walk upsidedown. I've been watching her .... not only is she really interested in Tarot, but she's got the technical expertise, and great leadership skills. She could set up a web-site with a forum." So the youngest Tarot God was sent down to earth to whisper little messages into Solandia's ears when she was sleeping, and to give her a little helping hand when she needed one. And on the seventh day, Solandia completed her work. And the Gods were very pleased. And that is why Aeclectic exists. Now, where do I pick up my prize?

Moongold	30 Jun 2003
Tarot is still in every moment And reflects the spirit with each card It speaks from the centre of the universe In the silence beyond all thought. Mightier than the crash of a thunderstorm, Mightier than the roar of the sea, Tarot’s voice silently speaking in the depths of the listening heart. From Psalm 93, with apologies to God and her Psalmist

Moongold	30 Jun 2003
:) Major Tom commented that he couldn't quite understand my post. It's a really nice way to look at Tarot, Tom, through the psalms. Just an association that's pleasant and real. Sort of a bit joyful too. The high Priestess with a smile :joke: Many blessings

Major Tom	30 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Moongold It's a really nice way to look at Tarot, Tom, through the psalms. Just an association that's pleasant and real. So, nothing to do with the topic of the thread then? })

anjocoxo	30 Jun 2003
Like baba-prague, I also went to another tarot forum, and I have to say I actualy regret it.... that's because I'm so used to aeclectic, where everybody is helpful and don't make me feel like a mental retard (in what comes to tarot), that I was totally shocked when I found out that there are forums where your opinion simply doesn't count, except if somebody else already wrote it on a published book. Thank you solandia, for putting this up....I think the reason why it was put up is because we all needed some place where we could share our thoughts, doubts, inner fears, happy days and where we could ask our questions, knowing we would good answers in return... and of course the Tarot Gods gave a little hand :D Anjo

Rhiannon	30 Jun 2003
I like Diana's story. :) It exists because there is a need. And because those that love it and cherish it work so hard and tirelessly to make it remain a wonderful place to be. It exists because of the support of it's members, subscribers and moderators, and of course... Solandia. R :)

jog1118	30 Jun 2003
"Why do the Aeclectic Tarot Forums exist?" ...because no man is an island :smoker:

fairyhedgehog	01 Jul 2003
Because of Solandia. Because we've found a haven here. (Well, I know I have.) Because we need a space where difference is welcomed not rejected. Because Tarot is beautiful and spiritual and fun and serious and light-hearted and so are the people that use it. Because we can't give it up. I love this place :)

allibee	01 Jul 2003
Because we are Searchers, and as such we come together with other Searchers on our tarot travels and travails. We find new directions here, we go off and explore them, and we come back again and guess what? there are more new Searchers here when we get back, along with some more familiar faces. AT exists because we are needful things allibee

dadsnook2000	01 Jul 2003
This wonderful vehicle for sharing our thoughts and experiences exists because those who seek to learn have first learned to seek. Our curiosity about the world is also curiosity about ourselves. We learn a lot through the mirrors that others provide to us, their interactions help to shape our thoughts and understanding. What we learn needs to be shared. We share with those, primarily, who care about those issues we care about. Hence, we find a community where a lot of commonality and acceptance exists. In this community, especially, the diversity of knowledge, skill levels, viewpoints and background is secondary to the process of sharing and supporting. For those who live and interact in this manner there just has to be a forum of this type. It's a universal law of need fulfillment where any need that is more than a self-serving small need can be met. Dave.

Teranar	01 Jul 2003
I dunno why the website exists, except Solandia made it one day (and then you go to other posts like Diana's) But what it means to me? I originally wandered in here after finding this nifty website I found has a forum, which ment other readers, people who not only shared my talent with tarot but would listen to what I had to say, instead of seeing cards and calling me satanic. At first I was worried I would be looked at like a mad man for never ever reading a book on tarot or knowing the cards meanings like from a book, I always went by what I felt. I cannot express how happy I was that my worries were compeletely baseless. And I keep coming back here, reading more than posting, unless I'm in a posty mood, because I learn so much from others, and I feel accepted here, a feeling I very rarily have anywhere else, and I am accepted for who I am. even though my times on are sporratic, I've found a place where I can go and not only be me, but also befriend others similar to me. Basically to me its a place where I can be ME and be accepted, and not fear being me.

fairyhedgehog	02 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Teranar Basically to me its a place where I can be ME and be accepted, and not fear being me. I can't think of higher praise than that :) And we all have a part in making sure that aeclectic is that kind of place :)

Rusty Neon	03 Jul 2003
(1) I like the thread concept. On this forum, unlike yahoo groups, I don't have to open a myriad of different posts to follow the thread. Because many people find the thread concept here easy to use, the threads here seem to be longer and more on-topic than in yahoo groups. (2) The search function is quite good. (3) Being quite sloppy, I like that I can edit my posts for typos and clarity. You will see that I use that feature often. :) (4) Still, for greater depth and experience, it would be nice to have some more published authors and other tarot authorities here. Hopefully, they'll gradually come on over here from yahoo groups.

tabbycat	03 Jul 2003
All of the tarot decks in the world have a collective intelligence and it/they realised that there ought to be a place where they could be admired and given proper reverence, and where they could reach out and find new hosts/users. So this magikal gestalt whispered seductively into Solandia's ear and prompted her to create the wonder that is Aeclectic Tarot. Also, this site has the coolest colour scheme on the web! Arriving here is like diving into a deep, refreshing pool of water - it washes the cares of the world away. And you guys are always so nice...! :) Jilly

Mia	04 Jul 2003
Hi Guys, Well i am very new to this board, only been a member about a week, but i would like to say, i have read many posts here, and had a good look round and when i joined it just felt SO right, you know that feeling when you use a favourite tarot deck? well thats how i feel about being here, i was quite nervous at first, because this is a BIG tarot forum, and SO well known. I thought i wouldn`t be able to contribute much, being a relative beginner, but i am enjoying posting and getting some really insightful and friendly replies......Everyone here is so helpful, and really layed back! This is a brilliant place, thankyou to everyone involved with running this place, for letting me take part!! I have been searching for a long time for somewhere to meet like-minded people.......and i have finally found you all!!

DarkElectric	04 Jul 2003
Because this is the place to go, if you really dig ta-rot. There's people, you see, places to be, and learning stuff you didn't know. (Put some beats behind this, and you've got it.)

Belladonna	04 Jul 2003
Why not? WHY NOT!?! Look at what we can accomplish and at what we can share as human beings. Look at our potential. Why are there not more places like Aeclectic? Love and light! I mean it!

Moongold	04 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Major Tom So, nothing to do with the topic of the thread then? }) :joke: Are you giving me a warning Tom? :joke: I'm just a lateral thinker, surely an advantage in Tarot? All right............I'll be more focused in future :) What is the thread about now?

The Talking Tarot? thread was originally posted on 29 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.