Tarot Being Banned in New Orleans
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 01 Jun 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| amyel |
01 Jun 2003 |
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Hi all,
I just came back from a business trip in New Orleans. Have you ever been? Well, there is a square, Jackson Square, in the heart of the French Quarter. Traditionally, there have been street magicians and palm readers, tarot readers "fortune tellers", set up in this square. The square gets alot of tourism - it is, after all, in the French Quarter.
Well, the mayor & a city counseller have decided that all this tarot stuff is bad (as well as voodoo, palm reading, etc) and have successfully banned all tarot readers and the like from Jackson Square. They felt it was "bad for tourism" and reflected negaitively in the city.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know what *you* think of when you think of New Orleans, but it ain't all Mardi Gras, women flashing their breasts for beads and public drinking. Although it definitely happens. :)
Next, the mayor & the city counseler are trying to ban the public drinking. And will probably succeed.
Poor New Orleans!!!!!!
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| HudsonGray |
01 Jun 2003 |
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If it's only banned from Jackson Square, you've still got options. If it's from the whole city--they'll not be able to enforce it outside the city limits. OR in private homes either. What you do in your home, and possibly your place of business, is your affair. How does this affect the shops that do tarot?
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| wavebreaker |
01 Jun 2003 |
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Originally posted by amyel
I just came back from a business trip in New Orleans. Have you ever been? Well, there is a square, Jackson Square, in the heart of the French Quarter. Traditionally, there have been street magicians and palm readers, tarot readers "fortune tellers", set up in this square. The square gets alot of tourism - it is, after all, in the French Quarter. Yes, I've been to New Orleans, and all the palm and tarot readers on Jackson Square were one of the attractions for us as tourists... And the one reason I'd like to go back, is to see those readers again. But sounds like I don't have to bother anymore...
What a pity. And what close-mindedness... :(
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| Shadow Wolf |
01 Jun 2003 |
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I think it's a big mistake !!!!
New Orleans is so mystical, and magical. I think it's going to hurt
tourism a lot.
It's like banning tarot and "witchy" shops in Salem, MA. It just doesn't make sense !!!!
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| Diana |
01 Jun 2003 |
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Sounds like something the Taliban would do. Are they planning on banning music and dancing next?
No-one protests? They could by voting in a new mayor next time. Perhaps it's time for Tarot readers to get more into politics. Sometimes standing around and complaining doesn't get one very far. I hope those readers form a committee or something and cause a big rumpus.
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| amyel |
01 Jun 2003 |
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Originally posted by Diana
Sounds like something the Taliban would do. Are they planning on banning music and dancing next?
No-one protests? They could by voting in a new mayor next time. Perhaps it's time for Tarot readers to get more into politics. Sometimes standing around and complaining doesn't get one very far. I hope those readers form a committee or something and cause a big rumpus. Oh yes, apparently there have been several protests, and folks who make their living in the Square have been willfully breaking the law. The police don't seem too stressed about it, either. One night as I was *watching* my colleague smoke, we exited a bar on Bourbon Street. The bouncer asked us to put our Corona's in a plastic glass, so we did. Anyway, as colleague was smoking and giving away beads (;D ), bouncer & I had a talk. He said that the police had already spoken out against the ban and the proposed public drinking ban, as the Quarter has alot of crime, and the police felt they had more improtant things to do besides enforce stupid laws. I've also heard, however, that the N.O. Police are rather corrupt, but I really wouldn't know. They were durn nice to me. :)
P.S. I was talking to a young guy in one of the VouDou shops about tarot. He'd just started reading and was asking about Jung & tarot. I gave him the url here...
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| Melissa` |
02 Jun 2003 |
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Oh this is sad. :(
I haven't been to NO in almost 2 years. I would love to go back and was planning to go back after Andrews birthday this month.
One of the main reasons that I love the place is because of the mystical air that surrounds it. When I was there two years ago, they said that the Voodoo shops where illegal outside of the French Quarter. Whats next besides the tarot? Will they ban those from the entire French Quarter too? Its starting to sound like my state.
Ok..I'll climb off the soap box now. heh
Amaya
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| Trogon |
02 Jun 2003 |
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So... we don't like the ban on Tarot, Palmistry, Etc in Jackson Square? So let New Orleans know that you don't like it. Let them know that they're going to be hurting themselves by losing all them tourist dollars!
Start by letting the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation know that you're displeased... visit http://www.neworleansonline.com/ - go to the bottom of the page and click on the "contact us" link... right near the top is an e-mail address (help@neworleansonline.com). E-mail them and let them know that the Jackson Square readers, pamists, etc are a huge draw for tourists and the ban is making you re-think where to spend your vacation.
Next... go to http://www.new-orleans.la.us/home/ - this is the City of New Orleans official government web site. Right in the upper left part of the page is a link labeled "Public Feedback". This takes you to a page where you can send comments to the City Council, the Mayor's Office and the Tourism Department as well as other offices of the City Government.
Let them know how unfair this is and that it is going to hurt the city in the pocket book!
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| Diana |
02 Jun 2003 |
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Trogon: you are a man after my own heart. Action is the best course in situations like this.
I don't plan on visiting New Orleans, but I'm off to complain immediately through the links you provided.
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| Sulis |
02 Jun 2003 |
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Thanks for the link Trogon, I`m off to complain too.
Love and light
Crystalmynx xx
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| Alex |
02 Jun 2003 |
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freedom!
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| cjtarot |
02 Jun 2003 |
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What is New Orleans to you anyway...MAGICK.
I was fortunate enough to go there a few times and can't imagine it without the mystery and magick...
I'm off to complain
Cj
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| Trogon |
03 Jun 2003 |
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I'm very happy to have been of assistance to you all!
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| contrascarpe |
30 Jan 2004 |
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There are many appealing things about New Orleans (and many unappealing, like the "smells" of Bourbon Street late at night). But for Tarot enthusiasts like myself, the sight of readers filtering around the perimeter of Jackson Square was always very welcome (especially in the evening with all the stray cats congregating in the gardens).
My work has brought me to the Big Easy on several occasions and I am due back late next year. I hope this is reversed by then.
Dan
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| VGimlet |
31 Jan 2004 |
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Hmm, we were thinking of going back this March, but maybe not now. New Orleans is one of my favorite places.
Off to complain, I am.
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| Star Spirit |
31 Jan 2004 |
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That's awful. I've never been to NO but I've always wanted to. It is such a magical place despite its somewhat bad rap and to think that they'd want to take away from that just makes no sense. How wonderful it would be to visit a place where you can get palm and tarot readings every day if you wanted to. I think they've made a big mistake...
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| EmmaChat214 |
31 Jan 2004 |
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hi all!
just to add my two cents...i lived in Nawlins for ten years. in fact, i'll always be grateful for the experiences that i had there. i started reading when i was ten i think partly because of the magical atmosphere that made tarot seem natural and not spooky.
but i will add that the readers in Jackson Square weren't a major part of my development. i knew they were there and thought they were cool to watch BUT there were (and still are, i bet) several lovely shops and tearooms just around the corner with professional readers who were ready to help me on my journey.
maybe NOLA's not cracking down on tarot, but pandering instead. it's sorta like the "no busking" signs in london, see? after reading the posts i'd hate to think that people would miss out on a trip to this marvelous city...everyone should go at least twice i think!
cheers,
emma
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| contrascarpe |
31 Jan 2004 |
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Emma -
I agree with you - the shops are wonderful and definitely have more substance than the scene (or dare I say carnival) around Jackson Square. However, there was something about the JS environment that was magical. I guess in a way I felt that it was an "in your face" type of atmosphere - in other words, Tarot afficienados such as myself tend to seek out the shops while in Jackson Square, Tarot was presented to the world, believers and non-believers alike.
If they really want to improve Nawlins, then spend the money for public restrooms along Bourbon Street. The smells generated along that street are truly repelling as the evening goes on. Luckily, the streets parallel and perpendicular to Bourbon (as you head toward the river) are less crowded and contain better restaurants, bars and shops.
Don't let this indiscretion keep you from this wonderful city - there is so much to offer there and even without the JS readers, I truly cannot wait to get back (I just wish it was for pure pleasure, not tied in with work). However, do some research ahead of time and learn where the unsafe areas are.
Dan
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| c0de |
17 Feb 2004 |
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I live in Louisiana and there are plenty of other places to go instead of Jackson Square to get a tarot reading or your palm read... just stay away from Bourbon Street :wink:
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| nocturnaldreamr |
19 Feb 2004 |
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Originally posted by amyel
Well, the mayor & a city counseller have decided that all this tarot stuff is bad (as well as voodoo, palm reading, etc) and have successfully banned all tarot readers and the like from Jackson Square. They felt it was "bad for tourism" and reflected negaitively in the city.
Poor New Orleans!!!!!!
DAMN! that is one of the reasons why i wanted to go to New Orleans!......or Haiti....west indies... where ever
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| Phoenyx* |
20 Feb 2004 |
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Goddess, I grew up in New Orleans! I was just thinking about bringing my bf to Jackson Square, since he's never been to New Orleans, and get his cards read for him....MEH! This is horrid!
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| laura_borealis |
05 Mar 2004 |
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I was in New Orleans at the end of December, 2003 (just a few weeks ago) and there were lots of tarot readers around Jackson Square. The ban seems to be ignored/not enforced, as some here have said.
I didn't get my cards read... I only had a day in the French Quarter and I had many things to do, like drink cafe au lait and eat beignets, and find the tomb of Marie Laveau. :)
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| Ivy Rhiannon |
11 Apr 2004 |
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GRRRRRRRRR! Well that New Orleans is going to hell...my dream of visiting is dead. I mean what dumb as*** Nevermind I want go there! I hope one day people will see the tarot for what it really is!
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| raeanne |
12 Apr 2004 |
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Hi all,
I heard about this several months ago so I e-mailed the Chamber of Commerce in New Orleans. The lady who e-mailed me back had never heard of banning tarot card readers in Jackson Square.
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The Tarot Being Banned in New Orleans thread was originally posted on 01 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.
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