What is/are the task/s of Tarot in this 21st century?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

jmd	20 Sep 2003
In a discussion of Jette's book in the Books Forum (Tarot Shadow Work), pentunen asks why I found Rachel Pollack's abridged review-statement surprising. On the Llewellyn site, this is what Rachel Pollack is quoted as saying: In Tarot Shadow Work, Christine Jette bravely takes the practice of tarot readings to new depths and places many people fear to go. She shows us how we can use the cards to trigger awareness in ourselves of troubling aspects of our lives and histories, and then go beyond discovery to use the cards as tools for healing. This is part of the work that needs to be done with tarot in this new century . [size=1] [my emphasis - and i guess free advertising for the book[/size] ;)] The part I found surprising, as mentioned in my reply in the thread quoted above, is the strength of the words 'needs to be done'. I certainly agree with many that Tarot may assist in the alchemical-psychological process of integration, even as partly understood by Jungian-type thought. In that sense, certainly the Tarot may assist. But does this imply that part of such work that may be assisted by the use of Tarot needs to take that direction? If so, at what cost. I suppose that I have concerns as to the consequences if Tarot becomes principally used as a psychological tool. Similarly, I would also have concerns if Tarot became used principally as a game. In each case, the orientation impacts on the development of the images used. If one views the world from a more Jungian framework, then certain items either included or excluded in Tarot may well be altered. To my mind, given that I do not share this framework, to great loss for Tarot. But let me return to the central question, brought to mind by Rachel Pollack's remark, and highlighted by pentunen's query: What are the tasks of Tarot in this century? ...or maybe, the question may be rephrased as: What are our tasks in this century, and how may Tarot assist? In the ongoing development of the human being, greater awakening to the spiritual, greater acceptance of other human beings who may hold differing views, and greater personal responsibility for one's own actions, feelings and thoughts are what I see as part of our tasks. How may Tarot help? In numerous ways...

HOLMES	21 Sep 2003
first let me share with you my thread of jungian tarot study which has help me understand tarot /myself/ and a bit of jungian which i would never have had without the iniatial study. ( i plan to renew this from where i left after my celtic cross experiements is over) http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14243&highlight=jungian+tarot the tarot in today world has many purposes for me 1. to help me understand myself 2. to help me understand others 3. to help me understand the world 4. to help me understand the universe. it does this by being able to help me to learn about qabbalah, astrology, psychology, mythology, religion(soul tidings truth cards , oso zen tarot) by studying the tarot i can see where my soul paths lies, and my shadow self more , and what potential i am hiding. as a person in this world it is my duty to help others in any way i can, my way is for to help others understand themselves, and the teachings of a spiritual nature that i learned from studying the tarot on a soul level. and the tarot could be but one of many ways for some it is numerology, for others it is astrology but for me i find the tarot encompassing of them all and so uniquely itself that devoting lifetimes to studying all aspects of the tarot would only help one to learn about many things and be a master it would seem to some but we would only say , nay i am no master i just at student who sees a bit more then the average man when i look at tarot for i been looking longer and know what to look for. one thing that i haven't addressed is the tarot as it always has been can be a game but i havne't used it as such once, for me it is so much then just a game , it is a philosphy which for me is like for a chess master, or a baseball game player who has learned all about baseball and can apply it to many things.

Teranar	21 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by HOLMES the tarot in today world has many purposes for me 1. to help me understand myself 2. to help me understand others 3. to help me understand the world 4. to help me understand the universe. Ahh, you have touched upon it, HOLMES. People have used tarot for the exact same reasons for centuries, from when wars were fought by soldiers with sword, shield, and mail, to when wars were fought with tanks, planes, and machines guns, tarot has been used for the same reasons, and I believe we will continue to use it for the same purposes, and if we were to say degrade it into the realm of playing games, or to ignore helping others by using them, then I feel that (myself, at least) would cast shame upon ourselves in the footsteps of those whom have read before us. To quote my godmother enita, (Edited for content) "Every so often people need to be (told) which ends to put their lives and their (butts) on, cause they keep (mixing) them up!" and often when I read another person, I am telling them which end is which, and trying to word it so they don't screw it up. If we neglect doing this, they may never put the right end on, and imagine what kind of world that would be like! So essentially what I am saying is that our task, as readers, hasn't changed, but we must embrace the changing world while still being the same soothsayers we have always been. Wandering with his thoughts, Teranar

Diana	21 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by jmd this is what Rachel Pollack is quoted as saying: [list] In Tarot Shadow Work, Christine Jette bravely takes the practice of tarot readings to new depths and places many people fear to go. She shows us how we can use the cards to trigger awareness in ourselves of troubling aspects of our lives and histories, and then go beyond discovery to use the cards as tools for healing. This is part of the work that needs to be done with tarot in this new century . May respond more fully later, but I really jumped when I read this..... I thought this was what Tarot had been doing for centuries? Possibly even before Tarot existed in the form of cards..... What's so new about this?

Dark Inquisitor	21 Sep 2003
On one hand , I think it may the major task of the tarot in this century just to come out of the closet , so to speak ! And to leave behind the bad reputation, misunderstandings, and outright frauds that have been associated with it. To bring to the mainstream of life a different view of the possibilities of spirituality. On the other hand, I think it is supposed to be what it may always have been . Just there. There for the seeker to find & discover & use in whatever way is needed. To be picked up & put down at whatever point for whatever reasons we decide . Tarotphelia

jmd	09 Dec 2003
What wonderful replies... Holmes's mention of the many purposes of Tarot - in helping to understand oneself, others, and the world; in deepening one's understanding and assistance in further investigating the Kabalah, or astrology, or psychology; in assisting in divining into one's path; in assisting others to enter more fully their own spiritual path - all these have, as Diana and Tarotphelia rightly point out, been so since Tarot's earliest inception. Its tasks, then, have not changed, but rather, as Teranar points out, it may be more a case of embracing 'the changing world while still being the same soothsayers we have always been'... How wonderful the responses. To renew, with individuals in each generation, its merits. To engage and permit its rejuvenating potencies, its transmuting elixir, its metamorphosising iconographies, to transform our lives... bringing to the individual a wholeness as he or she is blessed by the spiritual impulse beyond its obvious forms...

Kaz	09 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by jmd What are the tasks of Tarot in this century? ...or maybe, the question may be rephrased as: What are our tasks in this century, and how may Tarot assist? how about asking the tarot this/these question(s).....

Cerulean	09 Dec 2003
Should we open a separate thread and use our favorite current tarots to ask this question in talking tarot? I'd do a three card draw first...with a Visconti from U.S. Games and then my favorite GTV from Lo Scarabeo Mari H. P.S. I did a six-card pull based on JMD's formatted question--three from the U.S. Games Visconti about the past and three from the Lo Scarabeo GTV about the 21st century. But it was such a personal view...anyway, if I don't see another thread by Wednesday, I'll post here.

skytwig	09 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Kaz how about asking the tarot this/these question(s)..... I agree :D

Kaz	09 Dec 2003
after a bit of thought, these are actually 3 questions, if you want clear answers. What are the tasks of Tarot in this century? What are our tasks in this century? How may Tarot assist with our tasks?

Mimers	09 Dec 2003
Are we going to start a thread on this in 'Your Readings' or should we each start our own? I think it would be better in the same thread. It would be interesting to see how each's reading is similar and different. Let me know when the thread is posted.

Cerulean	10 Dec 2003
To be honest, the theme is so big, that my card pulls reflected me more than any good answers to the sweeping question. However, What are the tasks of Tarot in this century? I'm limiting to the first card I pulled from my U.S. Games Visconti--the Wheel of Fortune. Somehow it spun around to mean to me "what does my Visconti of Tarot Past say to me that applies to the tasks of tarot for the 21st century?" To me it is fitting that this historical deck has a resemblance with the grand matriach of 14th century tarocchi-Bianca Maria Visconti as Dame Fortuna in angelic guise, at the hub of the wheel. Mottos of the five figures on the wheel and delicate notes that I was unaware of before are made clear from commentary by Stuart Kaplan in the little white book that come with the U.S. Games deck. The angel as Dame Fortuna has a half smile clear to me, even as her blindfolded eyes are covered. She stands near the ascending boyish figure who has the ears of a donkey and a motto that says "I shall reign" as he scrambles upward. The kingly prince at the top of the wheel also has donkey ears and he gleefully says, "I reign". The wheel has a downside, with a figure falling and the long tail of beast, his motto the rueful, "I reigned." The old man at the bottom of the wheel has a beard, a ragged white robe and stockings that have seen better days. He reminds us of better days and he says, "I have reigned." In a general way, this card shows me of a n old icon of the human past and tells me of my human future. Stay human, humane, be aware of youth, maturity and age. My sighs at the rotation of the wheel of fates reminds me whatever grand theme I pull into the future--it stands also on the bones of the past. The very ground beneath my feet, the parables of the past--ah, there is humor, truth and clarity that I can learn. I also have a book on the Viscontis that I found after asking Ross Caldwell--I have read the excellent Encyclopedia of the Tarot Volume II with the Visconti histories. This new book is pricy, all my Xmas money...but it is worth it to me to read more of the human past. Bianca Maria in her old age...I read of her and her son now as a human story... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0520081463/qid=1071106631//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i0_xgl14/103-5880324-4263002?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 To me, the tasks of the tarot in the 21st century brings the human past to my present awareness and through parable, allegory and history, enriches my reflections. I'm exploring the other cards on a more personal level, getting ready for Solstice style reflections. Just my take... Mari H.

TemperanceAngel	11 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Mari_Hoshizaki To me, the tasks of the tarot in the 21st century brings the human past to my present awareness and through parable, allegory and history, enriches my reflections. Just my take... And what a take, bravo, I like! *The Temperance Angel smiles inwardly and knowingly, before going to make herself a cup of tea....* :)XTAX:)

The What is/are the task/s of Tarot in this 21st century? thread was originally posted on 20 Sep 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.