A Question about the BOTA Course

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Dec 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Silverlotus	21 Dec 2003
I am considering signing up for the BOTA correspondence course sometime in the new year. I've looked around at some of the old threads already, but I wasn't able to find the answet to one of my questions. I know the course is $12 or there abouts a month. Is this the only fee, or will I have to pay for other things like the BOTA deck?

MeeWah	21 Dec 2003
Silverlotus: I assume ye already saw a thread just prior: "B.O.T.A., anyone?" by Richard & recently resurrected by Lee: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=12693 When I began the course, a donation was requested of no specific amount. The student is supplied with the study materials including periodic publications. It includes a cardstock sheet of the Major Arcana, with each card to be coloured during the course of study. The organization has available for sale various books, audio tapes, reprints of articles & art supplies (to colour the cards). Ye are not obligated to purchase anything. I also received beautiful greeting cards with one of the Keys in full colour as the cover on my birthday, for the holidays & at other times. I framed the birthday card of 12-The Hanged Man (which I understood to be associated with Pisces, the 12th sign of the Zodiac). It called to me. Perhaps ye can do a small throw asking if this is the way to go.

Majecot	21 Dec 2003
Silverlotus, I am glad you asked that question. I too was considering this course. MeeWah, thank you, it sounds like you consider it money well spent. I think you just tipped the scales for me.

MeeWah	21 Dec 2003
Majecot: I highly recommend the course for those who are interested in the spiritual aspects of Tarot & willing to invest the time in its study. Even though it does not promote Tarot for divination, what it offers can contribute immeasurably to its study & understanding. There is no other course of its like--though one that comes close is a course offered by The Rosicrucian Fellowship on western mysticism but does not deal with Tarot. I think each student also receives a listing of the regional or local study groups. The study groups are free. Each group is overseen by an experienced B.O.T. A. member who arranges the meeting site & sees to any local mailings. They meet once a month to focus on each Key in order, with a volunteer member giving a talk on the Key of the month. I used to attend the meetings of the closest study group in a neighboring city with a friend. Though I felt like a fish out of water, I was impressed at the atmosphere of welcome & learning; the collective knowledge & understanding I encountered. The meetings are an experience in themselves & highly supportive of the individual study.

Ruby7	21 Dec 2003
I have just signed up for this course after reading this thread. Lee had mentioned the BOTA course before in response to questions I had regarding tarot courses. Are you going to take the course Silverlotus and Majecot? Ruby7

Majecot	23 Dec 2003
Yes I plan on taking this course as well. ( just as soon as the holiday madness is over and I can focus again;) ) Plus I change shifts at work on the first of Jan, which should actually give me a little more "me" time.. (I will be working afternoons so those mornings will be all mine). I am looking forward to being able to devote more time to sudy.

Lee	24 Dec 2003
Just to clarify, I think the method of payment has changed since MeeWah took the course, and it's now a flat fee of $12 a month. I decided not to take the course because while I'm interested in the spiritual aspects of tarot, I'm also particularly interested these days in divination and in different systems of reading with the Minors, which I understand thanks to MeeWah are subjects which are not emphasized in the course. -- Lee

Silverlotus	24 Dec 2003
I think I will sign up for the course some time in the new year. Just like Majecot, I'm waiting for a little bit more "me time." And with a possible upcoming move, it is best to put it off just a little while longer.

Strange2	24 Dec 2003
I have been taking the BOTA courses for about a year now, and am very pleased with the quality and insights from the lessons. I am sslloowwly going through the lessons, and am quite a bit behind (they suggest doing a lesson a week, and send 4 lessons in each month's package). Nonetheless, I have the found the lessons to be worth the investment in both funds and focus, and have gained some unique and valuable spiritual insights into the energies and design of the Tarot.

MeeWah	25 Dec 2003
Then things have indeed changed. The unspecified donations were also followed by receipts for tax purposes, which surprised me. I was sent 2 lessons a month, & I found that due to the intensity of the course, that was more than enough to keep me busy & scrambling for time.

The A Question about the BOTA Course thread was originally posted on 21 Dec 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.