Tarot on TV this morning!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 25 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kiama	25 Jan 2004
Hi all, This morning I had the pleasure of watching a feature on Heaven and Earth about Tarot. At first I didn't like it, because it sounded as though the presenter was doing her damned best to disproove Tarot. There were also a couple of factual errors (eg- "The belief in the evil of Tarot was fuelled when Satanist Aleister Crowley created his own deck.") Crowley, a Satanist? He would have found that very funny indeed I think. }) But, other than that it was excellent: very well-rounded, and considering they have a duty not to promote anythingf 'occult' on TV, I think they were very objective, and unbiased. They had an interview with a very experienced Tarot reader (I saw her Mythic deck... loooovely and battered. I was druelling. I love to see a well-used deck!) who answered all the difficult questions very well indeed. (They asked the toughie of: "If I did the same reading 10 minutes later, would I get the same cards?" traditionally designed to trap the reader into either conceeding that they don't know, which looks bad, or into conceeding that the cards aren't totally accurate, which also looks bad, since what people want is definite prediction.) They also had a psychoanalyst of there, after finding out from querents why they go to Tarot readers. Many said they want to get advice about their problems, or gain insight into their lives, so the presenter asked the question, "Why do people go to a Tarot reader for this, instead of a psychoanalyst or psychologist?" (My first answer would have been, 'because Tarot readers are cheaper!') So, she asked the psychoanalyst about Carl Jung (yay!), and about why this happened. He said something that really impressed me: that whilst both Tarot and psychoanalysis are very similar, they focus on different areas. Tarot tells you where you need to be going, and where the present and the past are leading, and gives advice and insight that way, whilst psychoanalysis tells you how you got there in the first place. They mentioned a very brief history of the Tarot too, which was surprisingly good for a TV show I thought. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised, firstly to see it on at all (I caught it on an off-chance, when I absent-mindedly turned on the TV) and secondly to see it so well done at all. So, I thought you all might like to hear about it. Blessings, Kiama

Moonbow*	25 Jan 2004
Kiama, I have had a premonition. It must be. I had a very late night last night and had a lay in. When I woke up I put the TV on and saw Frost talking to someone about Mars (switched it off again). I remember thinking "I'm sure Heaven and Earth is after Frost". I sometimes catch Heaven and Earth because they have lots of interesting issues on there, I've seen a range from Psychics, Buddists, anti- smoking campaigners etc etc. Well, I was thinking to myself while laying in bed "one of these days they're going to have Tarot on there" But I couldn't be bothered to switch it back on (I don't watch much TV) and got Tarot of The Spirit out instead. Now how strange is that? This type of thing has happened alot to me. Sometimes I am too late for something but other times they happen when I am expecting them too, weird. Moonbow*

allibee	25 Jan 2004
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh ... I never watch tv, but it sounds like they had just the right person on there ... the girl did good as they say! My answer to the: if I did the reading ten minutes later question is: Depends how good you are at shuffling :) A.

Bean Feasa	26 Jan 2004
Oh hell's bells - I missed it. I normally watch Heaven and Earth, like you Moonbow, I look out for their slots on interesting alternative beliefs, and sometimes they have the Barefoot doctor, but I missed it yesterday rushing around tidying up before going out for an early lunch. Anyone know if they repeat it? - I know a lot of shows get aired again in the wee small hours.

Emily	26 Jan 2004
Hi Bean Feasa, I also missed it :( - I too was going to ask if anyone knows if it get repeated, I've looked all through my tv magazine and unless I missed it, couldn't find it being repeated.

Bean Feasa	27 Jan 2004
Hi Emily, I had a look as well, last night, but the Beeb don't seem to repeat programmes as much as other channels. Oh well....c'est la vie! blessings, Kate

lunakasha	27 Jan 2004
Damn...I missed it! I am from the US, and have never heard of "Heaven and Earth". Does anyone know if they air it here in the US??? Also, if anyone hears about it being repeated, PLEASE let us know??? Thanks! :) Luna

Rhiannon	30 Jan 2004
Just on a side note: Tarot and other forms of divination was an entired category on "Jeopardy!" I wasn't paying too much attention, but I did glance up when I heard something like "after shuffling tarot cards, you should cut them with this hand". It was the left hand. I can't remember if the question was that specific or not. Another question was the name of the runes and the answer was "Elder Futhark". Pretty cool! R :)

psychiclayla	01 Feb 2004
It's interesting that a discussion on Tarot cards on TV was well-rounded and sympathetic. I have been keeping an eye on the TV stations attitude towards the 'occult' for the last couple of years. The general attitude seems to be getting more and more sympathetic and genuinely curious. A couple of years ago you couldn't get on TV with a pack of Tarot cards without some rent-a-skeptic trying to make you look sinister. It seems that Tarot cards, while not being entirely accepted as a method of divining the future are acknowledged as helpful and no longer evil or foolish. Hurray! Long may it continue!

ribbitcat	01 Feb 2004
Where'd she get that the querent was going to marry a Martin in June on the 7th , or whatever it was ...there ain't no cards *that* specific . Mystic Meg time again ...:-( ribbitcat

psychiclayla	02 Feb 2004
Mystic Meg, whatever happened to her? Maybe some angry mob of genuine Tarot readers burned her at the stake ;o)

The Tarot on TV this morning! thread was originally posted on 25 Jan 2004 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.