Please people HELP!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

MAR	26 May 2004
Hello guys, I feel terrible, very down now, I don't know what to do, I'm thinking to quit about learning the tarot:(, I'm thinking that I'm going to hell and I feeling that I've done something evil:(. The thing is that I was sitting near of the pool of the condo where I live, doing a reading for someone who is a member here, writing the reading on my notebook and then post it in here. I went there to get relax and be alone and hear the water of fountain in the pool, like a waterfall, while I was doing the reading, a woman got there and went to the jacuzzi, she was talking with some people there, then I finished the reading, and tried to get relax and seeing the beautiful sun while it was going, then everybody left but the woman, and she started to get conversation with me, ok, that was fine, then she asked you're studying and saw the tarot book I had, and I say yes, and she said, oh, you have to be very careful with that, my mother did that stuff and was very bad things, very very bad experiences and I tried to stay away from that stuff, she said, and say but if you likes it and have the gift do it. then I said, I never had any bad experience with the tarot it depends how people use it, I just use it for good, and then she said she was a psychic before, but doesnt' do it anymore, and I asked her about things that had happend to me, to see what it may means, for example, sometimes, I hear a female or male clear voice talking to me, especially before I got up from my bed, and she says, it is satan to try to take all your energies, and then I freaked out. Imaging How I am now??? and I need your help, what can I do? I'm feeling desperate, I thinking to be away from the forum a few days to can think and until I got better. Do I got something bad from this woman, bad energies???:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:( HEEEELP! and then she left and said, but if you have the gift use it.

sagitarian	26 May 2004
Honey, do not judge your gifts upon some stranger. What she said is based off of her own experiences. It sounds like she got scared by something else that had happend in her personal life. Also, people are judgmental (even though there's no room for judgment) about what their parents do, and less tolerant of things their parents do. As far as the voices are concerned hon, as long as you don't feel their negative, and their not telling you anything "bad", then they are probably your guides or they are spirits seeking your help. Tarot is a way to open up your mind to the cosmos above, and with in that is an abundance of information and possibilities. Can bad things happen, sure, but as you stated, you only do good things. If you are really concerned about your gift being a bad thing, sent to you from the devil, then tell God to take it away, that you don't want it. Give yourself a few days and then see how you feel. If you feel that its bad, and that you shouldn't be doing this, then by all means, give your tarot away, or auction them off here, and put it behind you. If you honestly don't feel like there's nothing wrong with what you are doing, and your gifts aren't taken away, then you were meant to do this work, however you decide to use it. Peace to your soul hon. Sagitarian

laura_borealis	26 May 2004
Well. I think it is a decision you have to make. If tarot goes against your beliefs, then yes, maybe you should not study it. I have a hard time truly understanding what you are going through, though, because I have never thought there was anything bad or evil about tarot -- even when people insisted on it to me, I had such a strong sense that they were wrong, it didn't affect me. Obviously, though, there are a lot of people who are afraid of tarot and think that it is un-Christian (or un-whatever religion they belong to). This woman apparently is one. But you don't have to take what she says as your truth. You can make up your own mind. If you don't think tarot is bad, or that there is evil intent in the voices you hear, then go with your gut -- not what some lady by the pool says. My mother thinks that tarot is of the devil, so I don't have tarot cards or books out around her. But I don't believe in Satan or Hell, or that tarot is evil. And here at AT you are probably not going to find anyone who agrees with your pool-woman. But you need to decide for yourself, you know? We can't tell you what to do.

Dark Inquisitor	26 May 2004
This is really a very common thing to happen . If you get to reading a lot on the internet, the same scenario presents itself over and over. You have no way to know if she was telling the truth about her own background as a psychic. There are some very rigid religious groups that make it their business to go out of their way to frighten and convert people. I myself was not aware of the extent of the problem until I began looking at other sites on the internet and seeing that there are organized efforts to come to new age forums and get their message across any way they can. In the view of rigid religions , not only is tarot of the devil but the entire world !! Yes, the whole world - whatever is not in their church. All people of other religions, babies who die unbaptized , are all going to hell according to them. They see Satan in every person, every corner , every activity not of their particular faith. It is a completely paranoid way to live. And it is infectious. You may just be feeling HER inner fear. You know you are a good person and you do readings for good. You know there are things to be careful of on the astral plane, and so you learn to protect yourself and discern. The same people that will claim any voice you hear to be the devil will be the same ones to declare the voice they hear to be the very voice of God. I am sure if any of the people here had the experience of being attacked by demons because of the tarot, they would have mentioned it long before now. Maybe you should do more study of the metaphysical world so that you will not be so afraid the next time this happens. Unfortunately, when out in public anything can happen and it could happen again. There are people who don't want you to control your own life. They want you to follow them and their beliefs above all else. Situations like this are literally thousands of years old - it is the same old stuff recycled in modern times. Tarot readers and psychics have been persecuted and controlled through history , but the difference is now we don't have to take it and live in personal fear anymore if we chose not to. I hope you will feel better ! Tarotphelia PS- If you have any voices you don't want to hear, all you have to do is tell them to SHUT UP every time and they will usually stop bothering you. You have a choice about how you want to receive your psychic information.

Cerulean	26 May 2004
She dumped her experience on something you were being thrilled and delighted about and it felt icky...I can relate. That icky verbal energy is rubber to her and glue to you, what she says bounces and relieves her and sticks--yucky-yuk--to you! You might have been reading about bicycling the California Coast-- and she could have told you about breaking her leg and being almost hijacked by serial bike-jackers who strand wounded bicyclists in the middle of nowhere and sell parts in Tijuana for money. You could have been reading about any sort of spiritual topic and she could have told you about her woes with spirit guides who began haunting her...all in the spirit of sharing her fears to be 'helpful' to you. You were kind to listen to her. What you probably had wanted for a relaxing, open time with your cards--and if you had the decks listed in your favorites (Robin Woods, Hanson Roberts, Golden) out as well, you might have felt sadly exposed and undeservedly embarrassed. The decks you listed are so pretty and uplifting, I would have never thought anyone would react badly to them. Now if such self reflection and card study on her part caused a negative reaction, it might have been a mirror to something about her. It's okay that tarot isn't her thing. She might have similar judgments about playing cards or gambling and associating all cards with negative experiences. I hope, if you decide they are your tools and delight, that you do feel better about your choice. I hope you do have a relaxing time with the decks that you enjoy...and best wishes to you. Regards, Cerulean Mari

MAR	26 May 2004
Thank you guys: now with your replies, I feel some better and with hope. after I this woman left, I knew that I got something bad from her, like bad energies, I felt it,. I really like tarot, for me, there is nothing evil in it. there are bad people and good people, I've chosen the good, I want to do the things right. another thing, the voices I hear, I don't feel any bad thing, I hear the voices as if there is someone in my room which I can't see, but I can hear it but I don't understand what they say, a clear voice, not in my mind. but as this was new for me, the first time that happend, I got a little scared, now is something common, and besides my child, we know that he's seeing a spirit that plays with my child, we see many times my child calling it and try to talking with it, but I can't see it and who knows more about that than me, it's my husband, he sometimes sees it. and he always had a indian spirit with him who guiding him and telling him thing that he had to know(since some people who wanted to betrayed to him etc..), but that another story. and a few months, I was laid on my bed, it was morning, and a tall man, dressed like the hermit(with a brown cape) but he's clothes was white, and he have a big staff and a big gold medalion on his chest, I remember very clear, he was young and I could see just his lips(very beautiful) I couldn't see his eyes, and he was talking to me and as always, I could hear his strong double voice, but I can't understand what he was saying, all of this has happen since I learning tarot. I think is my spirit guides, I hope it's good spirits even I don't know how could understand them. I know I'm going to be better:)

hyatt	26 May 2004
Living in the Bible currently (moving next month:) ), I have had many experiences where I was made to feel very unfortable and satanic. Everyone around me basically disagrees with tarot. I wonder why do I do something that my family is against? I guess there is just something inside that tells you it is good and right for you. When I first started I had nightmares and thought it was the cards. I think it was my southern baptist background creepy up and being mean to me and my cards. But, I have noticed people that have given me their "past experiences" stories. Most of the time they are outlandish and blunt. Upon questioning I realize they no NOTHING about tarot. If it is something that gives you joy then stick with it, if not take a break. You might even come back to it with a new passion. Perhaps even focus on a different aspect of it for a while like the history.

HudsonGray	27 May 2004
Mar, make sure you don't take everything a stranger says to you to heart. You are far too susceptible! You were fine till she started laying a really bad set of ideas on you. Stand up for what you know is right (tarot & your abilities were fine with you up to that point, right?) and don't let others make these kind of decisions in your life. Look how much she took away from you with only a few minutes of talking. They can ruin a lot of good things & don't have to deal with the stresses once they walk away. Trust your instincts to keep you safe. Strangers don't know more about you than what you know of yourself.

MeeWah	27 May 2004
MAR: There will always be the naysayers; those who disbelieve anything they are not familiar with nor have not experienced themselves on an inner (figurative) &/or on an outer (literal) level. Moreover, such people tend to view anything different as suspicious, without validity or a thing to be feared. It sounds as if this woman is projecting her own fears & prejudices of unpleasant personal experiences. That speaks more of her own issues rather than anything actually related to the metaphysical nor to ye. After all, ye only have her word that she was a former "psychic" which has no relevance as we are all psychic albeit in varying ways. Some religious sects practice "bearing witness". This means they are taught to literally go out to share their religion with whomever they are able to engage in conversation. The ultimate goal to gain converts to their beliefs or way of life. A true spirituality has no need to seek to sway others to like thinking nor to gain converts by encouraging fear or other negatives as its substance does not rely on "popularity" nor the number of its "members" which is influenced more by the socio-economic reasons rather than of spirituality. Any belief or way of life that preaches separatism or its dogma to be better than another is not only non-accepting of the fellowman but assumes a right to control the thinking & the lives of others. Each of us is an individual with a unique body of experience & understanding. How one perceives is based on those qualities which may evolve over time & as one progresses through life through the experiences on all levels. Thus, what resonates for one may not for another but does not mean either is wrong in the beliefs or pursuits. What it does mean is that each has free will to develop at one's own pace; to seek to make his own determinations as to the pursuits & their expresson as befits the life. Anyone who seeks to disempower another is suspect.

miss_apples	27 May 2004
I personally think for every negative story or experience someone tells you about tarot, psychic awareness, or magick, there are 3 GOOD stories and experiences about them. I mean what about all the psychics that help police find missing people? Is that evil? Or people who gives their friend who is very worried a reading and it helps to calm them and ease their fear so that they can move forward and work on the situation better...is that evil? What about all the spiritual healers who use psychic awareness to help cure people of all kinds of ailments from mental to physical...is that evil? take a piece of paper and write down all the good things that you can think of that come out of tarot and psychic awareness and then make a list of bad. See which outweighs the other.

Star Spirit	27 May 2004
MAR, don't listen to things like that. The tarot is just cards, and any 'bad experiences' that occur during use I'm assuming she meant have to do with dark forces/spirits etc. which are totally unrelated to the cards. The only bad thing that can come from tarot is a bad reading, and even then it's at least still helpful. Don't worry about it. If these voices and spirits you are hearing and seeing do not frighten you, they can surely only be good and do you no harm; and besides, they have nothing to do with your cards. You know better than this stranger does because remember, you're the reader, not her, and this is your life.

Sillanza	28 May 2004
Mar, everyone here is giving you really good feedback, and has probably had at least one experience similar to yours (I know I have). One other thing, there's no doubt in my mind that the woman you met is not now, nor was ever an actual psychic. Did she ever mention that she could make the "evil" voices go away for a small fee? If she didn't, I'm surprised.

Lady Mary	28 May 2004
Hi MAR, when I read your thread my first thought about this woman's contribution to your doing a reading was: What bull****! I can understand that you were upset about what she said, but it's nevertheless rubbish and my best advise is to just forget it. I doubt she was or is a psychic; she seems to be more like a woman who wants to make herself important. All the best, L.M.

Alissa	28 May 2004
All too often, people ridicule or castigize what they don't understand. Be true to the answers in your heart. Your soul knows the right answers far better than that woman does, and that's the truth.

MAR	28 May 2004
guys: Thank you so much for giving me the support I needed it. I've read your replies as 3 or 4 times, each of you; I knew I wasn't going to be dissapointed with your words, your words were full of insight for me. This was really helpful for me, That's why I asked for you help. I'm not a weak person, I'm strong woman, I reacted the way I told you, is cause it was a first time for me to having such experience like this. I know, If I have another experience again like this one, is not going to affect me, I will be prepared for that. I've been thinking and I want to continue my journey to the tarot, cause I really loves it up to date. I asked to god to guide me, what to do, if this is for me, I'll continue and if not, I'll take it away. All of you are completely right in what you said, in the way this woman talked to me about tarot plus psychic, is as this is evil forces for her. Yesterday, I was in the pool with my family and she got there again with her husband to the jacuzzi, and I tried and hided from her and she didn't see me, but as I suppose I'm not going to be hiding from her all the time; if I see her near the pool, next time, if she sees me and salute me and start such conversation, I'm not going to let her to talk about the theme again. Well, I'm forgetting it such of bad thing, I feel much better:):) don't you see my faces!. and you got a lot to do with it. THANNNNK YOOOOU! I love you guys,

Dark Inquisitor	28 May 2004
You sound so much better MAR !! Good for you!! Maybe when you see this woman again, you can put up a mirror shield so she will not be attracted to talking to you again. You might enjoy a study of angels to help protect you and your tarot journey.

Flavio	28 May 2004
Glad to read you are feeling better, do not let other people prejudices about Tarot or other matters let you down. Maybe this is an unexpected chance for you to change that woman's ideas about Tarot, now she has helped you grow stronger and hopefully the next negative comment about Tarot you hear will not cause you trouble. Best Regards

September Pixie	28 May 2004
First of all, there is plenty of divination, prophesy, and fortune-telling in the Bible, for instance Joseph, son of Jacob foretells the future by interpreting dreams in Genesis 37:1-45:28, and a man called Balaam utters five oracles in the name of God in Numbers 23:1-24:25. And of course we have the book of Revelations at the end of the Bible, which itself is pure prophesy.. Tarot & Divination is what you make of it.. if its something you feel strongly about, makes you feel good, gives you sound advice, and you don't abuse the information it gives... you shouldn't stop.. but if it makes you feel scared, nervous, upset, or any negative feelings, you should stop right away... I have to question anyone who says "I just gave up my psychic abilities" those things can be ignored but never just given up, once they are there - they are there to stay.. I doubt anyone with any realistic psychic abilities (Sylvia Brown lets say) would ever say "I hear voices and its Satan taking away my energy".. Do you honestly think Satan has nothing better to do than play pranks on this lady? Sure, it may be an evil force praying on her, but tarot didn't bring that on... tarot is a package of cardboard cards.. nothing evil about them.. For most Christians its very hard to convince them that tarot isn't evil.. and sadly, its all gross mis-interpertations of what tarot really is. I would say, study if it appeals to you, or walk away if you just don't feel good about it.. but don't base your decisions about it on what someone else says you should or shouldn't.

Nevada	28 May 2004
MAR, This was nothing more than a fear-based proselytizing tactic, and I'm sure it made you feel just awful, something like being forced to swim through molasses. That was the yucky energy that Cerulean Mari mentioned. (You made me laugh, Mari, but what you said was so seriously true!) You might want to somehow cleanse yourself of this encounter. If tarot does indeed conflict with your personal beliefs it's one thing, but I get the feeling that what she inflicted on you was her fear, not yours. She was older, I presume, and came off as a mothering, helping sort of person who "knew better" and wanted to rescue you before you ruined your life? What hogwash. Please don't take her seriously. Do your homework, keep learning, and take yourself seriously. Ground and center. Personally, I would have to take a long bath, after that, with some nice candlelight, herbs or oils, and chanting. Or maybe a double-fudge hot chocolate sundae. Maybe both! Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling better now. Hugs, Nevada

MAR	28 May 2004
yes, I really do love tarot and I'm sure I want to still learning from it. I don't feel scared, evil, any negativity etc. when I use it. if I had felt it that ways, never had used it. up to date, I'm sure of it. yes, Nevada, this was a mature woman which she could be my mother. that's happend, but I'm keeping going and I don't want to stop because such experience. if one day I decide to quit to Tarot, then I'll do it because of me(if I want), not because the way of thinking from others people, like this woman. don't you think?:)

Alissa	29 May 2004
If you should encounter her again, which you likely will, be friendly, the same as you might any one else. But if the subject is raised (by her) ever again, I'd politely decline discussing it, at all, with her. You don't owe her an explanation as to why (or *any* explanations, really). You may wish to say something like, "It's a very personal subject, I'd rather not discuss it any more." Take a lesson from Bartleby the Scrivener (a character from literature)... "I would prefer not to..." is a *very* powerful phrase, and one that most people will NEVER counter attack.

Nevada	29 May 2004
Alissa is right. The best counter to this kind of thing is a polite negative response. Don't cave, but don't start a war either. :) Nevada

kryztyna	29 May 2004
Hello MAR, Next time you run into her look her in the eye and smile...her own fear will be her downfall....ignorance, in this instance - hers -allows all sorts of fears to germinate in a fertile imagination! :) Blessings to you.

MAR	29 May 2004
:D:D:D:D

The Please people HELP! thread was originally posted on 26 May 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.