the final lesson

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Aug 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

cartarum	13 Aug 2004
no matter who i talk to, every one i meet that reads the cards for a certain amount of time has one thing in common; arrogance. vanity is the final obstacle. i dont mean that every card reader is arrogant, but i cant find another word at this time. they say power corrupts. to a point, i think its true. after all, tarot would have us remove all our failings in order to succeed. and vanity is the failing that lingers after all else is removed. one could be wise, smart, powerfull, and rich. but the one thing that takes us every time is vanity. it is like vanity to have power and to want to show it to others, we all want glory to some degree. we all have wanted to show off a little. and if you are proud that you havent, you are still vain. not that its all bad, vanity has its own purpose, in combination with fear to want something better for ourselves. but on a spiritual level, there must be no vanity, because there is no "one" has anybody else

Alta	13 Aug 2004
I must admit I am surprised that you have found that. I have found that the cards make people humble and in awe.

Dark Inquisitor	13 Aug 2004
Maybe you are talking to the wrong people? I have met some lovely people connected to tarot and only a few big ego bastards. They tend to be really outstanding ones though. })

Ruby7	13 Aug 2004
I have to agree with Marion, I think that most people who truly "discover" tarot are made humble by the experience. Do you maybe mean insecurites that we have instead of vanity? I'm trying to understand what you are saying. We are human which means we all have strengths and weaknesses, none of us are perfect and we all battle with our egos. I don't think that we could ever rid ourselves of vanity it is part of human nature and not necessarily a bad thing, Ruby7

dadsnook2000	13 Aug 2004
Arrogance is a phase for some. It can be exhilerating to read cards and really "wow" someone. When I first got serious about astrology it was a real "rush" to just casually read a chart and watch someone's eyes go round with astonishment. But, after awhile, it got tiresome telling people everything that they should already know about themselves. Some who ask for help or guidance want to "know" but do not wish to "learn" or make a deep effort to improve themselves in some way. If I had mostly these type of clients who wanted to put their life in my hands I'd probably be arrogant. Thats why I stopped doing chart readings long ago for others. In my experience, most astrologers and tarot readers that that I have met are indeed very "real" people, highly sensitive to others and always willing to help. It's just tough to help those who won't help themselves. Dave.

Cerulean	13 Aug 2004
and I'll look out for this in myself. Sometimes I think we come across too seriously when we talk cards---our passionate delight might seem so validating to us, it maybe come across as so...well, too strong to others. And sigh, I've been reflecting on my sad seriousness to I-Ching...too much of my grandmothers...thanks for your insight. Best wishes, Cerulean Mari

Logiatrix	13 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by cartarum ...i dont mean that every card reader is arrogant, but i cant find another word at this time... Hi, cartarum... Perhaps the word you are thinking of is hubris, which more specifically defines one stage in the journey or evolution of the hero; in Greek or Roman myth, hubris is a tragic flaw of the hero, and it is his downfall. It is a very human and natural aspect of our evolution, I think, to be gifted with "god-like" powers, only to then challenge the very gods who bestowed that power. In my personal experience with other card readers, the motivation behind adopting the divinatory arts often seems determine their overall demeanor. I have met those who seek an image through tarot, to cloak themselves in something they believe to be esoteric and occult, to the extent that it is only accessible to the chosen few--according to them. They are self-defeating like the tragic hero, because they are too cloaked in their own mystical secrets to willingly share with the eager beginner, and they are instantly transparent to more the advanced practitioner. One of the first readers I met in Real Life was such an individual; however, I was so excited to meet someone in my midst after spending more than a year on the Internet, I did not initially sense his disdain for my ignorance (he was much more advanced than me). Perhaps, as Mari mentioned, my enthusiasm was too "over-the-top" for his taste. On seeing him in passing one day, I happily announced that I had found a new book on tarot. "Great," he mumbled sarcastically, as he puffed on his cigarette. "I think it's still too advanced for me now, though," I said, almost apologetically. As he smashed his cigarette out, he took a deep, overly-tolerating breath. Then he shrugged, "Heh, well, tarot isn't for everyone. You either have it, or you don't." Somehow, at all of two-inches-tall, I was able to crawl away with my tail between my legs. Fortunately, my family and friends did not let his words discourage me; in fact, they urged me to prove him wrong. It was the best thing about tarot anyone ever said to me, actually, because it was then that I adopted the belief that tarot is for everyone. His attitude influenced me to always consider myself a beginner, to always have more questions than answers, and to embrace other beginners with enthusiasm and encouragement. Two years later, I met his teacher, who was one of my first paying clients; this, to me, was kind of a gentle redemption. I don't assume that the experience saved me from hubris, however; being human means the spectre of a fall is always near. It is the other cartomancers I learn from here on AT that remind me that there is no room or need for arrogance; just by the sharing their joy, knowledge, and experiences, they teach me to maintain a beginner's mind. With humility and awe, my teachers are drawn to the power and vastness of tarot; their motivation is derived from the search for something bigger than themselves. :) PEACE, Tauni

Fulgour	14 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by cartarum i dont mean that every card reader is arrogant, but i cant find another word at this time. Your message is clear, but perhaps in a too personal way. I knew a girl from Saskatchewan once, but Alberta isn't too familiar. Are you talking about people you meet at the stores, the metaphysical nooks that carry so many oddities, and want to sell them too (which seems natural enough), or is it groups, like in a spiritual society or club... I don't think you're talking about your friends there, and you are among friends here, varied as we may be. And really, I've always found that some vanity is healthy. People always say Hemingway was an arrogant bastard, but I mostly like his work. When The Sun Also Rises first came out the title was Fiesta. He changed it, after a friend told him it reminded her of the following verses: Ecclesiates (or, The Preacher) Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? - - - Anyway, that's just my way of saying, man to man, there's plenty of good to be found, but oh, some days...

cartarum	14 Aug 2004
not all card readers or occultists are arrogant, true. maybe i just hang out with the wrong people. or maybe i have just read too much into the writing of some authors. ~A~

Ruby7	14 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by cartarum not all card readers or occultists are arrogant, true. maybe i just hang out with the wrong people. or maybe i have just read too much into the writing of some authors. ~A~ Now that you mention authors, I have definitely come across something arrogant in a tarot book---problem is I can't remember who right now----but I know I have seen this and been quite put off by it. Ruby7

Nevada	14 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by cartarum no matter who i talk to, every one i meet that reads the cards for a certain amount of time has one thing in common; arrogance. I hope what you're seeing is simply a phase that some of us go through in the course of becoming "good" at something (anything). I also hope that most of us eventually move beyond this. There are some personalities that have more "gloat" to them than others, and sometimes it's purely unconscious. But I sometimes associate this tendency with a kind of immaturity. Not in years, not in ability, but in a sensitivity and humility about how they convey themselves to others. I'm probably making no sense at all. :P Nevada

The the final lesson thread was originally posted on 13 Aug 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.