Who got freaked out about your 'hobby' ?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Jan 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

tarotbear	17 Jan 2005
We like to believe that here at the beginning of the twenty-first century that we are all enlightened beings - NOT! So, what kinds of negative reactions have you gotten about your interest in tarot cards? What did you say in reply? *** You have to realize that I am your average middle-aged white working-class male and no one ever seems to get concerned or upset that I am gay. However, let them find out I read tarot cards and - ohmygoddess! I had a co-worker tell me she could not send me emails because she 'could not type the word tarot' (part of my email address) on her computer. {She's one of those born-again types ...} When people find out you have published a book, they naturally ask you what the book is about. When I reply - 'How to read tarot cards' - I often get blank stares - what were you expecting - a math textbook or something - from the man who wore a blue kilt with stars and moons on it to his company Christmas Party ???

RedMaple	17 Jan 2005
Sounds like a great party -- or a great party outfit in any case. LOL My brother, who is a conservative Catholic, was appalled when my sister gave her daughters tarot cards one Christmas, and then I did a couple of readings with them. I had no idea he was upset until years later, after my mother died, when he informed me that I had made my mother cry, and disrespected his religion. (My memory is that my mother joined in with us, and everyone was having a good time. If my mother cried, it's probably because she innocently mentioned it to her sister who would have told her it was a sin.) My brother thinks the tarot is from the devil. I think his religion is an addiction -- he went right from drugs to Jesus. Other than that, I have a couple of colleagues who are afraid that if I'm public about my interest in tarot cards it will ruin my reputation as a serious scholar (which I'm not really, anyway) or poet (I don't see the conflict.) :) So I figure I'll just write some poems based on tarot cards, and that'll fix that! LOL I have one friend who makes faces at me and teases me about tarot as if I think I'm a "fortuneteller guru" or something, which is her misunderstanding. My husband was at first very curious as to why someone "as intelligent" as I would do tarot cards. Again, he had the idea of it being some kind of instant predictor of the future. When I talked about it in terms of the images, of it being mytho-poetic, and like reading literature or poetry, like a synchronistic mirror, he stopped bugging me about it.

September Pixie	17 Jan 2005
My grandmother -- let me say, she raised me... shocking as this may be.. doesn't know I *still* read tarot.. she found out when I was 16.. because I was a minor she took her roll as guardian and threw everything she could find away. not to mention countless of church services, prayer groups, and talking to's later she thinks I am 'reformed'... she moved in with me a couple years ago.. out of respect I 'hide' my tarot from her.. but she understands my room is MY room and when I want to be 'alone' I lock my doors.. now, I don't think she is completely in the dark.. when I read for ppl I read at my kitchen table.. BUT I do ask when ppl ship tarot to ship without the word on the box -- out of trouble for myself and for her.. I also had a roommate a while back who was wiccan when she moved in and a reborn christian when she left.. she took my tarot and freshly cashed paycheck with her when she moved out.. nice girl... but after that -- I learned.. its safer for me NOT to share tarot with everyone!

firemaiden	17 Jan 2005
That's funny about the guy who wore a kilt, Tarotbear. My father wears a kilt all the time, although he doesn't have a blue one with stars and moons on it. Pretty much anyone in my family will flip out when I bring up tarot. they'll see it as a collosal waste of time, and an "insult to my intelligence." They connect it with superstition and spiritism, and whatever else. Its okay, for me its more fun if its secret.

Ruby7	17 Jan 2005
Tarotbear, your kilt sounds lovely! I don't share my tarot "hobby" with a lot of people. I'm still not sure whether my mother would freak out or not. I've been gradually preparing her for a couple of years now. She is a very religious Scottish Protestant Christian. She likes angels so I bought her a deck of Angel Meditation cards. I couldn't buy her Healing with the Angels because of the word oracle. She expressed delight when she opened the gift and the cards are always with her Bible and Daily Affirmation book. I have a deck of cards for creative ideas--"Creative whack pack" and if I need to look at something in a different way I pull a card from this deck and have found it quite useful. I was telling my mother about a decision I had made and when she asked how I had made the decision, I told her I had pulled a card from the Creative whack Pack. She smiled knowlingly and said that the Lord works in mysterious ways and felt that God was with me. I wonder if she would feel the same about tarot if I could explain it to her. I just don't know if she will listen and understand and I don't want to have to go through the freak out if she doesn't.

September Pixie	17 Jan 2005
firemaiden wrote: Pretty much anyone in my family will flip out when I bring up tarot. they'll see it as a collosal waste of time, and an "insult to my intelligence." They connect it with superstition and spiritism, and whatever else. Its okay, for me its more fun if its secret. Couldn't have said it better myself :) (Except I have cousins who share the love of tarot with me)

tarotbear	18 Jan 2005
My mother - whom I quote once or twice in my book - learned a long time ago that 'John will do whatever he wants to do no matter what you tell him.' My family was never freaked out about it, but my parents were surprised that I was able to get a book about it published, and just this week my mother told me how delighted she was that my first editon has almost sold out- however- in her voice was that tone that she must be saying to herself that she never thought it would happen because she only thinks 3 or 4 people in the entire world actually read cards ... **** Another coworker once told me that when she went thorugh her 'born again' phase she burned her daughter's tarot deck - and what freaked her out was that although the cards burned the images were still clearly seen! When I was reading cards at the Christmas party in my celestial kilt - she was one of the people who did not want her cards read. {PS - I call it my 'Clan of the Golden Moons kilt!} PPS - all my kilt pix are too big to post - will have to reduce one first

Scion	18 Jan 2005
... kilt pix...kilt pix...kilt pix...kilt pix...kilt pix...kilt pix... }) Well, I was raised by a wacky, tacky, Texan, Lebanese Amazon with distinct Auntie Mame qualities. My whole family LOVES Tarot and is always pestering me to read for them. And I've given almost every member of my family a deck at one time or another; a lot of the decks I buy wind up in their hands eventually. My friends run the gamut from embracing to sceptical. The only person who's ever actually been full-on freaked around my cards is my boyfriend. He was raised born-again in Nebraska and though he'd come a LONG way from those roots, the unmitigated evils of Tarot had been branded into his young frontal lobe by a lot of angry Christians. Interestingly, when we met he already had a massive collection of pagan, wiccan, and magickal texts. He'd always been curious about the occult, but only AFTER he'd gotten out into the world had he been able to explore. He's a forensic investigator and devours whatever subject he's curious about. Still, Tarot still weirded him out instinctively. It was so ingrained into him, that the cards actually made him physically uncomfortable. Early on, when he saw me pull out a deck, he'd have to leave the room and avert his eyes when folks would ask for a reading. That knee-jerk reaction about Tarot cards has taken him a while to shake. He's pretty much over it now, although he still won't let me read for him. But he was there with my whole family for the 6 hour reading marathon on Thanksgiving, and was only bemused by it, and amazed at how much people connected and how much genuine knowledge arose. The experience definitely opened his eyes to the power of Tarot, both spiritually and emotionally; he continued to refer to it for weeks. So, for Christmas, I gave him not one but decks that he'd shown interest in... and he's starting to look at them some. One of these days... And so, too, does the acorn becomes a mighty oak, one leaf at a time. Scion

Dark Inquisitor	18 Jan 2005
RedMaple wrote: My brother thinks the tarot is from the devil. I think his religion is an addiction -- he went right from drugs to Jesus. Hmm- I have been calling my family of origin "Cathoholics" for years !! I wonder how we can transfer all this condescencion and hysteria to something I DON"T LIKE- .. like football and other boring sports that take up way too much tv space? When people enthuse over the big game, could we wonder aloud how any intelligent person could become involved with such a thing? Clearly , the way it takes away the free will and mesmerizes the poor sports addict, it can be nothing but the devil . This Clan of the Golden Moons sounds fascinating and slightly exclusive.

cSpaceDiva	18 Jan 2005
Dark Inquisitor wrote: Hmm- I have been calling my family of origin "Cathoholics" for years !! Whenever someone asks about religion, my friend says she is a Recovering Catholic. :laugh: When I got my first deck one of my roommates asked some questions about it and then said she didn't want me to read for her. No problem. The only negative reaction I have had was from a very opinionated co-worker who said tarot cards are bad and then left it at that. The most common responses range from mild interest to indifference. My family just thinks I have too many decks, and they're probably right.

WolfSpirit	18 Jan 2005
My family does not really know how much I am into tarot yet, I don't live with my family and it is normally me visiting them instead of the other way around, because they all live close to each other and have much bigger houses than I do. So I haven't properly "confronted" them yet ;) but I will start low key and talk about the artwork and the use for meditation first. In fact, I was more shocked when a so-called friend completely freaked out over a book I was reading, I think it was Druid Magic. She went on about how dangerous magic is - I told her the book is more about culture than spellwork, that I read about it but do hardly ever use it, and that it is very much a matter of how you call it, but she would not have any of it and would not even let me properly explain and told she would not have anything to do with people who read that stuff, because "even when reading about it you may call all kind of energies to you". So I am not even allowed to read what I want anymore ?! I was so shocked because she always complains about how where she lives there are so many narrow-minded Christian people ! She must be very frightened of something but not something I can remedy if she won't even listen...

Fulgour	18 Jan 2005
When it became frostily clear that my parents did not want to hear about my Tarot cards (and I did attempt to relate it to a hobby thing, and foolishly compared it to their Bridge playing addiction) my harmonious heart bid me leave it be. So, I made my Dad a set of Futhark Runes for Father's Day.

Kiama	18 Jan 2005
To be honest, nearly everbody who I have shared my hobby (well, it's a bit more than a hobby for me now I guess) has been right-as-rain with it. There is one-and-a-half exceptions... The One exception was a teacher at Sixth Form, who upon discovering me reading during lunchtime for a friend, told me we don't want anything 'like that' in a 'Christian school' (regardless of the fact that the school was secular.) He left it at that though when I told him, in very nice words of course, to bugger off. :D }) The half-negative reaction is from my Mum. She's not really anti-Tarot, and she's always had a rule in our house that we can do whatever we like, and believe whatever we like, as long as we don't push it on other people. So she has said, very plainly, that "Kim, you can read Tarot all you like, you can buy as many decks as you like, but you will never, I repeat never give me a reading, and I will never ask you for one." Fair enough really. She's not Christian or superstitious... She just doesn't want to know her future. Fine by me. I simply told her I wasn't intending to read for her unless she asked - I'm not one to push Tarot unless I'm asked. :D Oh, and another half-negative response was my landlady. Less negative, more humourous... During holidays when she comes round, she often brings her 10 year old daughter. The daughter has a tendency to wander around the house, and she was happily chatting away to me one day as I sat on the computer. She then noticed the Robin Wood deck on my desk, and asked me what they were. "Cards", I said. What type of cards? she asked. "Tarot cards." Then her Mum came upstairs to take her home, and she told her I had Tarot cards. How do you play them? she asked me. Her Mum responded very quickly. "You don't. They're not for little girls, and they're very dangerous. You can get yourself into trouble with them." I didn't say anything because the landlady is a nice enough woman, and I could understand her concern as a Mother. I would never intend to correct her comments with her daughter in front of her. And I didn't feel inclined to tell her I had been using cards since I was a 'little girl' younger than her daughter. }) I just had a giggle about it with my housemates - every single one of which owns one or more Tarot decks. :D So generally, any negative reactions to Tarot I have had - and they have been few and very mild - I have responded to with humour, respect, or a simple devil-may-care attitude. If I was faced with a particularly virulent attack because of Tarot, rest assured I'd go in - all guns blazing - to defend what is definitely more than just a hobby for me. }) Blessings, Kiama

Imagemaker	18 Jan 2005
Quote: Her Mum responded very quickly. "You don't. They're not for little girls, and they're very dangerous. You can get yourself into trouble with them. I suspect this statement set up the landlady's daughter for intense interest and pursuit of tarot. What more fascinating setup could she have given her daughter?!

Myrrha	18 Jan 2005
I don't tell many people about my interest. The most negative reactions I've run into so far are from people who insist that tarot doesn't "work". They seem certain that the purpose of tarot is to predict the future and that people who read tarot always give a spiel of generalities that would apply to everyone. --Myrrha

Centaur	18 Jan 2005
I have had similar experiences to those already shared. I think that many people are quick to jump to conclusions and 'cast thee forth into a fiery pit'. I suppose it could be worse though... we could be divining with intestines rather than cards. I wonder what the reaction would be then. I am intrigued by this kilt Tarotbear. As a Scotsman, and the wearer of a kilt on a few occasions, I would be keen to learn of any more fashionable alternatives other than tartan. :D

WolfSpirit	18 Jan 2005
Centaur wrote: I suppose it could be worse though... we could be divining with intestines rather than cards. But then we would not have the problem of having to find a deck with a mint box ;) you see, it all has its advantages :D

Centaur	18 Jan 2005
WolfSpirit wrote: But then we would not have the problem of having to find a deck with a mint box ;) you see, it all has its advantages :D Good point WolfSpirit. Oh, I can only dream of the Bruegel in a pristine box. LOL. However, on the subject of intestines, the smell would be completely vile! :) I am sure that would give folks cause for complain!!!

Eco74	18 Jan 2005
My SO actually worried for a while that it might be a cult-thing... Not so surprisingly really since I did spend quite a bit getting decks and books, making little bags for them and treating the cards carefully, sometimes drifting off into my own little world while using them. I've managed to calm him down in that aspect though so no more worried looks. ;) Aside from that, it's been mild surprise and curiosity asking me to explain the whole thing in just a sentence or two (which I've never been able to do).

tarotbear	18 Jan 2005
Check out the article I wrote about men in kilts : www.bearhistory.com/ezine/spring04 Remember - this is a gay men's site so things might be slightly different from ezine content you are used to. I'm pictured along with Sean Connery ...

Waterdancer	18 Jan 2005
More people seem freaked out when they learn that I have been a practicing buddhist for 19 years than about my relatively new interest in tarot. I am always getting questions about how many statues of buddha I have (none, since I'm not that kind of buddhist). I think people are surprised since I am a lawyer and a very pragmatic person. I think they believe all western buddhists, and tarot card readers for that matter, are drugged out new age hippy freaks. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I was just born a few years too late.

tmgrl2	18 Jan 2005
Mixed reactions, tarotbear... I have been telling people I have worked with in my professional career that I read Tarot (I just retired). Some think I'm joking... Others have come to me for readings and want to return... Some ask a lot of questions. Some say they are afraid of what they will hear. Some say...I was raised a Catholic...then I tell them I was, too. My husband who accepted a reading from me last year, said at lunch today, "Well I guess it's a female/woman thing...this Tarot business." Oops wrong thing to say... This from a guy who sees and hears dead people~ My stepchildren and grandchildren have been very supportive. One granddaughter and one stepdaughter asked for and received readings from me... I really don't care what people think. I am returning to my intuitive "roots" and intend to move down this path to my own liking and read for people who come to me for a reading. Word of mouth is bringing more to my doorstep than I really wanted or anticipated, so I am setting some boundaries since I didn't want to WORK when I retired. So ...I recently turned down doing a party for 7 young women since I felt I was going to be the "party favor" or the "entertainment." Maybe a daytime group of women...coffeeklatch style...but not Saturday night, let's drink and get the party going type of reading set-up...it just isn't me.... So we find our way...but I don't hide it. I tell any who ask me what my plans are for retirement activities, that I read Tarot....from this I have had some ask immediately for appointments. I also find it a good tool for guidance for myself...AND I go to another Tarot reader for my own readings...maybe twice yearly I will go, now that I am reading. Yes...kilt pix!! Can't wait to get your book...it's in the mail! terri

Dark Inquisitor	18 Jan 2005
WolfSpirit wrote: So I haven't properly "confronted" them yet ;) but I will start low key and talk about the artwork and the use for meditation first. My plan, IF I ever became a phone reader and the family got nosy , was going to be to lie and say I worked for one of those phone sex lines . And after they exploded with outrage and totally vented themselves with shock and horror, then I would say I was really just reading cards , and isn't it great ?? Fulgour, how did Dad like the runes?

Red Emma	18 Jan 2005
Centaur wrote: '. I suppose it could be worse though... we could be divining with intestines rather than cards. I wonder what the reaction would be then. :D It might depend on whose intestines they were.

Red Emma	18 Jan 2005
Mostly my family is supportive. At least my sons and grandkids are. When, about ten years ago I bought a tarot deck, my husband was mildly amused, a bit patronizing. Whenever I read for the grandkids or anyone else, he was always hiding behind newspaper. Apparently not paying any attention. Then, about a year ago a non-profit organization on whose board he served, began having really severe financial problems. One day as he was about to leave for a meeting at which they were to decide whether to fire the executive director, he said, "What does the tarot say?" Right after I picked myself up off the floor, I read for him. It turned out the guy wasn't fired that day, but much later. Which is pretty much what the tarot said. Where's my husband now? Behind his newspaper again.

TemperanceAngel	18 Jan 2005
When I bought my first deck as a teenager I lived with my boyfriend who had been raised as a Catholic and went to a very strict Catholic Boys School...he said the cards were Devil's cards and I was a Devil's child and it freaked him out so much when I got them out that I could only play with them when he wasn't there.... Catholic thought has changed somewhat these days, as my step children are 10 and 13 and go to catholic Schools. We have pretty much reached an equlibrium that the cards are not in fact evil, they just belong to a different philosophy and that some of it can be very similar to Catholic at times. Well, it can for us and it's nice to have the comparison so it does not make them so scary....

Emerald	18 Jan 2005
tmgrl2, enjoy your retirement. I have always said that reading tarot is my retirement plan. I have a while to go yet. My sister freaked when she saw my four year old looking at a deck of tarot cards. I was explaining the pictures to her. As much as you could to a four year old. I figure if she ever wants to read she will have most of the info already and if she doesn't she can just forget it. It seems even in the 21st century ignorance and fear still rule. It is sad because I feel I have grown so much as a person since I began to study tarot. I work with young children so I keep my love of tarot within the family as I am afraid that some of that ignorance may try to stop me from doing my job.

tmgrl2	18 Jan 2005
Thanks, Emerald...love retirement already! Red Emma, what a great story....so typical of what my husband did as well! TA, I don't even stop to think about telling my Catholic friends that I read Tarot. I do think things have changed. Tony and I each got annulments in the Catholic Church (and he had 5 children!) and then got married in the Church.... These are wonderful stories... terri

Solty Dog	18 Jan 2005
Everyone I have told doesn't seem to care that I read. I only ever had one exception. I have to set this up properly. A very good freind of mine, that knows I am pagan, and knows that I shop at the local "craft" store, got all beside him self when I showed him my Lord of the Rings tarot. The only reason I was showing it to him is because he collects everything LOTR. I mean the guy has a lifesize cutouts of Gandalf, Golum and Legolas. I was hoping that I could buy it for him as a gift. I brought the deck out and showed it to him with the game aspect in mind. He saw the word tarot and recoiled like I hit him with a tazer. He later told me that he had a bad experience with an ouija board and doesnt trust anything that talks to the dead. B.S. Dog

Logiatrix	18 Jan 2005
Hey, tarotbear--nice knees! Emerald wrote: It seems even in the 21st century ignorance and fear still rule. It is sad because I feel I have grown so much as a person since I began to study tarot. Yes, it is very sad...for those who see so narrowly, but not for me. I am glad to have opened up to that study and practice of tarot, and all that springs forth from it. My view had to change, though, so I still see hope for those yet to be "saved" and converted to the Great Goddess Arcana. I had a specific view of tarot many years ago, along the lines of thinking it was only 'fortunetelling'. I was curious, and fortunately free of any moralistic view, so I was able to take the Fool's Journey. So, I kind of know what other (non-tarot) people might think of tarot, at least a little bit. Therefore, I have very pointedly chosen to not offend those who do not share my enthusiasm about the divinatory arts. However... Pardon me for being so naive, but I don't understand those who go out of their way to push their views--even ATTACK--those of us who embrace the cards. I don't push my cards on others, or try to convince anyone that tarot cards are okay, they are not evil, etc. So, why would a non-tarot person go out of his/her way to UN-tarot somebody? I lost only one friend, several years ago, who suddenly became ultra-religious when she noticed my growing interest in tarot. She tried to convince me that 'such dabbling is the work of the devil' or something like that. It was ultimately her choice to end the friendship, and I am proud to say that I never argued with her, and only ever conveyed that I respected her opinion. She, however, continually denigrated my new interest and repeatedly expressed vehement contempt--claiming that she had the Bible to back her up. I still don't understand how my actions or interest in such a benign study could trigger such behavior, especially when that view is supposedly founded in an all-forgiving Divine entity. To me, such an approach is an act purely on the offensive, and certainly won't sell me on any supposedly "love thy neighbor" kind of belief system. Hey, it's post 1,333...woo-hoo! (I like three's)...

Dark Inquisitor	18 Jan 2005
Logiatrix wrote: I don't push my cards on others, or try to convince anyone that tarot cards are okay, they are not evil, etc. So, why would a non-tarot person go out of his/her way to UN-tarot somebody? In my tiny opinion, it is, pure and simple, CULT behavior.

MeeWah	18 Jan 2005
That my birth family is freaked out about my Tarot practice boggles my mind--namely, my mother & siblings despite the shared history, the experiences of the divinatory & the supernal. The family originally Buddhist though now includes at least one agnostic, a couple of Catholics & a Wiccan. We kids grew up knowing that our mother consulted soothsayers/fortune-tellers in her native land. That both parents experienced accurate premonitions & discussed them. They also taught us that dreams can be of importance--we all experienced precognitive or warning dreams.

electric_tears	18 Jan 2005
LOL Gee just about everybody I know...Just to create the setting...I live in mid louisiana. A very religous part, deeply christian, deeply republican. When i walk into the bookstore and ask for help ordering tarot decks, i get strange looks. When I have talked about it I have gotton strange looks. My mother is set in her ways, including religon. She has strict views on spiritual matters, is closed minded to boot. I told her i wanted to open a bookstore that was a smorgasboard of all things estorical, and she said she wouldnt have anything to do with a "pagan" bookstore. Yet at the same time she occasionally will ask for a reading... My boyfriend thinks its a waste of time, I have a couple of friends who are more open minded but at the same time i think they are just more tolerant than others of my hobby. So, I kinda feel like Im just alienated on this one, but thats cool i guess.

tarotbear	19 Jan 2005
Do I really have nice knees? If you want to see tarotbear's knees or his celestial kilt, go to www.bearhistory.com/ezine/spring04 and read his article on 'Men in Kilts.'

Athara	19 Jan 2005
Isn't it strange that we should be wary of who we tell about our Tarot-interest? I always feel uncomfortable when telling someone, even if I'm pretty sure that the person is OK with it. I mentioned going to a Tarot-market when my Grandma was around once, and she totally freaked out. My mother doesn't know anything about it, and the rest of my family are Christians that'd probably freak out, too. Not that they'd reject me because of it, my family is the best, but they might try to talk me out of it. My b/f doesn't really mind. He doesn't believe in anything in particular, he's very grounded and sober. He isn't interested in me reading for him, but he respects and accepts my 'hobby'. My best friend is totally OK with it. In fact, I'm buying her her first deck pretty soon! Love and Light, Athara PS: Nice knees indeed, tarotbear!

Lady Mary	19 Jan 2005
I've never really had negative reactions about Tarot. Most people are fascinated when I tell them about my "hobby" and they want to see my decks or get a reading. Sometimes there are reactions like: Do you really believe in the cards? but that's as negative as it has gotten so far. Once in a Cafe a waitress told me that we should not play cards in there when I was doing a reading for my boyfriend. What was completely ridiculous and made me laugh as the Viennese coffeehouses have ALWAYS been most famous for staying there all day long and playing cards. I've the feeling there's a big difference between the US and Europe regarding Tarot. At least I've never come across someone who was so "conservative" that they would have problems with me having/reading Tarot cards or being concerned about Tarot.

tmgrl2	19 Jan 2005
MeeWah...After reading your thread...I said... Yup...that's how my family was/is too. Even though the Catholocism was fanatical...dreams, precognition, visits from spirits, old stories of spirit visits...all of this was discussed and accepted. Then, there were the "rituals" of heavy Catholocism...the novenas...so much ritual... Only my mom would have felt that Tarot and the Devil were the same...but I'm not even sure she knew what Tarot was. She died at 101, but I started with Tarot last year. She knew about my work with my psychic friend, though, and about the handwriting analysis...she never said anything about it. Lady Mary...I think you have a point....I wonder if there is a new interest in Tarot in the states of late...but for a long time I heard little or nothing. Twenty years ago, even the old psychic fair that has been around for a long time, was held on a very large scale...no so now... terri

tarotbear	19 Jan 2005
Just a side note for Lady Mary - I had a student who told me once that the waitress at a Denny's Restaurant gave them crap for pulling out a Tarot deck at the table, considering my student says they had done so 'many times' before. They went on about the First Amendment, public places, etc. In truth, a chain restaurant is NOT necessarily a public place; they are privately franchaised. Although the waitress was being Tarot-phobic, if the student had gone to management, they would have had no choice but to back up their employee. Owners of restaurants do have the authority to tell you what you can and cannot do in their establishments, including having you ejected if your tarot activities upset their staff or other customers.

Centaur	19 Jan 2005
Red Emma wrote: It might depend on whose intestines they were. Good point! Haha. Tarotbear wrote: I had a student who told me once that the waitress at a Denny's Restaurant gave them crap for pulling out a Tarot deck at the table, considering my student says they had done so 'many times' before. They went on about the First Amendment, public places, etc. I have heard of many people who have had bad experiences with cafe owners re. tarot on their premises. I can remember giving a reading to a friend in a cafe once and getting some weird looks from the owner. He kept slamming stuff, and making his dislike obvious. Oh well... least it weren't intestines I was divining with!

WolfSpirit	19 Jan 2005
See also the thread "Kicked out of a coffee shop" started by Teranar: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=16375

tarotbear	20 Jan 2005
wolfspirit - interesting thread! What makes it all funnier is that I carried out extended classes in the coffee shop of a Barnes & Noble. I had one class that was just terriffic and wanted to 'keep going' after the scheduled classes were over, so for 3 or 4 weeks we met weekly in a Barnes & Noble because the Borders across the street was too noisy! We bought coffee and sneckins and pulled out our decks and did readings for each other, making sure we did not monopolise the tables. No one ever bothered us.

Clau	20 Jan 2005
Tarotbear: you look GREAT in your kilt! :) I haven't had any negative reactions about tarot yet...not that I can't recall at least. I sarted being interested in esoterica when I was a teenager and living at home, at first dad thought I was a little crazy, but being known as "having a mind of my own" it kinda went "oh well, Who else but Clau would have a tarot deck?" and never commented anything about it. Mom and sis always liked it, and it was surprising for me since mom is a really down to earth person very very Capricorn, but then again I was always the "Special one" LOL! None of my friends have any problem with it at all, nor does my extended family (Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandfolks, etc) About dad: the other day we were at mom's birthday and my auntie Lala saw my tarot deck, so she asked for a reading, and then all the aunts wanted a reading too, so there I was reading for I don't know, maybe 5 aunts?(!) and my dad was kinda walking aroud watching me read, kinda over the newspaper (lol) after I finished all of them were talking about the readings and saying how much they liked it...I saw my dad with a spark of pride in his eyes.... Hubby doesn't mind at all, in fact he owns a Marseille deck, but never uses it, he got bored he had to study so much...so there is no fuzz at all when our Victoria (3 years old) wants to play with mommy's cards. So, I guess i'm lucky and always thankful tarot is welcome and appreciated by my loved ones. The others? I really don't care. :P Blessings, Clau

fluffy	20 Jan 2005
My next door neighbour is a member of the spiritualist church in our village. She and i have become good friends and she came by my house once & saw my cards on the table. She speaks to dead people, has psychic dreams, and listens to a medium every week at church, yet she told me that her church wouldn't "agree" with reading the tarot. When I asked her why she said that they thought it was a dangerous thing to do. Not that it was evil, but that there could be a danger to your soul, if it got invaded whilst doing a reading by bad energy. I told her that i used it for a meditation tool and for providing me with assistance not for asking down spirits to tell me my fortune, she seemed to understand, but I am not sure she was convinced. Love fluffy xx

Agathe	20 Jan 2005
Generally, everyone I ever told about my hobby was interested and amazed. There was, however, one person who said that she wished I hadn't told her about tarot and that I would have to talk to Jesus about it. Yep!!! Aha!!! She had become extremely religious and since then it has been very difficult to tell her anything :(. That is just this one case of anyone ever freaking out because of my hobby.

Dark Inquisitor	20 Jan 2005
fluffy wrote: She speaks to dead people, has psychic dreams, and listens to a medium every week at church, yet she told me that her church wouldn't "agree" with reading the tarot. When I asked her why she said that they thought it was a dangerous thing to do. This reminds me of the time I bought a plastic halloween pumpkin from a resale store and the lady checking me out gave me the fish eye and handed me an advertisement for her church and said I should come, blahblahblah . They were involved in talking in tongues, and I thought it was a bit ironic that all I was doing was buying a pumpkin, and there she was opening herself up to any and all kinds discarnate whatevers , and yet my soul was the one in peril.

bleuivy	20 Jan 2005
I've only really had one bad reaction to my interest in tarot. A few years ago, I was taking Writing Poetry 101, and chose to write a poem entitled The Fool's journey. And of course while I was writing it, I had my cards out to refer to, should I need inspiration. One of my best friends was working at the next desk over from me, and when I pulled out the tarot cards, she absolutely freaked. "How can you own those things? They are evil. Horrible. You'll go to hell. Put them away right now." She's a very conservative mormon, you see, and to mormons, tarot cards are dangerous and horrible things, I suppose. She almost couldn't stand to be in the same room as them. (I didn't point out to her that every time she came into my dorm room, she was in the presence of not one, but two dreaded tarot decks.) I think just out of respect for me, she decided to stay in the room, but only after we constructed a wall made out of binders so she couldn't see me working with the cards. It seemed sort of rediculous at the time, but I was willing to work with her because she was willing to work with me. She's mellowed out a bit since then - going to a very liberal women's college tends to do that to even the most conservative, I've noticed. A few years later I came out of the broom closet and told her I was a pagan. I thought she'd freak out again like she did with my tarot cards, but no. Instead, she was curious and asked questions ranging from "What exactly is a pagan?" to "What holidays do you celebrate?" and "You mean you DON'T go to church?" LOL Now, instead of being completely closeminded as she was when I first met her, she makes sure to wish me joy on every pagan holiday and sends me a Yule present once a year, instead of a Christmas present. She even does PR for pagans and wiccans to other mormons, explaining that we are nothing like the mormon steriotype makes us out to be. Of course, I still haven't told her I'm a lesbian. She's basically the only person who doesn't know, though I'm sure she must suspect. She's come so far in terms of being accepting of other cultures, that I'm sure she'll take it alright now, although she wouldn't have been a few years ago. I plan on telling her the next time I see her. It just seems like something I should do in person rather than over the phone. With any luck, she'll start doing PR to other mormons about how gay people aren't nearly the way the mormon church makes us out to be. That would be cool.

tarotbear	21 Jan 2005
Dark Inquisitor wrote: They were involved in talking in tongues, and I thought it was a bit ironic that all I was doing was buying a pumpkin, and there she was opening herself up to any and all kinds discarnate whatevers , and yet my soul was the one in peril. OH NO! Not buying the Dreaded Plastic Pumpkin! {rolls his eyes in mock horror} You'll be buying bags of candy corn next! LOL!!!!

bladeraven	22 Jan 2005
Lol..my boss

Stacie Doll	25 Jan 2005
my father says something negative everytime he see's my cards. he thinks i'm into tarot so i can scam people out of money. i've never even got payed for a reading! he say's it's for weak minded people, it's the devil & ect.

Clau	25 Jan 2005
Stacie Doll wrote: my father ..... he thinks i'm into tarot so i can scam people out of money... Really Stacie Doll? Your own father thinks you use tarot to scam people? way to go daddy! perplexed, Clau

Stacie Doll	25 Jan 2005
Clau wrote: Really Stacie Doll? Your own father thinks you use tarot to scam people? way to go daddy! perplexed, Clau i guess he would rather believe i was scamming people then to believe i'm the one getting scammed. he thinks it's either or if you're into tarot.

tinkerbell	25 Jan 2005
how appropriate that i should find this post today, literally 3 hours after being soooo insulted about the tarot by one of my best friends, sally.. this girl and i are both mums and got friendly about 3 yrs ago when i became a childminder and started caring for her son. having not known her previously, we became firm friends. so 2 and a half years down the line i rekindle my great fascination with tarot cards and decide to purchase a couple of decks and start my study of them in earnest. admittedly, i knew that 95% of my friends and family would find it all ridiculous so it took me a little while to confide in anybody at all. first, i told my 3 sisters, then my partner ( who respected my decision to get involved with whatever interested me, regardless of his opinion). eventually i told sally and to my surprise she was incredibly supportive and interested, despite the fact she admitted she was a bit sceptical.. after a few months, i decided to be brave and offer her a reading, (up until now i had only really read for myself, whilst journalling.) she seemed generally pleased and got involved with the cards,putting her own thoughts about which card represented who in her life and asking questions. i've read for her ever since then. she's been very off and on with her partner and i've been round for a bottle of wine to listen to her moan and get the cards out to see what insights they could give.( actually, the cards always indicated that they would stay together, even though i thought she was flogging a dead horse). she phoned on sunday night to tell me that he'd proposed on saturday and of course, i was delighted for her, as they have been getting along better. i mentioned that we should have another "girly" night soon and i could do a "wedding" spread for her. well blow me down if she didn't respond by saying that she and her partner had been laughing at the weekend about me and the cards. apparently her partner had said (pretending to be me)....." oh yes, you see this cup, well if you look inside you'll find a ring and this butterfly means......and basically we'd better get married because wendy's cards have told us to............." i can't tell you how upset i was . she so belittled my belief in the cards and has sat with her partner and openly ridiculed the way i read.( despite the fact she has always been quick to ask me to "bring the cards round...nick and i have finished again and there's a few things i want to know....." so, no more. i've made a conscious descision to never read for her again. actually, i feel like never speaking to her again at this minute but i know that will pass. why can't people see past that seaside fortune teller stereotype when you mention tarot cards.? what hurts the most is that for the last few months, i've told her so much about my progress and in reality she must have been completely disinterested, kind of, "oh, here she goes again......i'd better pretend i'm interested or i won't get any more readings done........" well anyway, now i've had my moan everyone and i feel a helluva lot better for it! great thread by the way!!!! love tink xx

Stacie Doll	25 Jan 2005
tinkerbell wrote: she seemed generally pleased and got involved with the cards,putting her own thoughts about which card represented who in her life and asking questions. maybe she was really interested but when she told her partner he thought it was rubbish. she could be so happy to get him back that she will do anything to make him feel better. either way it was terrible what she did...just my 2 cents...

April	25 Jan 2005
Stacie Doll wrote: maybe she was really interested but when she told her partner he thought it was rubbish. she could be so happy to get him back that she will do anything to make him feel better. either way it was terrible what she did...just my 2 cents... I'd put money on it! After reading this thread for days I kinda wish I had a "freaking out" story. Is that sad? I thought I would have one on New Year's but she (you don't know her) was surprisingly tolerant. Although I was told later that it wasn't so much tolerance as fear. I guess I get more fear than anything. My mother still hasn't let me read for her, but she did buy me a deck for Christmas so I'm pleased with her. She's fine with the fact that I read she just doesn't want to be around to see it. I'm not sure what that's all about. Peace, April

rainwolf	25 Jan 2005
I put tarot cards on my christmas list about 3 years ago when i started, not really knowing much about them but interested none the less. My born again aunt looked at the list and said "why do you want TAROT cards?" Then she had one of those arrogant attitudes until later she said (maybe this was another night...) "Tarot cards are EVIL!!" Well, i just dont bring it up anymore, except my other aunt, who is cool, whom i give readings to. I dont want to say she believes, since i think that means there is a doubt about it, but she has a faith and sincereness when consulting me for readings. So, i guess i fared out pretty well with only an aunt and uncle who started holding their rosary's in my face trying to keep me back....LOL

tarotbear	26 Jan 2005
dear tinkerbell, I really feel sorry for you, but you had better learn to develop a thick skin because the skeptics will always be there, even when you have your own show on televison and a line of beauty products with your picture on them. Remember, the cheaper the shot the worse it will hurt you. My suggestion is the next time she moans and pisses and says she needs a reading ... tell her the truth - that you don't read to be made fun of by ingrates, and find a good movie to go to -- without her!

bleuivy	26 Jan 2005
tarotbear wrote: My suggestion is the next time she moans and pisses and says she needs a reading ... tell her the truth - that you don't read to be made fun of by ingrates, and find a good movie to go to -- without her! I think that is an excellent suggestion. And tinkerbell, I'm sorry that happened to you, but you'll be a little older, wiser, and a little more jaded (unfortunately) for the next time something like this happens. I wouldn't say don't speak to her again, though. Don't read for her, deffinately, but she might come around and appologize if you let her know how hurt you were.

Athara	26 Jan 2005
Dear tinkerbell, I'm sorry to hear your story. It's hard enough to find someone to trust with your interest in Tarot, but when the trust ends up to be undeserved, it hurts double. Still, I agree with Stacie Doll, she probably just talked along with her husband because she didn't want him to think she was weird or anything. Did she tell you this when he was around? If you still feel uncomfortable around her, try bringing up the subject and ask how she really feels about it. Good luck! Athara

mac22	26 Jan 2005
tarotbear wrote: We like to believe that here at the beginning of the twenty-first century that we are all enlightened beings - NOT! So, what kinds of negative reactions have you gotten about your interest in tarot cards? What did you say in reply? *** You have to realize that I am your average middle-aged white working-class male and no one ever seems to get concerned or upset that I am gay. However, let them find out I read tarot cards and - ohmygoddess! I've gotten all kinds of reactions: I've been cursed at, shunned, spit on, condemned to perdition, I've lost friends, acquaintances & jobs -- I've been railed at by conservative Xtians. Because of such people & their reactions I've been asked to leave coffee houses, bookstores, cafes.

Red Emma	26 Jan 2005
mac22 wrote: I've gotten all kinds of reactions: I've been cursed at, shunned, spit on, condemned to perdition, I've lost friends, acquaintances & jobs -- I've been railed at by conservative Xtians. Because of such people & their reactions I've been asked to leave coffee houses, bookstores, cafes. I hope I'll not be in trouble again, but by any definition of Christian I was raised with -- a Northern Baptist of the American Baptist Convention -- such people are not Christian. What about "Judge not so ye be not judged?" or "Love thy neighbor as thyself," or "Love one another." I once heard Oprah Winfrey discuss this point on one of her shows. She said, "God is Love. If Love is not there, God is not there." It's hard to imagine love being present in such a hostile atmosphere. By the way I always understood that Californians were more liberal than many other states. What section of it do you live in? Such behaviour as you've received is unconsciounable anywhere.

mac22	26 Jan 2005
Red Emma wrote: I hope I'll not be in trouble again, but by any definition of Christian I was raised with -- a Northern Baptist of the American Baptist Convention -- such people are not Christian. What about "Judge not so ye be not judged?" or "Love thy neighbor as thyself," or "Love one another." I once heard Oprah Winfrey discuss this point on one of her shows. She said, "God is Love. If Love is not there, God is not there." It's hard to imagine love being present in such a hostile atmosphere. By the way I always understood that Californians were more liberal than many other states. What section of it do you live in? Such behaviour as you've received is unconsciounable anywhere. Unfortunately, these folks aren't Baptists but for the most part more radical, evangelical Christians who believe that ANY views but their own are "of Satan," evil and against THEIR God's plan. As for their view of love it seems to apply only to those like themselves. And while I agree such behaviors are unconscionable confronting them merely makes them more nuts. I live near Sacramento in a diverse polyglot culture of Mexican, Asian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Europeans, Russians, Jews --- It's only a tiny segment Christians that cause me 99% of the headaches.

nocturnaldreamr	27 Jan 2005
my mother got freaked out. it was when i was about 11 years old, i got my 1st deck. it was a mini rider-waite. perfect size for me. anyways, i hid it from her, and she eventually found it and burned it. shitty, shitty time.

bleuivy	27 Jan 2005
nocturnaldreamr wrote: my mother got freaked out. it was when i was about 11 years old, i got my 1st deck. it was a mini rider-waite. perfect size for me. anyways, i hid it from her, and she eventually found it and burned it. shitty, shitty time. Oh no! That's horrible. Is your mom still freaked out about tarot, or does she not know, or has she mellowed? I hope times are better now.

tarotbear	20 Jun 2005
"BUMP!" {bumping up this old thread} :)

mythos	21 Jun 2005
My son ... 30 years old. Rolls his eyes and says "Oh, not more of that weird stuff Mum?" He finds me an embarrassment ... so my evil and wicked side just has to embarrass him on every possible ocassion. I have agreed to dress as a respectable mother and even brush my hair for his wedding. He was relieved when I shaved off my dread-locks before I went to India back-packing, but horrified that I kept shaving my head. Now I have long hair again, he lives in fear of another bout of mother-dreads. He's such a dag ... very conservative ... and obviously in reaction to his eccentric parent. Sad really! mythos

autumn star	21 Jun 2005
To be honest, not many people know that I read tarot - but I can just imagine the reactions that I would get by my friends and family, I think that most of them would think that I had lost my mind. The thing is that if any of you met me, you would think that I was one of the least likely people to read tarot - but it was just kind of fate with me and tarot - I never went out of my way to learn and my deck was given to me. I am so sick of the stereotypes of tarot - it is so different from the perceptions that so many people have of it. I have learnt that if my friends are going to judge me or look down on me for reading tarot, then they are not my real friends. autumn :)

new2angels	21 Jun 2005
Not many people know that i read the tarot, but when they find out they are always shocked! I have a punk rock type image and they cant associate it with tarot reading. My friend found out that i read the tarot and asked me to read the cards for her, as long as it was in my house and not hers! She said she didn't want bad luck in her home! I couldn't believe it! My mum loves having a reading then turned round and said the reason she had been having bad luck lately was because my tarot cards were in her house as i always kept a pack over there. Then the next time i went round the tarot cards had mysteriously disappeared, with my mum denying all knowledge of where they had gone. There is still alot of negativity associated with tarot so now i don't really bother telling many people i read the tarot, it saves alot of negative looks, tut tuts and nasty comments. This is why i feel so at home on this web site i can be free and talk about tarot with other like minded people! Blessings to all, xxx.

PlatinumDove	21 Jun 2005
That kilt sounds awesome! To get to the subject however...everybody....or at least 99% of the people I tell, freak out. A little background info...I live in the Deep South, and although I also live in New Orleans, the influence is still there in my work. I work in a hospital's lab, where all my work is strictly intellectual, scientific. I see things in how much they have increased or decreased from the norm. So when people at work hear about my "hobby" as I refer to it, to lessen the blow...well...I'm now the freak of the lab. :D PD

tarotbear	21 Jun 2005
PlatinumDove~ This is how I went to the company Christmas party - with my tarot cards, of course! :smoker:

Ms K	21 Jun 2005
My husband, when I came out and told him that my friend had bought me cards, FREAKED OUT. He comes from an evangelical Christian background, and tarot cards have spirits attached, blah blah blah, the usual run of objections. I got HIGHLY offended. I told him that they were CARDS, for crissakes. They're CARDBOARD. With pretty PICTURES. INANIMATE OBJECTS. They can't do anything without YOUR intuition guiding them. They can't predict the future, they can only answer questions that you have the answer to within yourself. I told him that if he wanted to talk about opening himself up for stuff, he should worry about people who "speak in tongues" near him. And I also pointed out, rather acerbically, that his Dungeons and Dragons habit wasn't exactly something a "nice Christian boy" indulged in. He got really quiet after that. He said he didn't want to see them, know where they were, see me do a reading, or have me do a reading for him. I told him that was fine, but not to threaten me with getting rid of my tarot cards, or I'd burn his D&D books. There's been no more threats. I respect his wishes, and told him if he ever changed his mind, he'd have to ASK me for a reading. My parents, on the other hand, are intrigued, and thrilled. But then, my parents are pretty open-minded, and Daddy used to have tarot cards himself. And they used to read the I Ching. So, we'll see what happens. Hubby respects my parents and their opinions on things...so we'll see what happens.

PlatinumDove	21 Jun 2005
tarotbear wrote: PlatinumDove~ This is how I went to the company Christmas party - with my tarot cards, of course! :smoker: I love it!

Fairawen	21 Jun 2005
Most people already know about me and my parents struggle between tarot. I think it's great, my parents think it's evil. Literally said it was evil. Said all people affiliated are evil. (Or at least most, and when they found out that I was on AT they said you guys were all devil worshippers.... LOL) I have yet to meet a satanist on here, actually. lol! Everybody else ( other then one person, my older sister) around me hates tarot, and I have to live in utter fear of people finding out, lest I be even more of an outcast then I already am. :P My Dad burnt my first HOMEMADE deck, which took a looong time to make, and pretty much said they'd never let me on the internet again if I didn't give up tarot. I stopped bugging them about "It's not evil!!!" but I haven't given tarot. Duh. Ok, all done. Ms K, you're hubby sounds like my parents... lol tarotbear- Oh yeah! I love the pic of you at the party! LOL Love the skirt/kilt! ~Fairawen~

.::Cerridwen::.	22 Jun 2005
Luckily I have a very open minded family and friends network so it won't be too bad. I'm expecting that my mom will want readings via email or online chat... and my best friend has already volunteered for me to practice on. My husband kind of looked at me weird, but he's supporting now that I have told him how it bothers me to be made fun of or judged. I am just beginning to learn tarot, so I have yet to experience any negativity towards them... and I live in Portland Oregon, which is a pretty liberal city. =)

Lady Mary	22 Jun 2005
I live in Austria and here nobody would even use the word "evil" or the German "boese". Maybe you can hear it when a priest reads old texts; or when someone talks about Hitler. But: Tarot Cards - definitely not. There are basically three groups regarding Tarot: - Not interested or even don't know Tarot - Tarot is nonsense - Oh, how interesting Well, and then there are of course the people who study the Tarot, but that's about it. People would stare at you if you mentioned that cards could be evil.

Elven	22 Jun 2005
I think I'm lucky after reading some of these posts. My 'first family' all own a deck. My sister - Thoth and my brother - RWS. My 'second family' (with the exception of a brother - who Im not sure about his opinion) dont mind Tarot. I've read for them a couple of times. They used to all own Ouija boards - but they're over that. My 'third family' have no problem with it either. My friends ask for readings. My current 'male friend' thinks it all ********!! but asks me questions about what I can 'see' happening. Hmmmm! :) Blessings Elven x

Asenath	22 Jun 2005
tarotbear wrote: wolfspirit - interesting thread! What makes it all funnier is that I carried out extended classes in the coffee shop of a Barnes & Noble. I had one class that was just terriffic and wanted to 'keep going' after the scheduled classes were over, so for 3 or 4 weeks we met weekly in a Barnes & Noble because the Borders across the street was too noisy! We bought coffee and sneckins and pulled out our decks and did readings for each other, making sure we did not monopolise the tables. No one ever bothered us. Well, B&N offer a free online beginners course on how to read tarot, so I guess it wouldn't be in their best interest to kick you out because of that. I've got one expected reaction from my mom. She was like, "remember that story that dad told about the cards." (The ("true") story was about someone who used to use playing cards to call up dead people (I think mainly the father)...one day mom goes out and the kids try to call up grandpa and things go bad and mom comes home and has to fix the situation.) But they were playing cards not tarot cards, so her and dad should quit the gin romy if that's the case... Dad's reaction has been pretty non-existant which is kinda sad. I figured he'd be more into the idea, especially since he's interested in spiritualism and stuff. (He's even gotten a tarot reading.) His could have the same interest that I did before I got into it: Meh.

zhahmi	22 Jun 2005
My future mother-in-law was freaked when she was told by my partner that I read tarot. She's always misunderstood my religion, and now she feels like she has the proof to call me evil. Oh well, gives me something to chuckle about when I'm down!

Emeraldgirl	23 Jun 2005
Sister-in-law. She's a holier than thou, quote scripture for my own purposes born again Christian. I walked out 30 seconds into her "why you're going to hell" lecture which I think made her flip more than any of her pious mouthings. She is very hypocritical when it comes to what you can and can't go to hell for (as long as it suits her it's ok) and we have had numerous run ins of this type over many different subjects so it wan't a suprise at all. She still puts them down to my partner and his family but as none of them are Christian she hasn't had much luck.

Angel Star	23 Jun 2005
I just quickly browsed thru the post on tarot and people freaking out. Well i am freaking out! what is th big deal? They are cards that have been around for geez who knows how long. And someone posted that a relative said they are from the Devil lmao! Sorry but that is sooooo rediculous. People are so trippy. Tell them your a druggy who gave up your kids and they can deal but do a tarot reading and they are crying! I just do not get some people. I really do not care if people like it if i do tarot or not. I know a friend of mind ask if the power comes from Satan? ! I was appauled. She really ticked me off asking that. Just plain ignorance basically. Where do they come up with these ideas? Tarot is a beautiful gift period. Its our choice howe we use these cards. Everyone who loves doing tarot keep doing your readings and forget what other people like. We must follow are hearts. this is my opinion.

Silent	23 Jun 2005
None ,or at least none that I remember.Icelanders are not really the strong christians type,about90% are evangelian what ever that means.Most are very interested in spiritual thingies,and many are phsycic or something.Only reaction I have gotten is curiosity and my relatives beg me to do a reading.But one time I freaked out some american guys.Well they had never met anyone that could do that,and never in their live seen tarotcards other than on tv.So I did them a reading and well for short they got freaked out,cuz I talked about things I could not possibly know about,btw I was meating them for the first time and that was my first reading for someone thats not family.:))

mythos	24 Jun 2005
tarotbear wrote: PlatinumDove~ This is how I went to the company Christmas party - with my tarot cards, of course! :smoker: A seriously cool outfit ... I'm impressed Mr Bear, mythos

Alpha-Omega	24 Jun 2005
When my mom found out about it she took them and threw them away in a dumpster, but i went and got them back. Some cards are just a bit messed up there still good and i have been useing them for 4 years now. she says it's "evil" meanwhile she called a Tarot hotline... Hipocrate. My sis is ok with it i do some readings for her and she gets shocked on how right i am. My cousin know but she does not rellay like it so i don't talk about with her. My best Firend how is the BIGGEST Skeptik on every thing does not belive it and he just says "i can't tell you what to do i won't judge you" but i do talk about it sometimes with him. Other than that my fam is Orthodox Christian so most of them will not be ok with it. OMG my little cousin is like 8 and i asked him what he though about tarot readers he said "there bad" PEOPLE need to be educated!!!

Moonchild1721	24 Jun 2005
I've had people disagree with me about Tarot, but the only person who seemed to actually freak out was my ex boyfriend. I explained it to him a little, and it seemed to clear things up, but he did get uncomfortable whenever I mentioned it. So I stopped. It was one of those things we just couldn't come to terms with. Samantha

elysgrl	24 Jun 2005
I guess I'm lucky! Every single person in my life, from my husband to my parents to my coworkers to my kids, has been nothing less than fascinated and enthusiastic and more than willing to let me practice on them on a regular basis. The only sour note was from my once-upon-a-time best friend (whom I rarely see anymore). She listened while I told her all about my new passion, encouraged me to bring a deck to a get-together to read for a mutual friend who was having boyfriend problems, watched attentively while I gave the reading, and seemed to be impressed with the information I shared with our mutual friend (who said I nailed it, by the way). Then a few days later, when I mentioned a reading I had done for myself, she said, "Oh, come on! You don't really believe all that stuff, do you?" It felt like a slap in the face, not because she didn't share my love of tarot but because she said it knowing how much it means to me. Our friendship had faded quite some time before, but that comment is the reason I haven't tried to rekindle it. But compared to what some of you have gone through, that's nothing! Counting my blessings...... Denise

The Who got freaked out about your 'hobby' ? thread was originally posted on 17 Jan 2005 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.