How Young/Too Young?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

satinangel	24 Mar 2005
I am curious to receive your opinions...My middle daughter, will be thirteen (going on 35) at the end of the month and VERY interested in taking up the study of Tarot. How young is too young to begin? She has already read the book Tarot Plain and Simple by Anthony Louis.

Dylan	24 Mar 2005
Seems like a great age to start learning to me. She will definately learn the meanings from a book well at that age. I would say go for it, if she is showing a real interest.

deranged_walrus	24 Mar 2005
I was 13 (nearly 14) when my first tarot deck hit me on the head (literally). Now I'm 19 (nearly 20) and still learning. It's fantastic that she wants to study it, but I just have one precaution: make sure her interest is genuine, not just something she can flip out at the lunch table ("Oh, yeah, I can predict the future, I have tarot cards") like lots of people, young and old, I've encountered. Not knowing her, I have no right to say any of this, but as her mother I'm sure you have a vastly better idea of her intentions and can encourage her to pursue it because no, she is not too young. :)

rabidwolfie	24 Mar 2005
in my own opinion, 11 & under would be a bit young, as most kids would have trouble grasping the entire concept & all. at the age of 12, MOST kids start to understand & they are more able to concentrate on seperate tasks. But again, that's just my opinion.

April	24 Mar 2005
We all know that age ain't nothin' but a number, right? It's not about age. It's about maturity and mental capatcity and attention span, all of which don't necessarily get better with age. I started reading at 14, and of course I didn't get all of what was going on, but I learned the fundamentals which I think can be learned even at a very young age. Teenage girls seem to only want to ask the Tarot about teenage boys anyway (my own experience), so nobody has to worry about them being confused by any esoteric concepts yet. I don't have any kids, but when I do I will give them a deck as soon as they show interest. Even small children can work out basic interpretations by just looking at the pictures. So, no, 13 is not to young and I don't think there is a "too young" in Tarot. But remember some things will come quicker to her than other. Just stay close at hand for any questions and I think she'll do fine. Peace, April

souljourney	24 Mar 2005
Here was a whole thread about this subject... I think you'll find it really interesting. Talks about age, etc. and some deck suggestions along with really good advice. http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=37235&highlight=children+tarot SJ

Fudugazi	24 Mar 2005
My nephew of 8 has already started and his sister of 9 followed suit shortly after. They approach it differently. He likes to tell stories with cards and just look through them lovingly, ask about the pictures, the symbols, etc. She reads with them - and with encouragement, she reads very well. They do it instinctively, intuitively, and without self-consciousness, like they play or read books. It's like learning a language when you are young, I think. Educationally, it's a very good exercise for observation, lateral thinking, emotional intelligence, self-confidence and the development of intuition. Edited to add. We started with the Majors first, which they grasped within their experience. We have moved on to the suits. They are understanding very well. My nephew had no trouble at all - he has a conceptual mind - my niece is still seeing the cards as single units, but she is getting there. And now we have four days ahead of us!!

Jeannette	24 Mar 2005
souljourney wrote: Here was a whole thread about this subject... I think you'll find it really interesting... souljourney: thanks for posting that link. I can't believe I missed that thread! In our house, where the tarots are so thick they're practically dripping off the wall, my kids get exposed to the subject on a daily basis. My 5-year-old daughter loves the cards -- she says she wants to grow up to be an artist, so the pictures fascinate her. The public schools here are on spring break this week, so this has been one of my daughter's projects for keeping busy: http://www.tal-dani.net/dani/pictures02.html You can imagine I'm one proud mom. :D I started working with tarot at age 9 -- fortunately, I had parents who didn't have any superstitious preconceived notions about the cards. I played around with my deck (the Swiss 1JJ) on-and-off for about a year, then, like so many things, lost interest and moved on. But it seems as though the cards were always in my heart. I "got back into" tarot in my mid-twenties, and never again left. The story behind that is foddder for another post, though; my point is, while I suppose it depends on the individual child, it seems to me that there's little harm for most kids to receive exposure to tarot at a very early age. Tarot isn't just about reading the cards -- for my daughter, it's all about the pictures and one's imagination and creative expression, at the moment. In fact, I've been toying with the idea of starting a "kid's gallery page" on the Tarot Garden website. I'd love to see how other kids envision tarot -- I thought maybe anyone who made a submission could have a free set of those "Caring Psychic Family" major arcana cards for their contribution (I've got a ton of 'em...) -- Jeannette The Tarot Garden

Fudugazi	24 Mar 2005
Jeannette wrote: In fact, I've been toying with the idea of starting a "kid's gallery page" on the Tarot Garden website. I'd love to see how other kids envision tarot -- I thought maybe anyone who made a submission could have a free set of those "Caring Psychic Family" major arcana cards for their contribution (I've got a ton of 'em...) The Tarot Garden Jeannette, that would be absolutely splendid! Alex and Juliette and I have spent many a happy hour browsing the Tarot Garden - they are mesmerised. Please, a kid's gallery would be a real contribution for tarot, for children and for aunts ;) And I agree about the artistic kick-off tarot cards can give - Alex in particular will draw things inspired by Tarot cards. Sophie

Jeannette	24 Mar 2005
Helvetica wrote: Jeannette, that would be absolutely splendid! Alex and Juliette and I have spent many a happy hour browsing the Tarot Garden - they are mesmerised. Please, a kid's gallery would be a real contribution for tarot, for children and for aunts Thanks for the encouragement. I really do want to do this. But the business is a partnership, so I just need to double-check that Umbrae's okay with the idea. I just sent off an email to Dan, asking if he concurs that it would be a good addition to our library -- with lots of abject groveling and "sad puppy dog eyes" inserted into the message. ;) Assuming it's a go, I'd encourage anyone to email me a scan or two from their own kids' tarot art (to my Tarot Garden email address: jkr@tarotgarden.com), and include a mailing address where I can send the CPF cards. -- Jeannette The Tarot Garden

catti	24 Mar 2005
Jeanette , that is really exciting idea!!! My children now 10 + 7 yrs old have always drawn tarot themed things....as well as many other themes and Zax (7) loves his psychic friends cards. we keep them in a wooden box much nicer than anything i am currently using for my cards! back to OP I think the broad nature of Tarot makes it very available to children of all ages, if they are interested in something that you are interested in then by all means encourage it as these are the things that you can mature together with. Catti

wildginger	24 Mar 2005
My 12 year old has just asked to learn tarot (within the last hour) and I have given her Fey tarot . Is this a good pack for someone her age or should I give her the RW. Brill thread by the way W>G

wildginger	24 Mar 2005
My 12 year old has just asked to learn tarot (within the last hour) and I have given her Fey tarot . Is this a good pack for someone her age or should I give her the RW. Brill thread by the way W.G

Jeannette	24 Mar 2005
wildginger wrote: My 12 year old has just asked to learn tarot (within the last hour) and I have given her Fey tarot . Is this a good pack for someone her age or should I give her the RW. Brill thread by the way W.G The Fey seems like an excellent choice for a pre-teen's first tarot. You'll have to let us know how she likes it! BTW, we have a special category in the Tarot Garden database for kid-themed and kid-friendly decks. The link below can be used to isolate the decks classified under the "Children's" heading: http://www.tarotgarden.com/database/dbsearchengine.php?view_category=children -- Jeannette The Tarot Garden

satinangel	24 Mar 2005
WOW! Thank you for all of your replies and sssooo very quickly too! I am off to visit the link posted! Thank you again for taking the time to respond!

Jeannette	24 Mar 2005
catti wrote: Jeanette , that is really exciting idea!!! My children now 10 + 7 yrs old have always drawn tarot themed things....as well as many other themes and Zax (7) loves his psychic friends cards. we keep them in a wooden box much nicer than anything i am currently using for my cards! Whoo-hoo! Dan agreed it would be a nice addition to the Tarot Garden website. I've already got a preliminary draft page started. I'm gonna go start a new thread shortly to see if anyone has kids' tarot artwork to share! -- Jeannette The Tarot Garden

Jeannette	25 Mar 2005
Hevetica and catti: I posted the thread about the kid's gallery here. But it's sinking fast in the "New Posts" list -- please help me get it started and generate some awareness for this project! Thanks! -- Jeannette The Tarot Garden

contrascarpe	25 Mar 2005
I was first exposed to Tarot around the age of 7 or 8. I was a bit precocious anyway, and my older brother (8 1/2 years my senior) was dabbling in it at the time. This was during the sixties when the world was breaking down barriers and before the days of political correctness. Even though my parents were Catholic and I attended private school, they were not overzealous and gave us both some leeway. In fact, there was some dabbling with seances and ouija around that time, so at an early age I was exposed to all sorts of supernatural phenomena. So, if your daughter is 13 going on 35, you are probably pretty safe. It sounds like you already have a handle on what Tarot is all about so that gives her a good headstart. Dan

satinangel	25 Mar 2005
Thanks Dan! Yes, I have a pretty good grasp...and know that she would not take her deck to school...we have a pretty strict school and they would probably take the deck from her anyway (public school). I am excited that she shares an interest in the Tarot!

Kiama	28 Mar 2005
The great thing about children and teenagers is that they're at that age when they are continually learning new things - so to learn Tarot isn't that difficult for them, and it comes naturally and non-self-consciously. They are also less worried about what you 'should' and 'shouldn't' do with the cards, and thus less likely to fall into dogmatic traps with the Tarot and get hung up on small things like if they're shuffling correctly or if they are 'doing it right'. To them it is fun, and really that's a huge part of what Tarot is. As mentioned before, teemagers tend to only use the Tarot for questions such as 'does so-and-so fancy me?' but this is also a good thing - too deep and they grow up too quickly; but these types of questions allow them to learn one of the most important aspects of Tarot - how to read. The deep, esoteric card meanings, etc, will come later as they grow up (and as a side-note, I have found that kids exposed to Tarot at a young age tend to be wiser when they grow up, because they have been exposed to deep concepts and aspects of the world already.) But whilst they're young and just playing around with fortune-telling, they develop their techniques for reading, their way of addressing questions, and their way of reading for others (because what teenage Tarot reader won't be approached by his/her friends for readings?) On a personal note: I started learning Tarot at the age of 9, and have been hooked on it ever since. I gave my little sister her first deck (Hanson-Roberts) at the age of 12 (she had been interested for a couple of years prior to that) and now she's doing fine with them. In fact, I went back to visit at Christmas this year (one year after she got the deck) and was pleased to see the deck looking worn and used - I was so proud of her then. :D She has said that through Tarot she's been improving her 'people skills' - learning how to communicate with her peers. She's also become more confident because of Tarot, and she has reported that it's a great way to 'meet cute guys'. :D }) So, personally I have found that there isn't at age limit for Tarot. It depends on the use the Tarot is being put to, e.g. simple fortune-telling is great for teenagers and pre-teens; story-telling is wonderful for the little ones; and the esoteric, serious side is good for older teenagers and adults. (But let's not forget that the less serious side is also fun for older teens and adults too!) The age that children move onto the serious side of Tarot depends entirely on their own choice, judgement, maturity, etc, but a non-serious introduction to tarot at a young age prepares them for it later, and also helps them with other things in life. Just my thruppence. Blessings, Kiama

M-Press	28 Mar 2005
hi! I really enjoyed reading this, since I'm always concerned about kids and tarot, altough I have no kids yet. My only worry on this, is not to impose on a kid, or anyone else on that matter, the use of tarot... (I say this, because I find myself do it some times-some friends bought my deck, and don't use it, have no clue what to do with it, so I play "the encouraging role", providing tips...). Anyway, i think, that just like all matters, when someone is ready, then they show their interest and ask for it. If they do that, then they are not too young. And I definitely see the tarot as a great framework for art making, not to mention mythology, symbols and all that...a great learning springboard... The only one who can say that someone is "too young" is us, out of our own fears, and out of not always the best handling of the product (aka: I'll keep picking cards till I get what I want...). We can teach kids about these "dangers" just like we have to teach them how to hold a knife and how to cross the street...

NightWing	28 Mar 2005
Having spent some years as a school teacher, I just want to support the thoughts of many posters here: 13 is not too young to get started with Tarot. There are quite a few age-appropriate decks out there, including all the somewhat whimsical decks from Lo Scarabeo. It may be that a child is mentally/intellectually ahead of her peers, and certain adult decks might be more appropriate, but regardless of age, the same rule applies; the deck must appeal and "speak to" the individual. So with some guidance, she should choose her own deck. Leaf through catalogues, and/or websites like Tarot Garden, Tarot Passages, and here to see the wide variety of cards and art styles available! Make it a research project, at least to narrow the choices to a few. The choosing can be fun.

satinangel	28 Mar 2005
I have decided to take her to a store here in the local mall "Magickal Gardens" they have several opened decks that she can look through, but it's nice to have a starting point as well! Thank you for your input!

tarotbear	28 Mar 2005
Wow! If she read 'Tarot Plain and Simple' and it spured her to want to read tarot - that's great! That has to be one of the most boring books I ever read! DRY! I think she should be encouraged, but with some rules to follow, such as: No bringing your tarot deck to school Do not read tarot to be 'cool' for your friends Do not use tarot to try to get the answers for next week's history exam ...little things like that!

Emeraldgirl	29 Mar 2005
I started reading when I was about 11. A friend's mother taught me and I don't think I was too young for it. I gave it away for a few years but now it has called me back (Boy am I feeling rusty). I think if a child is curious enough to ask then they should be allowed to explore tarot but preferably using one of the more children friendly decks but I also think that with asll things there should not be any pressure on them to keep it up or to study harder. I worry that when I have kids and if I tech them I may turn into one of "those" partents that push their kids too far too fast (I have always vowed not to be one of them and it's a big fear that I might end up being one) so I hope that I can leave them to themselves and they could just come tio me for advice and guidence if they needed it.

Emily	29 Mar 2005
I was 15 when I had my first deck, 1JJ Swiss - nearly ruined me for life. It was recommended to me because I had been reading playing cards for a couple of years on and off. I didn't take to this deck at all, the pip cards gave me no inspiration and I couldn't read them as easily as playing cards. So I really do think that its important that kids get to see a good variety of decks and see the kind of artwork that is about. My 8 year old son wanted to take my new Bright Idea Deck off my hands as soon as the wrap was off. He doesn't much like my favourite the Morgan Greer but there are a few others in my collection that he does like. I'm not pushing him as I think he's still too young for his own deck but sooner or later I'll just let him pick one or two he likes and he can have a play around with them. He seems really good at telling stories with the cards, when I had the Radiant he had me listening for ages. :)

Kiama	29 Mar 2005
tarotbear wrote: I think she should be encouraged, but with some rules to follow, such as: No bringing your tarot deck to school Do not read tarot to be 'cool' for your friends Do not use tarot to try to get the answers for next week's history exam ...little things like that! I'd disagree with these rules, personally. However, the school myself and my little sister went/go to is quite open minded, and I cannot speak for all schools. But if you've got a fairly nice school, then surely taking a Tarot deck in to give readings to your friends at lunchtime is a wonderful way to learn how to read for others? And Tarot does make others think you are cool when you're young. That can't be helped, just as that little "Yeah, I'm cool!" voice in your head when it happens... It's a nice bonus to reading Tarot, but I agree that it shouldn't be the main focus. (Though I know many people who started out with Tarot because they wanted to be 'cool', and they're now some of the best readers I know... We've all gotta start somewhere.) I am sure many of us started out with Tarot and had no guidance at all. And wasn't it fun? Didn't we make some big mistakes and learn big from them? Wasn't it amazing to have that moment where it all 'clicked', and to know that we got there by ourselves...? Okay, so we should be there for our children/the youngsters in our lives so that if they have questions they can address them to us regarding Tarot. But surely giving them a set of rules takes away half the fun for them? And surely it takes away a big part of the learning experience? Blessings, Kiama

satinangel	29 Mar 2005
tarotbear wrote: Wow! I think she should be encouraged, but with some rules to follow, Tarotbear, We have already discussed all of these things and she is fully aware of my thoughts and "rules"...Great Minds....

tarotbear	29 Mar 2005
Kiama wrote: I'd disagree with these rules, personally. However, the school myself and my little sister went/go to is quite open minded, and I cannot speak for all schools. But if you've got a fairly nice school, then surely taking a Tarot deck in to give readings to your friends at lunchtime is a wonderful way to learn how to read for others?Kiama In America - that deck would be confiscated by the teachers or principal~ particularly in a grammar school. It could be seen as 'cult paraphenalia'. Everything has a place and the school cafeteria is not one of them. Sorry, Kiama - getting together with your friends who are interested in Tarot is fine, but flashing your deck around to say 'LOOK AT ME! I AM COOL!" is the poorest excuse yet for reading tarot.

satinangel	29 Mar 2005
[quote=tarotbear]In America - that deck would be confiscated by the teachers or principal~ particularly in a grammar school. It could be seen as 'cult paraphenalia'. Everything has a place and the school cafeteria is not one of them. QUOTE] Tarotbear, I totally agree with you! Here in our rural, conservative community, the cards would not be received well in the school environment.

QDaniTeasieL	30 Mar 2005
I got my first deck when I was about 14 or 15, and I brought them to school with me alot when I first started reading. The other girls would take me into the bathroom or another table and ask me about their boyfriends. I would charge about 50 cents, because I was just starting out and they were very pushy. I once had a book to help me, and my teacher said that I needed to find someone to help me learn better without it. People for the most part thought I was a weirdo, but left me alone for the most part.

The Doc	30 Mar 2005
I think age does not matter, just as long as they are following what they feel. I personaly just started by using a loved playing card deck by accendent and got my deck two/three years ago. I think i was elevin when i started, now soon to be 18. my problem is i do tarot when i have time and am not dilotted. The small thing is finding people to pratice on who ask for a reading. The Doc.

Cerulean	30 Mar 2005
Similar to books and movies, my guess is it depends on the individual and how he/she is ready for such things. My teenage nephews have 'outgrown' anime card collecting and card decks aren't their interest... But the talk of a website for kids and tarot brought up a side point... Believe it or not, the university extension program that I take classes in has blocked forum sites like aeclectic.net--the filter censor said "Occult site" and so I couldn't check aeclectic.net forum email. The people taking classes are usually over 21--but the net access is a courtesy, so I was okay not checking the forum email... It would be lovely to have an interest internet site for kids and tarot, but it might have to be separate from a main site that is associated with 'occult' if conservative universities or school filters don't allow even access of a tarot forum from their educational areas. Perhaps also the fact some pictures of tarot decks might also have what some communities consider adult content may also make it a filtered site not for under 13 or 18. Don't know if this a concern...I was surprised that the university extension site had done this! Cerulean

tarotbear	31 Mar 2005
Cerulean wrote: It would be lovely to have an interest internet site for kids and tarot, but it might have to be separate from a main site that is associated with 'occult' if conservative universities or school filters don't allow even access of a tarot forum from their educational areas. Perhaps also the fact some pictures of tarot decks might also have what some communities consider adult content may also make it a filtered site not for under 13 or 18. Don't know if this a concern...I was surprised that the university extension site had done this! Cerulean At the computer center at the employeee center where I work, such filters are also in place- and necessary, too. Your school or my employer does not want to be held responsible if one of their employee/students is trying to find info on building bombs or involved in terrorist activities. If you want to be a terrorist or bomb builder you have to get that information from your own PC in your own living room and not through 'public' access.

Kiama	31 Mar 2005
tarotbear wrote: Sorry, Kiama - getting together with your friends who are interested in Tarot is fine, but flashing your deck around to say 'LOOK AT ME! I AM COOL!" is the poorest excuse yet for reading tarot. They're kids, Tarotbear. They've gotta start somewhere. Chances are, (if they are anything like me!) they'll realize that there's more to Tarot than 'being cool in front of your mates' and they'll realize where they're going wrong. And be wiser for it. That's how I started out, when I was young and stupid - and really, at that age, what is there in life beyond trying to guess if so-and-so fancies you and trying to be cool to your peers? Chances are, if we were to tell children they cannot use Tarot for the 'being cool' reason, we'd get very few kids looking into it in the first place. Y'know what they say: from tiny (cool) acorns, great (Tarot) oak trees grow... ;) Blessings, Kiama

Fudugazi	31 Mar 2005
tarotbear wrote: At the computer center at the employeee center where I work, such filters are also in place- and necessary, too. Your school or my employer does not want to be held responsible if one of their employee/students is trying to find info on building bombs or involved in terrorist activities. If you want to be a terrorist or bomb builder you have to get that information from your own PC in your own living room and not through 'public' access. Are you comparing Tarot sites with bomb building sites? Cor', I never realised we were so dangerous. Makes me feel very Important all of a sudden ;)

Fudugazi	31 Mar 2005
satinangel wrote: Here in our rural, conservative community, the cards would not be received well in the school environment. Weird! Why not? Tarot is quite an ancient, conservative practice, really - I wonder why it would be rejected in schools? Obviously the children should not be playing with their cards in class - but in the playground, surely that's their own affair? Better than bullying, at any rate.

tarotbear	31 Mar 2005
Helvetica~ To answer both your questions in one post: questiion #1 - No I am not comparing tarot sites with 'Build your own A-bomb sites;' however, filters are there in public areas (you can't access a licensed gun seller on the PC at your local library, either, I might add) to prevent such 'access' to occur. Does your library care if you are reading innocent 'Hello, Kitty' tarot cards, or reading how to disembowel a live sacrifice on your personal altar? - no - but they are not going to take the chance that you might be doing the latter and not the former. What you do in your living room is your business; what you want to do with public access PCs in a public library or college is definately their business and they make the rules and can tell you anything they want. And they don't want to be held responsible for being the 'corridor' by which questionable knowledge passes to you. question #2 - what children do on a playground is VERY MUCH the business of the school. Children do not have 'their own affairs'. The "Sixth Grade Sex Club" would not be consdered 'children being children.' If you want to have a weekly tea in your home and invite school children over to have tea and read tarot -- that's an excellent idea! But what you do in your own home is private and a playground is not.

Fudugazi	31 Mar 2005
TarotBear: Well, I'll beg to differ with you over school playgrounds. Tarot cards are innocuous IMO - as innocuous as rubber balls or skipping ropes, and probably less dangerous ;) But as for library filters - I quite understand their purpose and agree with them, but again, Tarot being innocuous, why filter them out? Or are all non-educational sites flitered out? How does it work? (sorry, in our libraries here you don't have that kind of filter that keeps out tarot sites, though I hope they do track the bomb builders!) .

tarotbear	31 Mar 2005
To you and I - Tarot is innocuous. Centuries ago we'd have been burned to death for reading tarot cards. Looking at how things are changing here in the USA - I'd say I wouldn't be surprised if book burnings and card burnings and witch hunts and occult stores being burned are not next on the current administration's agenda.

Fudugazi	31 Mar 2005
I heard a radio programme yesterday about Spain under Franco. They banned the use of the Basque language and BURNED books in Basque in great auto-da-fés in front of public libaries. I was crying just to hear the stories (I shan't go into what the political police did to the Basque people themselves, you can imagine). I really hope this kind of thing never happens in your country. It would break my heart. Not just for Tarot, though banning or hounding Tarot is a symptom. On the other hand, I have no great sympathy for bomb makers, whether they are spotty loners or great conglomerates. My nephew and niece are enjoying learning about Tarot. Their mother (my sister) is content to let them. Their father lifts his eyebrows (he's a rationalist) but otherwise is not troubled. They give me good readings already, and it is stimulating their imagination and their capacity for verbal/image association. In the case of my nephew it is also stimulating his knowledge of Greek Myths because a lovely lady on this forum sent him a tarot with Greek gods on it. Maybe it should be marketed as an educational tool? Or are Greek gods out too?

Jeannette	31 Mar 2005
Helvetica: Go back and check Cerulean's original post. If I'm reading it correctly, she said that Aeclectic was blocked as an "occult site." I interpret that to mean that tarot isn't itself blocked per se. But since tarot is still inextricably linked with "occult" subject matter -- and since furthermore, the general understanding of the accurate meaning of term "occult" (at least, here in the U.S.) is limited, tarot gets blocked out by default. It is a pity that our interests and studies are used by a minority of others for ill purposes. But at least here in the U.S., that is unfortunately the case. In my old job, I used to work occasionally with a private youth services organization that was honestly and truly having trouble with an "occult, devil-worshipping cult" trying to recruit kids for nefarious purposes. We can argue until we're all blue-in-the-face that such cults aren't representative of true occult pursuits, or that such a group isn't really even composed of "true satinists" (whose activities, while distasteful to some, generally aren't illegal if I understand correctly from my readings). But such ill-intentioned groups don't care if they misrepresent the beliefs of others or usurp otherwise innocuous terms for illegal, unethical and immoral activities. And, of course, it is such groups that get "all the press," giving the rest of us a bad name. But -- that's hardly the university's fault. If they've had (or are aware of) problems with potentially harmful information disseminated by so-called "occult" groups, then one can hardly blame them for taking some protective measures. In my experience, universities are all for "freedom of access to information" whenever possible. However, the current legal climate in the U.S. has essentially made a hard-core adherence to that philosophy finacially unfeasible. The minute some "kid" (or university student) gets on those computers, accesses information from some "occult" cult, joins the cult, and suffers substantial mental and/or physical harm as a result of that group's activities, someone in that person's family (or the person themselves) will sue. And win. Lots of money -- which we all here end of paying for in the end. There are many of us here that think this is wrong, that our civil legal system is dramatically in need of a major overhaul. But unless and until that can happen, the university's policies are hardly a puzzlement to those of us here in the 'States, and much as we would wish it to be differently, we can't really be critical of their decision. - Jeannette The Tarot Garden

NYCTeen	01 Apr 2005
Any age is a good age. As long as they understand it.

The How Young/Too Young? thread was originally posted on 24 Mar 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.