public reading >> public outcry?
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Oct 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| rota |
14 Oct 2002 |
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Anybody else here accustomed to pulling out a Tarot deck and using the cards in a public space? I'm talking coffeeshops, restaurants, parks - that sort of place. I'm one who does this.
Of course I find myself in conversations with strangers once in awhile, and givng free 'consultations'. It's partly why I do that. The reaction to the sight of me placing and looking at cards has always been neutral or positively interested. I haven't yet run into a negative public reaction to throwing a spread, but obviously that could happen. It occurs to me to ask - Is your experience the same? Or, have you run into anyone waving a pitchfork and yelling about eternal damnation while doing a reading in a public spot? Of course that's overstating the case, but I know you know what I mean...
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| Sinta |
15 Oct 2002 |
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LOL I've done that a few times, but so far I've had no one complain. Perhaps its because of the region you are in. I'm in central Europe. Switzerland to be exact and not known to many people, lots of different religions exist in the valleys and mountains. And Europe in general is accepting of a lot of things ;) so no one bats an eye at all.
I've heard that America might be more conservative. I mean, as advertisement here, we might have a few naked women parading the streets with the advertising slogan for a shoppe and no one would be bothered... that's life here.
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| Trogon |
15 Oct 2002 |
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LOL rota... you beat me to it. I was thinking of posting a similar question, about whether people had run into any forms of persecution for using the Tarot.
Anyway... I almost always have mine out at work and sometimes do readings at work as well. I've also had them out for readings or study in parks, coffee shops, a tea house, etc. I have yet to run up against any serious objections or other forms of persecution for my Tarot.... not yet. ;)
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| cjtarot |
15 Oct 2002 |
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Hi all,
I have done readings infront of coffee shops (at their little tables on the sidewalk), at my friends business school, at the bar (boy was that fun)...
So far the most I get is curious glances and an occasional "how much do you charge"-which ends up being a fun free reading.
I guess I'm luck to live in this area, so far no one waving pitch forks and trying to chase away the evil woman with the cards..
I need practice, I will read just about anywhere, as long as I know I'm not disturbing anyone (don't read for employees on company time when the the boss is around..lol)....
blessings
Cj
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| catlin |
15 Oct 2002 |
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I also do a lot of public readings in cafés, tearooms, etc and until now everything is fine. PPl just have a curious glance and that's it. I think they might worry more about seeing Pagan Jewellry.
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| Marion |
15 Oct 2002 |
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I have done readings in public places and never had a problem. In fact I may not notice because I tend to focus omn the reading. Certainly no one has ever made a nasty comment.
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| ihcoyc |
15 Oct 2002 |
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A few years ago, my church had a Bible study class that basically took you through the more interesting parts of the whole Bible over eight months. This was a lot of reading. I got into the habit of taking a Bible to lunch and reading it while I ate.
This got a number of strange looks. I think people were afraid that I would get up and start preaching or witnessing at them. At least it kept my area of the restaurant quiet. I got a kick out of this.
I've occasionally taken tarot to coffee houses and such --- probably wouldn't want to read them where I was actually eating --- or had decks I had just bought out to look at. Then again, I've never done readings in McDonalds or such, and in that environment it may well attract more notice.
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| Angel Star |
15 Oct 2002 |
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What an interesting thread. I have never done any readings publicly but I would not be afraid to if I wanted to and I am in a small city. I believe not many would care much though as tarot readings and such are a growing interest. I was very surprised when I pulled them out and my parents with all the Catholic upbringing my cousins were quite interested in knowing their soul cards and I had an uncle that wanted a reading who I never believed would give the tarot much thought at all. I figured he would of frowned on them but no he was very curious and was thrilled with his reading and said it was very right on.
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| Sinta |
15 Oct 2002 |
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Originally posted by Angel Star
I figured he would of frowned on them but no he was very curious and was thrilled with his reading and said it was very right on.
You are terribly lucky. I wish I had the guts to bring this little hobby of mine out in the open to my family... *sighs* I think I will after I've moved to England and they're somewhere else.... I couldn't bare feeling the burden of the shame they would give me.
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| Angel Star |
15 Oct 2002 |
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That is too bad Sita. I am the kind of person who could careless though if they had frowned on the cards. I know some of my family or at least thought some of them well actually one of my cousins did frown on the soul cards when I was trying to figure them out. She said "I don't need to know any of that junk" but everyone else was so interested no one payed no mind! You never know sometimes.
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| Laurel |
15 Oct 2002 |
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I've never had problems reading in public tea and coffee shops. Its a good way to pick up new clients or practice on strangers at times. I tend to stick to shops that are near used book stores or occult shops or universities.
Laurel
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| cricket |
15 Oct 2002 |
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I'm in one of those pitchfork-and-bonfire areas. I don't DARE take a deck with me anywhere! It's horrible.... *L* Once I forgot the Robin Wood was sitting on the front seat of my car and I went into the store in town to grab something - was milk or toilet paper or something like that - and when I came back out somebody was trying to break into the car so they could 'burn that evil thing' on the seat!
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| Sinta |
15 Oct 2002 |
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Originally posted by cricket
and when I came back out somebody was trying to break into the car so they could 'burn that evil thing' on the seat!
0.o ... some people really take things too seriously *shakes her head* Hopefully you weren't targeted or hurt at that incident.
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| cricket |
15 Oct 2002 |
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No, not at all. He got a little miffed when I laughed in his face (when he said that) but decided to leave in a hurry when I opened the car door. My husband's baton - the kind the police use - was in there and in easy reach.
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| ChrisTheObscure |
15 Oct 2002 |
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The only negative reaction I've ever gotten for reading in public (which is where I usually read, btw) is at one local coffeehouse, and the only reason for that was because they have a regular tarot reader that does readings there on certain nights of the week, and the day I was there was one of those nights. Even then, I just apologised, said I didn't know and all was well.
C.
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| Sinta |
15 Oct 2002 |
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Originally posted by cricket
My husband's baton - the kind the police use - was in there and in easy reach.
LOL Handy little things. At least you took it with humour. I just can't really understand why a religion will accuse something without studying it first if it really is evil... *tsks* I believe, unlike some occultists, that Tarot originated from a normal deck of playing cards... nothing else. No devil comes poof and gives man the first deck and blablabla...
Oh well... what man doesn't know, he fears.
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| Mystica |
15 Oct 2002 |
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I have had some very negative reactions from people who I thought were my friends...turns out we had a lot less in common that I thought. Some friends and family are totally supportive and can't wait to get a reading, go figure...
I haven't been in a public setting with my cards yet. I guess because the thought of all the noise and distractions kind of put me off. Hearing some of your positive experiences makes me want to check it out.
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| Kiama |
16 Oct 2002 |
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Firstly: Cricket, I am saddened to hear what you had to put up with. ((((((((((((((Cricket))))))))))
Secondly: I very rarely DON'T read in a public place! (Weird, I know!) Veyr often, when I go out each Thursday to the pub with the Uni Pagan Society, I'll end up giving the members a reading. (Tip- Dry the table of the beer and alcohol BEFORE attempting to read... Cards smelling of alcohol is never a good thing...) Most people I know know that I always carry a deck with me. They get used to seeing me givig people readings in strange places... Beaches, fields, pubs, clubs, coffee house, cafe, swimming pool, classroom... The only negative reaction I have had is when a teacher walked in to the classroom 2 years ago, and started telling me that Witchcraft didn't have a place in a Christian school, and I should therefore put my cards away and go find myself a Bible. I told him to b*gger off. Well, in more words than that. Anybody as closed minded as that, I just cannot find the time to waste my words on. (Sorry if I've offended anybody with that, it's just that I prefer to save my words for people who will listen to them...)
I have had a couple of drunk men watching me whilst I was giving a reading, but they were just pleasantly interested. They remarked that it was interesting to see a reading being done up close, and said how surprised they are that it's not all arcane and silly Mystig-Meg style stuff, and how down-to-earth it all is...
I've also had people asking about the Tarot when they see me reading. Most people ask me if it is as evil as they've been told, and how i got into it, etc...
Pub readings RULE!
Kiama
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| Angel Star |
16 Oct 2002 |
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For all that are doing public readings you rock! Continue on your quest and don't let nay sayers stop you. Take care all!
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| Zhritza |
16 Oct 2002 |
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I suppose I'm lucky - like Chris and Melvis, I live in Minneapolis, and we must have it very good, because I have the luxury to be annoyed that people are curious in a positive or neutral manner. This is obviously something I should be grateful for, not whining about - that's whining to myself usually, when I'm debating whether to study Tarot in public. Cricket, you are brave and strong -- I admire you (the way you handled that guy was beautiful :D ), and I know you will look out for yourself in this matter, but nonetheless I have to say it: take care of yourself! Sinta... I hope that someday your family will have come a little farther toward open-mindedness... I am sorry you can't trust them in this. (((sin)))
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| cricket |
16 Oct 2002 |
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Sinta: Aren't they wonderful little things? I've never had to actually USE one yet. People see them and turn to run! Unless, of course, I'm actually holding it. Then they fall over laughing and give me the chance to run. :D (I'm tiny - the usual 60 lbs. gained during pregnancy is over half my normal body weight.) You're right in saying that the main problem is fear. Especially in areas like this. There are still plenty of fire-and-brimstone preachers in the area. I've actually been to and seen river baptisms - literally hundreds of people being dunked in a river one at a time to "Re-ceeeeiiiiiive the blood of the LORD!! Haaa-laaayyy-looooooo-YAH!" Excuse the horrible preacher impression. ;) It's just a shame that the people here are so close-minded. The man that was trying to break into my car actually had been a friend of mine until he saw that. Because of the lack of knowledge and acceptance, I was instantly branded as evil.
Kiama: It's actually not ALL that bad, as long as you keep the whole assortment of "evil" stuff under in a large safe buried under the pile of old manure in the corner of the barn that everybody else is afraid to go into because it's about to fall over. ;) Either that or you just don't go to church and people shun you as a sinner and devil-worshipper anyway. If you do that, people act like you've got the plague and won't visit, so you don't have to worry about hiding a thing. The second choice is much easier. Trust me.
Qulos: Yes, well... *makes tiny muscles* What can I say? I'm just imposing. *BOL* Actually, it was just one of the funniest things I've ever run into - especially taking into account he didn't even check the door locks. He was standing there with a slim jim trying to hitch the lock and the driver's door was open. (the lock doesn't work right) And yes, I'll take care of myself, my children, and my husband if it comes down to it. Promise. :)
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The public reading >> public outcry? thread was originally posted on 14 Oct 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.
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