Sophie
You're right, of course - sorry if I was unclear in my ramble. I was answering the person who wrote "what's so wrong with fluffy, the world is so miserable anyway." I don't find the world miserable at all. I find it beautiful, but there are some miserable things in it (and I've seen quite a few of them).faunabay said:The one point I don't quite get is how can any deck (tarot or fluffy oracle) help with abused children, etc. ??? I think at that point you need more help than any divination deck can give. But like you did point out - if it were me and I was going to use a deck at a point like that I would probably go for my fluffy positive deck just because I would need some happy things to focus on.
I can only go by my own experience. I used to work with victims of torture and war, and now I work in an AIDS organisation. My being aware of torture, war and AIDS is not what made these things happen - they are there. But tarot helps me steer a path so I can be as helpful as is possible in any given situation, while not using up all my energy. I think, in that situation, a deck like a Doreen Virtue deck makes me angry. One thing you don't do when dealing with victims of torture is under-value what they went through or try and put a positive spin on it. That means having to look at nasty things in the face (and that includes all the nasty things in myself). Of course, in order to do that - I did need to be reminded of beauty in the world....
When I want a positive boost I sometimes pick the Star or the Sun - choose them consciously. But I've noticed when I am really down and stressed out, tarot will always give me a positive card to strengthen me. I find tarot a very kind friend - both honest and gentle. It's what I perceive as lack of honesty I don't like in Doreen Virtue decks. But used as you do, in combination, then I don't see the problem at all.
(I didn't only do it with cards, btw - as I wrote originally, Mozart, poetry and nature have always nourished me and given me a lift).
I don't think there's anything wrong, btw, in bringing out lots of decks, if people like them. The woman has to make a living. But then she should not package them as special spiritual messages from the Other World. They are a commercial enterprise, the oracle equivalent of Mills and Boon romances, which are also very popular and give people a positive boost (don't get me wrong, I can see value in those too - if only to give poor scribblers a job ).
Dark Inquisitor - I can think of several "spiritual" authors to fit the description you make . They spiritually drive around in fancy cars and spiritually vacation in exlusive gated holiday places in the Carribean, far from the madding crowds they feed with their mindless mush.