*********************************

"TAROT TIPS"
Weekly Newsletter of The Tarot School

April 27, 1999

*********************************

Greetings Everyone,

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips and to our subscribers, old and
new, from around the world!  I'd especially like to welcome our new subscriber
from Yugoslavia -- may the power of the Strength card help bring peace to your
region and everywhere. Meditating on the Tarot can be a powerful adjunct to
prayer and healing. Have any of you ever used the cards for this purpose? I'd
love to hear from you.

Thanks to all of you who lent your wonderful energy to Sunday night's free
Tarot Open Program with Geraldine Amaral. Geraldine's presentation on The
Devil and Strength cards from the perspective of working with our "Shadow"
side was interesting and informative and lead to some excellent discussion. If
you, or any of you who missed her wonderful presentation would like the
opportunity to take Geraldine's Luminary Class, now is the time to register.
See the Teleclass Schedule below for details.

This Wednesday night at 7:00 PM EST, Wald and I will be interviewed by Eliot
Stein on his internet "radio" show, "Stein Online." You can hear the show live
by going to his website at www.SteinOnline.com  If that's not a good time for
you,  the Real Audio file will be available on his site for 90 days after the
show. You'll need a Real Audio player to hear it but you can download it free
at the site if you don't already have one. Wish us luck and let us know if you
get a chance to listen.

This week's issue is a "mixed bag." Thanks to all of you who contributed tips
and questions! If there's a tip you'd like to see, a tip of your own you'd
like to share, or a website that you've found to be particularly interesting,
please email us at Tips@...

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann


***********************************

SUBSCRIBER TIP: One-Card Reading Practice

***********************************

What?
Who?
When?
Why?
Where?
Which?
How?

Everything you or your client wants to know can be reduced to one of these
seven questions. For fun, why not write out seven questions for yourself
for this week. One question for each of these seven words. Then do a one
card reading for yourself each day for one week.

- John Gilbert
john@...


**********************

Tarot Reading Expectations

**********************

QUESTION:

I just received my first Tarot newsletter from you and have enjoyed it.
I don't think this would be considered a tip, but I am wondering about
something. Why is it with most Tarot readings you get the message is so
watered down, and it's so long that by the time you've finished reading
it, maybe you have gotton one or two things from it? It seems so many
readers tell you the same thing several different ways so you think you're
getting a real indepth reading, and really you're not.  Also why do the
readings focus so much on things you already know, instead of more of
what you don't know? Like your future? It ends up being more of a
counseling session, when I think most people really want to know more of
the future then so much emphasis played on guidance. Just my opinion.
Would love to hear yours.

Best Wishes,
Lorraine


ANSWER:

Thanks for this question, Lorraine. You raise an interesting issue that would
probably elicit different responses from different people. I can only speak
from my own point of view but I would be interested to hear from any of you
who feel differently. Your question really covers two separate concerns.

The first, regarding "watered down" messages, is strictly a matter of skill. A
skilled professional reader should listen carefully to your questions, clarify
your questions to find out what you *really* want to know, and make sure those
questions are answered to the best of their ability. (It's amazing how many
people forget to do this!) This process should, in my opinion, include an
ongoing dialog with the querent to make sure they are getting what they need
from the session and to address any additional questions that may come up
during the course of the reading.

As to your frustration at not being told the future, Wald and I are of the
strong opinion that if straight prediction is what you're looking for, you
should consult a psychic. The Tarot is best suited as a tool for guidance. The
cards themselves do not have predictive powers -- this comes from the reader.
This may or may not come as a surprise, but not all Tarot readers are psychic!
Those psychics who do work with Tarot cards use them largely as a focus or a
buffer but they don't really need them.

If you have certain requirements and expectations of a reader, I advise that
you speak to them *beforehand* and discuss their approach. This will help you
make an informed decision and go a long way toward reducing the level of
frustration for both of you.


*******************************

SUBSCRIBER TIP: Blank Spot Technique

*******************************

Sometimes in the course of doing a reading - for self or another - a blank
spot occurs. It seems that no thoughts and/or images emerge. Sometimes
this can occur if there is so much going on that everything is very crowded
together. What sometimes helps is placing the card in question on the
forehead of the reader - with the image on the card making contact with
the area called "the third eye". What may then happen is that the direct
physical contact clears the way to the emergence of an image or word or
feeling. If the impulse arises to do this, then so far this has been
something which has served a good purpose.

-- Tovaa


*********************************

"STAGE" or "SEPARATION" CARDS

*********************************

QUESTION:

I would like to thank you for Tarot Tips, I really enjoy reading and learning
from it.
I wonder if you  can help with my query?

I recently heard mention of "Stage" or "Separation" cards. Would you have any
information about  the "Stage" or "Separation" cards in the Rider Waite Smith
deck. A list of these cards and the reason why they are called "Stage" or
"Separation" cards ???

Also are there any other decks with similar peculiarities.??

Thank you in anticipation.
Mary


ANSWER:

We have our own theory on what you're asking about, Mary, but would love to
know where you heard this specific terminology. In the Rider Waite Smith deck,
there are quite a number of instances where the people in the card are
standing on a smooth, flat surface in the foreground. There is a dividing line
or "separation" between this area and the background. Looked at from a certain
perspective, the figures can be perceived to be standing on a "stage" with the
scenery presented on a painted backdrop. Pamela Coleman Smith, the artist who
drew the cards, was experienced in theatre and costume design, and that
influence is evident in these cards. As far as we know, other decks do not
employ this particular design convention.

One really good example of this type of card is the 10 of Cups. Others include
the 7 of Swords, Page of Cups, 2 of Pentacles and the 9 of Wands. One that's
not so obvious is the 5 of Pentacles. If you look closely, you can see how the
background drapes like a curtain. Go through the deck and see if you spot any
others.

A possible way of interpreting "Stage" cards is that what appears to be going
on may be an illusion or a fiction. One wonders what's really going on
behind-the-scenes. This is certainly not always the case but it bears
consideration.


------<---<<@  ------<---<<@

TAROT TELECLASS SCHEDULE

------<---<<@  ------<---<<@

What's a teleclass? It's a tarot class on the phone! Learn more about them at
http://www.TarotSchool.com/Teleclasses.html

*** MAY TAROT LUMINARY CLASS ***
Sunday, 5/16 at 9:00 PM EST -- $25
INSTRUCTOR: Rev. Jennifer E. Moore, creator of The Healing Tarot
TOPIC: Love and Money: Addressing Every Querent's Questions

Have you ever noticed that many Tarot readings can be distilled down to two
basic isssues: Love and Money? Aside from divining winning lottery numbers,
and predicting the arrival of true love, how, as Tarot readers of integrity,
can we truly honor and empower the complexity and importance of these
fundamental life issues? The Tarot can be used to reveal, to clarify and to
support the choices and actions which can facilitate a life of greater
prosperity and joy. As a reader, you can help people to take charge and create
the lives they want to live. Join us for an evening teleclass with Jennifer
Moore and discover new ways to approach these burning questions which will
empower you and your querent.

*** MAY TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ***
Sunday, 5/23 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
SPECIAL GUEST: Janet Berres, President of The International Tarot Society
TOPIC: A behind-the-scenes peek at the upcoming World Tarot Congress

*** JUNE TAROT LUMINARY CLASS ***
Sunday, 6/13 at 4:00 PM EST -- $25
INSTRUCTOR: Geraldine Amaral
TOPIC:  Tarot as a Tool for Self-Discovery.

Is the Tarot a tool only for prediction? Can we use it for self-understanding
and as a means to peek within our own psyches? This class explores the role of
projection in working with the Tarot and offers a look at the Tarot as a tool
for self-understanding, inner transformation and personal clarity.

Geraldine Amaral, author of Tarot Celebrations:  Honoring the Inner Voice,
will provide a brief explanation of the psychological process of projection
and how it can be used in a positive and empowering way when working with the
Tarot  She will teach you a simple, but striking technique to use with the
Tarot that will assist you in zoning in on precisely the issues, guidance or
solutions that you need. No experience with Tarot required, but you MUST have
a Tarot deck for this class. It is recommended that you use a deck with which
you are NOT familiar. This is a very hands-on event: Be prepared to learn more
about yourself in this simple, but remarkable process.

*** JUNE TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ***
Sunday, 6/27 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
SPECIAL GUEST: Rachel Pollack, author of numerous books including 78 Degrees
of Wisdom
TOPIC: To be announced

||||||||| HOW TO REGISTER |||||||||

--Tarot Open Program:
Email us at Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with
the bridge
number to call. Please put "Open Program" in the subject header and include in
the message your name, phone number and the class for which you are
registering. You may also register by calling us at 800-804-2184.

--Tarot Luminary Class:
Send us email as per the instructions above to reserve your seat. Subject:
"Luminary Class."
To charge your tuition to Visa, Mastercard or American Express call us at
800-804-2184.
Or, mail your check or money order, made payable to The Tarot School, to:
The Tarot School  57 E. 11th St. - 9th Floor   New York, NY 10003
Checks must be received two weeks prior to the class.

*****************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

                           ***Visit our website at TarotSchool.com***

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved.
Directors: Ruth Ann Brauser, CTGM and Wald Amberstone, CTGM
You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips
To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TarotTips-unsubscribe@onelist.com

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?
Then pass this message along and tell your friends to join us at Tarot Tips.
If you received this message from a friend and want to join -
1)  visit http://www.TarotSchool.com/sitemap.html and tap on the Join List
button OR
2)  send email to TarotTips-subscribe@onelist.com

Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*********************************

"TAROT TIPS"
Weekly Newsletter of The Tarot School

April 19, 1999

*********************************

Greetings Everyone,

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips!  I do hope that you will all
enjoy it. It always delights me how people from all over the world can come
together and share their love of Tarot in places like this. The Tarot TIps
community extends this week to Australia, Taiwan, South Africa and Alaska!

Before we get to the tips, I'd like to make something clear. Tarot Tips is
what is called an "opt-in" list. This means that the only way to receive it is
to voluntarily sign up or to have it forwarded to you by a friend. I am
mentioning this because I was the recipient of some very abusive email this
past week from someone who did not understand this. If for some reason you no
longer wish to receive Tarot Tips, you can "opt-out" at any time by sending a
blank email to TarotTips-unsubscribe@onelist.com. Nothing could be simpler and
I'll try not to take it too personally. ;)

For those of you who wish to stay, we aim to do our best to help you with the
practical aspects of your Tarot studies. If there's a tip you'd like to see, a
tip of your own you'd like to share, or a website that you've found to be
particularly interesting, please email us at Tips@...

Notes:

* The 4/25 Tarot Open Program is full. (Thank you all for your enthusiasm for
this program!)  Now is the time to make your reservations for the May and June
Open Programs and Luminary Classes. Check the schedule below for the details.
We look forward to hearing from you.

* I will be upgrading our website server this week. This will enable us to
offer secure ordering and other site enhancements to our visitors. The URL
will remain TarotSchool.com and the transition *should* be a smooth one. If at
any time during the next few weeks you have trouble accessing the site, PLEASE
let me know. Oh, and wish me luck!

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann


*************************************

The Double-Edged Sword Spread (clarification)

*************************************

QUESTION:

I would like for you to clarify this Sword spread.  Do you use the entire deck
of 78 cards with all the suits and the major arcana or do you only use the
swords suit for this spread? - Robin

ANSWER:

I suppose I should have been a little more clear about this, Robin. The whole
deck is used. The reason the spread has that name is because it is in the
shape of a sword (long and double-edged) and because it utilizes the *energy*
of the Suit of Swords to help bring clarity to difficult choices.

(For those of you who missed this spread, check out last week's issue in the
archives at http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips)


*********************************

THIS WEEK'S TAROT TIP:  YES/NO SPREAD

*********************************

Every now and then someone will ask if we know a good Yes/No spread that is
consistent and
reliable. In order to answer that question honestly, we'd have to say no. We
actually conducted a rather elaborate experiment in class whereby we tested
the ability of a Yes/No spread to predict the outcome of a coin-toss. We chose
to use a coin because there would be no chance for personal issues or
projections to play a part in the readings. The experiment was repeated
numerous times with many different readers. How accurate was the spread? About
50/50.

That said, there are many people who just aren't comfortable without a Yes/No
spread as part of their repertoire so here's the one we used:

Concentrate on your question while shuffling the deck thoroughly. Draw 5 cards
and place them in a horizontal row on the table in front of you. Then count
the number of upright and reversed cards to give you your answer. In this
reading, the meanings of the cards are not important -- only the orientation.
The card in the center will have a little extra influence.

Here's how to interpret your answer:

All 5 cards Upright: A resounding Yes!
3 or 4 Upright (including Center): A definite Yes
3 or 4 Upright (not including Center): A probable Yes
3 or 4 Reversed (not including Center): A probable No
3 or 4 Reversed (including Center): A definite No
All 5 cards Reversed: A resounding No!

Here's the real tip, though. Do your best to rephrase your question so that it
is not answered by a simple Yes or No.  For instance, instead of asking, "Will
I get this job?" try something like "How favorable are my chances in getting
this job?" Create a spread that will include cards that look at your
interview, the chemistry with your potential employer, your talent for the
job, your competition, salary, etc. A reading like this can be informative and
illuminating. Much more useful than Yes or No.


************************

SURF'S UP! - Tarot on the Web

************************

ZAK MARTIN'S ONLINE ESP LABORATORY
URL: http://www.angelfire.com/co/isisUK/esplab.html

This is not specifically a Tarot site, but because psychic ability often plays
a part in intuitive reading techniques, I thought I'd pass along this
delightful find. British clairvoyant, Zak Martin, invites you to test and
develop your psychic abilities at his online ESP laboratory.  One of the seven
tests was not working when I visited but there's plenty to keep you
entertained. These are legitimate ESP tests and highly addictive!

[If you know of an interesting Tarot website that's not already on our Links
page (http://www.TarotSchool.com/Links.html) send it to Tips@...
and I'll check it out.]


------<---<<@  ------<---<<@

TAROT TELECLASS SCHEDULE

------<---<<@  ------<---<<@

What's a teleclass? It's a tarot class on the phone! Learn more about them at
http://www.TarotSchool.com/Teleclasses.html

*** MAY TAROT LUMINARY CLASS ***
Sunday, 5/16 at 9:00 PM EST -- $25
INSTRUCTOR: Rev. Jennifer E. Moore, creator of The Healing Tarot
TOPIC: Love and Money: Addressing Every Querent's Questions

Have you ever noticed that many Tarot readings can be distilled down to two
basic isssues: Love and Money? Aside from divining winning lottery numbers,
and predicting the arrival of true love, how, as Tarot readers of integrity,
can we truly honor and empower the complexity and importance of these
fundamental life issues? The Tarot can be used to reveal, to clarify and to
support the choices and actions which can facilitate a life of greater
prosperity and joy. As a reader, you can help people to take charge and create
the lives they want to live. Join us for an evening teleclass with Jennifer
Moore and discover new ways to approach these burning questions which will
empower you and your querent.

*** MAY TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ***
Sunday, 5/23 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
SPECIAL GUEST: Janet Berres, President of The International Tarot Society
TOPIC: A behind-the-scenes peek at the upcoming World Tarot Congress

*** JUNE TAROT LUMINARY CLASS ***
Sunday, 6/13 at 4:00 PM EST -- $25
INSTRUCTOR: Geraldine Amaral
TOPIC:  Tarot as a Tool for Self-Discovery.

Is the Tarot a tool only for prediction? Can we use it for self-understanding
and as a means to peek within our own psyches? This class explores the role of
projection in working with the Tarot and offers a look at the Tarot as a tool
for self-understanding, inner transformation and personal clarity.

Geraldine Amaral, author of Tarot Celebrations:  Honoring the Inner Voice,
will provide a brief explanation of the psychological process of projection
and how it can be used in a positive and empowering way when working with the
Tarot  She will teach you a simple, but striking technique to use with the
Tarot that will assist you in zoning in on precisely the issues, guidance or
solutions that you need. No experience with Tarot required, but you MUST have
a Tarot deck for this class. It is recommended that you use a deck with which
you are NOT familiar. This is a very hands-on event: Be prepared to learn more
about yourself in this simple, but remarkable process.

*** JUNE TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ***
Sunday, 6/27 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
SPECIAL GUEST: Rachel Pollack, author of numerous books including 78 Degrees
of Wisdom
TOPIC: To be announced

||||||||| HOW TO REGISTER |||||||||

--Tarot Open Program:
Email us at Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with
the bridge
number to call. Please put "Open Program" in the subject header and include in
the message your name, phone number and the class for which you are
registering. You may also register by calling us at 800-804-2184.

--Tarot Luminary Class:
Send us email as per the instructions above to reserve your seat. Subject:
"Luminary Class."
To charge your tuition to Visa, Mastercard or American Express call us at
800-804-2184.
Or, mail your check or money order, made payable to The Tarot School, to:
The Tarot School  57 E. 11th St. - 9th Floor   New York, NY 10003
Checks must be received two weeks prior to the class.

*****************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

                           ***Visit our website at TarotSchool.com***

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved.
Directors: Ruth Ann Brauser, CTGM and Wald Amberstone, CTGM
You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips
To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TarotTips-unsubscribe@onelist.com

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?
Then pass this message along and tell your friends to join us at Tarot Tips.
If you received this message from a friend and want to join -
1)  visit http://www.TarotSchool.com/sitemap.html and tap on the Join List
button OR
2)  send email to TarotTips-subscribe@onelist.com

Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*************************************

"TAROT TIPS"
Weekly Newsletter of The Tarot School

April 12, 1999

**************************************

Greetings Everyone,

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips!  I hope you are all well and
happy and enjoying wonderful spring weather.  A warm spring welcome to all our
new subscribers, including fellow tarot enthusiasts from Israel, Denmark,
Canada, Argentina, Brasil, the UK and Egypt! It always delights me to see how
tarot unites people from all over the world.

Wald and I are pleased to see how popular the Tarot Teleclass programs have
become. There are just four "seats" left for this month's free Open Program
with Geraldine Amaral and reservations have already been coming in for May and
June. We're especially excited about the Tarot Luminary Series which gives you
a rare chance to take class with these top tarot professionals from the
comfort of your own home telephone. See the schedule below for details.

I'd like Tarot Tips to be as useful to you as possible. So if there's a tip
you'd like to see, a tip of your own you'd like to share, or a website that
you've found to be particularly interesting, please email us at
Tips@...

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann


****************************************************

THIS WEEK'S TAROT TIP: The Double-Edged Sword Spread

****************************************************

QUESTION:

The other day I got a freelance check in the mail I had forgotten about and so
it was like free $ (so to speak). Anyway, I had been planning to buy myself
either a new Zip drive or a new 35mm automated camera and could not (and
still cannot) decide which to use this $ for. So I was going to consult
the cards but realized I had no idea what kind of a spread I should use. I
know how to get a yes/no answer and some of the more standard spreads but
none of those seemed to be appropriate for this situation.  Any suggestions?

JP Rhea
shadowvale@...
<http://www.onepine.com/~shadowvale/>

ANSWER:

Thanks, JP for this great question. Coincidentally, the best spread to use in
a case like this is one that we have been teaching at The Tarot School for the
past couple of weeks. We call this spread "The Double-Edged Sword"  because
the Suit of Swords contains the energy required for the clarity and
discrimination needed to make decisions. This spread is useful anytime a
choice must be made between one of two real options. Examples in addition to
the question asked above include choices between relationships, job offers,
moving locations, career paths, etc.

The layout is very simple. After shuffling the cards, cut the deck into two
piles. Assign one pile for Choice #1 and the other pile for Choice #2. From
the first pile, draw five cards and place them in a vertical line on the
table. Draw five more cards from the second pile and place them in a second
vertical line, next to the first.

The layout is simple. The interpretation, however, is very subtle. There are
no specific positions assigned to these cards. Each row is read as a
muti-faceted picture of the energies and likely outcome of that particular
path. A chronology of events may suggest itself but try not to approach the
reading as a series of chronological steps -- look at each group of five cards
as a whole.

Sometimes the answer will be obvious. More often though, both options will
have their pros and cons. The cards will verify things you already know and
point out things you may not have considered. Compare the two sides and notice
the strengths and trouble spots in each. In addition to any objective
information you receive, the images in the cards have the power to evoke
emotional responses. Consider these responses as well when making your decision.


********************************************

READER RESPONSE:  Tarot and Hindu Mythology

********************************************

The following is in response to last week's tip from Black Lotus suggesting
correlations between the Major Arcana trumps and the gods and goddesses of
Hindu mythology:

I don't know much about Hindu mythology, but I have a strong feeling that when
you said that Shiva could be The Hermit, I completely agree.  I've always been
drawn to 'Shiva' (the name more than the deity. I have no knowledge of the
deity, but it may have some sort of
subconsious significance).  I also feel the same way about the Hermit card.
Every time someone does a reading for me that has very intense significance,
the Hermit card shows up.  Also, we did the birthday cards awhile back, and
The Hermit was one of them (along with The Moon, as I recall).

So I know that for myself, this idea just clicked the moment I read it.  I'm
going to have to do more reasearch on Shiva now !!  This is an interesting
peice of information to learn about one's self on their birthday =)
===
Songs of the moon, whispering in my ear as I pray
Justin "ShivaFang" White
shivaskye@...


------<---<<@  ------<---<<@

TAROT TELECLASS SCHEDULE

------<---<<@  ------<---<<@

What's a teleclass? It's a tarot class on the phone! Learn more about them at
http://www.TarotSchool.com/Teleclasses.html

*** APRIL TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ********
Sunday, 4/25 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
SPECIAL GUEST: Geraldine Amaral, author of Tarot Celebrations.
TOPIC: The Devil Card as Personification of Jung's Shadow

*** MAY TAROT LUMINARY CLASS ***
Sunday, 5/16 at 9:00 PM EST -- $25
INSTRUCTOR: Rev. Jennifer E. Moore, creator of The Healing Tarot
TOPIC: Creating Love: Using the Tarot to reveal the path to Intimacy

*** MAY TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ***
Sunday, 5/23 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
SPECIAL GUEST: Janet Berres, President of The International Tarot Society
TOPIC: A behind-the-scenes peek at the upcoming World Tarot Congress

*** JUNE TAROT LUMINARY CLASS ***
Sunday, 6/13 at 4:00 PM EST -- $25
INSTRUCTOR: Geraldine Amaral
TOPIC:  Tarot as a Tool for Self-Discovery.

Is the Tarot a tool only for prediction?  Can we use it for self-understanding
and as a means to peek within our own psyches?  This class explores the role
of projection in working with the Tarot and offers a look at the Tarot as a
tool for self-understanding, inner transformation and personal clarity.

Geraldine Amaral, author of Tarot Celebrations:  Honoring the Inner Voice,
will provide a brief explanation of the psychological process of projection
and how it can be used in a positive and empowering way when working with the
Tarot  She will teach you a simple, but striking
technique to use with the Tarot that will assist you in zoning in on precisely
the issues, guidance or solutions that you need.  No experience with Tarot
required, but you MUST have a Tarot deck for this class.  It is recommended
that you use a deck with which you are NOT
familiar.  This is a very hands-on event:  Be prepared to learn more about
yourself in this simple, but remarkable process.

*** JUNE TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ***
Sunday, 6/27 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
SPECIAL GUEST: Rachel Pollack, author of numerous books including 78 Degrees
of Wisdom
TOPIC: To be announced

||||||||| HOW TO REGISTER |||||||||

--Tarot Open Program:
Email us at Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with
the bridge
number to call. Please put "Open Program" in the subject header and include in
the message your name and phone number. You may also register by calling us at
800-804-2184.

--Tarot Luminary Class:
To charge your tuition to Visa, Mastercard or American Express call us at
800-804-2184.
Or, mail your check or money order, made payable to The Tarot School, to:
The Tarot School  57 E. 11th St. - 9th Floor   New York, NY 10003
Checks must be received two weeks prior to the class.

*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved.
Directors: Ruth Ann Brauser, CTGM and Wald Amberstone, CTGM
You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?
Then pass this message along and tell your friends to join us at Tarot Tips.
Sign-up info below.

If you received this message from a friend and want to join -
To JOIN "Tarot Tips" visit http://www.TarotSchool.com/sitemap.html and tap on
the Join List button or send email to TarotTips-subscribe@onelist.com

Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*********************************

"TAROT TIPS"
Weekly Newsletter of The Tarot School

April 5, 1999

*********************************

Greetings Everyone,

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips! Our aim is to give you a wealth
of information and useful ideas to use in your own Tarot practice. We'd love
to hear your comments and ideas, and would be grateful if you could help
spread the word about Tarot Tips by forwarding a copy to your friends and
colleagues or referring them to our website to subscribe.

As promised, we have a very special announcement to make this week. As many of
you know, we have been offering monthly free teleclasses which we call Tarot
Open Programs. As part of each program, a guest presenter gives a short
lecture or tarot lesson. It has been a wonderful way for you to get familiar
with a number of tarot professionals from the comfort of your own home
telephone.

The only problem is that the presenters are so good, it leaves everybody
wanting more! We're happy to announce that beginning in May, in addition to
the free Tarot Open Programs, we will be launching the Tarot Luminary Series.
Each month you will have the opportunity to take class with a top tarot
professional. Upcoming Luminary Class instructors include Jennifer Moore,
Rachel Pollack, Robert M. Place and Geraldine Amaral -- with more to follow!
Be sure to watch the Teleclass Schedule at the end of each issue of Tarot Tips
for all the details.

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann

*********************************

THIS WEEK'S TAROT TIP: Drawing A Blank

*********************************

It happens to the best of us;  you're in the middle of doing a reading for
someone, everything's  going along very nicely and suddenly it happens -- you
turn over a card and can't think of a single thing to say. All the
interpretations you've ever learned about that card have simply disappeared
into thin air!

It can be a gut-wrenching experience when this happens, but it doesn't have to
be. There's a simple technique you can always rely on to get you back on
track. Pick up the card and put it in front of the querent. Then ask them to
look carefully at the card and tell you how it makes them feel. Don't ask them
what they think it might *mean* -- focus on the emotions that the card
elicits.

Use their response as a springboard to further discussion about that card in
particular, or how those feelings relate to other cards in the spread. In the
unlikely case that both of you draw a blank and have no response to the card,
you can always say, "We'll come back to this one later." Sometimes, cards that
are read later in the spread will offer the insight you need to interpret it.


****************

CALL FOR RESEARCH

****************

Mel is doing a paper on parapsychology for school and would like to include 5
case studies of tarot readings that have come true. Her deadline is tomorrow.
I know this is short notice, but if anyone has a story they would care to
contribute, you can contact her at Dariachk@...


**************************************

SUBSCRIBER TIP:  More "Tarot" in the Workplace

**************************************

Lisa F. wrote about wanting to bring a Tarot card to work for meditation
purposes.  I worked in an office where I dealt with angry Welfare clients
who had been sanctioned, and my life was threatened several times.  I got
an easel frame, and mounted in it a Hindu postcard of the Goddess Kali,
who is a fierce defender of her devotees.  I kept this picture on my
desk.  To my surprise, one of my co-workers, a woman of no apparent
mystical inclination, immediately asked me what was the significance of
"that Tarot card."  Well, doesn't the image of four-armed blue-black
Kali, naked but for her necklace of severed heads and skirt of severed
hands, dancing on white Shiva's inert form, have the same sort of
symbolic, archetypical *frisson* as a Major Arcana card?

There is, of course, the Dakini Oracle deck, which is based on Hindu and
Tibetan imagery, but I've often pondered about how the Waite Major Arcana
relates to the Godforms of Hinduism.  In my opinion, Kali is the Tower.
Krishna the Chariot.  Durga's card is Strength.  Sarasvati is the High
Priestess, and her rival Lakshmi is the Empress.  Shiva perhaps the
Hermit, or the Hanged Man.  Anyone out there with a knowledge of Hinduism
who has suggestions of their own?

-- Black Lotus


````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````\
````````````
Just about every image in the Rider/Waite/Smith deck is
there for a reason. Would you like to know what they mean?
The Tarot School Correspondence Course reveals the secrets
hidden in all 78 cards -- not just the Major Arcana! You can
learn this and much more for only $10 per month. For details,
go to http://www.TarotSchool.com/Course.html


************************

SURF'S UP! - Tarot on the Web

************************

PSYCHIC WORLD TAROT
http://www.magickal.net/worldtarot/

I discovered this interesting web page in my recent travels which I'd like to
share with you all. This page, which is updated every two weeks, offers
predictions about current events in the news based on a Tarot reading.
Unfortunately, the spread is not revealed or discussed but significant cards
are mentioned. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the readings but it should
be interesting to see if the predictions come true.

Have any of you ever used Tarot in this way? I'd love to hear about your
methods and experiences!

[If you know of an interesting Tarot website that's not already on our Links
page (http://www.TarotSchool.com/Links.html) send it to Tips@...
and I'll check it out.]


------<---<<@  ------<---<<@

TAROT TELECLASS SCHEDULE

------<---<<@  ------<---<<@

What's a teleclass? It's a tarot class on the phone! Learn more about them at
http://www.TarotSchool.com/Teleclasses.html


*** APRIL TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ********
Sunday, 4/25 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!   Status: 2/3 full

A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter, Geraldine Amaral.

TOPIC: The Devil Card as Personification of Jung's Shadow

GERALDINE AMARAL has been reading and studying the Tarot for over 25 years.
She holds a B.A. in English and Psychology and an M.A. in Humanities. Once a
high school English teacher, she left teaching to explore the esoteric world,
and even studied with a Hawaiian Kahuna. Through her traveling experiences,
living in unusual places, her study of various philosophies and religions and
her education in psychology and the humanities, she has developed insights
into the symbolic and psychological nature of the cards.

She is very interested in the archetypal symbolism in both the cards and in
Jungian psychology and through a series of creative and interactive workshops,
she teaches people how to apply these esoteric principles in pragmatic ways.
Her book "Tarot Celebrations: Honoring the Inner Voice" and her workshops
explore symbolism in the Tarot and explain how to use the tarot as a tool for
personal transformation.

Geraldine also publishes "Celebrating the Tarot," a quarterly newsletter which
is available by subscription. You can email her at Tarotcelebrations@...
or call 703-671-7421.

*** MAY TAROT LUMINARY CLASS ***
Sunday, 5/16 at 9:00 PM EST -- $25
INSTRUCTOR: Rev. Jennifer E. Moore, creator of The Healing Tarot
TOPIC: Creating Love: Using the Tarot to reveal the path to Intimacy

*** MAY TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ***
Sunday, 5/23 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
SPECIAL GUEST: Janet Berres, President of The International Tarot Society
TOPIC: A behind-the-scenes peek at the upcoming World Tarot Congress

*** JUNE TAROT LUMINARY CLASS ***
Sunday, 6/13 at 4:00 PM EST -- $25
INSTRUCTOR: Geraldine Amaral, author of Celebrating the Tarot
TOPIC:  Self-Analysis and Discovery through Tarot

*** JUNE TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ***
Sunday, 6/27 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
SPECIAL GUEST: Rachel Pollack, author of numerous books including 78 Degrees
of Wisdom
TOPIC: To be announced

||||||||| HOW TO REGISTER |||||||||

--Tarot Open Program:
Email us at Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with
the bridge
number to call. Please put "Open Program" in the subject header and include in
the message your name and phone number. You may also register by calling us at
800-804-2184.

--Tarot Luminary Class:
To charge your tuition to Visa, Mastercard or American Express call us at
800-804-2184.
Or, mail your check or money order, made payable to The Tarot School, to:
The Tarot School  57 E. 11th St. - 9th Floor   New York, NY 10003
Checks must be received two weeks prior to the class.

*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved.
Directors: Ruth Ann Brauser, CTGM and Wald Amberstone, CTGM
You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?
Then pass this message along and tell your friends to join us at Tarot Tips.
Sign-up info below.

If you received this message from a friend and want to join -
To JOIN "Tarot Tips" visit http://www.TarotSchool.com/sitemap.html and tap on
the Join List button or send email to TarotTips-subscribe@onelist.com

Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

Greetings Everyone,

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips. We've had quite a number of new
subscribers join us and I'd like to extend a warm welcome to you all!  And
thanks to everyone for your continued support by recommending Tarot Tips to
your friends and colleagues.

I'll keep the intro short because we have a lot of information to share this
time thanks to your input. We welcome your participation as it helps keep
Tarot Tips helpful and informative.  Send your questions about Tarot,
suggestions for Tarot Tips you'd like to see in the future, and tips of your
own you'd like to share to <mailto:Tips@...>

April's FREE Tarot Open Program with "Tarot Celebrations" author, Geraldine
Amaral, is starting to fill so don't forget to register.  See the teleclass
schedule below for details.

Next week we expect to make a very special announcement -- watch for it!

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann


*******************************************

THIS WEEK'S TAROT TIP: A Powerful One-Card Reading

*******************************************

I'm going to share this week's tip in the form of a personal story. I had the
pleasure of getting a quick one-card reading from one of our students in the
Monday night class. I was called for jury duty this week and had served my
first day as part of a large group of people who were being considered for the
jury in a homicide case. This particular trial was expected to last about a
month. I asked the question: "How long will I be on jury duty?"

The card I chose was the 10 of Pentacles (Universal Waite). When I saw it,
*my* first instinct was "Oh great, I'm going to be there for 10 weeks -- or at
the very least, 10 days." But since I wasn't the one doing the reading, I
waited patiently to hear the student's interpretation. He used a technique
that we teach called "The Voice in the Card."  In this reading, standard or
traditional meanings of the cards are completely disregarded. It is a purely
intuitive reading derived only from the visual imagery in the card.

The reader let his eyes wander over all the pictorial elements in the card
until his attention was held by one particular detail that contained the
message for me. He took his time. Finally, he pointed to the image of the two
greyhounds near the bottom of the scene and told me that I would only have to
serve for two days.

I told him that while a two-day stint was my personal wish, I couldn't
possibly imagine how that could be. At the very least, I thought, I would be
there until the end of the week. Even so, he stuck by his interpretation. To
make a long story short, the next day it was my turn to be questioned by the
judge and the lawyers. I was not selected, was sent back to Central Jury and
shortly thereafter was dismissed and sent home! Two dogs -- two days. :)

In this example, the question was one of timing. However, this is one of the
best ways we know of to answer absolutely any question at all. The Voice in
the Card can be used as the basis for a powerful one-card reading or it can be
integrated into any other spread you choose.


*************************

SUBSCRIBER TIP:  Secret Tarot

*************************

Occasionally I place a Tarot card where I can see it and meditate on it at
home. I'm sure a lot of other people do that, too.  Recently, though, I felt
the need of the energy from a certain card to center me at work.  I work for
an organization where I could get in a lot of trouble
if I displayed a Tarot card openly around my desk (and frankly, I don't want
to expose my decks to the energy around the office).  So I picked the
corresponding card from a standard deck of cards and charged it for extra
oomph.  The deck has a pretty photograph on the back, and that is the side
that shows most of the time, looking pretty innocuous.  When I want to connect
with the card's energy, I turn it around.  Naturally this will only work for
the Minor Arcana.
Hey, you do what you can.  :)

--Lisa F.

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````\
````````````
Just about every image in the Rider/Waite/Smith deck is
there for a reason. Would you like to know what they mean?
The Tarot School Correspondence Course reveals the secrets
hidden in all 78 cards -- not just the Major Arcana! You can
learn this and much more for only $10 per month. For details,
go to http://www.TarotSchool.com/Course.html


********************************

YOUR QUESTIONS:  Time for a New Deck?

********************************

I think my deck is Aquarian and there isn't very much imagery. Do you think I
should buy a new deck?  I'm kind of torn about this because I've had this deck
for sooooo long, but I think that it might be easier if I bought a deck with
more imagery......what do you think?  -- Lizzie

``````````````````
Dear Lizzie,

I have a personal fondness for the Aquarian deck. It was the only deck I read
with for a very
long time. The thing that I like the most about it is that the faces are very
mutable. You can look at the same card under different circumstances and the
expression will change. They also tend to resemble people you know.

HOWEVER, you can certainly own and/or work with more than one deck! If you're
feeling a need for more imagery at this time, by all means look at other decks
to see which ones speak to you. We teach with the Universal Waite because all
the symbolism and imagery is there and the colors are pleasing and clear. But
there are hundreds of decks out there to choose from.

RESOURCES:
These sites offer sample cards from many of the decks that are available. I've
also included a couple of online shopping links.

Wicce's Tarot Collection  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/1694/
Aeclectic Tarot  http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/
U.S. Games Systems, Inc.  http://usgamesinc.com/
Llewellyn Worldwide  http://www.llewellyn.com/

You can also search under Tarot at Amazon.com (Hint: if you use the search box
at http://www.TarotSchool.com/Links.html a small percentage of your purchases
goes to help support The Tarot School.)


------<---<<@  ------<---<<@

APRIL:  FREE TAROT TELECLASS

------<---<<@  ------<---<<@

We invite you to join us for an exciting new way to experience the Tarot. A
teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where many people
can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and participate
together in a fun, unique and lively learning experience. It's easy, it's
convenient, and it's affordable!


*** TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ********
Sunday, 4/25 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!

A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter, Geraldine Amaral.

TOPIC: The Devil Card as Personification of Jung's Shadow

GERALDINE AMARAL has been reading and studying the Tarot for over 25 years.
She holds a B.A. in English and Psychology and an M.A. in Humanities. Once a
high school English teacher, she left teaching to explore the esoteric world,
and even studied with a Hawaiian Kahuna. Through her traveling experiences,
living in unusual places, her study of various philosophies and religions and
her education in psychology and the humanities, she has developed insights
into the symbolic and psychological nature of the cards.

She is very interested in the archetypal symbolism in both the cards and in
Jungian psychology and through a series of creative and interactive workshops,
she teaches people how to apply these esoteric principles in pragmatic ways.
Her book "Tarot Celebrations: Honoring the Inner Voice" and her workshops
explore symbolism in the Tarot and explain how to use the tarot as a tool for
personal transformation.

Geraldine also publishes "Celebrating the Tarot," a quarterly newsletter which
is available by subscription. You can contact her at
Tarotcelebrations@... or 703-671-7421.

||||||||| HOW TO REGISTER |||||||||

Email us at Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with
the bridge
number to call. Please put April Open Program in the subject header and
include in the message your name and phone number. You may also register by
calling us at 800-804-2184.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved.
Directors: Ruth Ann Brauser, CTGM and Wald Amberstone, CTGM
You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?
Then pass this message along and tell your friends to join us at Tarot Tips.
Sign-up info below.

If you received this message from a friend and want to join -
To JOIN "Tarot Tips" visit http://www.TarotSchool.com/sitemap.html and tap on
the Join List button or send email to TarotTips-suscribe@onelist.com

Greetings Everyone,

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips --  to the people who have just
joined us, and especially to those of you who have been subscribers for some
time. I hope this newsletter has been a valuable addition to your Tarot studies.

Thanks also to all of you who forward Tarot Tips and encourage your friends to
sign up. The larger our community grows, the more resources we will have to
share amongst ourselves.
Today's tips both come from that community!

This week, we're delighted to feature a guest article by Nina Lee Braden on
one aspect of interpreting the Tarot to help you lose weight!  Nina Lee has
pioneered the use of Tarot for Weight Loss and has devoted a section of her
website to the subject. You can learn more about this innovative use of Tarot
by visiting  http://www.geocities.com/~ninalee/tarweigh.htm

Don't forget to register for next month's FREE Tarot Open Program with
Geraldine Amaral.
See the teleclass schedule below for details.

Please send your questions about Tarot, suggestions for Tarot Tips you'd like
to see in the future, and tips of your own you'd like to share to
<mailto:Tips@...>

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann


***************************************************

SPECIAL GUEST ARTICLE: Tarot for Weight Loss - The 5 of Wands

***************************************************

by Nina Lee Braden

The 5 of Wands is an excellent card for weight loss.  First, it shows five
boys playing a game with big sticks.  They are out exercising, being active.
It reminds us that weight loss is more than watching what we eat; it is also
being active with our bodies.

Frequently, this card has been interpreted to read conflict with a probable
positive outcome or serious yet friendly conflict.  Maybe we can say to
ourselves, "It's okay to have conflicting feelings about
our bodies, our size, our appearance, our health.  It's okay to have
conflicts with others about what's best for ourselves.  Conflict isn't
necessarily a bad thing."

Robin Wood, in her book for her deck, says of the 5 of Wands,
"This card shows what may be either a fight or a dance."  I like this.  I
can fight with my body or I can dance with it.  I can fight with eating or I
can dance with it.  I can fight with food or I can dance with it.  I can
fight with my self esteem or I can dance with it. Gee, which sounds like
more fun--fighting or dancing?  Dancing wins, hands down in my book.

Robin Wood goes on to say, "There is a lot of energy in this card; the
question is what use it's being put to."  Oooh.  Another good one.  So, I
have a lot of energy.  What use am I making of it?  Am I making positive,
healthy use of my energy or negative, unhealthy use?  Let me keep track of
my energy expenditures and to try to put a clamp on those negative energy
expenditures.  It's all right to wear myself with positive energy
expenditures, but don't you just hate wearing yourself out by beating
yourself up?  I've done that one before, and I don't want to go there again.

Wood continues, "An interesting note is that these positions were all posed
for by a single man, who is a friend of mine, and also a martial artist.  So
sometimes it seems apparent to me that this is really an inner conflict.
This is the Seeker fighting with himself."

Where am I fighting with myself?  How is that fight affecting my health and
my self esteem?  If I superimpose my own face on each face in the card,
what do I see?  What lesson is there for me?  Am I fighting with  myself or
dancing with myself?

Wands are fire according to most systems of belief.  (Some attribute Wands
to Air.)  5s relate to Geburah, the 5th Sephiroth on the Tree of Life.  The
planet associated with Geburah is Mars.  Mars is a planet of action.
Geburah means Severity.  Sometimes we need severity.  Sometimes we need
action.  Often excessive weight can be a result of too little severity and
too little action.  Also, the 5th Sephiroth (and the 5s in general) are
about purging, releasing, getting rid of that which is unhealthy.  It is
about deep level cleansing on the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical
levels.

What do I need to cleanse in my life?  How can you use these attributes and
others of the 5 of Wands to help you in your health quest?

_________________________________________
Ask me about my email lists and online newsletters.
Nina Lee Braden, nina.lee.braden@...
"Moonstruck" at http://www.ninalee.com


********************************

SUBSCRIBER TIP:  Get To Know Your Deck

********************************

A while back a member of Tarot-L, Tom Tadfor Little (who has a website
at http://www.telp.com/excursions/tarot/) made the following suggestion:
"One of the first things I usually do when getting a new deck is to
politely ask it to tell me something about itself. It's amazing how much
they can have to say in response to that question. Perhaps it comes from
being cooped up in that box for so long."

So the next time I got a new deck, I asked it to introduce itself to me,
and I invited it to present any "thoughts" about our relationship (its
and mine) which it might care to share with me.  With that purpose in
mind, I did a reading using the following three-card layout:

1:  Subconscious
2:  Conscious
3:  Super-conscious, or soul

Without going into details, I'll just say that the reading that I got
was warm, friendly, and full of encouragement for my Tarot practice with
this deck.  To this day I have a very friendly relationship with this
deck.
-------------------------------------------
All the best,
James Ricklef
jwricklef@...


**************************

HUMOR:  An Accurate Psychic

**************************

A frog telephones a psychic hotline and is told, "You are going to meet a
beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you."

"Great," says the frog, "Will I meet her at a party?"

"No," said the psychic, "Next year - in biology class."


=====/=====/=====/=====/=====/

APRIL:  FREE TAROT TELECLASS

=====/=====/=====/=====/=====/

We invite you to join us for an exciting new way to experience the Tarot. A
teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where many people
can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and participate
together in a fun, unique and lively learning experience. It's easy, it's
convenient, and it's affordable!


*** TAROT OPEN PROGRAM ********
Sunday, 4/25 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!

A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter, Geraldine Amaral.

TOPIC: The Devil Card as Personification of Jung's Shadow

GERALDINE AMARAL has been reading and studying the Tarot for over 25 years.
She holds a B.A. in English and Psychology and an M.A. in Humanities. Once a
high school English teacher, she left teaching to explore the esoteric world,
and even studied with a Hawaiian Kahuna. Through her traveling experiences,
living in unusual places, her study of various philosophies and religions and
her education in psychology and the humanities, she has developed insights
into the symbolic and psychological nature of the cards.

She is very interested in the archetypal symbolism in both the cards and in
Jungian psychology and through a series of creative and interactive workshops,
she teaches people how to apply these esoteric principles in pragmatic ways.
Her book "Tarot Celebrations: Honoring the Inner Voice" and her workshops
explore symbolism in the Tarot and explain how to use the tarot as a tool for
personal transformation.

Geraldine also publishes "Celebrating the Tarot," a quarterly newsletter which
is available by subscription. You can contact her at
Tarotcelebrations@... or 703-671-7421.

||||||||| TO REGISTER |||||||||

Email us at Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with
the bridge
number to call. Please put April Open Program in the subject header and
include in the message your name and phone number. You may also register by
calling us at 800-804-2184.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved. You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?
Then pass this message along and tell your friends to join us at Tarot Tips.
Sign-up info below.

If you received this message from a friend and want to join -
To JOIN "Tarot Tips" visit http://www.TarotSchool.com/sitemap.html and tap on
the Join List button or send email to TarotTips-suscribe@onelist.com

Greetings Everyone,

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips and to all the people who have
just joined us. We're happy to welcome more subscribers from Canada, Germany
and the UK, as well as all of you from around the United States.

Thanks also to all of you who forward Tarot Tips and encourage your friends to
sign up. It's exciting to see Tarot practitioners finally developing a real
network!

Last night's Free Tarot Open Program was so much fun! Thank you to all of you
who were able to join us and lend your energy to the class. Our special guest,
Rev. Jennifer E. Moore, creator of The Healing Tarot, shared with us a
powerful relationship spread that we will be reprinting soon in an upcoming
issue of Tarot Tips. Thank you, Jen!  If you haven't had a chance to visit her
website yet, we highly recommend you do it -- there's lot's of great stuff
there. http://www.bluewitch.com

Make sure to register early for next month's Tarot Open Program with Geraldine
Amaral.
See the teleclass schedule below for details.

Please send your questions about Tarot, suggestions for Tarot Tips you'd like
to see in the future, and tips of your own you'd like to share to
<mailto:Tips@...>

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann


__________________________________________________


THIS WEEK'S TAROT TIP: Card Combinations - Part 2

__________________________________________________

When doing divinatory readings, take a look at the cards that are in close
proximity to one another and see if you can find connections between them.
Read them as though they were one image that contained all the elements you
can see. Whatever additional knowledge you have about the cards can also be
considered.

Here are some examples of card combinations with suggestions of how you might
interpret them in a reading:

THE MAGICIAN -
In his aspect as an illusionist and master of sleight of hand, The Magician
can display great manual dexterity. COMBINED WITH:

	 • The Chariot: a skilled auto mechanic
	 • Ace of Swords: someone who enjoys fencing; a neurosurgeon
	 • Three of Swords: a heart surgeon

THE HIGH PRIESTESS -
She is the keeper of knowledge and secrets. COMBINED WITH:

	 • The Two of Pentacles: an accountant, especially at a high level where
confidentiality is important.
	 • The Eight of Cups: a psychotherapist, perhaps specializing in lifestyle
changes or 12-step programs.
	 • The Lovers: a confidante and/or mediator

STRENGTH -
Physical strength, patience, a love of nature and animals. COMBINED WITH:

	 • The Four of Swords: the illness, death or recovery of a pet
	 • The Ten of Wands: great physical endurance, combined with patience and good
nature
	 • The King of Pentacles: a bull market

SIX OF SWORDS
Movement, change of circumstance for the better, journey near or over water.
COMBINED WITH:

	 • The Sun:  a move to a warmer climate
	 • The Hermit:  a trip to the mountains, possibly alone
	 • Eight of Wands:  an overseas plane trip or flying to a cruise destination

SIX OF WANDS -
Victory, success, an out-of-town visitor, a trip or tour. Combined with:

	 • The Ace of Wands:  a book-signing tour
	 • The World:  International recognition
	 • The Eight of Pentacles:  a successful sales representative

These are just some ideas to get you thinking. Make your own list of card
combinations and see how it adds another dimension to your readings. Have fun!


`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Just about every image in the Rider/Waite/Smith deck is
there for a reason. Would you like to know what they mean?
The Tarot School Correspondence Course reveals the secrets
hidden in all 78 cards -- not just the Major Arcana! You can
learn this and much more for only $10 per month. For details,
go to http://www.TarotSchool.com/Course.html


___________________________


APRIL FREE TAROT TELECLASS

___________________________

We invite you to join us for an exciting new way to experience the Tarot. A
teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where many people
can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and participate
together in a fun, unique and lively learning experience. It's easy, it's
convenient, and it's affordable!


*** OPEN TAROT PROGRAM *************
Sunday, 4/25 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!

A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter, Geraldine Amaral.

TOPIC: The Devil Card as Personification of Jung's Shadow

GERALDINE AMARAL has been reading and studying the Tarot for over 25 years.
She holds a B.A. in English and Psychology and an M.A. in Humanities. Once a
high school English teacher, she left teaching to explore the esoteric world,
and even studied with a Hawaiian Kahuna. Through her traveling experiences,
living in unusual places, her study of various philosophies and religions and
her education in psychology and the humanities, she has developed insights
into the symbolic and psychological nature of the cards.

She is very interested in the archetypal symbolism in both the cards and in
Jungian psychology and through a series of creative and interactive workshops,
she teaches people how to apply these esoteric principles in pragmatic ways.
Her book "Tarot Celebrations: Honoring the Inner Voice" and her workshops
explore symbolism in the Tarot and explain how to use the tarot as a tool for
personal transformation.

Geraldine also publishes "Celebrating the Tarot," a quarterly newsletter which
is available by subscription. You can contact her at
Tarotcelebrations@... or 703-671-7421.

||||||||| TO REGISTER |||||||||

Email us at Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with
the bridge
number to call. Please put April Open Program in the subject header and
include in the message your name and phone number. You may also register by
calling us at 800-804-2184.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved. You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?
Then pass this message along and tell your friends to join us at Tarot Tips.
Sign-up info below.

If you received this message from a friend and want to join -
To JOIN "Tarot Tips" visit http://www.TarotSchool.com/sitemap.html and tap on
the Join List button.

Greetings Everyone,

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips and to all the people who have
just joined us this week. Thanks also to all of you who forward Tarot Tips and
encourage your friends to sign up. We're growing to be a solid community of
Tarot enthusiasts!

There's still time to sign up for this month's FREE Tarot Open Program
featuring special guest, Rev. Jennifer E. Moore, creator of the spectacular
Healing Tarot. Be sure to check out the teleclass schedule below for details.

Remember, you can send your questions about Tarot, make suggestions for Tarot
Tips you'd like to see in the future, and share some tips of your own by
contacting us at Tips@...


Enjoy!
Ruth Ann


--------------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S TAROT TIP: Card Combinations - Part I

--------------------------------------------------

Thank you Jennifer, for making the following request:

<<One thing that I sometimes get confused about are complicated combinations
of the cards. I'd like to see a tip on how to go about "telling a story" when
you lay the cards out for a reading.>>

Reading card combinations is something that confuses a lot of people. There
are a number of techniques that can help you do this. I'll suggest a few here
and continue with the subject next week.

• Get the Big Picture:

Cards do not have to be next to one another in order to be related. Looking
for patterns in the spread is a good place to start.

1) Take inventory of the Suits. How many Wands cards are there? How many Cups,
etc.? This will give you a sense of the overall energy of the reading. A
spread with a majority of Swords cards, for instance, might indicate a focus
on education, communication, mental activity (constructive or difficult), or
other topics in the Swords domain. (Learn your Suit correspondences!)

2) Are any Suits missing? What does that suggest to you -- a problem area, or
perhaps an area that's well in hand or irrelevant?

3) How many Court Cards are there? Do other people play a large part in the
"story" of the reading? Or is the querent looking at things from different
perspectives?

4) How many Majors are there? A majority of Major Arcana cards lends a certain
weight/importance to the reading. The focus here is more on the personal and
spiritual evolution of the querent than on day-to-day events.

• Tell the Story:

Place the querent (or yourself if you're reading your own cards) in the
landscape of each card. What is s/he doing there? How does that activity
relate to their present circumstance? If you're not sure, ASK! Move on to the
next scene. Do the same thing. Sometimes the "plot" will be sequential,
sometimes you'll see "flash-backs" -- just like in a movie. Occasionally,
there will be "sub-plots."  (See the Tarot Tips Archives for the "Story
Circle" exercise as another way of developing this skill.)

The most important thing to remember is to keep an open dialogue going with
the querent. If, during the course of your conversation, you get new insights
about a card you've already covered, it's perfectly OK to go back and
elaborate on it.

• Go with the Flow:

Let the story carry you. A lot of times you won't know where the reading is
going at the beginning. You'll start with something that occurs to you or
seems relevant, and as you speak, more information and insights will come to
you. Again, feedback from the querent is helpful in this process.

The skill here is very akin to conversational skill. Just relax and take it
where it goes!


```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Just about every image in the Rider/Waite/Smith deck is
there for a reason. Would you like to know what they mean?
The Tarot School Correspondence Course reveals the secrets
hidden in all 78 cards -- not just the Major Arcana! You can
learn this and much more for only $10 per month. For details,
go to http://www.TarotSchool.com/Course.html


----------------------------------------------

YOUR QUESTIONS: What's so special about silk?

----------------------------------------------

Moonchild asks:

In the last issue of Tarot Tips you wrote:
<< Silk has special qualities which make it an excellent insulator against
ambient psychic energy. >>

What qualities? Could you clarify, please???

ANSWER:

Magickal attributes in general are often versions of observed natural
qualities. Silk has a very tight weave and is therefore a well-known insulator
which doesn't allow heat to pass through it. Extending that quality
magickally, silk protects against strong ambient energies. Whatever is wrapped
inside it will be protected from those energies.


------------------------

MARCH TAROT TELECLASSES

------------------------

We invite you to join us for an exciting new way to experience the Tarot. A
teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where many people
can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and participate
together in a fun, unique and lively learning experience. It's easy, it's
convenient, and it's affordable!


*** OPEN TAROT PROGRAM *************
Sunday, 3/14 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!

A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter, Rev. Jennifer Elizabeth Moore.

TOPIC: Creating Love: Using the Tarot to reveal the path to Intimacy.

Reverend Jennifer Elizabeth Moore  M.A., C.T.F. is the creator of the
recently published Healing Tarot: a photographic deck incorporating masks,
ritual and sacred space. With nearly 18 years of experience as a professional
psychic and a Master's degree in Psychology and Religion,
Jennifer uses Tarot, breathwork and body centered spiritual healing as a
vehicle for pastoral care.


TO REGISTER for this month's Free Tarot Open Program teleclass email us at
Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with the bridge
number to call. Please put March Open Program in the subject header and
include in the message your name and phone number. You may also register by
calling us at 800-804-2184.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved. You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?
Then pass this message along and tell your friends to join us at Tarot Tips.
Sign-up info below.

If you received this message from a friend and want to join -
To JOIN "Tarot Tips" visit http://www.TarotSchool.com/sitemap.html and tap on
the Join List button.

Greetings Everyone,

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips and to all the people who have
joined us this week, including our new member from the Netherlands!
And, to all of you who forward Tarot Tips and encourage your friends to sign
up, Thank You. Your support means a lot and helps us grow.

As always, you can send your questions about Tarot, make suggestions for Tarot
Tips you'd like to see in the future, and share some tips of your own by
contacting us at Tips@...

This week, we're especially pleased to feature a guest article on psychic
shielding for readers. (Thank you, James, for suggesting this great topic!)
The piece was written by Rev. Jennifer E. Moore, who is the special guest
presenter at this month's free Tarot Open Program. Be sure to check out the
teleclass schedule below for details.

We are also happy to be re-offering our 4-week TAROT & MAGICK telecourse this
month for those of you who missed it the last time. Participants in the last
session have reported some fabulous results with the work. If you are at all
interested in exploring some of the hidden power of Tarot, please strongly
consider joining us for this special course.

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann


-----------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S TAROT TIP: Protecting Your Deck

------------------------------------------------

Is there anything wrong with keeping your Tarot cards in their original
cardboard box? Not at all -- but if you carry them around a lot, the box will
start to look pretty ratty and eventually fall apart.

The cards you use (as opposed to the ones you collect) are your personal
sacred tool and should be treated as such. Keeping them in a silk or cotton
bag, or perhaps a special box, will keep them protected and useful for a long
time.

Silk has special qualities which make it an excellent insulator against
ambient psychic energy. Wrapping your cards in silk, or keeping them in a bag
that is lined with silk, gives them an extra measure of protection and keeps
the energy in your cards clear between readings or meditation sessions.

There are many places you can purchase bags and boxes, or you can make your own!

Here are a few resources on the internet:
• Crystal Moon Tarot Bags - http://www.tapestry-magazine.com/bags/bags.htm
• NitePagan's Bag Shop - http://members.aol.com/nitepagan
• Enchanted World of Boxes - http://www.worldofboxes.com/tarot/tarot.htm


-------------------------------

TAROT SCHOOL COMMUNITY NETWORK

-------------------------------
Anita (briarose@...) would like to know:

Is anyone out there planning to attend Rachel Pollack's
workshop at The Heart of the Goddess in New Hope PA on april 23/24?
I plan to attend.  Hope to meet some internet acquaintances there.


***If you'd like to connect with other Tarot Tips subscribers who live near
you, or where you're planning to travel, send us your name, location and email
address and we'll post it in the next issue.****

------------------------------------------

SUBSCRIBER TIPS - Another Shuffling Method

------------------------------------------

Thanks to Lizz for the following tip:

Keeping the cards in a stack, I hold them in one hand and slide each card off
the top one at a time. I place each card on the table making as many small
piles as I want (usually five). One card may go to the first pile the next to
the fifth, and so on. I just keep alternating in any
way I like.  Sometimes I'll even turn the deck around midway through the
shuffle to make sure I am reversing the cards.

--------------------------------------------------------------

SPECIAL GUEST ARTICLE: Psychic Self Defense for Tarot Readings

---------------------------------------------------------------

by Rev. Jennifer Elizabeth Moore

Whenever you provide a reading for someone, you open yourself to another
person's life.  You can be affected by this on many levels: physical,
emotional, mental, psychic/spiritual, consciously and unconsciously.
Whether you attribute this to thoughts, feelings and memories that were
provoked within you during their session, or to a psychic transference of
energy from the querent to you, there can be pronounced after-effects from a
reading.  When you have not properly filtered psychic energy you can find
yourself feeling irritable, anxious, depressed, morose, drained, and/or
preoccupied with the querent's situation and/or similar details from your own
life.  Therefore, it is wise to apply some psychic self-defense techniques to
your Tarot practice.  Psychic self-defense involves three basic steps:  first,
you clear and purify yourself of negativity and distractions; second, you
connect and surround yourself with healthy energy; and third, you ground and
discharge any extra energy you might have taken in. Below are some techniques
for personal psychic protection.

It is especially important to remain "grounded". Being grounded has to do with
your connection to the Earth, and your ability to release any energy that
builds up within you. Just like electrical appliances need a complete circuit
to function, a Tarot reader needs to establish and sustain an unbroken
connection between the self and the earth to work most effectively. To
establish this connection relax and imagine that  the energy of the earth is
rising up through your body and reaching beyond you to the sky, then imagine
that the energy of the sky is showering down through you back to the earth.
Imagine that this is a complete circuit of energy, with energy rising through
you from the earth up to the sky and then back down through you to the earth.
As you become more and more filled with this energy, visualize a ball of light
all around you.  Breathe in the earth/sky energy to fortify your filtering
shields and aura.

Whenever you feel intense emotions or energy during a session with a client it
is important to keep it flowing. There are three ways you might approach this:

1.] Become more aware of your breath, each time you inhale, imagine you are
breathing in the serenity and Divine connection you need to do your work for
the highest and greatest good. Then as you exhale imagine you are releasing
all negativity with your breath and imagine that as soon as it moves from your
body it is neutralized into calmness which disipates gently into the air.

2.] You could reinforce the sense that a cocoon of light surrounds and
sheilds you. Then you could imagine that this shield of light is protecting
you as if you were a smooth stone that energy flows around in the great river
of life.

3.] You can increase your awareness of the grounded circuit of connection you
have developed with the Earth and Sky. As energy moves through you from the
Sky back down to the Earth, imagine that any extra energy you are feeling is
draining down through your body, out of your feet and down to the heart of the
Earth. By maintaining awareness of your connection to a complete circuit, you
can always replenish any energy you release with new energy.

_______________________________________________________
THE HEALING TAROT         <HTTP://WWW.BLUEWITCH.COM>
Exploring Choices To Create The Future You Want To Live
________________________________________________________
Rev. Jennifer Elizabeth Moore
PO BOX 903, Winchester MA 01890
Spirati@...


------------------------

MARCH TAROT TELECLASSES

------------------------

We invite you to join us for an exciting new way to experience the Tarot. A
teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where many people
can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and participate
together in a fun, unique and lively learning experience. It's easy, it's
convenient, and it's affordable!


*** TAROT & MAGICK TELECOURSE ************
Consecutive Sundays, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28
4:00 PM EST  $50 for all four classes

Magick is the secret energy of modern life. It's all around us all the time
and runs through everything we do. Tarot is a deck of cards, a picture book of
symbols, a secret language and a magick wand all at the same time. In this
four-part telecourse, you'll learn to recognize magick when you see it, and
find out how you can invoke and direct it through the ancient mystery of Tarot.

Topics Include:
• Manifesting Wishes
• Evocation of Powers
• Awakening the Will and Using Intention
• Magickal Powers of the Heart, the Mind & the Body
• What is Safe and What is Not
• What Can & Cannot be Done
• The Sources of Desire

Topics NOT Included:
• Ceremonial and Ritual Magick
• Western Mysteries and Occultism

Class is limited to 25 people.


*** OPEN TAROT PROGRAM *************
Sunday, 3/14 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE! (*Please note date change!*)

A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter, Rev. Jennifer Elizabeth Moore.
Topic: Creating Love: Using the Tarot to reveal the path to Intimacy.

Reverend Jennifer Elizabeth Moore  M.A., C.T.F. is the creator of the
recently published Healing Tarot: a photographic deck incorporating masks,
ritual and sacred space. With nearly 18 years of experience as a professional
psychic and a Master's degree in Psychology and Religion,
Jennifer uses Tarot, breathwork and body centered spiritual healing as a
vehicle for pastoral care.


To register for any of these teleclasses email us at
Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with the bridge
number to call. Please put Tarot Teleclass in the subject header and include
in the message your name, phone number, credit card information (where
applicable) and the class or classes you wish to take. You may also register
by calling us at 800-804-2184.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved. You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?
Then pass this message along and tell your friends to join us at Tarot Tips.
Sign-up info below.

If you received this message from a friend and want to join -
To JOIN "Tarot Tips" visit http://www.TarotSchool.com/sitemap.html and tap on
the Join List button.

Greetings Everyone,

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips and to the many people who have
joined us this week, including some friends from the American Tarot
Association. Greetings also to our new members from Singapore, Belgium and
Norway!
And, to all of you who forward Tarot Tips and encourage your friends to sign
up, Thank You. Your support means a lot.

This week, The Tarot School Community Network features quite a number of you
who have expressed the wish to connect with other Tarot Tips subscribers. If
you see someone listed there who lives in your local area, please send them a
note to say hello.

As always, you can send your questions about Tarot, make suggestions for Tarot
Tips you'd like to see in the future, and share some tips of your own by
contacting us at Tips@...

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann


--------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S TAROT TIP: Shuffling Along

--------------------------------------


Shuffling the cards comes naturally to some people, but not to everyone. If
your hands are small or the cards are particularly large or round-shaped, you
may have difficulty performing the standard shuffling procedure. Also if your
cards are old or especially delicate, you'll want to take extra care when
shuffling them. Here are a couple of "low impact" methods you can try:

1. The Pool:

Place all the cards face-down on the table in front of you and gently push
them around with a swirling motion. Do this in a meditative state, while
focusing on your question. When you are finished, you can gather the cards
together in a stack again or leave them where they are and choose your cards
at random from the pool.

2. Slow-Poke:

Keeping the cards in a stack, hold them in one hand. With the index finger of
the other hand, poke at the short end of the stack until a few cards stick out
the other side. Pull those cards out and place them on the top or bottom of
the deck. Repeat this process, keeping your question in mind, until your
intuition tells you to stop.


----------------------------------

THE TAROT SCHOOL COMMUNITY NETWORK

-----------------------------------

This new Tarot Tips feature is now available to the members of this list to
enable you to make connections with other list members who live near  you, or
in places you travel, to share your love of Tarot. If you would like to be
contacted, please feel free to send your name, email address and geographical
location to us at Tips@... and we'll post your request in this
section of the newsletter.

----<--<<@  ----<--<<@

Bonnie Russell
blr@...
I want to be contacted by anyone from anywhere in the World, and would
especially appreciate getting to know people in West Virginia, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Illinois and Indiana.

----<--<<@  ----<--<<@

Corrine Kenner
Two of Cups Tarot
http://www.TwoOfCups.com
(651) 699-8394 fax (651) 696-9171
PO Box 11350, St. Paul, MN 55111-0350

----<--<<@  ----<--<<@

Daile - Dayton, OH
DaileB@...

----<--<<@  ----<--<<@

Diane -  Florida
ladydi3@...

----<--<<@  ----<--<<@

Jean - Guam
7jean@...

----<--<<@  ----<--<<@

Judi Boyd - San Francisco, California
judi.boyd@...

----<--<<@  ----<--<<@.

Judy Lenzin - Switzerland
tj.lenzin@...

----<--<<@  ----<--<<@

Richard
Washington, DC
libra@...

----<--<<@  ----<--<<@

Tia - Montana & other states/provinces in the North West
rh2000@...


---------------------------------------

SUBSCRIBER TIPS - Reading with 2 Decks

----------------------------------------

Thanks to Lizz for the following tip:

I find it really helpful to keep one set of tarot cards in order. I keep the
Mythic Tarot in order and then when I do a 3 card reading I can go to the
ordered stack and easily find the same cards.  First interpret the cards that
were shuffled and pulled and then, when I am done interpreting them, I take
out the equivalent cards in the second deck and look for new information. It
helps me to learn both decks and always supplies me with extra info. It never
fails me.


------------------------

MARCH TAROT TELECLASSES

------------------------

We invite you to join us for an exciting new way to experience the Tarot. A
teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where many people
can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and participate
together in a fun, unique and lively learning experience. It's easy, it's
convenient, and it's affordable!


*** TAROT & MAGICK TELECOURSE ************
Consecutive Sundays, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28
4:00 PM EST  $50

For those of you who were unable to attend the last time, we are happy to
offer TAROT & MAGICK again in March on a different day and time. We hope
you'll join us for this special course.

Magick is all around us all the time and runs through everything we do. In
this four-part telecourse, you'll learn to recognize it when you see it (at
least some of the time). Find out how you can both invoke *and* evoke it
through the ancient mystery of Tarot.

Tarot is a deck of cards, a picture book of symbols, a secret language and a
magick wand all at the same time. It is a tool you can use in many ways and
also a great friend and playmate. We cordially invite you to come play with us
and get acquainted with the practical magick of Tarot.

Class is limited to 25 people.


*** OPEN TAROT PROGRAM *************
Sunday, 3/14 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE! (*Please note date change!*)
A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter, Rev. Jennifer Elizabeth Moore.

Reverend Jennifer Elizabeth Moore  M.A., C.T.F. is the creator of the
recently published Healing Tarot: a photographic deck incorporating masks,
ritual and sacred space. With nearly 18 years of experience as a professional
psychic and a Master's degree in Psychology and Religion,
Jennifer uses Tarot, breathwork and body centered spiritual healing as a
vehicle for pastoral care.

Topic: Creating Love: Using the Tarot to reveal the path to Intimacy.

Visit her website to see this magnificent deck!
_______________________________________________________
THE HEALING TAROT         <HTTP://WWW.BLUEWITCH.COM>
Exploring Choices To Create The Future You Want To Live
_______________________________________________________
Rev. Jennifer Elizabeth Moore
PO BOX 903, Winchester MA 01890
Spirati@...
________________________________

To register for any of these teleclasses email us at
Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with the bridge
number to call. Please put Tarot Teleclass in the subject header and include
in the message your name, phone number, credit card information (where
applicable) and the class or classes you wish to take. You may also register
by calling us at 800-804-2184.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved. You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?
Then pass this message along and tell your friends to join us at Tarot Tips.
Sign-up info below.

If you received this message from a friend and want to join -
To JOIN "Tarot Tips" visit http://www.TarotSchool.com/TarotSchool.html and tap
on the Join List button at the bottom of the page.

Greetings Everyone,

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips. I'd like to thank all of you who
took the time to tell me where you're from. It's really wonderful to see how
much of a global Tarot community there is. This week, we're joined by taroists
from Taiwan, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, as well as many of you from
the United States. Welcome!

If you're a new member of our group, be sure to visit the archives for a
wealth of past Tarot Tips. (See the directions at the end of the newsletter.)

This week we're introducing another new periodic section of Tarot Tips: The
Tarot School Community Network. If you'd like to be contacted by others from
your part of the country or world, send us a note and we'll list you here.

Don't forget, you can also send your questions about Tarot, make suggestions
for Tarot Tips you'd like to see in the future, and share some tips of your
own. Just email us at Tips@...

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

DO YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?
Then pass this message along and tell your friends to join us at Tarot Tips.
Sign-up info below.

If you received this message from a friend and want to join -
To JOIN "Tarot Tips" visit http://www.TarotSchool.com/TarotSchool.html and tap
on the Join List button at the bottom of the page.


------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S TAROT TIP: Getting To Know You

-------------------------------------------


Many Tarot teachers use the Rider/Waite/Smith (or Universal Waite) deck to
teach with because of the wealth of symbolism contained in the cards, the
tradition behind them, and the clarity with which they lend themselves to
interpretation.

Not everyone likes this deck, however. If you are learning Tarot with this
less-than-favorite deck, there is still a way that you can stay connected with
other decks you like better, without getting too distracted from your studies.

Many taroists enjoy the practice of pulling a "Card-A-Day," either in the
morning or before going to sleep at night. Reserve this special ritual for a
deck of your choice. If you like, you can pull the same card from both decks
and compare them. This is also an excellent way to get the feel of any new
deck you (inevitably) add to your collection!

A way to expand on this practice would be to draw the same card from *several*
favorite or interesting decks. This will give you a feeling for how different
images can address the same issue in a given card.

A strong graphic example of what can be gained from this practice would be to
compare a card such as XIII-Death in several decks. If you do this, we're sure
you'll make some interesting discoveries.


----------------------------------

THE TAROT SCHOOL COMMUNITY NETWORK

-----------------------------------

This new Tarot Tips feature is now available to the members of this list to
enable you to make connections with other list members who live near  you, or
in places you travel, to share your love of Tarot. If you would like to be
contacted, please feel free to send your name, email address and geographical
location to us at Tips@... and we'll post your request in this
section of the newsletter.


----<-<@ ----<-<@ ----<-<@
Bonnie - West Virginia (USA)
contact her at: blr@...


------------------------

MARCH TAROT TELECLASSES

------------------------

We invite you to join us for an exciting new way to experience the Tarot. A
teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where many people
can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and participate
together in a fun, unique and lively learning experience. It's easy, it's
convenient, and it's affordable!


*** TAROT & MAGICK TELECOURSE ************
Consecutive Sundays, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28
4:00 PM EST  $50

For those of you who were unable to attend the last time, we are happy to
offer TAROT & MAGICK again in March on a different day and time. We hope
you'll join us for this special course.

Magick is all around us all the time and runs through everything we do. In
this four-part telecourse, you'll learn to recognize it when you see it (at
least some of the time). Find out how you can both invoke *and* evoke it
through the ancient mystery of Tarot.

Tarot is a deck of cards, a picture book of symbols, a secret language and a
magick wand all at the same time. It is a tool you can use in many ways and
also a great friend and playmate. We cordially invite you to come play with us
and get acquainted with the practical magick of Tarot.

Class is limited to 25 people.


*** OPEN TAROT PROGRAM *************
Sunday, 3/21 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter to be announced shortly.


To register for any of these teleclasses email us at
Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with the bridge
number to call. Please put Tarot Teleclass in the subject header and include
in the message your name, phone number, credit card information (where
applicable) and the class or classes you wish to take. You may also register
by calling us at 800-804-2184.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved. You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

Greetings to you all -

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips. Special thanks to all of you who
are helping to build Tarot community by suggesting that your friends and
colleagues subscribe and a warm welcome to all of you who have just joined us!

"The Tarot School Without Walls" extends this week to Germany, the UK and
Argentina. How many states and Canadian provinces do we have represented? I'd
love it if you'd drop me an email at Tips@... and tell me what
part of the country or world you're from.

Don't forget to join us for this month's FREE Tarot teleclass! See below for
the details.

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann


--------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S TAROT TIP: Meditation Made Easy

--------------------------------------------

Before beginning a Tarot reading or study session, it's a good practice to
begin with a short meditation. This will help relax your body and focus your
awareness. Here's a simple, three-step meditation that works remarkably well,
even for people who have difficulty meditating -- Relax... Let Go... Be Still...

First, with your eyes closed, take a couple of deep breaths.

RE-LAX:  On the inhalation, mentally say the syllable "RE," then "LAX" on the
exhalation. Repeat this three times while relaxing the muscles in your body.

Take a deep breath.

LET-GO: On the inhalation, mentally say the word "LET," then "GO" on the
exhalation. You can visualize yourself letting go of an object in outer space
and drifting off, or perhaps imagine yourself as a drop of water that drips
from a leaf into a pool of water to merge with the pool.
Let go of worry, anxiety and distraction. Repeat this three times.

Take another deep breath.

BE-STILL: On the inhalation, mentally say the word "BE," then "STILL" on the
exhalation. Think of a candle flame that never wavers.  Feel the stillness
within yourself. Repeat this three times and then take a final deep breath
before opening your eyes.

If you like, let this carry you into a deeper, longer meditation.


------------------

GOOD FOR A LAUGH

------------------

In The Cards

A teacher asked one of the boys in her class, "Can people predict the future
with cards?"

His response was, "My mother can."

The teacher replied, "Really?"

The young boy was quick to explain, "Yes, she takes one look at my report card
and tells me what will happen when my father gets home."


--------------------------

UPCOMING TAROT TELECLASSES

--------------------------

We invite you to join us for an exciting new way to experience the Tarot. A
teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where many people
can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and participate
together in a fun, unique and lively learning experience. It's easy, it's
convenient, and it's affordable!

NOTE: This is a regular long-distance phone call, billed by your carrier. For
most people this should be about 10¢/min -- it is NOT a 900# call that costs
$2.99/min or more!


*** TAROT & MAGICK TELECOURSE ***************
Consecutive Wednesdays, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24
9:00 PM EST  $50

(If you missed the first class but would still like to join us, please let us
know. This is the last week we'll be accepting new students.)

Magick is all around us all the time and runs through everything we do. In
this four-part telecourse, you'll learn to recognize it when you see it (at
least some of the time). Find out how you can both invoke *and* evoke it
through the ancient mystery of Tarot.

Tarot is a deck of cards, a picture book of symbols, a secret language and a
magick wand all at the same time. It is a practical tool you can use in many
ways and also a great friend and playmate. We cordially invite you to come
play with us and get acquainted with the magick of Tarot.

Class is limited to 25 people.


*** OPEN TAROT PROGRAM *************
Sunday, 2/14 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter Robert M. Place, creator of "The
Alchemical Tarot" and "The Angels Tarot."


To register for any of these teleclasses email us at
Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with the bridge
number to call. Please put Tarot Teleclass in the subject header and include
in the message your name, phone number, credit card information (where
applicable) and the class or classes you wish to take. You may also register
by calling us at 800-804-2184.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see or have a tip of your own you'd like to
share? Send your suggestion to Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved. You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

Greetings to you all -

Happy Imbolc and Happy Blue Moon! This has turned out to be a rather longish
issue. Could be a once-in-a-Blue-Moon kind of thing, who knows?

This has been a pretty busy week for us at The Tarot School (aren't they
all?). The Intro to Tarot & Magick teleclass was great fun. I drew the 6 of
Wands as the card for the class and feel it was a big success. We're really
looking forward to delving way deeper into the subject with the Tarot & Magick
4-week telecourse that starts this Wednesday. If you haven't signed up yet,
there are still some places left in the class. Details are listed below.

Also this week, I'm adding a new feature to Tarot Tips -- Student Tips! If you
have a special Tarot practice or trick-of-the-trade that you would like to
share, send it to me at Tips@...  Include your name, email address
and URL if you have one. Who knows, your tip could be chosen for a future
issue!

Your referrals are helping us grow and create a worldwide Tarot community.
This week we're happy to welcome new members from Singapore and Oman! If you
know anyone who might also enjoy Tarot Tips, please feel free to forward this
edition to them (in its entirety, please).

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann

--------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S TAROT TIP: Up, Down and Sideways

--------------------------------------------

A lot can be said on the subject of reversals (cards with an upside-down or
"ill-dignified" orientation) but here are a few things to consider:

• Reversals can be interpreted as a negative or lessening effect of a card, a
delay, a block, or an internal process -- something you haven't discussed with
other people yet or something still percolating in your subsconscious.

• Sometimes a reversed card is trying to call attention to itself, "Hey, look
at me! I'm really important!!"

• Some people don't use reversals at all, preferring to use their intuition to
choose the appropriate interpretation from the full spectrum of meanings
inherent in each card. (This is also how you would approach a card that's laid
out sideways, such as the "Crossing Card" in the Celtic Cross spread.)

• You can be selective about using reversals. Decide at the beginning of the
spread if they are appropriate or not. Trust your judgement and stick to your
decision.

• But you can also be daring and innovative by using a mix-and-match approach.
Within the same spread, take each card on an individual basis and decide if
you wish to read the reversal or not!

---------------------------------------

YOUR QUESTIONS: Sources of Symbolism

---------------------------------------

"I am enjoying your weekly newsletter very much, it's a great service.
Could you please extend some suggested reading on this week's subject
"symbolism" in next weeks edition? I would like to get one of those
dictionaries you mentioned, one that is readily available." - Shari

***
Greetings Shari,

Below are some of the symbolism books that we have on our shelf; there are
many more. You can do a search on symbolism at Amazon.com and see what you
come up with. (We have a search box on our links page at
www.TarotSchool.com/Links.html)

Also, there are publishers, such as Thames and Hudson, that publish  books on
specialized topics that will have symbolic references in them as well. You
might want to check out their Sacred Symbols series. They are tiny books which
are beautifully produced and have a wealth of information.

Then, of course, if you're looking for a complete reference of all the
symbolism found in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, there's our own Tarot School
Correspondence Course. As far as we know, there is no other source where you
can find interpretations of all the symbols in both the Major and Minor Arcana
in one place. (For more info visit www.TarotSchool.com/Course.html)

Tom Chetwind: Dictionary of Symbols
Jean Chevalier, Alain Gheerbrant: The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols
J.E. Cirlot: A Dictionary of Symbols
David Fontana: The Secret Language of Symbols
Barbara Walker: The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols & Sacred Objects


---------------------------------------

STUDENT TIPS:

To help myself memorize the keywords which I have come up with for
each of the Tarot cards, I mentally run through all the cards while I am
on the treadmill or stairmaster at the gym. (For people who don’t
workout, there’s always the checkout line at the grocery store, waiting
in line at the post office, being stuck in traffic, etc.)  For each
card, I visualize it as completely as I can, I recall my keyword for it,
and I think of other associated meanings for it.

Sometimes I run through the minor Arcana numerically by suit, sometimes by
suit within each number (i.e., all four aces, then all four twos, etc.)
Similarly, you can run through the Majors in either ascending or descending
order. It’s a great way to deepen your knowledge of, and relationship with,
your cards and it may bring up unexpected things about their
inter-relationships, too. Besides that, it sure makes the time go faster!

Thanks to James Ricklef for submitting this suggestion. You can contact James
at jwricklef@...

--------------------------

UPCOMING TAROT TELECLASSES

We invite you to join us for an exciting new way to experience the Tarot. A
teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where many people
can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and participate
together in a fun, unique and lively learning experience. It's easy, it's
convenient, and it's affordable!


TAROT & MAGICK TELECOURSE
Consecutive Wednesdays, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24
9:00 PM EST  $50

Magick is all around us all the time and runs through everything we do. In
this four-part telecourse, you'll learn to recognize it when you see it (at
least some of the time). Find out how you can both invoke *and* evoke it
through the ancient mystery of Tarot.

Tarot is a deck of cards, a picture book of symbols, a secret language and a
magick wand all at the same time. It is a practical tool you can use in many
ways and also a great friend and playmate. We cordially invite you to come
play with us and get acquainted with the magick of Tarot.

Class is limited to 25 people.


OPEN TAROT PROGRAM
Sunday, 2/14 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter Robert M. Place, creator of "The
Alchemical Tarot" and "The Angels Tarot."


To register for any of these teleclasses email us at
Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with the bridge
number to call. Please put Tarot Teleclass in the subject header and include
in the message your name, phone number, credit card information (where
applicable) and the class or classes you wish to take. You may also register
by calling us at 800-804-2184.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved. You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

Greetings all!

We are writing to people who have taken teleclasses with us over the past few
weeks and to those who subscribe to Tarot Tips, The Tarot School
Correspondence Course, and Tarot enthusiasts in general to announce the
details of our exciting February teleclass schedule.

For those of you who have not yet discovered teleclasses, which are conducted
entirely on the telephone, you can find out all about them on our website at:
http://www.TarotSchool.com/Teleclasses.html

------------------

FIRST:

We were so amazed at the response to the first Tarot Open Program and to the
Intro to Tarot & Magick teleclass! Almost 50 people registered for each class,
and although there were one or two minor problems we had a great time at both
classes. We want to thank everyone who came and lent us their energy and
enthusiasm to make them a success!

------------------

SECOND:

We want to invite you all to join us for the February Tarot Open Program. Our
guest presenter will be Robert M. Place, creator of The Alchemical Tarot and
The Angels Tarot. And we will have a little experiential love magick, Q & A,
discussion, and community announcements. It's great fun and we do hope you'll
join us.

Day and Date: Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14th
Time: 9:00 PM EST

This program is FREE but you do need to register for it. To do so, email us at
Teleclasses@... and we'll send you confirmation with the bridge
number to call.

------------------

THIRD:

We introduced the subject of Tarot & Magick in a teleclass this past
Wednesday, January 27th. It's a big subject and we were only able to offer a
taste of it. But from the response we've had, everyone enjoyed it and got a
lot out of it. That class was an introduction to a 4-session, month-long
telecourse on Tarot & Magick that will be truly exciting because it will open
the door wide on a fascinating aspect of Tarot that is not often taught.

We want to invite you to join us for this course even if you weren't able to
be with us last Wednesday, and learn what Tarot Magick is, where it can go,
and what it can do for you.

Days and Dates: Consecutive Wednesdays, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17 & 2/24
Time: 9:00 PM EST
Tuition: $50 for all four classes

To get the telephone number to call, you will need to register. You can
register and pay by credit card (Visa, MC, Amex) via email at
Teleclasses@... or by calling us at 800-804-2184. This is voice
mail. Please leave a message and we will call you back.

Topics Include:

• Manifesting Wishes
• Evocation of Powers
• Awakening the Will and Using Intention
• The Magickal Powers of the Heart, the Mind & the Body
• What is Safe and What is Not
• What Can and Cannot be Done
• The Sources of Desire

Topics NOT Included:

• Ceremonial and Ritual Magick
• Western Mysteries and Occultism

Join in the fun and bring your deck and your questions. You'll need to contact
us soon since the course begins in less than a week and enrollment is limited
to 25 people.

We look forward to sharing the magick of Tarot with you!


Bright blessings,
Ruth Ann & Wald

________________

The Tarot School
Ruth Ann Brauser, CTGM & Wald Amberstone, CTGM
Tarot@...  Call toll-free: 800-804-2184

                                 ***
              Visit http://www.TarotSchool.com and get
            "Tarot Tips" delivered to you by email every week
            **************Absolutely FREE!***************
                   AND sign up for our FREE Tarot Teleclasses!
__________________________________________________________________

Greetings!

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips!  And a warm welcome to all the
new "students" who have joined us this past week. Be sure to take a look at
the Tarot Tips archives to complete your collection --
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

One of our goals is to bring together a world-wide Tarot community.
Astrologers have had one for years but until very recently, Tarot
practitioners have not had the same kind of supportive network. Through our
connection with each other, we have a chance to change that. If you'd like to
help spread the word about The Tarot School, Free Tarot Tips and Teleclasses,
there's a new feature on our website that makes it easy. Just fill out the
referral form at http://www.TarotSchool.com/sitemap.html and we'll send your
friends a friendly note telling them about our site.

This week's Tarot Tip takes a look at the always fascinating topic of symbols.

Enjoy!

-- Ruth Ann

---------------------------

SYMBOL INTERPRETATION FOR PSYCHIC READINGS

The Tarot is, above all, a vehicle for symbolic imagery. These symbols may be
interpreted in many different ways. Symbols that have their origin with The
Golden Dawn and other mystical orders are to be interpreted within the system
of Western Hermeticism. However, those same symbols, as well as other
pictorial images, can be interpreted purely intuitively. What do they make
*you* think of?

Another way to interpret the symbology found in Tarot is to look beyond Tarot
books at sources of general symbolism. There are many excellent symbol
dictionaries on the market, along with other books that give some attention to
symbol interpretation.

The following is a list of suggestions that appear in the book, "ESP for
Everyone"  by Robert A. Ferguson. (This book is out of print but there may
still be a few around somewhere.)
We are not recommending this book in particular over other books but are using
this list as one example of the kind of resources you can use to enhance your
symbolic vocabulary. These interpretations are by no means complete and do not
refer to Tarot, but they should give you an idea of how the game is played.
You will probably not find all of these images in the Tarot deck you are
using, but it's possible you could find them in a different deck -- or, you
might like to use some of these symbols in a deck you are creating yourself!


  * Arrow pointing away from me: someone leaving
  * Arrow pointing toward me: someone coming toward me
  * Bell: joy, victory
  * Bird: coming of good news
  * Blue cross: spiritual leader
  * Books: education
  * Candle: faith in spiritual things
  * Circle: completeness
  * Clocks: under the law of time, or something that is possible
       but not yet firmly in the future.
  * Cross: protection
  * Daffodils: springtime
  * Door: new situation
  * Dove: peace, harmony
  * Elephant: physical strength
  * Fox: slyness
  * Horse: earthly wisdom
  * Key: a new opening, or a change
  * Mountain: struggle
  * Moving hands: actively working
  * Owl: spiritual wisdom
  * Pine tree: a sturdy character
  * Primroses: fall season
  * Red cross: involved in medicine
  * Rose: love, appreciation
  * Signature: binding agreement, contract
  * Stairs: an easy climb
  * Still hands: lack of work
  * Suitcases: a trip
  * Sword: interest in history
  * Ticket: entrance into something previously excluded from
  * Triangle: interest in metaphysics
  * Two buildings: change of jobs
  * Yellow cross: philosopher or philosophy


--------------------------

UPCOMING TAROT TELECLASSES

We invite you to join us for an exciting new way to experience the Tarot. A
teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where many people
can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and participate
together in a fun, unique and lively learning experience. It's easy, it's
convenient, and it's affordable!


INTRODUCTION TO TAROT & MAGICK TELECLASS
Wednesday, 1/27 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
Magick is the secret energy of modern life. Learn how to evoke and direct that
energy through Tarot so you can turn your wishes into reality. There's still
time to register!


TAROT & MAGICK TELECOURSE
Consecutive Wednesdays, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24
9:00 PM EST  $50

Magick is all around us all the time and runs through everything we do. In
this four-part telecourse, you'll learn to recognize it when you see it (at
least some of the time). Find out how you can both invoke *and* evoke it
through the ancient mystery of Tarot.

Tarot is a deck of cards, a picture book of symbols, a secret language and a
magick wand all at the same time. It is a practical tool you can use in many
ways and also a great friend and playmate. We cordially invite you to come
play with us and get acquainted with the magick of Tarot.

Class is limited to 25 people.


OPEN TAROT PROGRAM
Sunday, 2/14 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter Robert M. Place, creator of "The
Alchemical Tarot" and "The Angels Tarot."


To register for any of these teleclasses email us at
Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with the bridge
number to call. Please put Tarot Teleclass in the subject header and include
in the message your name, phone number, credit card information (where
applicable) and the class or classes you wish to take. You may also register
by calling us at 800-804-2184.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School


*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" is provided courtesy of The Tarot School and all rights are
reserved. You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

Greetings!

Welcome to this week's edition of Tarot Tips -- especially to those of you who
are joining us for the first time. This week, what I like to think of as "The
Tarot School Without Walls" has extended to Brazil, Argentina, the
Netherlands, and Alaska! (Yes, I know Alaska's not a foreign country but from
where I sit in New York, it's still pretty far away.) And thanks to all of you
who are letting others know about Tarot Tips and helping us grow!

---------------------------

TAROT TIPS & THE 8 OF WANDS

Speaking of growing, Tarot Tips started out as a 2-3 paragraph "nugget"
broadcast but that seems to be changing a bit. If I were to pick a card to
represent the energy of this list, I would choose the 8 of Wands. Besides the
power of swift flight that the internet grants, the Suit of Wands is the only
Suit which is organically alive and has the capacity for growth. So, as you
can see, Tarot Tips has been experiencing growth in length as well as
circulation. Another personal interpretation that I have for the 8 of Wands,
however, is "rebellion." (Run awaaaay!!) With that in mind, I make absolutely
no guarantees how long or short this "newsletter" will be from week to week. <G>

One thing that will determine the length is your feedback. I'm allowing space
to answer questions that arise from any of the Tips we publish. If there is
something you would like clarification on, please contact us at
Tips@...  If you don't understand something we've said, chances
are there are others who don't either. I hope this will help make Tarot Tips
more useful for everybody.

However, PLEASE, limit your questions to previously published Tarot Tips only!
This is not the place to ask general questions about Tarot. As always, though,
we welcome suggestions for future Tips.

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann


---------------

TAROT ROLE-PLAY

Ever wish you could practice reading for new people but the only people you
know well enough to practice on are those you've already read for a hundred
times? Here's a fun technique you can try with a partner or in a group:

Have the person you're reading for create a persona. Just like in a play or
role-gaming adventure, their persona should be as multi-dimensional as they
can imagine. Your partner should be able to describe their character, know
their history and feel their emotions. What kind of problem would their
character have that would bring them to a reader? What questions would they ask?

Conduct your reading session just as if you were reading for a real person.
This can be great fun at a party!


---------------------------------------

YOUR QUESTIONS: Calculating Birth Cards


Confusion about calculating Birth Cards is very common. Even though the math
is very simple, the concept can be difficult to grasp.

If a birthday adds up to a digit plus a zero, it reduces immediately to a
single digit. But the single digits are all paired with a double digit from
which it is derived. 9, for instance, can only be arrived at, within the
numbers of the Major Arcana, from the number 18 (1+8=9).

If you search for the double digit that is the pair of each single digit, you
will find there is only one possibility in each case.

A table follows:

9 is paired with 18 (1+8)
8 is paired with 17 (1+7)
7 is paired with 16 (1+6)
6 is paired with 15 (1+5)
5 is paired with 14 (1+4)
4 is paired with 13 (1+3)
3 is paired with 12 (1+2)
2 is paired with 11 (1+1)
1 is paired with 10 (1+0)

There is one exception where you will have three Birth Cards. If the birthdate
sum = 19, it will reduce first to (19), then to (10), and finally (1).

We hope this clears up any confusion.


--------------------------

UPCOMING TAROT TELECLASSES

We invite you to join us for an exciting new way to experience the Tarot. A
teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where many people
can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and participate
together in a fun, unique and lively learning experience. It's easy, it's
convenient, and it's affordable!


INTRODUCTION TO TAROT & MAGICK TELECLASS
Wednesday, 1/27 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
Magick is the secret energy of modern life. Learn how to evoke and direct that
energy through Tarot so you can turn your wishes into reality.


TAROT & MAGICK TELECOURSE
Consecutive Wednesdays, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24
9:00 PM EST  $50

Magick is all around us all the time and runs through everything we do. In
this four-part telecourse, you'll learn to recognize it when you see it (at
least some of the time). Find out how you can both invoke *and* evoke it
through the ancient mystery of Tarot.

Tarot is a deck of cards, a picture book of symbols, a secret language and a
magick wand all at the same time. It is a practical tool you can use in many
ways and also a great friend and playmate. We cordially invite you to come
play with us and get acquainted with the magick of Tarot.

Class is limited to 25 people.


OPEN TAROT PROGRAM
Sunday, 2/14 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and a special guest presenter.


To register for any of these teleclasses email us at
Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with the bridge
number to call. Please put Tarot Teleclass in the subject header and include
in the message your name, phone number and the class or classes you wish to
take.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School


*****************

Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved. You can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

Greetings all!

Welcome to this week's special edition of Tarot Tips. The Year-Long Spread is
not really a "tip." It's a Tarot Practice that we have found so valuable we
wanted to share it with all of you.

In order to do this spread properly, you will need to know your birth cards.
Please review last week's Tarot Tip, Determining Your Birth Cards, for the
method we use -- it is different from others you may have come across. For
those of you who have just joined us this week (we're glad to have you with
us!), you can see previous Tarot Tips by visiting
http://www.onelist.com/archives.cgi/TarotTips

Also, take a minute to look at this month's offering of free Tarot Teleclasses
(below). There's still time to sign up for the 1/17 Open Program with
Geraldine Amaral. Come and play!


--------------------

THE YEAR-LONG SPREAD

This is another spread that is good to begin at the New Year but you may start
it any time. It is a combination of a spread and a practice that is done every
day for a year. At the end of that time you may, if you wish, continue your
practice with a new spread.

A day is a long time. A year has 365 of them -- almost an eternity. As you
probably know, it's a common practice among Tarot people to pick a card every
day and contemplate its message. This spread will elaborate on that practice
and give you a mighty piece of contemplation to do.

For this exercise you will need a dedicated deck that you don't use for
anything else during the coming year. The cards you will be using for this
exercise will need a special place to keep and refer to them. There'll never
be more than five of them at a time so you won't need a big place. Your altar
might do very nicely.

First, take out of the deck your two birth cards. (See last week's Tarot Tip
for the method we use at The Tarot School.)

Second, make a separate deck out of the Major Arcana (minus your birth cards)
and draw one card from this little deck for the year. Contemplate this card as
your theme for the year. Spend some time every day for the next year doing at
least a small contemplation on this card. Contemplate this year card in the
context of your birth cards.

Third, shuffle the remaining Major Arcana back into the rest of the deck. Pick
one from this deck as your theme for the month. Contemplate this card within
the context of the year card and your birth cards. These cards together will
contain an augmented message for the month.

Each month, return the previous month's card to the deck and draw a new card
for the new month. If you pick a card you've drawn before, draw again.

Fourth, shuffle the remaining cards of the deck carefully and thoroughly once
each day and then draw a card for the day. Add this card to the other four
and contemplate the five cards together as your message for the day.

If you do this Five-Card Contemplation each day, changing the day and the
month cards at the appropriate times, by the end of the year your sense of
yourself, your year, and Tarot will be very intricate, very detailed, very
large and very true.

This is only a 5-card spread but it's a tough one. We've been doing this
practice ourselves and find it very powerful.

-----------------------

FREE TAROT TELECLASSES

We are very excited to be officially launching our Tarot School Teleclasses
starting this month. A teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone
conference where many people can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge
number" and participate together in a fun, unique and lively learning
experience. It's easy, it's convenient, and it's affordable!

We are offering the following classes Free of charge. The only cost to you is
that of a simple, one-hour long-distance telephone call, billed by your
carrier. For most people, this usually runs about $6 for the hour -- way less
than it costs to park in Manhattan and you don't even have to leave the house!

OPEN TAROT PROGRAM
Sunday, 1/17 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter Geraldine Amaral, author of "Tarot
Celebrations."

INTRODUCTION TO TAROT & MAGICK
Wednesday, 1/27 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
Magick is the secret energy of modern life. Learn how to evoke and direct that
energy through Tarot so you can turn your wishes into reality.

To register for either or both of these free teleclasses email us at
Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with the bridge
number to call. Please put Tarot Teleclass in the subject header and include
in the message your name, phone number and the class or classes you wish to
take.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School


*************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved.

Greetings!

Happy New Year to you all and a warm welcome to those of you who have just
joined us this week!

We finally found a good list of country codes and were delighted to discover
that in addition to all the Tarot lovers here in the United States, we also
have list members in Australia, France, Sweden, Brazil, Canada, Switzerland,
the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany and South Africa!
Our goal for 1999 is to put a lot of energy into what we call The Tarot School
Without Walls and it looks like we're off to a great start. So thank you all
for joining us and an extra special thanks to those of you who have told your
friends about this list and The Tarot School.


DETERMINING YOUR BIRTH CARDS

Knowing your Birth Cards is useful and important for many reasons. Please use
the method described here to calculate your personal Birth Cards for Tarot
School exercises. You may have seen it done differently elsewhere but this
method is best for the specialized work we do. In next week's Tarot Tip we
will teach you a very powerful spread/practice using your Birth Cards.

You can determine your birth cards by doing a numerological reduction of your
birth date in following manner: MM + DD + 19 + YY.  For example, let's say
that your birthday is December 2, 1941. The formula would be 12 + 02 + 19 + 41
= 74. Then add 7 + 4 = 11. Key 11 is Justice, the first birth card for this
date. 11 reduces to 2 (The High Priestess), which is the second birth card.

Here's how to handle a birth date that adds up to 3 digits. The first TWO
digits of the three are considered as one number, which is added to the third
digit. Let's look at August 20, 1969, for example. The formula would be 08 +
20 + 19 + 69 = 116. Then add 11 + 6 = 17. Key 17 is The Star, the first birth
card for this date. 17 reduces to 8 (Strength) which is the second birth card.
  If the three numbers are 103, for example, add 10 + 3 = 13 = 4.

Almost everyone should have 2 birth cards. If your birthdate sum reduces to a
single digit (e.g. 90 = 9 + 0 = 9) the higher octave is implied (in this case,
18 -- The Moon -- 1 + 8 = 9). The one exception is if your birthdate sum = 19.
In that case, you will have 3 birth cards: The Sun (19), The Wheel of Fortune
(10) and The Magician (1).

When you have figured out your Birth Cards, tuck away the information for
future use.


FREE TAROT TELECLASSES

We are very excited to be officially launching our Tarot School Teleclasses
starting this month. A teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone
conference where many people can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge
number" and participate together in a fun, unique and lively learning
experience. It's easy, it's convenient, and it's affordable!

We are offering the following classes Free of charge. The only cost to you is
that of a simple, one-hour long-distance telephone call, billed by your
carrier. For most people, this usually runs about $6 for the hour -- way less
than it costs to park in Manhattan and you don't even have to leave the house!

OPEN TAROT PROGRAM
Sunday, 1/17 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and special guest presenter Geraldine Amaral, author of "Tarot
Celebrations."

INTRODUCTION TO TAROT & MAGICK
Wednesday, 1/27 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
Magick is the secret energy of modern life. Learn how to evoke and direct that
energy through Tarot so you can turn your wishes into reality.

To register for either or both of these free teleclasses email us at
Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with the bridge
number to call. Please put Tarot Teleclass in the subject header and include
in the message your name, phone number and the class or classes you wish to
take.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School


*************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved.

Greetings all,

A warm holiday welcome to our new subscribers this week and best wishes for a
special New Year's Eve celebration to you all!


NEW YEAR'S SPREAD

If you don't already enjoy the tradition of doing a New Year's reading, this
is an excellent time to start. Draw one card for each month of 1999 and place
them in a circular pattern with January at the top. Take a moment to write the
cards down. You'll want to keep this record in your notebook or someplace safe
to refer to throughout the year.

Instead of interpreting the cards one month at a time, look at each group of
three cards as describing the energy for each season. All three cards will be
active simultaneously during those three months.

See how any other spreads you throw during the course of the coming year
relate to the three cards of the appropriate season.


FREE TAROT TELECLASSES!

We are very excited to be launching our Tarot School Teleclasses starting in
January. A teleclass is a 1 hour live and interactive phone conference where
many people can call in simultaneously to a central "bridge number" and
participate together in a fun, unique and lively learining experience. It's
easy, it's convenient, and it's affordable! We are offering the following
classes Free of charge. The only cost to you is that of a simple, one-hour
long-distance telephone call, billed by your carrier. For most people, this
usually runs about $6 for the hour -- way less than it costs to park in
Manhattan and you don't even have to leave the house!

OPEN TAROT PROGRAM
Sunday, 1/17 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
A fun-filled experiential hour with Tarot instruction, discussion, community
announcements and a special guest presenter.

INTRODUCTION TO TAROT & MAGICK
Wednesday, 1/27 at 9:00 PM EST -- FREE!
Magick is the secret energy of modern life. Learn how to evoke and direct that
energy through Tarot so you can turn your wishes into reality.

To register for either or both of these free teleclasses email us at
Teleclasses@... and we will send you confirmation with the phone
number to call.


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School


*************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved.

Greetings all,

We'd like to take this opportunity to wish you much happiness during this
holiday season and all good things for a bright and glorious New Year!

	 Happy Chanukah!
	 Blessed Yule!
	 Merry Christmas!
	 Blessed Kwanzaa!
	 Happy New Year!

Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

**********

BOTTOMS UP

Let's get to the bottom of this!

Want to find out the underlying influence in a situation? Or maybe a
subconscious motive or desire? Look at the card on the bottom of the deck. It
never fails to give some additional insight.

© 1998 The Tarot School


*************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved.

Greetings!

Special wishes to all our Jewish friends for a very happy Chanukah -- may this
festival of lights bring you much love and joy!


Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald

***********************

THE GIFT OF TAROT

Many people have asked, "I'd like to buy some Tarot cards but I've been told
that they have to be given to me as a gift. Is that true?"

No, not really. In some circles, there used to be a tradition that one should
receive their first deck as a gift. This is a lovely practice; receiving your
first Tarot deck from another reader can add extra personal significance to
that deck. However, it certainly is not required.
This tradition was started a long time ago when Tarot cards were almost
impossible to come by. Usually, the only way to acquire a deck was to "know
somebody."

Nowadays, there are hundreds of Tarot decks easily available through shops,
catalogs, and over the internet. The problem now is which ones and how many to
collect. There are those who still feel that to be properly "initiated" into
Tarot, their first deck should be given to them. Even if you choose to uphold
this tradition, however, it doesn't apply to subsequent decks you might wish
to own.

© 1998 The Tarot School


*************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved.

IT'S ELEMENTARY, DEAR WATSON

Sherlock Holmes' success as a detective was based largely upon his powers of
observation. This is a skill that can be learned and developed. It is a skill
that will give you untold benefits as a Tarot reader, too.

An important excercise that we practice in every class taught at The Tarot
School is called "Close Observation." This is how it works:

Choose a card you'd like to study. Spend a good 3-4 minutes examining the
picture as closely as you can. Memorize every detail. If there are things to
count, count them. Notice colors, clothing, posture, facial expressions, etc.
Look at everything; you'll be surprised how many things you've never noticed
before, even if you've been reading for years.

When you are finished, turn the card face-down and make a written list of
everything you can remember. If you are working with a friend, you can take
turns saying what you each recall about the card. When you can't remember
anything more, turn the card over and see what you've missed.

© 1998 The Tarot School


*************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City, telephone teleclasses, and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

It is a common misconception that there are "good" cards and "bad" cards. Even
if you understand that Tarot makes no value judgements, and that each card
contains the entire spectrum of meanings, you may still find it difficult to
find "positive" interpretations for some of the darker-looking cards. Here are
a few suggestions:

The Tower: The destruction of old structures, while admittedly unpleasant for
many, is the fastest route to liberation. Revel in the freedom!

The 3 of Swords: "Three for one and one for all!" Conflicts are resolved
through love. The intellect is grounded in the heart.

The Devil: Did you know that the esoteric function assigned to the Devil is
Laughter? Be devil-may-care. The Devil is also a great source of raw power.
Tap into it.

The 10 of Swords: This card talks of endings. An end to suffering; an end to a
long-term problem (It took 10 years for my divorce to become final!); the
dawning of a new era.

© 1998 The Tarot School


*********
SPECIAL FREE TELECLASS!
Attend The Tarot School from the comfort of your own home.


Tarot: A Magickal Tool for the Modern World

Magick is the secret energy of modern life. It's all around us all the time
and runs through everything we do. In this free teleclass, you'll learn to
recognize it when you see it (at least some of the time), and find out how you
can invoke and direct it through the ancient mystery of Tarot.

Tarot is a deck of cards, a picture book of symbols, a secret language and a
magick wand all at the same time. It is a practical tool you can use in many
ways and also a great friend and playmate. We cordially invite you to come
play with us and get acquainted with the fun and power of Tarot.

This special teleclass will be held on Thursday, 12/3 at 1:00 PM EST and again
on Sunday, 12/6 at 9:00 PM EST. Class size is limited to 25 people and is free
except for the cost of a long-distance call (usually about $6 for the hour).

To register, send email to Teleclass@...  Please include your
name, phone number and the class you wish to take. We will send you a
confirmation notice with the bridge number to call.


*************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved.

Greetings all,

We'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a joyous Thanksgiving.
We are grateful for the opportunity we've had to share the adventure of Tarot
with you!

Bright blessings,

Ruth Ann & Wald
The Tarot School

**************************
http://www.TarotSchool.com

YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO PICK 'EM

There are quite a number of ways to pick a card. An especially personal way to
choose a card or starting place for a reading is to use your querent's
birthday. If their birthday is on March 4th, for example, you would count down
four cards. (If you're reading for yourself, of course, use your own.)

If you're doing a relationship spread, you'll want the energies of both
parties in the reading. First, count down from the top of the deck for Person
A and choose their card or cards. Then count up from the bottom of the deck
for Person B, using *their* birthday.



© 1998 The Tarot School

*************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved.

A TIME TO CLEANSE

If you receive a used Tarot deck, or your cards are consistently giving you
confused impressions, it may be time to "Cleanse" your deck. There are a
number of techniques for doing this, including burying them for awhile.

My favorite way of cleansing a deck is to "Smudge" it with incense, preferably
sage or sandlewood. Wave the lighted incense over and around your cards in a
circular fashion for as long as you feel comfortable. Repeat the smudging once
a day for a week, or until you're comfortable with the results.

In between smudgings, place a clear quartz crystal on top of your cards. When
you have finishing the smudging cycle, soak the crystal overnight in salt
water to cleanse it of any negative energy.


© 1998 The Tarot School

*************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Join The Tarot School! We offer weekly classes in New
York City and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Is there a Tarot Tip you'd like to see? Send your suggestion to
Tips@...

"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved.

AND THE QUESTION IS...

A reading can only be as clear as the question. If the question asked is
ambiguous, the results will often be less than satisfactory. Helping the
querent to define and refine their question will save time and ultimately be
much more useful.

Learning how to pose productive and targeted questions takes time and
practice. Here are some suggestions:

• Think of the initial question as an onion. What questions lie beneath the
question?
• Is there a more specific way the question can be worded?
• Is it what the querent *really* wants to know, or is it something else?

Another technique to is to take a lead from the popular American television
show, Jeopardy. This is a game show where the contestant is given the answer
and then must guess the correct question. Instead of having the querent ask
the question, try backing into your reading by first asking the querent, "What
answer would you like the cards to give you?" and then define questions that
will yield this answer. For instance, "I want the cards to tell me that the
book I am writing will be a success." Some questions based on this answer
might be:

• What can I do to make sure I finish writing it?
• Will I make my deadline?
• Is there a market for my book?
• Is my agent the right person to promote it?
• What is my definition of "success"?

Design your spread to answer the questions that arise.

Of course, this technique is no guarantee that the cards will always tell you
what you want to hear. If the writer of this book has no talent, contacts or
drive, the answer could very well be disappointing -- but by asking the right
questions, at least they'll know why. The information uncovered in the reading
should be useful enough to help the querent come to terms with or overcome the
difficulties.


© 1998 The Tarot School

*************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Consider joining The Tarot School. We offer weekly
classes in New York City and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved.

TELL ME A STORY

The "Story Circle" is a wonderful group activity that especially lends itself
to working with Tarot cards.

Each person shuffles their own deck and places it face-down in front of them.
One person starts by turning over his or her top card and begins a story based
on a character or event portrayed in the image. After about a minute (no
shorter!), that person stops and the next person continues the story by
turning over *their*  top card and picking up on the sequence of events. And
so it goes around the group.

There are only three rules:
• The story must begin with "Once Upon A Time"
• The story must end with "And they lived happily ever after" (giving the
next-to-last person the opportunity to plunge the characters into deep water!)
• The character who is introduced in the first card must appear in every
subsequent "chapter"



"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved. Distribution of this material is permitted, provided
it is accompanied by this notice and the following message:

*************
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Consider joining The Tarot School. We offer weekly
classes in New York City and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN

One of your goals as a reader should be, as much as possible, to leave the
querent feeling better at the end of their reading than when they started.
Does this mean you should never give "bad" news?

No, but you should be very careful how you discuss difficult issues and
challenges with your client. Chances are, if they are going through a tough
time or someone close to them is very ill, for example, telling them this will
*not* come as a surprise. The best thing to do, however, is not to dwell on
the trouble but discover things that the querent can actually do about their
situation.

One of the best ways to achieve this is to end each spread with an "Action
Card." This card will suggest a concrete action that the querent can take that
will help their situation. It may involve others or it may simply be a way
that they can nuture themselves until their difficulty ends. Not every
situation can be changed, but sometimes just having something constructive to
do in the meantime can be a great anxiety reliever.


"Tarot Tips" by Ruth Ann Brauser are provided courtesy of The Tarot School and
all rights are reserved. Distribution of this material is permitted, provided
it is accompanied by this notice and the following message:

*****
Would you like to deepen your knowledge of Tarot and be part of the active and
growing Tarot community? Consider joining The Tarot School. We offer weekly
classes in New York City and a powerful Tarot Correspondence Course.

Visit our website at http://www.TarotSchool.com

Welcome to the first edition of Tarot Tips! Usually, a new tip will be sent
out every Monday. However, since I prefer to start new ventures after the New
Moon, I decided to wait until today. I hope you enjoy Tarot Tips and find them
useful.

Bright blessings,
Ruth Ann Brauser
The Tarot School

*******

CLEAR THE DECK

Before and after doing a reading session, it's advisable to "Clear the Deck."
This is done quickly and easily in the following manner:

			 1. place your cards in a single, face-down pile
			 2. hold your hands over the deck, crossed at the wrists
			 3. quickly separate your hands with a forceful gesture

Clearing the Deck in this way will remove any trace of energy from previous
readings and prepare your cards for the next reading. This is not the same as
"Cleansing" your deck, which we will discuss in a future Tarot Tip.