Is Tear-O, Tah-Row, or What?

How do you correctly pronounce the word "tarot?" I've heard it said many ways: rhyming with sparrow, carrot (pronouncing the t at the end of tarot, which sounds the strangest), and Tah-Row. I use tear (as in ripping something or tearing something apart)-row (to rhyme with sparrow) and TAH-row interchangeably.

Top 10 Things I Hate About Being a Professional Tarot Reader | Seer Pathways

Great "rant" list of things from Lisa Frideborg Lloyd, a professional tarot reader (who has excellent blogs and sites, follow her on tumblr and twitter, etc.) Top 10 Things I Hate About Being a Professional Tarot Reader | Seer Pathways.



All excellent points, and many I too wish clients would understand. I'll add my own: since at this time, I do the bulk of my readings long distance and on-line, there are a couple of simple but specific instructions I give to clients in order for the reading to happen quickly and smoothly. No matter how many times I restate the directions, there are those who ignore those instructions and simply don't communicate, then wonder why things aren't going the way they're supposed to be going. So damn frustrating! Takes up more of my time to chase after them and follow-up due to their laziness, or stubbornness, or inability to follow clear steps. Okay, that's my little rant.

A Journey, Not a Punishment: A Small Bit of Advice

   

     Often, people new to reading tarot become overwhelmed, confused and frustrated very quickly. There's an expectation that you should know all there is to know about the tarot as soon as possible, and you need to know this before doing readings. 
     The feelings of being overwhelmed and frustrated are heightened by the reality of the situation: you can't possibly learn all there is to know in a short period of time. And you can't become a good reader without doing readings! It seems counter intuitive -- how can you become a good reader if you're doing readings when you don't know all there is to know about the cards?
     Reading tomes on the tarot, often contradicting each other at times, soon becomes not only overwhelming, but the excitement and joy of learning about tarot is replaced by sheer frustration. You give up, put away the cards, get rid of the books, and wonder why you can't read cards.
     You can read cards. Anyone can.
     First of all, you have an affinity for the cards. They've called to you -- something about the tarot attracted you. What was it that called to you? Explore that energy. 

     Secondly, learning about the tarot is a life long process, a journey of discovery and learning, of sharing and healing. It doesn't matter if you've been reading cards for two weeks or twenty years, you are always learning, always developing your skills and insights.
     Thirdly, trust yourself, your intuition, your instincts. What deck do you feel comfortable with? What book or books, on-line resources, click with you? Use those, discard what doesn't work for you. Everyone is different. What works for one may not work for another. There is no right or wrong, it's a matter of what best fits your style.
     Remember that tarot is a journey, one that will continue for the rest of your life. Along the way there will be changes, adaptations. Your tastes in decks will change, your reading style, methods of reading and opinions, techniques…all part of that journey, that process.

     Aside from knowing that having tarot in you life is a life long journey, allow yourself to relax. Have fun. Tarot is your friend, not a somber and aloof pontificator from above delivering ponderous teachings.  
     Trust yourself, your intuition, have fun, and enjoy the journey.
     Blessed be!

On Tumblr

I'm really liking my White Wolf Tarot/Tumbling Tarot place on tumblr. Visit the realm, explore awhile.

Tarot Mythology: The Surprising Origins of the World’s Most Misunderstood Cards | Collectors Weekly

In-depth and useful article on the history of the Tarot, which is always changing, morphing, adapting.

Tarot Mythology: The Surprising Origins of the World’s Most Misunderstood Cards | Collectors Weekly: Contrary to what the uninitiated might think, the meaning of divination cards changes over time, shaped by each era’s culture and the needs of individual users. This is partly why these decks can be so puzzling to outsiders, as most of them reference allegories or events familiar to people many centuries ago.Caitln Matthews, who teaches courses on cartomancy, or divination with cards, says that before the 18th century, the imagery on these cards was accessible to a much broader population. But in contrast to these historic decks, Matthews finds most modern decks harder to engage with.

Pit bulls, cats and raccoons . . . and a dove

As I've been writing about, I've been having a lot of dreams where Dog has visited. A few nights ago I had a dream: one of my recurring dreamscapes, where my guide -- the white haired woman -- appeared. This time, she was wearing blue hooded cloak. There was a little white dog running around, and she gave the dog to my husband, telling him she had a job for him. That she would pay him to take care of the dog. She seemed to believe that it was a done deal, and that of course he was going to take care of the dog, whether or not he'd be paid for it.

Sunday night, at approximately 8:50, we heard the most awful banging and thumping against our front door -- we opened it to find a pit bull attacking our cat, who was on the shelf on the porch where we keep our wood. It all happened so fast; the dog and cat screeching, in a ball, then our cat takes off. He went a good twenty feet up into the large apple tree. Here we are, trying to get him down, but of course he wouldn't come down. My husband tried to get him, but no use. Poor cat stayed out there all night and Jim was able to get him down the next day.

We thought Mango was going to be all right; we didn't see any external injuries and the cat seemed okay. But then he started to breath funny and wasn't moving much and was obviously not only depressed and freaked but in pain. We took him to the vets where he is now; x-rays, oxygen, overnight, etc.

This morning, walking the block and half from my car to work, I hear a dog bark. I look over and there in an unfenced yard, is a large pit bull. It isn't growling but barking at me, looking right at me, and taking a step or two towards me. I found that I was literally frozen, I couldn't move. I didn't know if I should go back to the car or keep walking towards my building. I was shaking and then I saw the owner; who was just standing there. I said "Is that your dog?" and he grumped "Yes," and reluctantly took the dog into the house. Then I saw another pit bull, also unleashed, who was standing there, looking at me. I looked at the man with a "Really? You're going to leave that dog out here while you're int he house?" look, and he took that dog in as well. When I glanced back as I walked towards my building, he gave me a dirty look.

I have walked past the house many times -- every morning just about since September -- and have never heard or seen dogs in that yard. This morning was the first time I had come across those dogs.

Just as I was nearing my building, I saw what I thought was a dog at first, then a cat (because it was small and moving oddly) then saw that it was a raccoon. The raccoon was walking slowly and then it stopped, looked right at me, and didn't move. I stood watching it -- there was something strange about the whole thing -- then it turned around and climbed up a tree.

By the time I got into my building I was almost crying. The interactions with those two pit bulls really got me.

One more pit bull synchronicity: a pit bull rescue and rehabilitation place has opened literally around the corner from our house, not even a block away. Coincidentally, I know the owners, having met them through a previous job.

So Dog again, and pit bulls. (It was a pit bull mix that killed our cat Roswell almost exactly a year ago.)

As we pulled into our driveway after leaving Mango at the vets, we saw a dove at the fence where the bird feeder is. The only time we have seen a dove around here was within the first few weeks we moved into this house over twenty years ago. A dove hung around for a couple of days then left. We never saw it again. While there are pigeons around in parks, etc. we have never seen pigeons around here in the neighborhood. However, both doves -- the one from years ago and today's -- were definitely doves and not your typical city park pigeon.

Prophetic, traveling in time, or just a dream?

 

    Sometimes we dream scenes, people, situations, that don't seem to have anything at all to do with us. Sometimes parts may, but there is still a nagging question about why? Such a dream last night. For example, location. The Mary's River (Lumber yard) is a real place, and I've driven by it several times on my way to the coast, but I have absolutely nothing to do with the place. No interest, don't know anyone associated with it, don't know anything about it, etc.

Mary's River, Oregon image source here

     My husband and I are at Mary's River/lumber yard. The place is no longer operating, and there is lots of debris everywhere. Logs, planks, broken pieces of wood, soggy watery muddy spots, rusted machinery. To my surprise I find a woman in one of the buildings. Inside this building it's a mess; broken windows and stuff everywhere. But she seems happy. This woman is in her late thirties, very slender, wearing a sky blue dancer's skirt and violet leotard. Her hair is long and in a ponytail. The entire time she's talking to me she's doing dance moves, ballet moves. I find this odd but enjoyable. She tells me the history of this place. She nods towards the doorway, I see her husband, who is on a roof of one of the buildings, doing some kind of repairs.
     She tells me that up until about 1970 or so the place was over the top successful. I am suddenly transported in time, back, I am now in this place, but back then. I have to be careful, the river is raging through, just roaring and rushing. Turbines and water wheels are going crazy. Everything is rich and working and water everywhere, just everywhere. Almost dangerous.
     Just as suddenly, I'm back to the present. Damp, dank, messy, and no water, no healthy lumber, no working machinery.
     The woman, still doing her dance moves, tells me the Koreans have come in and bought up a lot of the area, also many U.S. government and private entities, and some other countries. They took it over and ruined it, on purpose.

     I had the feeling, when I woke up, that this had something to do with a possible move to that area. While it seems depressing, the present with its broken down and non-productive businesses, etc. there was a warning, yes, but it seemed okay. For one thing, this woman and her husband were working to create something new.

Dog Totem/Dream Guide

     

      A disturbing dream in many ways last night, and I didn't realize it was Dog visiting once again until later in the day. 

     One of my dreamscapes, this one is an area that is very run down, large open lots where houses once stood, now many abandoned or dilapidated, lots are weedy. I know the ocean is just a few blocks away but can't see it. Some parts of this little town are still viable, barely, a downtown-ish kind of place.      Over the course of many days, I observe a homeless man (I assume he's homeless) roaming around the place. He is very dirty, filthy clothes, and appears to be in his forties. With him is the largest and ugliest dog I have ever seen that the man keeps on a leash.  This dog doesn't' even look like a dog. I don't know what it looks like -- a small bear, or a … who knows. It too is filthily, and gray. Not gray from the dirt, that's it's normal color. Shaggy gray ugly filthy dog.      Neither one of these beings are happy. I wonder if they're crazy, psychotic, dangerous, mentally ill, mean or what. I can't decide if it's safe to approach them. Every time the man sees me he just glares. And the dog -- hasn't growled or shown any aggressive signs, yet, but he isn't warm and fuzzy either. I want to stay away from both of them, and yet, they are both obviously in need. They are so dirty and hungry and clearly not being treated with any compassion by anyone. So I decide that these two creatures need food and care and so what if they turn out to be crazy or mean? I don't have to be their best friend, just see that they don't suffer.     I leave them some food, and some clothing. They're suspicious but then I realize that I'd be angry and surly and suspicious too if I had to live like this. They have every right to be full of anger and fear. It's not their fault.      They don't do anything at all to me, either way. They don't attack me or make me feel afraid, nor do they give me the time of day. They do accept the food and clothes and that's all that matters.     My work calls me, they're upset that I've been taking care of these two. The whole town gets in on the act. Some side with my place of employment, others with me. I think anyone who has the audacity and lack of compassion to criticize me for doing this can go to hell, and I tell them so. More uproar from citizens. More of me saying "Go screw yourselves." I continue to leave food and items for the man and the dog.

     Usually Dog appears either by itself, or with a woman. I think this is the first time Dog appeared with a man. 
     Sometimes Dog talks to me, or is downright friendly and sweet. Other times Dog is a guide, silent, leading the way, often on a leash, with its/my Guide, which is usually a woman. This time Dog was again silent, but waiting, not exhibiting any emotion, be it aggression or playfulness.

   

Love Tarot Spreads Index | Love Dove Tarot

Lots of spreads and advice, nice resource. Love Tarot Spreads Index | Love Dove Tarot

Ouija Boards – Tool for spirit communication? Or portal to hell? | Mystic Cauldron Blog

S. Marlin at Mystic Cauldron has a great article on the use of Ouija boards: Ouija Boards – Tool for spirit communication? Or portal to hell?:

Why do ouija boards have such a bad reputation for spirit communication while other tools such as digital or tape recorders to capture EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) seem fine? After all, a tool is a tool, and a spirit is a spirit, right? ~ S. Marlin, Mystic Cauldron

Excellent question and Mystic Cauldron tells us why! I think it's very good advice.