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03 Sep

Some of Your Questions — Answered!

Posted by lucyd     Category: How To/How Do?

I recently sent out a survey to anyone who signed up over there in the left-hand margin, to get their name in the hat for a free Tarot Card reading, and join my underground. You asked some fantastic questions, so I’m going to pick a few out and answer them here. Let’s go!

#1 — “How can you prove the Tarot works?” and variations such as: “I want to know how it works” and “how can you read for me from a distance?”

Good Question! There are a lot of ways to approach this question, so I’m going all over the road for your answer. On one level, it’s simple: The Tarot is a collection of 78 pictures that represent the story of man and woman and the kinds of challenges and triumphs life holds for all of us at one time or another. Imagine that all 78 pictures fit together like a puzzle and held all the answers to every question when fit together that way. Now, imagine that the puzzle has been broken into parts, some large, some small, some with connecting pieces, some not. That story that was so well said when the puzzle is complete, now takes only the components that relate to YOU and tell YOUR story. The characters are there, the set-up (or upset) is there, and it’s up to the reader to discern the story being told.

The reader’s job is to see what the story is. Components of the story that may be available in the reading can include: intentions of the players, consequences of choices taken or not taken, past and future as well as present.

That 78 piece puzzle is always trying to re-make itself into its original, completed form, and that’s why it gives up information on the components mentioned above.

Can I prove it?

Not scientifically, although quantum physics would back me up. Quantum physics postulates that all time is occurring at once. It also gave us the “observer effect” — whenever something is observed, it is changed by that observation. What the Observer Effect is really saying is that everything is connected. If everything is connected, and all time is occurring simultaneously, then it suddenly doesn’t seem so strange if a reader can give you a heads up on your future, for instance.

Just like radio waves and aspirin, sometimes there is not a rock-solid explanation for how something works. Tarot falls into that category.

#2 “How does the information come to you? Images? Words?”

This is the part that makes reading the tarot so personal for each reader: The information comes in the most logical way for the reader that it can. If I’m looking at the cards and a song pops into my head I’ll immediately ask myself: what are the lyrics? and what do I feel like when I hear this song? These are the clues to the meaning of the cards in that moment. If I’m looking at the cards and I don’t see anything particularly compelling, I may begin to look at the components of the drawing, itself. Perhaps the broken branch in the background of the picture grabs my attention — it looks like a broken arm. Do the cards surrounding it tell a story with a broken arm in the narrative? Or, when I looked at it, did I suddenly remember how it felt to try and write with a broken arm: like I couldn’t get my point across without a lot of extra effort. Do the surrounding cards support a story of arrested communication?

When doing a reading, the reader’s mind creates the story in lightning-fast associations that have unmistakable meaning to the him or her. When put together, the reader “knows” when she’s hit on the story the cards are trying to tell. This last part takes practice, but it’s the same “knowing” that an Olympic diver has when he knows he’s in the zone.

And just like with diving, practice will make you better and better. Experience reading cards is important for this reason.

If you want to participate, sign in on the left, and I’ll send you the survey!

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14 Jul

What Makes a Tarot Reader a Professional?

Posted by lucyd     Category: About LucyD

One of the most important words I use to describe myself in the world of the Tarot is “Professional”. This word has important meanings to me, because some things cannot be taught or bought – they have to be earned with experience. And experience counts for a lot.

It goes without saying that a Professional Tarot Card Reader understands and can interpret tarot cards. The degrees of understanding and interpretation vary depending on a host of things: does the reader study when she’s not reading? Does she listen to other opinions about the meanings of the cards? Can she pick up the deck and read anyone cold, or does she need to “get to know them” first? Does she read often?

I think you can see for yourself why all of these questions are important, but all of them take TIME and PRACTICE. The more time that’s put into study along with a real passion for connecting with people heralds the true beginnings of a Professional Tarot Card Reader.

I often like to talk about the accrediting of readers that is done by various associations. These associations have sprung up for the main purpose of putting the client at ease. If, as an accredited reader, I can demonstrate my facility at reading your cards, AND I’ve sworn to a code of ethics, it brings the entire encounter above that dark and unseemly line that many would prefer to hide the tarot underneath. That’s important. It’s a type of referral insofar as someone has evaluated the reader you have chosen. Also, some of these associations have a kind of internship where readers can gain experience by doing readings through the accrediting site. Again, there is a level of comfort here, and it’s a place to start.

When I began reading cards, there were no associations. The Tarot was just another unseemly, back-alley kind of pursuit that was done in dark rooms by costumed ‘readers’. It was not to be taken seriously, in fact there was a loud chorus of people telling me that the Tarot was satanic. If anyone were to actually take the tarot seriously, they would immediately lose all credibility – to have fallen for such an obvious parlor trick, filled with generalities and nonsense.

Then something began to happen. Quietly, but compellingly, quantum physics began to seep into everyday conversation. People began becoming comfortable with the notions of 10-dimensional realities and chaos theory. The idea of parallel universes suddenly became a topic that would be debated by people of all ages and beliefs.

And that’s when I saw the door crack open. I saw that there was a parallel conversation going on about the Tarot that sounded like a conversation about physics – it wasn’t about the devil, but it just wasn’t terribly obvious. So, I began talking about the Tarot as a tool that can and should be demystified. You might not know how to run a backhoe, but once you learn how, it’s no longer a mystery – it has now become a tool.

So, no, I am not accredited. I haven’t decided against accreditation because I think there’s something wrong with going that route, it’s just that I’ve already worked it out for myself. It doesn’t seem necessary. I’m glad the trail has been blazed for those readers who are coming up now, because it will be easier for them to get the toehold they need to get started.

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11 Jun

Spells and Magic

Posted by lucyd     Category: Philosophy of the Cards

What’s the deal? How come I read the tarot, but don’t do any spells or magic? The short answer is, they don’t work. OK, OK, I know, you lit that candle and your wish came true that time. Or you stood outside barefoot one night, looked up at the stars and asked for help — and it arrived just before everything fell apart. I’m not saying that these things don’t happen, and I’m not saying it was just a coincidence. Heck, I’ve done those things myself!

This is what I am saying: spells and magic are something we do all day, every day. We tend to look at the surface of our lives: how can I make more money? will I get a better job? will I fall in love? Maybe we hook up with a business guru to solve the money and job issues. Maybe we get a new hairstyle to begin to solve the love problem. But these subjects really can’t be addressed without going deep below the surface of who we think we are. And the hairstyle and guru are magic spells that we cast in hopes of attracting our desired outcome without doing the heavy lifting.

Stick with me, here. If you think life is happening to you, then I challenge you to link your arm in mine and take a little stroll with me. I have said in earlier posts that reading tarot cards (or any form of divination, for that matter) is really a form of mind reading. In the hands of a mature reader, you can learn much. But how in the world can I read your mind?? It’s because if I believe in anything, I believe in quantum physics. Quantum physics says that there is only one mind. We’re all joined. That’s some deep stuff!

So, what does this have to do with spells and magic, and the tarot? When I read your cards, our minds join. Because I know that whatever ‘bad’ thing is happening ‘to you’ will pass, I can direct you to the next ‘good thing’ coming…but actually, it’s the joining of ‘your mind’ with ‘my mind’ in a spirit of non-judgment that begins a healing. That healing is the real heavy lifting. Healed minds don’t have to search for spells and magic to fix their problems, because the word ‘problems’ has taken on a new meaning. (And ‘life’ has taken on more entertainment value!)

So, yes, your reading may cover subjects like your job, your love life, your future — and you will receive good insight into those areas.

But remember, no one is ever completely healed. And the true path to healing has nothing to do with magic, and everything to do with joining.

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