Fool Stop Tarot Blog

#Tarot Client: ISO Love

One of the most common questions readers get is "Will I ever find love." Also heard are variations on the theme of "Will she come back to me?"

Agent Reader had one of those last night that was a bit more unusual. This was a Count by the name of Vlad who said he was having trouble hanging on to love. Seems they all complained he had a very draining personality.

So he asked where he might look for love this time and if he could expect that love to stay. Based on these three cards, what advice would you give our lovesick Count?

(click to see larger image)

Vampire Tarot, Nathalie Hertz, U.S. Games Systems Inc, 2000

PSSST! Want a new deck? You can get 20% off the Vampire Tarot, the Halloween Tarot (deck/book set) and Ghosts & Spirits Tarot. Individuals only. Click on the ADD TO CART on the decks you want. The discount price will show at top right next to Cart Icon. Have fun and get yourself some treats this Halloween season! Offer ends October 31st so don't miss out!

Ask A Reader 3 #Tarot

Today's Ask A Reader comes from X who has two possible apartments to move to. We drew from the Joie de Vivre Tarot. I want to point out that I drew blind and put them on the scanner without looking at them first. I was suprised by the cards! Seems like a clear cut case, but is it?

First apartment Pro/Con

Second apartment Pro/Con

So what advice can you offer X today? Which living situation seems to be the better of the two?

Two #Tarot Card Spreads

Two card spreads are fun to do because they are fast, but do they give you enough information? I think that they do if you consider that you can eliminate the situation card and just ask two questions about it.

Here are just a few ways to do that.

"Should I Stay Or Should I Go" This lyrical two question spread can be applied to many situation including a relationship, a job or even a housing situation.

"Hold On or Let Go" will answer whether or not you need to try harder or just step back from a situation.

"Fold 'Em or Hold 'Em" is a poker version of whether you should commit to something or bow out.

"Step Up or Step Back" would be whether or not to volunteer your time and energy.

So let's try one, shall we? Your client wants to know if they should volunteer to be a chaperone for their child's field trip to the museum. You draw the Tower for the Step Up card and the 2 of Coins for the Step Back card.

What is your advice to your client based on these two cards from the African Tarot?

What are some other two card spreads you can think of?

The vibrant imagery draws largely on the African experience, depicted in a primitive art style. Evoking universal childhood emotions, African Tarot can help you explore your true inner nature. Review by Lizzie of Lizzie's Logic

13 means Death?

So today is one of those days that holds a lot of fear for some folks. Friday the 13th! I mean there's even an seemingly-never-ending horror movie series, right? And let's not even talk about covens and black cats and ladders.

But what about the thirteenth card in the Tarot deck? What does it mean when you get this in a reading? Should you hide under the bed? Leave town? Pretend it didn't happen?

Not really. Death traditionally means change. In some decks like the Sun And Moon Tarot, it's been given the additional title of Rebirth to show what happens after the change. Or Transformation in the Joie de Vivre Tarot.

Think of the Death card as unavoidable endings that lead to new ways of being. And isn't this last Death a happy fellow from the Halloween Tarot?

So, what do you see the Death card as? How would you read it in a reading about a job? What about love? How does this card make you feel? Any funny stories to share about this thirteenth card of the Tarot?

Death (sometimes riding a pale horse), in order of appearance:

1. Cary-Yale Visconti Tarot
2. Rider-Waite Tarot
3. Crystal Visions Tarot
4. Joie de Vivre Tarot
5. Halloween Tarot

Ask The Readers

You are the reader today. I had the following question so we are going to throw this open to all our blog readers. This is now your client. The question is: 

What do I need to do to grow my business exponentially?

What would you tell this client? I drew the following three cards for the Situation, the Action and the Outcome? See the bottom of this post for how you can be the next one we all read for.

Situation: Ace of Coins

Action: 9 of Coins

Outcome: Princess of Coins

Thanks for your assistance. And if you have a question you would like answered, please send it to Stella with the subject line, "Ask The Readers". We will pull three cards and ask our blog readers for their interpretations.

"Fantasy artist Galasso has transformed classic tarot imagery into a vibrant tour, through a crystal ball, into a magical world filled with fairies, fantastical creatures, and exotic flowers. Color creates the backdrop against which the story of each card is told. Lyrical and mysterious, the illustrations almost sing." -- Anna Jedrziewski, Retailing Insight Magazine

#Tarot Riddle: What Deck Am I?

Riddle me this:

I was first published 31 years ago. I've remained a perennial favorite even though I may not bloom as brightly as some other decks. Some say that the Byzantine empire had a hand in my creation. You may not know it, but my artist was chosen because of a business card. It is said that I am a deck for anyone but you can go deep into my Qabalah meanings if you dare.

Do you know who I am?

#Tarot Dilemna: Help Me Out 2

It's a Tarot dilemna! We've lost the LWB (Little White Book) so we don't know what the cards mean. Can you help us out by telling us what each card says to you? And what you would think they meant if you got them in a reading about your own job hunt?

Images from Cat's Eye Tarot by Debra M. Givin published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc 2011.

It's a #Tarot Mystery Again!

Our operative, Agent Reader, had a strange client today. She came in asking about a man she was interested in.

This client is the heroine of a well-known book, but once again, Agent Reader can't remember the title.

Seems her mother is the Queen of Coins Rx and is pushing her daughter towards marrying a man who seems to be a bit of a Knight of Coins. Our querent has two sisters who are also running about town flirting and causing problems. They are the Three of Cups.

Answer For Tarot Impossible Wednesday

The answer to "Tarot Impossible: What Movie is This" is "Despicable Me". Congratulations to Lynn Merrit for her correct guess. Here is a brief synopsis of the plot and how those cards were chosen.

The movie begins with the Devil who would be the main character,Gru (Devil). He goes to the Bank of Evil but is denied (King of Coins Rx).

He decides to fake adopt three little girls (Three of Cups) who show him how to do foolish things and have fun (The Fool).

His mother (Empress Rx) shows up in flash backs and he realizes that he is being deceived by someone (Moon).

He has to fight off the other evil villain (Knight of Swords Rx). He learns from children how to live happily ever-after (6 of Cups).

Try this as a Tarot exercise. Pick a book or movie that you know very well -- Wizard of Oz for instance. Now assign cards (no more than eight) to tell the story as you know it. If you have a Tarot study group, you might try this as a discussion.

I'm interested in what you come up with so please share.

Whimsical Tarot Fool

© January 2011 U.S. Games Systems Inc.

Tarot Impossible: What Movie Is This?

Hello again, Agent Reader. Agent Tarot is asking for help again. She was approached by a fictional young man who wanted a reading done. She chose to do a spread that lays out two cards for each stage of life plus a final outcome card. The young man was amazed. According to him, the cards matched his life perfectly.

During the consultation, he mentioned that a movie had been made in the last ten years about his life. Even though he told Agent Tarot that the movie had been an unexpectedly huge hit, she forgot to ask him the title. So now she's turning to us for help.

Based on the reading, can you name that movie?

Early Childhood was the 5 of Pentacles and the 7 of Swords

 

Teen years was the 8 of Wands and the Lovers Rx

Early Adulthood was the Wheel of Fortune and the 10 of Swords

Final outcome was The World

Who is our fictional hero and what is the name of his movie?

Images are from the Tell-Me Tarot. You can click on them to open them in a larger viewing format.

© December 2010 U.S. Games Systems Inc.

It's A Mystery!

Today we are trying to identify a deck for Mr. LostTheBook. He's got a Tarot deck with an unusual back. Can you help him out?

So let's get started. What do you think this deck might be? How do you research this type of question? Looking foward to hearing from you.

© December 2010 U.S. Games Systems Inc

Christian Tarot: Oxymoron or Paradox?

Guest Blog by Cheri Gaudet
 
I am a Catholic tarot reader. At first glance, this might seem like an oxymoron. Everyone knows Church doctrine condemns divination. How do I reconcile that with my personal tarot practice?
 
This is a serious question that has implications for both Christians and tarot readers, who in my experience typically do not think of themselves as having anything in common. At their worst, such thoughts can result in

Tarot Impossible: What Was The Question?

Hello Agent Reader.  We've experienced some difficulty with Agent Tarot. She was in the middle of a Tarot reading when some nefarious mad scientist abducted her. We've dispatched Agents Collier and Carter to rescue her. Your job, should you choose to accept, is to determine what the question might have been.

Here is what we know. She was using the African Tarot deck. This colorful, simply drawn deck is often overlooked but has a lot to offer someone looking for a bright and amusing Tarot deck. We know that Agent Tarot was reading for Miss Lulu Lovelorn. Miss Lovelorn is also missing.

The cards are the Queen of Pentacles, the Ace of Swords and the Page of Wands. Can you apply your skills at backward Tarot reading to deduce what the question might have been? Once we know that, we can determine why these two were abducted and for what nefarious evil plot.

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This blog post will not self-destruct in thirty seconds. Do post your thoughts. The world is depending on you, Agent Reader.

 © November 2010 U.S. Games Systems Inc. 

Witches' Brew

I read this interesting article in the NYTimes yesterday, which features the pagan perspective of Vicki Noble, the author of Motherpeace Tarot. Please read it and let us know what YOU think.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/23/us/23witch.html?_r=1

USGS Celebrates Halloween!

Leaves falling, wind howling, spiders crawling and monsters roaming…

Yes, intrepid readers, we’re celebrating the thinning of the veil—a time of ghouls, flying brooms and haunted houses…

Halloween!

This month, look for spooktacular posts that will enchant, inform, intrigue and entertain you.

From a virtual costume party to ghastly giveaways, terroriffic spreads to “dark” deck profiles, the Fool Stop Tarot Blog is THE place to be during October!

So bolster your courage, don a mask and grab your trick or treat bag, because fiendish frights and frolicking fun are heading your way this Halloween!

-- Janet, Social Media Maven for U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

Image from the Halloween Tarot ISBN 0-88079-965-X

And the Winner of the Sun and Moon Tarot Is...

Thanks so much to Angie, Elise, Tara, Cosmo, 3Jane, Debi and Lynn for contributing such thoughtful replies to our very first Tarot Dilemma!

As you know, our first Tarot Dilemma, What Should Donna Do?, was also a giveaway, which means--you guessed it--time to announce the winner of the Sun and Moon Tarot by Vanessa Decort!

And the winner is...

Drum Roll

Cosmo!

Hearty congrats to you, Cosmo! Please send your snail mail address to [email protected] and HQ will send your new deck right out.

Thanks for playing, all, and stay tuned for yet another giveaway to be posted this week!

-- Janet

Tarot Dilemma #1 - What Should Donna Do?

I'm pleased to introduce another great feature to the Fool Stop Tarot Blog--Tarot Dilemmas!

Tarot Dilemmas are fictional situations where YOU get to test your skills as a reader.  Consider the dilemma, ponder the cards and render your advice--it's that simple...and fun! There are no wrong answers, so let those insights fly.

The benefits? Beginners get reading practice and seasoned Tarotists hone their skills--and we all gain from seeing the cards in new ways!

But this inaugural Tarot Dilemma has yet another benefit.

Oh yeah, baby...it's giveaway time again! Woohoo!

This time, you can win the new Sun and Moon Tarot by Vanessa Decort. You may remember that I profiled this deck a few weeks back (click here to read the post and see card images).

How can you win? Simply share you take on the cards for this first Tarot Dilemma as if you were actually giving this fictional person advice. Want to multiply your chances of winning the random drawing? EVERY post you make on this thread counts as an entry!

No one-word answers, though, or mere words of agreement or disagreement. Instead, please contribute thoughtful and honest information, feedback and advice to our make-believe querent or your fellow posters--as well as any questions you may have (in case you happen to be insanely curious like myself).

Remember to be considerate! (But I didn't have to tell you that...you guys are great.)

So without further ado, I present our first Tarot Dilemma!

Donna Rambunkle has a problem.  [Suddenly, I feel like Gene Rayburn from Match Game...]

Her pre-teen daughter, Seneca, has been uncommunicative and moody. Donna isn't sure what's wrong or how she can best relate to her daughter. She wants to be supportive, but not intrusive--available, but not smothering.

She comes to you for advice. From the Fenestra Tarot, you draw the following cards:

 

 SIX OF CUPS  2 OF SWORDS  9 OF PENTACLES

Based on the above cards, how do you assess the situation? What will be your advice to Donna?

Remember, all thoughtful, considered posts will be entered in the random drawing to win the Sun and Moon Tarot by Vanessa Decort...but you only have until Sunday, August 29, 2010, midnight EST to post!

Have fun, and good luck! 

The Fenestra Tarot is illustrated by Chatriya Hemharnvibul. You can find out more information about this deck at the U.S. Games Systems, Inc. website at this link. The ISBN for this deck is 1-57281-560-4, and is available from your favorite online retailer or brick-and-mortar store. If you don't see it in stock, just ask for it.

-- Janet