Pondering a New Class

[qos]

Over the past few days my commute has been taken up with thoughts of how I would teach a "Get to Know Your Tarot Deck" class, including a booklet that each participant would gradually complete, giving her an ongoing reference tool.

This is one of those areas where I tend to take my own knowledge for granted. There are a lot of great books about tarot out there, but how many people in my area would enjoy spending 2-3 hours in a class that's focused specifically on their own deck and their own perspective? One that doesn't give them pat meanings or patterns to memorize and follow, but tools for deepening their individual understanding of any deck they use?

Comments

[sharpchick.livejournal.com]

What a cool idea. . .teaching people to read the cards instead of books about the meanings of the cards.

I say, "You go, girl."

[qos.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[erl-queen.livejournal.com]

I think that's a really great idea. I like the acknowledgment of how different decks can be used/read differently, how one can build a relationship with a particular deck (not just the art or symbolism, even, but the actual cards themselves, when you put enough mojo into them).

[qos.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the affirmation!

[blessed-harlot.livejournal.com]

Ooooo, very cool idea. I don't even think of myself as a tarot person, but I'd be highly tempted by that.

[qos.livejournal.com]

I think you would really enjoy tarot, assuming you were able to find a deck that resonated with your personal symbolism -- not impossible at all.

Your ease with playfulness in spirituality and your opennesss to intuition in general are exactly the kinds of qualities a "tarot person" needs. :-)

[blessed-harlot.livejournal.com]

The closest I ever came during a few years of dabbling, ages ago, was The Shakespearean Tarot by Delores Ashcroft-Nowicki. I remember resonating a lot with several of the Major Arcana, especially Hamlet as the Hanged Man, and Beatrice on the Star card. I actually ran across that deck in a box about a week ago, when I sadly thought I had gotten rid of them. No telling where the book is.

I'll certainly keep an eye out if any part of your class comes to LJ.

[qos.livejournal.com]

Tell you what. . . How would you like to be a beta-tester, and give me feedback as I develop the class?

Not having the book is perfect, since the whole point is developing your own unique relationship with the cards.

[blessed-harlot.livejournal.com]

Oooo, that sounds fun. I really have no idea where I'll end up, but I'd be willing to take the journey and see what we find. I'm especially intrigued by the timing of finding a deck I haven't seen in years, and you feeling this tug right now.

I went and got the deck and have been looking through it, and it occurs to me that I've never really found a connection to the minor arcana - any minor arcana. The earth/air/fire/water delineation of energy has never resonated with me, and that's the only way I've ever seen to understand the suits. I'm wondering, though, if the coordination patterns or some other modality of four characteristics would work for me. I can think of a few.

[qos.livejournal.com]

The primary goal of the class is interpreting the cards' system in whatever way worked best for you. The way I see it, a reading is a collaboration between the cards and the reader. Of course, some decks just don't work for some people, and the collaboration sometimes doesn't work out.

[autumnonthelake.livejournal.com]

I think this is a great idea! I'd love something like this with my own deck.

[qos.livejournal.com]

There isn't a hard barrier between the two journals, and I didn't deliberately leave him out. I'll friend him later this evening. In the meantime, feel free to share with him.

[blessed-harlot.livejournal.com]

Ah, cool.

I thought better of my choice of journals for that comment, so I was in the process of moving it. Hence the deletion.

[9thmoon.livejournal.com]

Oh, me! Me, me, me! I would pay good money for such a class. In fact, I'm sitting here tonight thumbing through my tarot, wishing I knew how to read them.