It's a fair question. But there can be several reasons why people ask me this.
They wonder why someone who looks and sounds as sane and sensible as I do in "real life" would spend time learning (and teaching and advising and making money from) something which sounds so foolish, frivolous, and illogical on the surface -- or as far as their often very limited information goes.
As sincerely and simply as I can, I answer these people, "Because I have learned the Tarot works when you know what you're doing and that it has value for me."
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This is a very complex question -- whose answer is often controversial. I will keep this answer brief, simple and factually correct, but I invite those who are interested in more information on the history of the Tarot to research it either in libraries or online yourself.
Why learn the Tarot? It's a fair question. But there can be several reasons why people ask me this. They wonder why someone who looks and sounds as sane and sensible as I do in "real life" would spend time learning (and teaching and advising and making money from) something which sounds so foolish, frivolous, and illogical on the surface -- or as far as their often very limited information goes.
First of all, the Tarot is broken into two (or arguably three) different sections.
The Major Arcana of the Tarot contains the archetypal symbols (vast transpersonal and spiritual patterns that underlie and support human growth, behavior, perspectives and experience) that are found in the lore and religious underpinnings of every known culture.
The Major Arcana tells the story of the Fool's Journey ... or the Hero's Journey ... from his moment of embarking on life's grand adventure through the stages of initiation and evolution that will lead him finally to a pinnacle of success and wisdom ... from which he may begin the process again at a more sophistical level of knowledge and with more complex challenges on the path he travels.
Rods (which correspond to the suit of Clubs) -- and depending on the specific Tarot are also depicted and named as staves, wands, batons, and scepters. Rods focus on issues of personal ambition, professional goals, public reputation, individual vision and destiny, matters of self-confidence, courage, charisma, pride, and initiative.
Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified. ~ Samuel Johnson ~ Born September 18, 1709
Featured Tarot Article: Leo and Strength
Most Tarot decks show Strength as a woman in a beautiful garden caressing a lion ... a gesture of affection, trust, and the acknowledgment of power. For reasons that escape understanding in some cases, lions have long symbolized valor, courage, power, majesty, and yes, strength. There's also an unmistakable grace that goes with leonine power, and certainly anyone with prominent Leo energy in his character is willing to accept that compliment.
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