We’ve made a slight change to the Tarot House San Francisco event for October!

Because we can’t bear to miss this event at Fields, we’re moving the October Tarot House to Fields so we can all attend!

http://www.fieldsbooks.com/cgi-bin/fields/events.html?id=DHzH3hqX

The System of Aleister Crowley’s A.’.A.’. — Methods & Tools of Attainment. A lecture and book-signing.

When: Thu Oct 28, 2010 8pm to 9:30pm PDT

Where: Fields Book Store, 1419 Polk St, SF (415) 673-2027
Event Description: Dr. David Shoemaker, a clinical psychologist and Chancellor of the College of Thelema of Northern California, is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on the A.’.A.’.–the system of personal and spiritual development created by Aleister Crowley–and is known for his entertaining and down-to-earth explanations of such arcane subjects as ceremonial magick, Qabalah, and Raja Yoga. Dr. Shoemaker is co-editor of the new Teitan Press publication “Phyllis Seckler (Soror Meral): The Thoth Tarot, Astrology, & Other Selected Writings.

As an additional benefit, all members of the Tarot House will gain individual membership to Tarot Professionals and full access to the magazine, guides, videos, and forum. Not only do you benefit from the ideas and experience of the monthly meeting, you have all of the resources of Tarot Professionals available every day of the month!

You can read more about Tarot Professionals and Tarosophy(TM) restoring the spiritual dignity of Tarot at: http://www.tarotprofessionals.com/

The meeting fee is usually $7.00 to cover the cost of the venue, coffee, etc. However, since we’re going offsite this month, there is no charge – we simply ask that you take advantage of the fabulous books, decks, and other resources available at Fields and purchase one to take home with you!

Our friends at Weiser Books have kindly included me on their reviewers list!  <Insert visual of me dancing around the office, contemplating all of the reading I get to do!>

First up: Best Tarot Practices by Marcia Masino.  Paperback, 302 pages of Tarot information and ideas, and worth the read!  A foreword by Rachel Pollack creates anticipation of interesting reading ahead, and Masino does not disappoint.

(Image courtesy of Weiser Books)

Masino presents it as a beginner’s book, and I think it would be a good introduction for those new to Tarot. However, given the depth of information, and all of the extras in the book, I can see this being of great use to those who have some Tarot experience to give them a fresh approach to what may seem to be overly familiar territory.

Masino does provide meanings for the cards, both upright and reverse, which are well-written.  (One nitpick: the book could have used one more time through the proofreading department – a reference to the “yoke of an egg” on page 123 was rather jarring. My pick is about the typos, not the quality of the writing.) However, she gives so much more for the reader to work with – questions to ask the self/querent about the card, affirmations to help absorb the lesson of the card, and guided meditations for those who wish to work deeply with a particular card.  While the meditations cover only the major arcana and what Masino terms the “challenge” cards in the minor arcana, there’s material aplenty to keep even the most devoted Tarot student occupied for months.

With the minor arcana, Masino takes a fresh look at the court cards.  While acknowledging that the court cards can often represent people around us, or aspects of ourselves, Masino encourages the reader to view them as embodiments of personal values, either what the client already possesses, or what the client needs to focus on.

She associates a classical virtue with each of the minor suits – for example, she assigns the virtue of Faith to the Cups cards.  The cards in the suit are then not only about our emotional progression (or lack thereof), but bring into focus how our emotional development affects our faith, and vice-versa.  This additional layer of meaning adds a new richness to readings.

Masino also provides an introduction to meditation – breathing, creating a positive environment – for those not familiar with meditation, or who are not accustomed to combining meditation with their Tarot work.  Some of the meditations are more advanced than I would expect a beginner to be comfortable with, but you can work up to them as you feel ready.  At the very least, I recommend reading through them just to get an intellectual understanding of Masino’s approach, even if you don’t do the actual meditation, and do the meditations as you feel prepared to work with that card.

The book also provides three spreads in addition to the Celtic Cross, with examples of spreads Masino has done for clients to illustrate each one. I particularly like the Four Seasons spread, which Masino offers as a quarterly self check-in.  While she presents it as a predictive spread, I found that it was easily used as a tool to contemplate options and make decisions rather than relying on it for simple prediction, as that approach better fits my reading style.  (Of course, if you’ve listened to any of our podcasts, you know my feelings about predictive readings.)

Packed with questions, exercises, meditations, and affirmations, Marcia Masino’s Best Tarot Practices is a well-written and welcome addition to the Tarot library.

In all the excitement of SF BATS, Voyager Tarot Intensives with James Wanless, the classes I’ve been teaching, and all the Tarot fun we’ve been having with San Francisco Tarot Cafe and Tarot House San Francisco, I forgot to share that the MAAT Tarot iPhone app is now available on the iTunes Store!

The MAAT Tarot is Julie Cuccia-Watt’s inspired re-interpretation of the Tarot, based on the lunar wheel of the year. The images are vibrant, intense, and symbolically rich. The correspondences of the cards with the lunar calendar create additional depth for interpretation. Cuccia-Watts captures the complexities and interwoven relationships of the cards and their archetypes in her detailed and dramatic images.

The application includes the full, high-resolution artwork and detailed text of the print MAAT deck, along with a range of spreads and supplemental information on the use of the MAAT Tarot.

Controls are available to create readings with the full range of cards, include or exclude reversed cards, or to create readings with just the Major Arcana, court cards, pip cards, or combinations.

Some screen shots for your viewing pleasure:

The splash screen:

Splash Screen

Many choices for spreads – There are more spreads than just the ones in this screenshot!

What will the cards say?

And the cards say . . . .

Check it out on the iTunes Store and let us know what you think!  If you’re interested in doing a review, click here to send us a message and we’ll give you a reviewer code!

On October 2, 2010, I will present my class on the Triangular Tarot Spread I created some years ago. This new approach to the classic 10 card spread makes it easier to see the patterns, connections, and influences of the cards and the factors they represent, which leads to greater understanding of the situation for the client. With that increased understanding, the client is able to make more thoughtful – and more useful – choices in response to their situation, based on the information derived from these patterns and influences.

The Triangular Tarot Spread allows the client to realize their own possibilities and power in their situation, even if they feel helpless and hopeless when they arrive at your table. The Triangular Tarot Spread also allows the reader to develop their own skills at identifying patterns, connections, and influences in all types of readings.

Bring your cards, notebook and pen, and favorite triangular object!

Each class runs from 1:00 – 4:30 pm, held in our studio on Potrero Hill. Address and directions will be provided with your registration confirmation.

The fee for each class is $15.00, and includes class materials, refreshments – and a chance to win a fabulous Tarot treasure! Tarot Media Company is kindly donating an item or two each month for an end-of-workshop prize – one month it might be a raffle, another month a contest – whatever my inspiration devises!

Due to space considerations, we request that you preregister for the class online at Tarot Media Company, or by phone at 1.415.508.7323.

The next meeting of Tarot House San Francisco will be Thursday, September 30, 2010!

In cooperation with Tarot Professionals, we’ve established Tarot House San Francisco, a monthly gathering of Tarot readers, enthusiasts, and collectors, meeting the last Thursday of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Center of San Francisco, 1187 Franklin Street, 7:00 – 9:00 pm.

We’ll discuss Tarot, we’ll exchange ideas, and we’ll actually pull out our cards and read!

As an additional benefit, all members of the Tarot House will gain individual membership to Tarot Professionals and full access to the magazine, guides, videos, and forum. Not only do you benefit from the ideas and experience of the monthly meeting, you have all of the resources of Tarot Professionals available every day of the month!

You can read more about Tarot Professionals and Tarosophy(TM) restoring the spiritual dignity of Tarot at: http://www.tarotprofessionals.com

The fee for each meeting is $7.00, which covers our cost of providing the space and the group subscription to Tarot Professionals, which makes your individual membership available each month.  (You know you spend that much on lattes and lunch every workday – and Starbucks doesn’t give you a Tarot Professionals membership!)

Advance registration is required online at http://tiny.cc/m08cv or by phone at 415.508.7323 so we can be certain to have enough chairs, coffee, and tea. Walk-ins are accepted on a space available basis!

See you on September 30!

One of the fabulous new vendors at this year’s San Francisco Bay Area Tarot Symposium was Beth Seilonen of The Cat’s Eye Gallery in Calais, Maine.  Beth ventured to San Francisco from her studio in Maine, bringing all kinds of wonderful, hand made, limited edition decks with her!

The first one that caught my attention was the Spirit Eye Arcana:

Spirit Eye Arcana

Spirit Eye Arcana Cards

Click on the pictures so you can see the cards – they’re amazing.  The Lovers, Judgment, and The World are particularly well done.

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The next one to jump into my hands was the Isabel Snail Arcana.  Snails are just so cute!  (Our neighbors think we’re crazy – we encourage snails in our yard, and consider it a refuge from everyone else’s anti-snail fanaticism.)

Cards and Information

Isabel Snail Arcana

How could I resist those faces?

Irresistible!

The Star and The World are particularly endearing, and The Hermit – Beth’s visual humor is terrific!

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The last one to win my heart was the Symbolically Simplistic Arcana (what I think of as “Flower Power”!):

Symbolically Simplistic Arcana

Symbolically Simplistic Arcana

Aren't they wonderful?

I can’t resist a deck with a good Star card – Beth’s version, called “Wish” in this deck, is touching and real.

It’s been a busy few weeks, what with the San Francisco Bay Area Tarot Symposium, the first meeting of Tarot House San Francisco, and the usual semi-monthly meetings of the San Francisco Tarot Cafe!  I have so much to catch up on, so let’s start with something fun – new decks!

I rarely buy decks any more – I have so many already (some of them still in shrink wrap, I must admit) and I don’t think it’s quite right to bring home new toys when I haven’t played with all the ones I have yet!  However, a few have leapt into my hands or followed me home, and how can I resist when they blink up at me with such big eyes?

In reverse chron order, here’s the first deck – a miniature reproduction of the Minchiate Tarot, done by Il Meneghello.  One of a limited run of 2,000 copies, it’s presented in a book-like cover which ties closed with ribbons – much nicer than a plain box!

Miniature Reproduction Minchiate Tarot, Il Meneghello

The back is equally gorgeous.

Back Cover of the Minchiate Miniature Reproduction, Il Meneghello

The whole set:

The Miniature Minchiate Reproduction Set, Il Meneghello

I love working with Brian Williams’ updated version of the Minchiate – it’s beautiful, and has all kinds of extra cards to make the readings more interesting.  It’s an especially good deck to read for someone who knows the Tarot – the additional 18 cards provide a fresh look at the rest of the deck.

Working with this reproduction set, I love the vividness of the card colors (the updated version is more pastel), and I love a good woodcut as much as anyone.  The one thing I appreciate more about the updated version done by Williams is that he clarified some of the images which are hard to discern in the original.  (Is that a dog or a hippopotamus on that card?)

Both the reproduction and the updated version are great to work with, and shake me out of reading complacency because of the unusual images and additional ideas presented in the extra cards.

Time for another meeting of the San Francisco Tarot Cafe on Tuesday, September 7!  Our topic will be the Nines in the Tarot.

We’ll be starting at 7:00 pm and going until 9:00 pm, at Borderlands Cafe, 870 Valencia Street in San Francisco.  We’ll be in the back of the cafe, with lots of tables and chairs for gathering in twos, threes, fives, etc. to ooh and aah over each other’s decks and do readings.

The Tarot Cafe isn’t a formal class or workshop.  It’s an opportunity to meet with others who read the Tarot, talk about cards, practice readings, compare techniques, and enjoy the delightful beverages and delicious food offered by the friendly staff at Borderlands Cafe. We’ll start the evening with a question or topic to get the conversation going, but after that, the only guide is your imagination!

We’re excited about these gatherings, as they will give us all a chance simply to enjoy the Tarot – and the company of fellow Tarot enthusiasts – twice a month.  There’s no admission fee; we ask only that you support the cafe by indulging in a coffee, tea, snack plate, or treat.  (Or all of the above – why choose?!)  Borderlands Cafe offers an extensive selection of teas and coffee drinks, and savory snacks and sweet treats sized for individual consumption, for sharing, or for a complete meal.  (My favorite is the Antipasto Plate – yum!)

Borderlands Cafe is at 870 Valencia Street, between 19th and 20th Streets.  It’s accessible from BART, Muni lines 14, 33, and 49, and a nice stretch of the legs from Muni  lines 22, 48, and J Metro.  Street parking is doable within a block or two of Borderlands, since the meters turn off at 6:00 pm.

Registration isn’t required, but we’d appreciate it if you would please RSVP via www.MeetUp.com or email us so we have an idea of how many people to expect, that will allow us to reserve enough tables.  Even if you don’t manage to let us know ahead of time, feel free to drop in – the more, the merrier!