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Bushido New user 98 Posts |
I was introduced to a pack of tarot card for the first time just a few months ago. I was never into these things although I have been doing magic and mentalism for a really long time.
At my office I had them sitting at my desk and was asked if I would do a reading. I took what I new about basic card magic and quickly put together an effect. It played really well. So I decided to try out a few routines and maybe prepare something for a Halloween party. Now here is my question / concern. When doing magic or mentalism, the methodology really does not matter to the end result. Basically, if I’m gonna bend a spoon nobody cares how it was done (was it real power or trickery) in the end the spoon bent and it was fun to watch. With a card trick you might hear something like “that was cool, do it again I want to see if I could catch you…” With tarot cards this is not true. Nobody wants to or expects to see a tarot reading that uses trickery or a gimmick. They want to see what the cards tell about their future. Any association between tarot cards and entertainment is immediately dismissed. My question is this. How do you keep the mystery of tarot cards while only entertaining the subject? And here is why I ask. Yesterday I did a reading and I used the tools and trickery of mentalism and magic. To make a long story short, the girl ended up missing work, went directly to church and spent an hour in confession. She was scared. When I found out, I immediately called her and dismissed any witchcraft or sorcery. I did not tell her what methods were used but I pretty much told her that it’s just an old bar trick and she had nothing to worry about. My intent was to entertain, not to frighten. Tarot cards seem powerful but maybe a bit too powerful. I’m not going to discuss the reading or what I told her, but I would appreciate any thoughts or advice. And no, I did not tell her any bad news. I just knew way too much – and that’s what scared her. |
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dmkraig Inner circle 1949 Posts |
When doing 1 on 1, you have to be careful of a person's mindset before a reading.
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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
When my wife did readings for a Harry Potter book release party, she used the 'Alice in Wonderland' deck with all the 'negative' cards removed.
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
I suspect you were dealing with someone on the verge of some sort of event allready...
That being said, just learn to give a good reading, no trickery or "cold reading", and you shouldn't scare anybody. |
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dmoses Inner circle 2261 Posts |
I recommend you read some Enrique Enriquez stuff. Invisible Tarot and Invisible Reading are both pertinent to the question you're asking.
"You're a comedian. You wanna do mankind a service, tell funnier jokes."
TPR by Dave Moses and Iain Dunford T-shirts for Magicians and Mentalists |
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Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
Pulling out the 'negative' cards from a deck is just being wimpish.
:devilish:
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
She was reading for children.
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
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leapinglizards Inner circle 1263 Posts |
And consider that if someone is coming to you for a one on one private reading... the likelyhood is they are not looking for entertainment.
Leaping Lizards!!! Who knew it was possible.
<BR> <BR>www.LeapingLizardsMagic.com |
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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-10-20 02:53, Philemon Vanderbeck wrote: I entirely agree, but with kids I can see her point. |
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Davit Sicseek Inner circle 1818 Posts |
Doing a reading without it being 'real' isn't entertaining. At least to the vast majority of those experiencing the reading. Of course, it can make an interesting 'debunking' show but if you want to be safe is the knowledge that you're not scaring people or causing any damage - don't do them.
Or you could just assume that they were on the verge of something anyway...
Send me the truth: davitsicseek@gmail.com
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Mindtrap Veteran user 316 Posts |
From what was said above, it seems it wasn't for children, a Halloween party but where the girl ended up missing work.
Bushido, I would say, quite probably you come from a magic background, not a slur at all, but there seems a socially-accepted underlying premise to most people that most magic of magicians are not real. Sure they will be amazed, puzzled, dumbfounded, inspired and entertained but oftentimes it's heights are that it was 'very clever'. It's a socially agreed contract. Tarot on the other hand is very real, potentially very threatening and, to some, will be taken very seriously from the off (that's what they learn from the movies and the church). It's always the better assumption to make at least until you know and calibrate directly from them. That safety valve assumption in magic that these are 'merely' amazing, albeit very clever, tricks we will indulge and delight in to whatever extent mostly isn't there. I imagine it wasn't just your reading/coldreading but those 'extra methods' employed that were, for her, possibly overkill. A tempering preface of your reading, briefly detailing the real history of the cards, asking what they know about them and then addressing common misconceptions about fatalism, occult connections, the death card etc. too. And, as in a seance, fully forewarn them that those with religious convictions against it or those who may be frightened by such things should perhaps leave the room. After then, they know what they’re in for so fair sport. If you want to keep the effects but lose the associations, cartomancy with playing cards or one of the other fortunetelling decks. Offering them the choice of decks and Psycards, Osho Zen Tarot, etc., are all less provocative to the susceptible. Failing all that, you should resort to the gummy bear tarot (I believe it was Tony Iacoviello's discovery here). http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/gummibear/ MT. |
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alexander_may Loyal user South Africa 296 Posts |
I've packed away my tarot cards... unfortunately around here too many people connect them with the occult / satanism, and I'm not risking further trouble with it. Now I rather just do straight cold-reading, which is more 'acceptable' apparently.
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JAlenS Inner circle Utah 1526 Posts |
I was messing around with some ideas with using Glenn Danzig's Black Aria II with some scary things. I did a tarot effect from Haunted Magick in which the death card is forced for my wife who knows how to read tarot cards. You guys know the one.
I guess that even though she knows I'm manipulating the cards, the music along with the effect disturbed her. See: Danzig - Black Aria II - Unclean Sephira lol |
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Anthony Jacquin Inner circle UK 2220 Posts |
LOL. You forced the death card on your wife and disturbed her!!! Now that is a man dedicated to his art.
Anthony
Anthony Jacquin
Reality is Plastic! The Art of Impromptu Hypnosis Updated for 2016 Now on Kindle and Audible! |
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Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
Children are far more able to handle the negative than many often give them credit for.
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
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Lord Of The Horses Inner circle 5406 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-10-20 02:53, Philemon Vanderbeck wrote: Philemon is right... That's wimpish and is also cheating (not that we don't do that, from time to time. But I would never remove the possible FREE CHOICE out of complete deck of Tarots). And if I had to remove some cards... I would never remove cards like Death, Devil, etc. As a matter of fact, I have some force decks I made up myself out of buying many decks (!) When in need I bring out my 1-0-1 style deck to force DEATH (another one forces the TOWER and another one the DEVIL, and another one the LOVERS). I have some strong uses for EACH of those decks - which I won't divulge here - but in a serious setting, they work for what I need to accomplish (without scaring the sitters too much, since all is always open to interpretation, if you will). Plus, they have my help to fight against the dark forces! But then again, I would never read Tarots to children, so I'm not guilty of possibly scaring them...
Then you'll rise right before my eyes, on wings that fill the sky, like a phoenix rising!
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chmara Inner circle Tucson, AZ 1911 Posts |
Then there are the truly gifted "real" Tarot readers -- usually chubby bored housewives who con their way into a few bucks with chutzpah and credulity. Their natural habitat seems to be at Psychic fairs and in palm parlors.
I have had potential subjects fee before the forces of these pasteboards -- then return to ask questions. I explain their are no mystic powers in the cards -- only the powers that reside in the individual. They can use the imagery on the cards to focus on their ideals and plans, to help them make decisions and to draw their own future --- NOT the other way around. My (cold reading) interpretation accents their CHOICES in life,not their destiny. In answering direct questions - it behooves (finally I get to use that word) us to ask/explain options and couch language carefully to empower the sitter to consider with a clear head. If you have an opinion - couch it as "If it were me I'd xxxxxxxx" but conclude the riff with -- "but I am not perfect and the cards only help you clarify your thoughts." This said, however, remember there are fundamentalists out there who believe that if it is not in the bible it is evil -- even if the bible calls for stoning disobedient children at the city gates. It is not worth time or effort for the community of showmen to confront the dogma -- beyond selling the "fun" part of what we do.
Gregg (C. H. Mara) Chmara
Commercial Operations, LLC Tucson, AZ C. H. Mara Illusion & Psychic Entertainments |
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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
I say just use them BUT force a Happy Ending!
Double lift or Palm or whatever, just as long as they get a Happy "Reading"!
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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JAlenS Inner circle Utah 1526 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-11-11 16:05, Pakar Ilusi wrote: Well, I was happy! |
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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
Glad to hear that!
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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