Introduction

REMEMBER to put B in the subject line of all posts (and remind me if I forget!)

Clip the following and fill in the information. Send back to either me or the entire class, whichever you feel most comfortable. This information will help me know the levels of expertise we've got in the class, the interests and also allow me to tailor some lessons better.

• NAME USING IN THIS LIST:
• EMAIL ADDRESS:
• ANY TAROT EXPERIENCE: Y/N
• IF YES, WHAT AND YEARS: (i.e. Do you read for friends, professionally; use only to meditate, etcetera)
• TAKEN OTHER CLASSES?: (if so, what, when, etc.)
• WHAT DECKS DO YOU OWN AND USE REGULARLY?:
• FOR MEDITATION:
• FOR DIVINATION:
• OTHER:
• WHAT OTHER DIVINATION TOOLS DO YOU USE?:
• DO YOU HAVE OTHER EXPERTISE- ANYTHING FROM KABALAH, ASTROLOGY, MUSIC, LANGUAGES, HERBS, PLANTS, ZOOLOGY, ETC.? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE - I may seek your expertise as we go along in class:
• SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT INTERPLAY WITH YOUR INTEREST IN THE TAROT AND
• DIVINATION: (here's a good place to tell us what is important in your life right now that brings you to tarot without me getting in a tizzy coz it's nontarot related!!!! <G>)
• EXPECTATIONS OF THIS CLASS?:

OK, Now for the next part of the administration. In this class you will be creating your OWN tarot book. We will use the class text of course, but I firmly believe that there is NO one tarot book that answers all your questions, and that as you grow with this, so will your notes, and resources. So I'm hoping that by you creating your own book you will have a resource that can continue to grow as you use the tarot, that will help you learn HOW to look at tarot decks, and that will make this a studious and still FUN experience.

In addition to the book for the class you can always have other books. In addition to the class text you might want to have handy other research tools: dictionaries, books on myths and deities, symbolism encyclopedias or dictionaries, the bible and its equivalent for other religions, and any other references that may have meaning and use for YOU. For example, if you are an herbalist, I'd suggest you have some of your references around to use as we go through this. If you are an astrologer, same same.

One of the beauties of the tarot is at first blush it is but a deck of cards. On closer inspection it is and can be so much more-depending on what you put into this class and your study of the tarot. But then again, it is a deck of cards! So get your notebook and paper. Either manually or by using your computer setup sheets with the following basic information-- use your imagination though,if you've other categories or thoughts, put them in!

• TITLE OF CARD IN RW DECK:
• ALTERNATE NAMES FOR CARD:
• NUMBER OF CARD:
• BASIC DESCRIPTION:
• ASTROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION:
• KABALISTIC ASSOCIATION:
• BIBLICAL ASSOCIATIONS:
• MYTHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONS:
• HERBS/PLANTS/FLOWERS/TREES:
• CRYSTALS:
• COLORS:
• HISTORY NOTES ON THIS CARD:
• FIRST THING THAT STRUCK ME WHEN I LOOKED AT CARD:
• SYMBOLS AND COLORS:
• MY OWN DESCRIPTION OF CARD:
• TRADITIONAL MEANINGS OF CARD UPRIGHT:
• TRADITIONAL MEANINGS OF CARD REVERSED:
• QUOTES FROM OTHER SOURCES ON THIS CARD:
• MUSIC I THINK OF WITH THIS CARD:
• PUBLIC PEOPLE OR EVENTS THAT REMIND ME OF THIS CARD:
• PERSONAL THOUGHTS ON THE MEANING OF THIS CARD FOR ME TODAY (MEDITATION):
• HOW THE RW CARD COMPARES TO THE SAME CARD IN OTHER DECKS I USE:
• HOW THIS CARD RELATES TO OTHER DIVINATORY TOOLS:
• DRAWINGS AND ARTWORK: (INCLUDES CLIPPED ART THAT RELATES TO CARD FOR THOSE OF US THAT CAN'T DRAW!)
• HOW THIS CARD RELATES TO PEOPLE OR SITUATIONS IN MY LIFE:
• OTHER:

I've kept the area short on this message because of bandwidth considerations. Use your judgment on these in setting them out...or maybe just do one template that you adjust each time (easy to do if you do this on the computer!). You might also want some of those pocket folders for your notebook for things that you want to stick into it but don't go well on a page!

If you've other ideas let the class know...the notebook style and format is NOT written in stone. I'd like to stay on topic as much as possible. Given this is the tarot list, we should be ok. If I see we're getting off on a trail, I'll yank us in. If you don't understand something, SPEAK UP. After doing this for awhile, I, like others, forget some of the verbiage is not common knowledge to us all. And certainly my wording of a phrase might be confusing (of course its crystal clear to me you know!). Being online is quite different from a regular class--for you and me.

One more time, I'll give you as much info as I can. But the only way you are going to really become good at using the tarot as a divination tool is by rolling up your sleeves and doing the work yourself. It takes time. DO NOT be frustrated if you get confused, don't see how one can get a meaning from a card, etcetera--that is quite normal for beginners and you should simply take it one step at a time. Do the assignments, read the book, study on your own other resources. It pays off in that when you read for someone, you've true knowledge in your head, not cliff notes you've memorized for the weekend. That work pays off in being able to really see the many layers of each card, as needed, for that reading. It ain't instant pudding folks! There, I've given my disclaimer and warning! Go enjoy and get your book, cards, and notebook ready.

ShadowWolf