Sunday
Jan012012
Ross and Carrie Try Tarot: Don't Let the Tarot-rists Win
Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 1:29PM ;)
What's in the cards for 2012? In this episode, Ross and Carrie visit four different tarot readers, asking what the future holds for your favorite investigators. Carrie learns that she's not likely to die soon, and Ross gets a BIG surprise. Listen to this episode, or tarot-rism will win.
And don't forget to "like" us on facebook to see the pictures!
Reader Comments (8)
Great episode! I love that you were able to go to so many different tarot readers and report back!
Listening to the podcast for the first time. Great that I picked this episode for my first, because I collect and "read" Tarot cards. I have a collection of about thirty or so decks, and I've been collecting them and studying the history and art of Tarot cards and other so-called "oracle" cards for about twenty years. The cards are a great tool for people who want to do fortunetelling, but are bad at cold reading. They make the whole cold-reading process easier, because there are all of these archetypal images and situations that you can pull from the deck. As a skeptic, I've always been intensely interested in fortunetelling paraphernalia. I also collect Ouija boards, rune stones, etc.
The use of plain playing cards for fortunetelling is more common among gypsy fortunetellers, but even the Romani have started using Tarot rather than playing cards, because people expect it. However, the history of playing cards and fortunetelling cards is so muddled that there's very little difference. The earliest Tarot decks were only the 22 picture cards, and "pip" cards were added later from playing card decks. The suits even match up. Cups are hearts. Wands are clubs. Swords are spades and diamonds are coins. The difference is that the knight and the page of the Tarot deck has been reduced to the Jack or Knave in the playing card deck.
If you're curious about the cards, and you have any questions, let me know. I can provide you with information without the unskeptical fluff.
Excellent information! Thanks Blue Frog, and welcome to the podcast! I hope you enjoy the other episodes as well. I re-posted your comment on our Facebook page (facebook.com/onrac) for our other listeners.
I just started using iTunes and searched for sceptical podcasts, and found yours (amongst many others). How much do you think the Tarot readers were earning per year ? Paul Zenon estimates that someone like Psychic Sally makes £10,000 plus per performance, in other words it's not simply harmless fun, but a very cynical way of making alot of money.
On another angle - have you considered the ethics of Tarot reading ? I wonder what the profile of the average Tarot sitter is and what expectations they have and how much damage could be potentially done to them.
That's one of the reasons I have never done readings for money, and before I do a reading for a friend, I explain a little of the science behind the cards before I get started, so that there's no question that it's a trick — just like cutting a woman in half at a magic show.
My guess is that most readers who are not reading for either an online or phone-based service aren't making much at all. It's not the draw that it used to be. Believe it or not, there's actually a professional organization for readers that promotes an ethical standard for readers. Because it's a tool-based prognostication method, there's a little more community involved than with psychic readers.
A little more information:
There are basically two different methods for reading Tarot cards: formulaic and intuitive. Formulaic readings are based on traditional meanings attached to the cards, or meanings which have been chosen by the creators of the cards. Readers who use plain playing cards will necessarily use formulaic readings. Intuitive readings rely on cards with vivid symbolic imagery, and the reader is responsible for interpreting the imagery within the context of the Querant's primary concern or question. It's better for lazy people like me who don't want to memorize a bunch of meanings for the 78 or so cards.
Can you tell I love talking about the cards, even though I'm a skeptic?
I wouldn't PAY someone to read for me, but I have read for friends and had friends read for me. I consider myself reasonably scientific minded-- I think that insofar as the SCIENCE of tarot is involved it is pure psychology-- and good mostly for helping you focus on things in your life that you are not conscious of. It is mainly a way to look at your life in a way that is different from the way you normally do.
So I respectfully disagree that someone cannot be scientific or rational and still do tarot.