August 27th, 2024 § Comments Off on Tarot Reader Sues Pennsylvania Burough § permalink
Apparently, it’s illegal to be paid to read Tarot cards in Pennsylvania.
Beck Lawrence, professional Tarot reader and owner of the Serpent’s Key, in Hanover, Pennsylvania, discovered this fact when the police visited the shop last October and warned Lawrence that they were breaking the law and could be charged in the future.
The law in question is from back in 1861, and states, in part … “A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree if he pretends for gain or lucre, to tell fortunes or predict future events, by cards, tokens, the inspection of the head or hands of any person, or by the age of anyone, or by consulting the movements of the heavenly bodies, or in any other manner ….” It goes on. You can read the full statute here.
The penalty for such an offence is up to a year in prison, or a fine of up to $2,500.
So … last week, after consulting with their attorney (and maybe the cards?), and under the full blue moon, Lawrence filed suit against the Chief of Police of Hanover in his official capacity, and against Hanover Borough.
The lawsuit claims that the statute violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution, and the Civil Rights Act of 1871. You can read the lawsuit here.
And check out the video interview below with Beck Lawrence from WGALTV.
We’ll be keeping an eye out for how this goes. I wish Lawrence well.
January 9th, 2017 § Comments Off on North West Tarot Symposium – March 3-5, 2017 § permalink
March might seem a long time away, but it’ll be here before we know it … so if you’re in the US North West, or planning a visit there, you might want to check out this year’s North West Tarot Symposium.
The big event will be held March 3-5 in Portland, Oregon – a beautiful town with now another great reason to visit.
The Tarot Fool has come to life in the small town of Conwy, Wales which recently appointed its first resident Jester in over 700 years.
According to rawstory.com, at the beginning of August, Russel Erwood was installed as the Fool of Conwy, and dubbed ‘Erwyd le Fol’ during an official celebration involving falconry, knights, and a parade.
To get the job, Erwyd had to prove himself by successfully completing three tasks. He had to juggle daggers while blindfolded, balance a sword on his chin, and make a gold coin disappear.
He did them all and more, finishing up his routine with a trick known as The Burning Brushes of Beelzebub where he balanced a burning barbeque on a wooden pole down at the town’s quayside.
Who could ask for more!
The last official Fool of Conwy was ‘Tom le Fol’, appointed by King Edward I of England back in 1294. Erwyd’s work duties will be very similar to his predecessor Tom’s – juggling, singing songs, telling stories, and performing magic tricks.
As of last week, ‘fortune-telling’ is officially legal in Frederick, Maryland.
According to fredericknewspost.com, though psychic readers have been working in Frederick for some time now, the practice was technically illegal. The fine for violation was only $25, and no one was enforcing the law, but still, giving psychic readings (including Tarot) was a crime.
But not anymore … on Thursday last week, the city’s Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to repeal the ban.
Detroit is getting a brand new $450 million arena for the Detroit Red Wings hockey team to call home. Not only do plans by Olympia Development of Michigan include the arena itself, but what type of development can grow around it.
According to detroitnews.com, Olympia Development of Michigan’s new arena district will be based on a ‘deconstructred’ design, meaning that it will include separate buildings within a 45-block area surrounding the venue, as well as the venue itself.
Of those buildings to be controlled by Olympia, certain restrictions will be in place. Authorized development will include dry cleaning businesses, brewpubs, health clubs, professional or medical offices, restaurants, hotels, retail businesses, exhibition halls, and residences.
What won’t be allowed are warehouses, pawn shops, bail bondsman services, businesses that involve firearms or hazardous materials, rehab clinics, topless bars, and what interests me … psychic or tarot reading businesses.
I wonder when the brawling sport of hockey got so high-end, and when private companies (in this case, heavily subsidized by taxpayers) started getting the right to determine where other businesses are allowed to operate or not.
I don’t know whether Nelly the Psychic Elephant is right about any of her World Cup predictions, but I love that she predicts by playing a little soccer herself.
Take a look at the GeoBeat News video below to see Nelly in action. Apparently, her record’s quite good.
If you’re a Toronto resident who hasn’t heard of it already, Doors Open Toronto is a recurring event where residents and visitors get the chance to explore buildings and places across the city we don’t normally get to see.
This year, the spring event happens May 24th and 25th, and will provide rare access to more than 155 architecturally, historically, culturally, and socially significant buildings across Toronto.
Secret spaces, spirit sightings, and unexplained mysteries will be highlighted at more than 75 different locations, including an underground church bowling alley, secret tombs, haunted tunnels, and some hotel bank vaults.
There will be talks, and art exhibits, and free walking tours.
Three ‘ghostly’ tours will be happening – one through the Distillery District, another of the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse at Toronto Harbour, and a third at Exhibition Place.
It looks like Marion, Ohio might soon be changing, or maybe even repealing, its ‘fortune-telling’ ordinance.
At the moment, ‘fortune-telling’ is technically legal in Marion, but anyone practicing such work would be expected to pay quite a hefty license fee for the privilege.
According to the Marion Star, the law presently states that,
“No person shall practice astrology, fortunetelling, clairvoyancy, palmistry, phrenology or soothsaying, or intend to profess to tell future events, or predict or prophesy future events or happenings in the municipality, without first procuring from the Safety/Service Director a license to do so, for which he/she shall pay $10 per day while so practicing such profession within the municipality.”
But that may soon change as the Legislation, Codes & Regulations Committee reviews old laws in order to edit or revoke any that might no longer be relevant or useful to the city. ‘Fortune-Telling’ is on their list.
I’ll be watching to see what happens, and I’ll share anything I hear.
Last week, in a unanimous 9-0 decision, Long Beach, California City Council voted to update their fortune-telling regulations.
Though psychic businesses will still need to get a business license to open shop, proprietors will no longer have to undergo a police background check, or come up with a $250,000 bond.
There have also been changes made to how ‘fortune tellers’ are defined.
Though I can’t seem to find the actual documents, according to Press Telegram News, the old definition included phrases like “gypsy cunning or foresight” and “oriental mysteries.”
The new code has removed this language, which the Council described as “outdated and offensive.”
Council also removed the requirement of a Conditional Use Permit, and will treat psychic businesses as other personal services, allowing them to operate in commercial zones.
In a 4-0 vote, city council members ruled that fortune-tellers, astrologers, psychics, and palm readers will be included among businesses allowed to operate under the city’s zoning code.
Until now, ‘fortune-tellers’ were neither permitted nor forbidden in La Cañada Flintridge, but going forward, anyone interested in opening a psychic shop may do so, as long as they obtain a city permit, and locate within specific commercial zones.
According to the La Cañada Valley Sun, though there was some debate last summer, as to whether ‘fortune-telling’ was pure entertainment or a service, council ultimately chose the service label.
“Some people think it’s just a fun thing, and some think it’s a serious service. I can’t tell you who’s right or wrong, but to accommodate that, we put it down as a service.”
