The Tarot Room – Georgianna

It looks like Meridian, Mississippi might just lift their ban on fortune-telling businesses after all.

Though City Council voted last April to maintain the 38 year old ban, just this week, the issue was revisited.

This time round, instead of only one voice in opposition to the ban, the majority of the Council seems to support the change.

It’s not that they support psychics, so much as they fear having a lawsuit brought against them for trying to enforce an unconstitutional law.

If the ban is lifted, council intends to have psychic or fortune-telling businesses restricted to particular areas of the city, not just to particular business zones.

Action will likely be taken over the next couple of council meetings.

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Palm Trees in Palm Springs

Palm Springs, California might soon allow fortune telling, body piercing, tattooing and the sale of tobacco in its downtown core.

Presently businesses offering such services are restricted to areas defined as professional zones. But that might soon change.

The Palm Springs Planning Commission voted unanimously last Wednesday to go forward with a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the present restrictions.

The Director of Planning Services, Craig Ewing, described the existing restrictions as outdated and feels they should be changed to reflect present day attitudes, not ideas from 20 to 50 years ago.

Businesses are already offering these services in the downtown area. Some have been there since before the present laws came into effect.

Some are technically legal, but just so. Like the store that sells tobacco in less than 50 percent of its area, so as to be considered a gift shop rather than a tobacco shop.

Other businesses are simply breaking the law.

It sounds like Palm Springs is just making what’s already happening, legal across the board.

The public hearing is expected to be in late May or early June.

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Meridian, Mississppi

This week, the Meridian, Mississippi City Council voted to maintain a 38-year old ban on fortune-telling, despite taking steps to rescind it last month.

In a 4-1 vote in favor of keeping the ban, the council acted against the recommendation of the city attorney who believes it to be unconstitutional.

And given that Maryland’s high court determined last year that it was, he’s probably right.

The lone voice against the ban was Dr. George Thomas of Ward 1. He wants to avoid a lawsuit, feeling that it’s better to drop the ban and zone the readers, than to face a legal challenge the city is likely to lose.

Mary Perry of Ward 2 disagrees and voted to maintain the prohibition. She said she based her decision on her religious beliefs, what the bible says, what’s legal and what’s in her heart after prayer.

Meridian is the final resting place of Callie Mitchell, the Gypsy Queen. When she died in 1915, services were held at the Episcopal church and over 20,000 people attended.

Her burial site at the Rose Hill Cemetery is now a city attraction. I wonder what she would think of the ban.
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Thanks to Jason for being the first to let me know about the vote.

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Crystals, stones and anything tarot are unwelcome at the Ballan Autumn Festival.

Seven of eight festival committee members voted to ban a stallholder who intended to sell crystals, stones, tarot books and readings.

According to festival regulations, not only are alcohol, explosives and nudity prohibited, but so are products or services relating to the occult, black magic or devil worship.

And most committee members see crystals, stones and tarot cards as just that.

But others consider the ruling an attempt by Christian committee members to impose their religious views on a popular, publicly funded event.

Sarah Peckham was the only committee member who voted against the ban.

She also represents the Wombat Regional Arts Network and questioned whether the group would continue supporting the festival if it didn’t review its regulations.

She’d like it to be more accepting of different beliefs and to reconsider its position.

The festival is partially funded by the Moorabool Council. If it’s found that the actions of the festival are discriminatory, the mayor might consider withdrawing funding next year.

As of now, however, the issue is somewhat resolved.

The stallholder in question agreed not to sell the objectionable products and intends to offer natural therapies and massage instead.

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Being a Tarot reader myself, I hate writing about this. But every now and then I feel like the topic should be revisited.

Some psychic readers are frauds, downright lying criminals. Those that are, know who they are, and they should be very ashamed.

Using the occult, or anything, to scam people, especially in times of grief and vulnerability, is disgusting.

Fortunately, these criminals are pretty easy to identify. They’re not particularly imaginative, and have been using the same tired old tricks forever.

If you’re getting a psychic reading of any kind, be it tarot, palm, akashic records, auras, chakras, crystal balls, the other side … whatever, watch for these three red flags:

1) The reader tells you that you or your loved ones have been cursed, and that the reader knows how to remove that curse.

Typically removal involves actions like buying a crystal, giving your money or jewelry over to the reader for ‘cleansing’, having candles burned for you by holy people, etc. Don’t do it.

2) The reader tells you that there are dark forces around you against which you need protection.

Similar to the curse scenario, the reader is likely to try to sell you something, or ask you for your money or expensive items for ‘cleansing’. Again, don’t fall for it.

3) The reader tells you that they can unite, or reunite you with your loved ones.

A reader cannot make your ex-lover come back to you, or reunite you with a family member, or make someone fall in love with you, or do anything that you know already to be impossible.

It doesn’t matter how much you pay them. It will never ever happen. They are not magic. They are con-artists.

The video below shows a recent example of a psychic con-artist in Indiana. There’s absolutely nothing new about this story, it plays out all the time.

But it doesn’t have to be like that. Readings can be fantastic experiences providing comfort, clarity and positive direction.

They shouldn’t leave you feeling frightened, more confused than you were before the reading, or like you’ve just discovered a secret club with all the answers.

If you’re being promised the moon, or terrified by threats of curses, you’re dealing with a scammer. Don’t let them intimidate you with fear, or lure you in with false hope.

Do some research before getting a reading and ask around.

And if you’re really curious, get yourself a Tarot deck and start playing.

You’ll learn pretty fast how psychic energy works, and be far less likely to fall for the tricks of a con-artist reader.

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Eastpointe, Michigan in Red

In order to get a license for a psychic business in Eastpointe, Michigan, you’ll now have to go through a criminal history check, list your past home addresses, submit your employment history, and be fingerprinted.

Under the new law, anyone using cards, tea leaves, psychic powers or other objects to predict the future, remove curses or ‘effectuate other activity’, must get a license from the City Clerk. It’s to be renewed annually and costs $150.

Licenses are to be prominently displayed alongside a rate schedule that must be on a sign at least 8 inches by 10 inches. Violators will face misdemeanor charges punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.

According to Councilwoman Veronica Klinefelt, the new regulations were largely a response to newspaper articles about people, particularly seniors, being financially cheated by unscrupulous psychics.

I wonder if the articles they considered were about crimes actually committed in Eastpointe. If not, it seems a little overboard.

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Carroll County Seal

Some follow-ups in fortune-telling legal news …

It looks like the 38 year-old ban on fortune-telling in Carroll County, Maryland is about to end.

Last week, the repeal measure won approval from the Senate and House of Delegates.

It’s next step is to be reviewed by Governor Martin O’Malley.

Since the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled last year that bans on fortune-telling businesses violate the First Amendment, such laws have been facing opposition across the country.

Harford County, Maryland repealed its 31-year old prohibition just last week.

And Meridian County, Mississippi is likely to follow suit.

The City Attorney’s office has been asked to draw up a repeal motion to be presented to Council in April.

And in Pompano, Florida, City Council is considering changing their law to allow fortune-telling businesses to operate in the general business districts.

Presently, such establishments are relegated to light-medium industrial areas, alongside strip clubs and pet hotels.

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Spanish Coat of Arms

Pornography and Tarot have have been connected again. This time in Spain.

Concerns have been raised about illegal television stations broadcasting questionable content – pornography and Tarot readings.

Not together, just too often and at the wrong times. Some stations are running Tarot shows 24 hours a day when they’re only allowed between 10pm and 7am.

Same thing for the porn. Though in some cases, the adult content shouldn’t be running at all.

Unhappy though they say they are, the federal government claims they don’t have control in this situation.

They say the stations are located in the autonomous regions. Action can only be taken by local authorities who may or may not be interested in making change.

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Today, Tarot Views the News looks at themes surrounding the situation in Japan.

This is not meant to be a predictive reading, but rather a quick Tarot glimpse at the following:

•describe the Earthquake
•describe the Tsunami
•what is Nuclear Energy
•what is Fortitude

King of Cups

The first card I pulled asked the cards to describe the Earthquake. The card I got was the King of Cups.

A king sits alone on a slab of concrete that appears to be floating in the sea. A fish jumps out of the water on the king’s left, a boat floats by on his right.

This card typically is not about earthquakes. But last Friday’s earthquake caused a tsunami that wiped out whole villages along the coastline.

Like this king, people were washed to sea. Water was and is everywhere.

#6 The Lovers

When I asked the cards to describe the Tsunami, I got the Lovers card.

Two naked figures stand under an angel, a tree behind the man is on fire, while a snake encircles the apple tree behind the woman.

There’s a mountain in the background that reminds me of the volcano Shinmoedake. The earth seems split between the couple and there’s a disturbing cloud floating above.

Though everything has been stripped bare, the Japanese people continue to be unified, hopefully blessed by the Angel above them.

These first two cards are interesting. If I were to consciously place them, I’d probably choose the King of Cups for the Tsunami and the Lovers for the Earthquake.

But in fact, they’re working together. As has been said in the press, these are ‘twin disasters.’ Like the Lovers themselves, the Earthquake and Tsunami are one.

#3 The Empress

The question, ‘what is nuclear energy’ was answered with the Empress.

Stars sparkle bright on her crown as she sits on her own slab of concrete surrounded by water and a field of wheat and flowers.

The Empress provides the world with abundance and joy, but also sadness. She is Mother Nature, and not to be taken lightly.

In the context of this question, nuclear energy might be the sparkling power she wears on her crown. It’s the brilliance of nuclear fission that can comfort or kill.

It’s always tempting to see this card as only positive, filled with love, support and nurturance. And in many ways that’s how we’ve been looking at nuclear power.

But as beautiful as the Empress is, she rules over one of the most painful cards in the Tarot. The Three of Swords, sorrow.

Nuclear energy is similar. It’s incredibly wonderful when everything is good, but when it’s bad, it’s absolutely devastating.

3 of Wands

The final question was, ‘what is Fortitude?’ The card I got was the 3 of Wands.

A person stands watching boats on the water while the sun seems to be setting.

Fortitude is waiting with patience and virtue. But it’s not without action. The astrological correspondence for this card is the Sun in Aries.

There’s so much to do, and so little that can be done. It’s like the person in the card has to wait patiently, while being ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

This card is a three, ruled by the Empress already drawn. Everything is now in motion. Fortitude is the courage and resilience to stand firm and face what’s to come.

Love, healing and courage to the Japanese people.

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Harford County Seal

Despite protests last week, fortune-telling is now legal in Harford County, Maryland.

At a meeting this past Tuesday, council voted 6-1 to approve a bill which repeals the 31-year ban on psychic businesses.

But it limits where they can be located to the B-2 and B-3 business zones.

The vote was delayed until this week after protests last week by some residents opposed to fortune-telling.

Protesters disagreed with the recent Maryland High Court decision which ruled that bans against fortune-telling are unconstitutional limits to free speech.

Though there was little, if any, support for fortune-telling among council members, they felt they had no alternative but to vote as they did.

According to Bryna Zumer of the Aegis, Councilman Guthrie, who introduced the bill, explained it this way,

“A ‘no’ vote on this bill would mean you approve fortune-telling anywhere in this county. The worst thing about that is if one went next door to you…that would be grandfathered and you couldn’t get it out of there.”

Councilman Joe Wood, the only councillor to vote no on the bill, disagreed. He felt that any vote to repeal fortune-telling was wrong, and shouldn’t be supported.

Another councilman, Jim McMahan described it as the best of two evils.

Though he compared Tarot readers to ‘snake-oil salesmen’, he felt that keeping their ‘mystical occupations’ in the open was better than nothing.

Before the new legislation becomes official, it still has to go to County Executive David Craig for his approval.

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