Political Questions

September 17th, 2017 § Comments Off on Political Questions § permalink

Tarot doesn’t have to be just a tool for personal self-development and/or readings about what’s going on in your own life. It’s also a great tool for gaining insight into all sorts of non-personal issues, including questions about politics and events on the world stage.

I’ve been pulling cards about politicians and political questions/circumstances for many years now, and I always find them fascinating reads. If you aren’t already doing that yourself, but are interested in trying it out, I’ve listed a few possible questions you might ask your deck below …

•What is the nature of ______________ (name of politician or political player) with regards to ______________ (circumstance or political question)?

•Why are ______________ (name of politician or political player) acting as they are regarding ______________ (circumstance or political question)?

•What are the pros and cons, or different view points regarding ______________ (circumstance or political question)? ← pull two or more cards representing various perspectives

•How does ______________ (circumstance, political question, or political player) impact our democracy?

•How is ______________ (circumstance or political question) likely to play out if things keep moving as they are now?

•What are the biggest issues facing the ______________ (world, country, city or neighbourhood) right now? And what type of action is necessary to help correct what might be going wrong, or support what might be going well? ← pull two or more cards

And on a more personal level …

•How might I act towards achieving political change or support in ______________ (circumstance or political question)?

•How do my personal feelings/situations impact my response to ______________ (circumstance or political question)?

•What can I do to try to understand and connect with other people’s feelings/situations surrounding ______________ (circumstance or political question)?

This list is, of course, just a sample of what you might ask; the options are virtually unlimited. Come up with your own questions and see where your cards take you.

And if you have more than one deck, try testing out the same question with various sets of cards. I find it’s especially interesting comparing the different voices, and it gives me an opportunity to get to know decks I don’t use as often.

Election Day

October 19th, 2015 § 0 comments § permalink

2 of Wands - Rider Waite Smith Tarot

It’s Election Day here in Canada, a chance to change our world a little (or not depending on your political perspective).

One way or another though, if you’re Canadian and you haven’t voted yet, get out there and cast your ballot!

Like the man in the 2 of Wands card, today the world is in our hands and we’re being asked to make a choice. Go to it!

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Psychic Readings In Manchester, NJ

July 6th, 2015 § 0 comments § permalink

Psychic readings were one of the many events scheduled last month by the Township of Manchester, New Jersey for their 150th Anniversary Celebration. As it turned out though, there was a long-standing law on the books making psychic readings on public lands illegal in Manchester.

Under the heading Commercial Uses, Manchester Ordinance 288 section 18C says,

No person shall tell fortunes, play at games of chance, or use any gambling device within a township park or public lands except as provided by special permission of the Mayor or his designee.

Since they were under a time constraint, but didn’t want to break the law, Council decided that at least for their special event, the law would be suspended and psychic readings would be available at the 150th Anniversary Celebration.

According to Micromediapubs.com, Council President Brendan Weiner said that the Township intends to fully amend the ordinance in the near future.

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Zoning Changes for ‘Fortune-telling’ in Paso Robles, California

December 27th, 2014 § 0 comments § permalink

It looks like the City of Paso Robles, California is about to make some changes to its ‘fortune-telling’ laws.

Since the late 50s, if you wanted to open a Tarot reading business or psychic shop in Paso Robles, you’d have to do it along one particular street in town.

Recently, however, City Council has begun the process of changing the rules so that psychic businesses can set up shop in other areas of the city, including the downtown area.

Though the changes haven’t yet been made official, according to newtimesslo.com, Council will be meeting in the new year and it looks promising.

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‘Fortune-telling’ Legal in Frederick

November 25th, 2014 § 0 comments § permalink

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.

Excellent news.

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No Tarot In Detroit’s New Hockeytown

September 22nd, 2014 § 0 comments § permalink

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.

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Front Royal Repeals Fortune-Telling Ban

September 4th, 2014 § 0 comments § permalink

As I posted a few weeks back, the town of Front Royal, Virginia has been considering the repeal of an old law banning ‘fortune-telling’ in its city limits.

The law in question, Code 110-17 states,

A. It shall be unlawful for any company of gypsies or other strolling company or person to receive compensation or reward for pretending to tell fortunes or to practice any so-called “magic art.”

B. Every person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500.) or confined in jail not less than one (1) nor more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Last week, after considerable debate, Town Council voted 4-2 in favour of repealing Code 110-17, making ‘fortune-telling’ officially legal in Front Royal.

But there’s still discussion to be had regarding potential license fees and/or other regulations.

Presently, Code 98-42 maintains that fortunetellers, clairvoyants, phrenologists, spirit mediums, astrologists, hypnotists, and palmists must pay a non-transferable $400 license tax to do business in Front Royal.

This Code is under review and a decision regarding license fees and/or other regulations will likely be made by the end of September. I’ll let you know what happens as I hear more.

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Front Royal, Virginia Debates Fortune-Telling Ban

August 18th, 2014 § 2 comments § permalink

In a 4-3 vote last week, the Town Council of Front Royal, Virginia, passed a motion to repeal Code 110-17, a fortune-telling ban that specifically targets ‘gypsies or other strolling company or person….”

The code itself states,

A. It shall be unlawful for any company of gypsies or other strolling company or person to receive compensation or reward for pretending to tell fortunes or to practice any so-called “magic art.”

B. Every person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500.) or confined in jail not less than one (1) nor more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Though it might seem that this ordinance would be unacceptable simply for naming a specific ethnic group, let alone the undefined prohibition on ‘pretend fortunes’ and the practice of ‘magic art’, a number of town folk came out to support it.

I won’t go into all the arguments here, but please take a look at NVDaily.com’s reporting (and comment section) to see how the debate shaped up. Most of it revolved around religious attitudes and some of it is quite ugly.

And to make things even more confusing, Front Royal has another Town Code on the books that details the license fee to be paid by ‘fortune-tellers’ et al.

Code 98-42 says,

For every license for a person engaged in business as a fortuneteller, clairvoyant, phrenologist, spirit medium, astrologist, hypnotist or palmist, there shall be paid a license tax of four hundred dollars ($400.) a year. Such license tax shall not be proratable. A license for a fortuneteller, clairvoyant, phrenologist, spirit medium, astrologist, hypnotist or palmist shall not be transferable.

Though the license fee seems a bit high, Code 98-42 makes it clear that once that fee is paid, ‘fortune-telling’ in Front Royal is already legal. If so, the issue surrounding Code 110-17 isn’t so much about ‘fortune-telling’ per se, but rather who’s doing it.

There will be a second hearing on Code 110-17 before any repeal actually takes effect. I’ll let you know how it plays out as I hear more.

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Another Try at Repeal in St. Louis

May 26th, 2014 § 0 comments § permalink

About this time last year, Alderman Shane Cohn of St Louis, Missouri introduced a bill that would repeal St. Louis’ ban on ‘fortune-telling’.

Unfortunately, his bill didn’t pass, but he hasn’t given up.

According to KSDK.com, Cohn reintroduced his repeal bill a couple of weeks ago, and it now sits awaiting decision by the Board of Aldermen.

Hopefully, it will pass this time. And if I hear about it, I’ll certainly let you know.

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Front Royal, VA to Consider Repealing Fortune-Telling Ban

May 12th, 2014 § 0 comments § permalink

It looks like Front Royal, Virginia might be the next city to repeal its ban on fortune telling.

According to nvdaily.com, Tarot reader Maya White Sparks had been reading cards in the back of a shop on Main Street until about a month ago when she was told to stop.

As it turns out, ‘fortunetelling’ and ‘magic art’ are illegal in Front Royal and someone complained.

Tucked between a statute against disturbing religious worship and how to properly discard a refrigerator is Municipal Code 110-17 which states:

A. It shall be unlawful for any company of gypsies or other strolling company or person to receive compensation or reward for pretending to tell fortunes or to practice any so-called “magic art.”

B. Every person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500.) or confined in jail not less than one (1) nor more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Claiming that the ordinance is discriminatory and encroaches on her freedom of religion, Sparks brought the issue to Town Manager Steve Burke, and it looks like she’s being heard.

According to Burke, the question of rescinding the code is being examined by the town attorney and will be brought before council for consideration very soon.

I’ll let you know if I hear more.

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