In June, Gaithersburg, Maryland City Council proposed amendments to the city code that would repeal the ban on fortune-telling businesses.
They did this in order to act in accordance with the Maryland Court of Appeals decision of 2010, which struck down a similar ban in Montgomery County for being unconstitutional.
While City Council agreed that the ban needed to be rescinded, they wanted to restrict fortune-telling to specific areas of the city and asked the Planning Commission to draft new ordinances.
Per the proposal, fortune-telling businesses would only be permitted ‘in the I-1 Light Industrial zone, and allowed expressly as a special exception in the C-2 General Commercial, CBD Central Business District, CD Corridor Development, and MXD Mixed Use Development zones.’
Fortune-telling would be prohibited as a home occupation.
Though Council authorized city staff to move forward with both establishing the new zoning regulations and repealing the fortune-telling prohibition, they requested a redraft of the actual definition of fortune-telling before official changes are made.
As it stands, the draft presented to Council defines ‘fortune-telling’ as:
‘Any attempt to tell fortunes or predict the future (for pay or voluntary contributions) by means of occult or psychic powers, faculties, or forces; necromancy, palmistry, psychology, psychic psychometry, spirits, mediumship, seership, prophesy, cards, talismans, sorcery, charms, potions, magnetism, tea leaves, magic, numerology, mechanical devices, handwriting analyses, phrenology, character readings, or any other similar means. Fortune telling shall not be considered a home occupation, church, or other place of worship.’
Some Council members were disturbed by the inclusion of both psychology and churches in the definition and would like those words removed. Planning staff will follow up on Council recommendations and present the changes within the next few months.
Interestingly, the Commission’s report noted that fortune-telling businesses have a negative stigma, and have historically fallen into the category of ‘urban decline use’.
Other businesses in that category include pawn shops, tattoo parlors, check cashing, and sexually oriented establishments.
The flame has been ignited and there’s a new feeling floating around. This is a day to let inspiration lead the way.
Throw out your old excuses and start something you really care about. Passion and fire are what motivates the soul and it’s time to listen to yours.
You might not yet know what’s different but you know your old way of doing things is no longer possible. A new spirit has been planted and you can probably feel the excitement beginning to build.
Whatever it is that moves you with enthusiasm should be your starting point. Being true to your spirit isn’t being selfish. It’s what makes you fully human.
As I mentioned yesterday, last weekend I went on a TarotSpotting mission. I decided to see how many Tarot-type images I could find on my way to pick up some take-out.
The whole adventure took about half an hour and there was so much Tarot around I could hardly believe it.
Take a look at some of the cards I found below. I’ve added titles and suit symbols where appropriate.
There are more to come, but I still have some editing to do.
The Moon moves into Aries today and will stay there until Monday.
Translating this transit into Tarot cards, it would be like the High Priestess is wearing the Emperor’s clothing. She’s in scarlet and armor and is ready for battle.
The Moon in Aries, or High Priestess in the clothing of the Emperor, is a time of intensified emotions. You might feel an increased desire to shape your own world.
Rather than sitting back in stillness, this transit encourages the loosening of emotional restrictions and the conscious expression of enthusiasm and/or passion.
It might be uncomfortable at first, but allow yourself to speak out loud. Take steps forward to let people know what you know and what you love.
Try to remain objective and open-minded while acting with determination and direction. It might sound impossible, but you can do both if you try.
Clear rational thinking is at the fore today. Is there something you need to take control of? Have you been wavering and wishy-washy lately? Stop procrastinating.
Focus, take charge and get it done. Have the courage to be clear and rational. Cut through the fog and let logic rule the day.
You know who you are, you know what you want and you’re sure you deserve it. Go to it. But beware of dictating what’s best for those around you.
You might know how to take care of yourself, but let others take care of their own lives, their own way.
Last weekend I went out on another TarotSpotting run. I gave myself the task of finding as many Tarot images or archetypes as I could while en route to a restaurant nearby.
I came across some really good ones and will be posting them over the next couple of days.
Today though I thought I’d just post this wonderful graffiti message from the late Jack Layton.
There’s no obvious Tarot images in it, but the message itself sounds like it comes from the Star …
“Love is better than hate. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful, and optimistic, and we’ll change the world.”
There’s so much to do right now you probably feel you can’t keep up. Don’t worry – you can.
Just keep things in motion and try to stay focused on whatever task you’re working on at each particular moment. You’ve got more than enough energy for everything right now, try not to give up.
Emotionally things might get a little hairy, but as with your work, you’re more than able to cope.
The changes going on in your life right now are good ones. You’ve put them into motion yourself and you’ll be just fine.
The Moon moves into Pisces today, and stays there until Saturday.
Described in Tarot cards, this transit would be like the High Priestess is dressed as the Moon.
She’s lost her material body and has disappeared into the celestial body that usually rests at her feet.
The Moon in Pisces, or High Priestess dressed as the Moon, is a time of increased perception, ill-defined understanding and what might be described as night vision.
During this time you could find your dreams feel more real than your daylight hours and what’s not said is louder than what is.
Fears might grow like a boogieman under the bed, but if you just take a peek, they’re as likely to be dust bunnies as demons or ghosts.
Be still, aware and fearless. It might be dark outside, but if there was ever a time you can navigate the unknown, this is it. Listen, breathe, flow.
It’s not a mistake! The 2 of Cups showed up again! I guess it’s ‘love’ week at The Tarot Room ….
It looks like it’ll be a sweet day. Open communication full of love and tenderness. This is a day to make sure you tell the people you love how much they mean to you.
If you’re starting a romantic relationship, or in one, it can be especially delicious. Be romantic and enjoy each other. It’s a time of beauty, peace and innocence, the reason we love love so much.
If you’re not feeling romantic, take the energy and let yourself simply express how much you care about those around you.
It will be most powerful if you tell them one-to-one. Let them know they’re special, it’ll make you feel great too.
In Tarot, the Page of Cups is typically a sweet character, intuitive, and kind. She’s all about pretty things, good times, fun, romance, and falling in love.
Her element is water, which like her, flows freely without inhibition.
Though most often portrayed as a human, the Page of Cups could easily be represented as a Mermaid.
You can see how Zach Wong did so beautifully in his Revelations Tarot. In fact, his entire Cup Court family is from the sea.
So as you can imagine, when I saw the video below of the three mermaids at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, I immediately knew what I was seeing.
They’re not just three girls enjoying a swim, they’re three Tarot Princesses sharing a little magic with us all.
