Unconventional as it may be, popularization
of the Tarot in occult and mainstream media has resulted in an increased
interest in divination and Tarot reading as entertainment. When it comes to
hosting a party for children however there are some ethical and practical considerations
to keep in mind. First and foremost, consider the age and developmental level
of guests at your event. Very young children (lower grade school) may have
little understanding of and attention span for the broader benefits of a Tarot
reading, even if done solely as entertainment.
Be clear when speaking to a prospective Tarot Reader about what your
expectations are and the audience the reader will be addressing.
It would be awkward for a serious
Tarot reader to arrive at a party with 7 year old children who are expecting a “Madam
Fortuneteller” show for fun only to try find that time is dragging tortuously
as the reader attempts to explain the virtues of having drawn the Queen of
Swords to a child in a serious fashion.
If a child requests a “Tarot Reader” (or “fortune teller” or the like)
as entertainment for a party, discuss with the child what their vision of this
entertainer will be and explore whether they are really seeking a replication
of a scene in a favorite movie (and maybe stick to a movie theme) or if they
are hoping for information from the subconscious.
While it is important not to
underestimate the intelligence of children, it is also vital to consider the
true purposes of both the party and the art of divination. If the two are
difficult to reconcile for the event you are planning, perhaps it is best to
consider a variation on the theme. It is,
in general, also much more cost efficient to have someone dress up
“fortune-teller” style strictly for show and entertainment purposes than it is
to hire someone who is a serious Tarot reader with a skill to offer when the
crowd is seeking more image than substance.
You should always be cautious about
the ramifications of hosting a party for youth with the entertainment provided
by a Tarot reader. On the one hand it is delighting to know that the general
public is releasing its collective fears of the Tarot and arts of divination
and embracing these practices more openly. On the other hand, Tarot is still
considered by many to be dangerous, intimidating, or blasphemous. If you do not
espouse these views, it can be difficult to imagine that there are those who do
hold Tarot as evil or harmful, but these are the beliefs of some people today
and to introduce this art as entertainment for the child of someone who has
strong opinions against such arts is asking for interpersonal - and possibly
legal - trouble. If you have decided that the youth in attendance at your event
will be able to appreciate Tarot readings - for entertainment or not - it is
important to make very clear to their parents what your plans are. Some Tarot
readers will even insist that each child’s parent signs a written consent form
clearly stating their permission for the child to have a reading.
Assuming that the children in
attendance are of an age to enjoy a Tarot reading, and their parents are in
agreement with this entertainment, one must next consider the purpose of
readings for children. There is a philosophy among some readers that even with
permission from parents the line between “self exploration” through Tarot and
“fortune telling” should not be crossed with children. In these cases Tarot can
still provide a fun and enjoyable way to stimulate exploration of the child’s
strengths, dreams and obstacles they are overcoming without the framework being
set that “you WILL go to dental school…” or “you WILL someday live in a house
on a farm with 4 cats…” etc. While it
can be said that all people to some degree are impressionable and can be
influenced to act or not act based on a Tarot reading, with children this is
much more the case. Therefore some readers feel it is their ethical obligation
to not use Tarot to tell children specific outcomes so as not to imprint narrow
possibilities that would then discourage the child from important parts of
their development. An example of what readers of this mindset may do in a
reading, rather, would be to sit with the child and explore the symbols on the
cards selected and describe the meanings of these symbols in terms of what they
mean for the child’s present life, and discuss what that could mean in terms of
the child’s growth or future goals, but in an open ended way. Dazzling the
audience with “I told you so” fortune telling is not the goal here; but make no
mistake, open ended readings remain a fun and exciting method of reading for
kids.
Other readers may choose to read for
children and adults in the same manner, but it is worthwhile to inquire when a
reader is contacted for the event to gain an understanding of their philosophy
when it comes to reading for children. It is also wise to explain to the
audience what will take place in the reading.
It is important to remind the children - and their parents - that
readings are legally considered as “entertainment” and that some of the
pictures may look happy, some cards may look sad or scary, but the images are
symbols that tell a story much like if one was watching a show on TV or looking
at a picture. The symbols hold meaning for the individual but do not bestow
“bad” or “good” things upon them.
Older children may crave more
concise direction in a reading; there has been an increase in requests for
Tarot readings at graduation and Sweet 16 parties, and other events for teens
and young adults. It can be easy to overlook the innocence in youths who are
older and closer to their adulthood, however it remains important to keep in
mind that until a certain age, children are considered minors and remain
impressionable. Thus, respectfully
communicating with their parents about divination at the event is still
advised. It is also possible for older youth to gain more from an engaging
Tarot reading: one that can raise questions and help them to express themselves
or explore issues presented in the reading.
The same reading does not need to be “future telling” or involve forecasting
the future as this can limit the goals and expectations of a young person who
is still trying to figure out what direction he or she wants to take in any
given situation. Tarot readings can be
very beneficial however, as a tool to reflect on potentials, opportunities,
skills, obstacles, and the various issues in the present that the individual
can then act or reflect upon too.
Article by: Angela Kaufman. Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors
of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real
Deal? She is a professional tarot
reader. For more information about
Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.
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