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By Gigi Miner "There's the needle!" Thus far, I'd only seen it from across the water at Fort Niagara. Now, I was watching it grow larger through the car window. The excitement begins. "There's the sign". Following the arrows, my husband and I head for the doors to Brennan Hall at the University of St. Michael's College. We climb the stairs and there is the registration table. Amy Lee-Rosenberg greets us and gives us our nametags. "I don't like nametags" I think to myself, and being ever rebellious at heart, I find a place for it other then around my neck. We're a little early, so the octagon-shaped room is quiet except for the last minute preparations being made by well-attired wait-staff at the beverage table. Round tables are adorned with white and red linen. We find a spot in the back corner of the room and sip our sodas, although wine is available. Soon, people begin to wander in. One table near the beverage table begins to fill with people. "You can come sit over here. We don't bite." I reply, "That's not what I hear. James says you all bite." One voice quips, "I'll bite you if you want me to." "Ellen?" I ask. A quizzical look comes over the face of Ellen Lorenzi-Prince. Ellen is the creator of Tarot of the Crone and her sense of humor is what I recognize first. Introductions are made. Among my table-mates in addition to Ellen, are Rachel Pollack, Mary Greer, and Tom Tadfor-Little; I'm in good company. I introduce myself as Gigi Miner. I get many blank stares. Then I clarify that on the various lists I go by the name "Ladyfogg". "Oh." Now they know who I am. James Wells, our gracious host, meets and mingles; assuring that everyone is having a good time. While I've chatted with James via email and on the phone, this is our first meeting. I don't want to make it too easy for him, so I tell him I'll give him one guess as to my identity. It doesn't take him long to figure it out. I hand my husband the camera and coerce James into posing with me for a photograph. This is proof that I was really there, not just having a wonderful dream. Thus, we share moments of new friendships being made and seeing old ones re-kindled.
The next day: The eight-sided room has been slightly re-arranged. In the back corner are the round tables, but now room-dividers are in place to separate the room into two sections. In the front, chairs are set in a circle. Set up in the middle is an alter. James is near the alter with Ellen, Tom, Mary, and Paul Hughes-Barlow, tending to the last-minute preparations. I can feel the excitement beginning to build in the room with the anticipation of the opening ritual. There's a quiet "buzzing" as people talk to each other. Amy takes the stage and makes a few announcements. James explains that we always hear so much about Golden Dawn rituals, but never see them. Now we will see one. As he arranges items on the table, he mentions, "I like toys." And we begin. The Ritual of the Hermitic Order of the Golden Dawn commences. James announces the intent of the ritual, which is how we, as practitioners of Tarot, can use our craft for the betterment of humanity at large and for healing, both as a group and as individuals. Everyone stands. Mary Greer, who just the night before appeared quiet and retiring, now springs forth with an amazing energy. She appears to be the High Priestess of the moment. All five take their parts in creating the sacred space of the circle. They move clockwise in creating the circle, and we are visualizing the swirl of energy growing with them as they move. With the circle created, we begin an exercise. James now invites everyone to sit as we begin our journey into a card. Again, he repeats our intent of this moment. We shuffle our tarot cards and we each draw one for our own place in this quest. James' smooth voice walks us through the parts of the exercise. We close our eyes. We step into the card. While there, we greet the individual there and receive a gift of insight to take with us. It is a moving moment, even for one such as I who has not before participated in such an experience. We accept our information from our card. We say our good-byes. We return to the room in which we began. James encourages us to journal what we've just done. I'm still feeling the electricity of the moment as I try to capture all that I experienced in the card. With this completed, the group begins to close the circle and end the ritual. I think I can actually feel the energy calming as they walk counter-clockwise. With the ritual ended, we are gently shooed from the room so that catering may begin setting up for our first presentation. I'm exhausted from the trip and sleeping (or lack thereof) in a hotel room, but I feel full of energy at the moment, still whirling from my experience during the ritual. I can't wait to get back into that room to hear what will come next.
We're back: I'm feeling comfortable with this woman's manner. She talks about the Do's and Don'ts of an Interactive Tarot Reading. I'm reminded of some of my favorite teachers in school as Mary pursues this subject, often wandering around the edges, which, in my opinion, makes it far more interesting then strictly sticking to any written notes she may have brought with her. Mary explains how the Interactive Tarot Reading is one where the querant does most of the talking and finds the answers via the gentle guidance of the reader. Mary quotes Carl Jung throughout various parts of her presentation. One that sticks is "The point of life is that you are the fool of life…" How appropriate for an event based around Tarot. Mary continues to provide us with useful information, practical and applicable. She then leads us through an exercise where we draw a card for a partner, but are not allowed to give our interpretation of that card. In other words, we are not allowed to fix anything for them. I'm sure some of us find that very difficult. "You don't have to fix anything for someone else. You don't have to resolve anything." Mary explains that we need to pay attention to the querant, try to keep them on subject, and let them discover what the cards have to tell them, even if it disagrees with what we think it says. This empowers the querant, and that is the best gift we can give them; even at the expense of our own egos. All too soon, it is time for lunch. I'm glad I've taken notes, for I could not possibly remember.
Lunch:
Choices: On the floor, in the front of the room, is an orange ribbon, taped to the floor in the shape of a three-circuit labyrinth. James begins by explaining that he likes to have people participate in what he teaches. That explains the path on the floor. James breaks down the word labyrinth for us; -rinth being Greek for home, house or dwelling. Lab- meaning, the double-headed ax of the goddess; an object for reaping. He goes on to explain that walking the labyrinth is a kind of active meditation. This sticks in my head as my husband teaches Tai Chi, which is often referred to as active or moving meditation. James instructs us to draw a card as the theme of the labyrinth walk. As with the ritual, there should be intent or a theme to the activity. We're told that the walk in may represent a purging of what we want to leave behind, the center provides us a place to either leave that behind or acquire something new to take with us, and the walk out, gives us the opportunity to use this new thing we've taken with us from our walk. We are then released to walk the provided labyrinth with our card. As people enter the labyrinth, there is a myriad of mannerisms and accommodations for each other. Some walk slowly, some quickly. As everyone takes their turn in the center, everyone else waits respectfully for them to finish what they need to do. Some stand, others touch the ground, still others kneel to receive their gift of the walk. As more begin their walk, others are on their way out. Everyone is interacting with everyone else as they need to pass one another to continue their journey. It gives me some wonderful insights into life in general. I repeat to myself that the labyrinth allows one to enter with a burden, drop that burden and then take up something new, take it out and use it. At least that's what I take away from the exercise. I'm sure there are as many experiences as there are people participating. James provided us with a Labyrinth spread which we practice with a partner. I am lucky enough to be paired with Brigit, aka Farah Blaze, as my partner. What fun she is to talk to. We banter back and forth about the cards we've drawn and how they fit into the theme of the labyrinth. James shows his abilities to keep people on track as he gently leads us back to the point of the session, even when we are tempted to wander off from all of the interaction. Not only does everyone have the opportunity to walk the labyrinth, but James teaches us how to create our own labyrinths. Then he opens the floor to ideas to share with the group. My partner, Brigit, thinks that by using streets in a town or city, one might be able to walk a labyrinth without having to create one out of hedges or ribbon. Again, everything ends far too soon. It is time for a break. So, I quickly returned to my husband, who is waiting in the hotel room for me. Off we go to explore Toronto.
Dinner: While waiting, little yellow pieces of paper are passed out. Each one has a number written on it. We are instructed to hang on to that number. The gourmet dinner is served in three courses by the young wait staff. James remarks to the crowd that after a day of feeding the soul, it is time to commence feeding the body. Not a voice of disagreement is heard. Rachel Pollack gives a blessing. Wine is on every table for those wishing to imbibe. Soon, James is at the microphone again. It is time to draw numbers for door prizes. I quickly find our numbers on the yellow slips of paper. The vendors have graciously donated items for this event. The first prize is a silver Merkaba, donated by Cosmic Jewels, The Language of Sacred Geometry. (tmiha47@hotmail.com) The owners draw the number; 28. I look at my yellow paper, it's me! I pick up my slip of paper and wave it in the air. I make my way to the front to get my prize. I love winning things. As more numbers are drawn, more people walk to the front to retrieve their prizes. Obviously, not everyone wins, but everyone takes away something. There is so much that is given in the form of friendship, experience and teaching, that no one can leave without some kind of treasure. Even more, cups with the symposium logo are handed out to everyone. It is time for me to return to the hotel to get some sleep. We are off to another adventure the next day. I will miss the array of Sunday's workshops. I can only attend the Toronto Tarot Symposium for one day, but it is such a full day, in both spirit and learning. I make my way around to say good-bye. Rachel, Tom, Ellen, Chris, all made me feel like staying even longer. Finally I say good-bye to James Wells, our host. He shakes my husband's hand, then hugs me; a nice, long, substantial hug. All I can say is, James gives good hug. Bio: Gigi Miner aka Ladyfogg, lives in Upstate New York. Gigi, known as "G" to her friends, works as an Adult Education Computer Instructor and Consultant, as well as a Tarot Consultant. Gigi's main modus oporendi is to help her clients learn to take control of their lives, rather then become victims of it. Her career goals are that of author and public speaker while continuing her beloved tarot consultations.
Ladyfogg Gigi can be contacted at ladyfogg@twcny.rr.com or at her site: www.geocities.com/laddyfogg.
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