Lenormand at CTS

When people think of "reading the cards" they tend to automatically think about the Tarot.  But many people outside of new agey / esoteric circles don't know that there are actually many different kinds of divination deck, and that Tarot is only one branch of reading decks within a much larger family tree of card decks designed for seeking out the wisdom of the universe.

Another type of divination deck that isn't as well known as Tarot among the general population, but that is certainly popular within the esoteric and card-reading (known more formally as cartomancy) community, is the Lenormand.  Named for 17th/18th century French fortune teller Marie Anne Lenormand, this system of divination is based on a 36 card system.  It's very different from Tarot, which uses 78 cards.  And while Tarot readings usually involve selecting a handful of cards out of the deck and rarely use the whole deck, Lenormand readings can frequently involve all 36 cards - though they don't have to.  A 36 card Lenormand reading is called a "Grand Tableau."

Curious to learn more about the Lenormand system of cartomancy and how it differs from Tarot?  Join us at April's CTS meeting this Saturday.  Not a member yet?  Check out our how to join page - Membership is free!

Learn to Read for Romance at Februrary's CTS Meeting

In the past few years it has become a Capital Tarot Society tradition to make February's meeting topic all about romance, in honor of Valentine's Day.

In February 2019, CTS Co-Facilitator Emily - who reads professionally, teaches tarot workshops and offers self-care workshops through her business Woven Psyche (IG: wovenpsyche) - will be sharing a number of tarot spreads she personally designed for getting at the root of romantic questions.

Emily notes that, prior to launching Woven Psyche, she had a different tarot business providing readings online to clients around the world.  She estimates that about 90% of clients had questions about romance.  But with her new business providing in-person readings to clients here in Washington D.C., she finds that the vast majority of questions she receives are about career and personal growth, and clients will sometimes add on a little reading at the end about romance only if there's time.  Sometimes clients who ask for romantic readings seem embarrassed for asking.

Emily finds that this is a fascinating and unusual aspect of being a tarot reader in the Washington Metro area, and is concerned that Washingtonians are under tremendous pressure to put their careers before interpersonal relationships and romantic needs.  She notes that tarot readings can provide a safe space for busy urban professionals and area politicos to let their guard down and get introspective about their feelings and desires for human connection. As tarot readers, we have a unique opportunity to help our clients explore this softer side of their lives that often goes unattended.  Emily looks forward to flexing her romantic reading skills again at February's meeting.

At the meeting members will learn spreads that include a compare-and-contrast style spread for assessing compatibility and choosing between different romantic prospects, a spread for helping us attract and identify the right kind of partner, and a spread for learning about romantic partners we've had in past lives!

Meeting attendees will be given plenty of opportunity to practice what they have learned on willing guinea pigs.

If you are interested in attending February's meeting but are not already a Capital Tarot Society member, check out our how to join page - membership is free!