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!

Free Tarot Reading Program to Expand to Second Location!

We are thrilled to announce that our free reading program at Cheesetique in Ballston has become so popular that the restaurant has asked us to begin providing readings at their Shirlington location as well!  So from now on, one night each month, you can visit two different Cheesetique locations for a short, free tarot reading from one of CTS's gifted volunteer readers.

Ballston
800 N. Glebe Rd.
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 566-9189
ballston@cheesetique.com


Shirlington
4056 Campbell Ave.
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 933-8787
shirlington@cheesetique.com



Our next free tarot reading event will be the same night at both locations: Thursday, August 2, 2018 from 6:30 to 8:30.  Readings are available to patrons only and guests will enjoy readings on a first-come-first-served basis.

Free Reading Program to Continue in 2018!

The Capital Tarot Society is pleased to announce that it will continue to provide free readings once a month at Cheesetique in Ballston for all of 2018!

CTS readers will be available at Cheesetique (800 N. Glebe Rd, Arlington VA, not far from the Metro) from 6:30 to 8:30 PM the first Thursday of each month.  If you would like to receive a free, short tarot reading stop by around 6ish, let the host or hostess know you'd like a reading, sit down to grab some wine and delicious cheese, and wait for a member of restaurant staff to come get you for your reading.  It's that easy.

Here are the exact dates:

January 4
February 1
March 1
April 5
May 3
June 7
July 5
August 2
September 6
October 4
November 1
December 6

We look forward to seeing you there!

Interested in getting a longer, paid reading from a CTS tarot reader?  Contact us at capitaltarot@gmail.com and let us know what you're looking for, and we can get you in touch with a reader who is a good fit for you.

Bye Bye 2017

This past Saturday CTS had its annual holiday fete.  We did things a little differently this year!  In the past we've typically held our holiday gathering in a bar or restaurant where we normally gather for meetings, but this year one of our members graciously opened up her beautiful home!  It was so nice and cozy that we're considering having more meetings in member homes going forward.

And since it was in a house and not a restaurant, the event necessitated a potluck - and we outdid ourselves.

This was after we all got to it - you should have seen it before!

However we didn't do away with all our holiday traditions!  The annual gift swap went on as always and, as always, was incredible fun.  Members bring used tarot decks and other items like books, crystals, and mystical accessories, and pack them up in a gift bag or box so nobody can see what they're getting until they choose their gift off the communal gift table.  And this year members came with so many extra gifts that we actually all got to choose two gifts from the table, plus handmade pottery that one of our members kindly brings for us every year.  There were also Christmas crackers (the kind that you pull and that make a popping noise and have a gift inside, not the kind you eat) with paper crowns for everyone, folks in holiday dress and even visits from some feline friends.

Light up Channukah sweater, you know that's right.

Round two of presents

The largest tabby any of us has ever seen.

Several CTS members gathered for tarot discussion over treats.

So, from the whole gang, happy holidays and a joyous new year to anyone who is interested in getting their tarot on with us in 2018.  To join in on our fun holiday parties, upcoming awesome events next year like our new years readings in January, and upcoming presentations on topics like the MBTI personality types and court cards or pattern recognition in the RWS deck, check out our "how to join" page at the top.


Sayonara 2017!

A Fun Filled Rest of 2017

Here's hoping everybody had a fun and TAROT filled Halloween!!!

CTS has a lot of fun stuff planned through the end of 2017.

Tomorrow night (Thursday November 2) we will have tarot readers on hand at Cheesetique in Ballston to provide FREE tarot readings to members of the public!  So stop by, grab some wine, grab some cheese, relax, and learn the wisdom and insights of the universe :)

November's meeting is then coming up this Saturday, and will feature our annual tarot craft and rummage sale.  Members are encouraged to bring items, both tarot related and not, to sell or  swap to other members.  This can include used tarot decks, books, and other tarot or esoteric items like wooden boxes, reading mats, pendulums, crystals, runes, guided meditation tapes, etc.  It can also include your own handmade goodies.  If you would like to sell, please e-mail capitaltarot@gmail.com.

So far these are the items that will be available for purchase at November's meeting:

• Meditation and hypnosis CDs
• New age books
• Jewelry
• Pottery
• Framed prints
• Shibori died silks
• Arcana stones and oracle decks
• Hand decorated journals

Note that we have instituted an RSVP policy for future meetings!  So if you plan on attending make sure to e-mail capitaltarot@gmail.com to let us know.

On the docket for December is our most anticipated meeting of the year, the annual CTS holiday celebration and gift swap.  At this meeting CTS members bring gently used tarot items like decks, books and other goodies all wrapped up and then we take turns selecting presents and enjoying our tarot surprises.  Perhaps the most fun, though, is the swapping and trading that occurs after the presents have been opened!

CTS is also busily scheduling our meeting presentations and topics for 2018!

Interested in joining us for our member's only meetings, but not yet a member?  Check out the "How to Join" link at the top and follow the instructions to become a CTS member.

Recent CTS goings on

CTS is happy to note that we had not one but two very successful events in September.  First, on the 7th, some of our members had the super fun (and yummy) opportunity to provide free tarot readings at our monthly event at Cheesetique Ballston.  These events are part of our outreach program, which is designed to help those interested in tarot find our group and also to educate the greater public about tarot and overcome some of the spookier misconceptions about what tarot is.  These are also great opportunities for CTS members to practice reading for new people, which can be a great confidence booster and very rewarding when we see how happy folks are with their readings.

If you're interested in attending one of our free tarot events, the next one will be on October 12th beginning at 6:30.



The second event of the month was our regular meeting for CTS members.  This month's activity was more hands-on than usual, as we got crafty and made our own tarot journals.  But it was more than just a crafting session.  Members were encouraged to think carefully about their tarot goals and what uses a designated journal might have in helping them achieve those goals and delve deeper into their tarot practice.  Members considered the use of tabs and organization, what decorative elements actually promoted mindfulness and visually reaffirmed their tarot principles, and the potential uses for inserts and pockets to hold on to notes and ephemera collected along the way.

Our next CTS meeting will take place on Saturday, October 7th.  We'll be learning how to perform our own wisdom readings using free writing (possibly in our new tarot journals!).  This is also our last presentation of the year, as November's meeting is our annual member craft fair and jumble sale, and December's meeting is our always-much-anticipated holiday gift swap.


If you're interested in attending future CTS meetings or other CTS events, click the link in the menu bar above to visit our "how to join" page.