Tarot Made Easy By Black Hart

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Postby themagicwand » Jan 23rd, '09, 19:30



I think TM is probably the only magic forum that is populated by magicians who actually do a lot of readings. It's unusual but very nice.

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readings

Postby abecedarianmind » Jan 25th, '09, 18:54

interesting........

what is a reading?

there are many strange things about tarot i hear neither practitioners or magicians discussing

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Re: readings

Postby themagicwand » Jan 25th, '09, 22:30

abecedarianmind wrote:
there are many strange things about tarot i hear neither practitioners or magicians discussing

If you would care to elaborate I will do my best to enlighten you.

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Postby Reverend Tristan » Jan 25th, '09, 22:46

Well I've ordered this so thanks for suggesting it, didn't just get this though did I. God damn my over spending :-)

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Postby magikmax » Jan 26th, '09, 16:02

Well, a little over a year after first purchasing Keith's Tarot Made Easy, I did my first professional tarot reading on friday night there. It was a private 30 minute reading for a lady, and I got paid £25 for the privilage.

She was happy with what I told her, she had had readings before, and told me that she would call me again the next time she was looking for a reading, so job done methinks.

I've got a party of 6 ladies for a party on this thursday night, and a hen night booked for 23 in June, and I've not paid a penny on advertising yet.


Keith - thanks a bunch. Your course works. I have had a free ad on Vivastreet since just before Christmas, and I've had £150 worth of business already, for a £25 investment (ok, and a good bit of practice).

I've been largely concentrating on my magic this year, but thought I'd give the Tarot some serious study over the last month or so so I could be in a position to earn a little extra during the slow periods.

One question I do have (and I think I probably know the answer), why did you chose to use the tarot you did, rather than the easier rider-waite? The rider-waite is undoubtedly easier to learn, given the picture references on the minor arcana, but doesn't look as nice as the marsallise.

The only difficulty I had in learning Keith's system was one of length. Keith's course is suited more to shorter readings, but extrapolating a 30 minute reading out of ten cards (using the celtic cross spread) is hard work (for a beginner like me). I think that if I hadn't switched to using the rider-waite cards, it would have been very difficult, and a LOT of memorisation to be able to do a longer reading.

This is a minor criticism though. I've read two or three books on the subject, and Keith's book is the only one I go back to time after time, and if you're interested in learning the tarot, this is all you really need. I have had the course for a little over a year, but I've only really put about 2 months of solid practice in during this time, and I'm already earning money from it, and having a lot of fun at the same time.

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Postby magicdiscoman » Jan 26th, '09, 17:59

has anyone purchased, can't say bought, the full kit with stones besides me. :?:
should I do a review in the mentalist only section and or here. :?:

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Postby magikmax » Jan 26th, '09, 18:23

Please copy it here so we can all see it mate

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Postby magicdiscoman » Jan 26th, '09, 21:43

The Effect

Now available a complete kit that allows you to walk into any venue, set up INSTANTLY and begin doing psychic readings.  Then, when you have finished, pack away INSTANTLY and leave.  The complete psychic readers kit.
Designed for the complete beginner, the set includes Tarot and Rune reading courses.  Even if you have never done readings before this kit will have you doing readings in just a couple of hours.  It contains everything you need, and you can get your money back with just 3 readings.
The kit contains:
Rune reading course (Runes with a View)
Set of wooden runes
Silk rune bag
Laminated rune crib sheet
Publicity material
Tarot reading course
Full set of Tarot cards
Large velvet drawstring bag with pentagram on front
Laminated astrology crib sheet.

cost £51.00  (With deluxe Runes £63.00) state which required when ordering.

Difficulty 2
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

Review
I wanted a set of Keith's runic cubes to compliment my rune set and also to brush up on both my tarot and rune meanings.
When the package arrived and was opened there were two things that made me chuckle off the bat, first was the sticker informing me of the licence agreement of said trick, considering these aren't tricks and Keith's very generous returns policy and the second was that the rune book which covers the 25 runes was a massive a4 spiral bound booklet compared to the a5 booklet that covers the 78 arcane cards.
Both books use a peg system to help you memorise the basic meanings then take you through reading tests and finally different types of reading formats plus some nice back history to the tarot which i did read despite being told I didn't need too.
:D
Overall for a working reader this package is a gem of basic information and for the uninitiated is a goldmine too a possibly lucrative career.
The rune cubes I bought are very nice pewter cubes, 3 of, marked similar to gaming dice from ad & d and I'm very happy with them, I'd have preferred 4 but that just the way I see them working for me.
My next order will be a set of the major arcane that Keith has marked for my set up psychic evenings, I know there is a lot of talk, and Keith is clear on this in his pack about using tarot for magic tricks but since this is part of a structured reading session to me it doesn't count.
:wink: :lol:

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Postby Replicant » Jan 27th, '09, 00:23

Nice review. I think it deserves its own thread, though.

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Postby black hart » Jan 29th, '09, 12:10

Hello Max

Thank you for your kind comments.
One question I do have (and I think I probably know the answer), why did you chose to use the tarot you did, rather than the easier rider-Waite? The rider-Waite is undoubtedly easier to learn, given the picture references on the minor arcana, but doesn't look as nice as the Marseilles.

The answer is simple, the Marseilles deck is based on an older design of tarot and they look more 'professional' and mysterious than the much more well known Rider Waite deck Also I supply the Marseilles deck through Black Artefacts and use them to produce the tarot effects that we sell. This means that you can incorporate an effect into your readings without suddenly having a different set of tarot cards. The system however can be used with any design of tarot.
The only difficulty I had in learning Keith's system was one of length. Keith's course is suited more to shorter readings, but extrapolating a 30 minute reading out of ten cards (using the celtic cross spread) is hard work (for a beginner like me). I think that if I hadn't switched to using the rider-Waite cards, it would have been very difficult, and a LOT of memorisation to be able to do a longer reading.

This was designed for short corporate readings where you will have a looooong queue and only about 5 minutes per sitter. As you have found though you can expand the readings and it gets much easier with practice.

Thank you for the review Magicdiscoman
When the package arrived and was opened there were two things that made me chuckle off the bat, first was the sticker informing me of the licence agreement of said trick, considering these aren't tricks and Keith's very generous returns policy and the second was that the rune book which covers the 25 runes was a massive A4 spiral bound booklet compared to the A5 booklet that covers the 78 arcane cards.

Ah yes, well the licence agreement really covers the copyright issue, I suppose that I could change it for the tarot courses. I am actually planning to combine both publications for the 'Psychic Reader's Kit' so they will be in the one book. The rune book came first and the tarot book much later. By then I found that it was much cheaper to post the A5 size book! :D

I have deliberately kept both courses short and to the point. I have many books on tarot reading (which are available to the general public, usually from 'new age' type shops) and have always found them confusing, difficult to learn and full of esoteric nonsense, so my idea was to put out something that was really practical and concentrated on making the learning easy.

The rune reading book is actualy called 'Runes With a View' so called because it is with a view to making money!

Over the years all Black Hart Productions readers have used these systems with great success.

Anyway thank you for the feedback, it is much appreciated and all noted as regular forum members will know - your comments are acted upon.

Keith Hart

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Postby magicdiscoman » Jan 29th, '09, 13:50

I'm considering puting a rune symbol /symbols ? next to the name of the card just as an added hook for me as I'm more proficiant with the runes.
so your marked set is on marsellies is it because i was also considering adding rune symbols to the back of the cards.?

a combined book would be usefull and at a5 easyier to carry and use and the crib sheets are handy, I have a4 copies on my wall for reference.
i had a little bit of a problem with numbers 5 and 7 being the same thing but from a diferent angle so to speak but there gelling nicely now and i can't pass a gate now without thinking about overcomeing obsticals. :D .

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Postby abecedarianmind » Jan 29th, '09, 15:06

the Marseilles deck is based on an older design of tarot and they look more 'professional' and mysterious than the much more well known Rider Waite deck


the rider waite decks i use contain images directly comparable to those found in medieval alchemy texts c1500+

i read the tarot soley to link the cards back to the original alchemy imagery

are you sure therefore marseille is older - please explain?

alchemy comes from hermes, and is linked back to ancient egypt

i think rider waite is sufficient

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Postby magikmax » Jan 29th, '09, 15:28

black hart wrote:The answer is simple, the Marseilles deck is based on an older design of tarot and they look more 'professional' and mysterious than the much more well known Rider Waite deck Also I supply the Marseilles deck through Black Artefacts and use them to produce the tarot effects that we sell. This means that you can incorporate an effect into your readings without suddenly having a different set of tarot cards. The system however can be used with any design of tarot.


That was roughly my thinking. I didn't think about the fact that you use them for your other effects (although I noticed that when browsing your site this morning), but I assumed that you would be going for something a little 'older' or more traditional looking than the Rider Waite.

I'm hoping to give the Marseilles deck a road test tonight - I've got a booking for readings for 6 ladies this evening, so hopefully some of them will choose the Marseilles over the Rider-Waite for their readings, and I'll be able to see how they like the other cards.

The only difficulty I had in learning Keith's system was one of length. Keith's course is suited more to shorter readings, but extrapolating a 30 minute reading out of ten cards (using the celtic cross spread) is hard work (for a beginner like me). I think that if I hadn't switched to using the rider-Waite cards, it would have been very difficult, and a LOT of memorisation to be able to do a longer reading.

This was designed for short corporate readings where you will have a looooong queue and only about 5 minutes per sitter. As you have found though you can expand the readings and it gets much easier with practice.
Indeed. A little bit of practice goes a long way. I'm actually really enjoying myself.

Keith - two further questions if you're not too busy:

1. What sort of length/size is your Black Book 3? I'd certainly be interested in reading some of your thoughts on performing etc.

2. Do you have a shop front up there in Hilton-of-Cadboll or are you mail order only?

actually, make that 3!

3. Are you ever going to produce a DVD of your live performances? I'm sure there's plenty people on here that would love to see them.

PS, I ordered Mississippii Sam from you this morning, looking forward to its arrival. I'll post a review on TM once I've had a play around with it.

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Postby magikmax » Jan 29th, '09, 15:39

abecedarianmind wrote:
the rider waite decks i use contain images directly comparable to those found in medieval alchemy texts c1500+


I'll take your word for that :D The Rider Waite deck was first published in 1909, so it's actually relatively 'modern' (of course you're right about some of the images)

abecedarianmind wrote:are you sure therefore marseille is older


according to Wikipedia, examples of Marseille tarot can be found as early as 1650, 1701 and 1760.

I have a Swiss IJ11 deck which has similar pictures on it as well.

abecedarianmind wrote:i think rider waite is sufficient


of course it is. I think it was originally created to tone down some of the religious imagery of the older decks, and also to provide a more visual reference for the minor arcana. It is the most popular tarot in the west, whereas the Marseille is more popular on the continent.

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Postby black hart » Jan 30th, '09, 12:49

Well I said that we would act on any comments and this morning I have combined the two books (Runes With a View and Tarot Made Easy) into one book. It is a4 size as it is too long to comfortably fit A5 format.

Max, in answer to your questions.
1. Black Book III is A4 and 46 pages and I've just got one off the shelf ready... :) ...just in case!
2. Mail order only
3. No plans to do so

Mississippi Sam was posted 1st class to you this morning. Enjoy.

Keith Hart

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