Monday, January 21, 2008

LEARNING TO USE TAROT TO DEVELOP CHARACTERS & PLOT

I just finished a four week online Tarot class, taught by Elizabeth Delisi through a Romance Writers of America chapter. Tarot's valuable for use in many genres.

First, you need a Tarot deck you like--one that "speaks" to you. There are many decks available. See http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/. Each has a theme, i.e. Victorian, Faeries, Vampires, Contemporary, Gay, Ancient Egypt...whatever. Their illustrations match the theme. Some of them hold great appeal for me. Many don't. If you're a real "Tarot-er," you'll have several decks. One woman in the class confessed she has 50. I don't plan to go into the business of reading for people, but I see why people collect them. Some are gorgeous. A second deck I'd like costs $75 on Amazon.

I guess I won't be buying that one any time soon.

To "read" the cards, you ask a question, such as "What's my character's background?" Then you shuffle the deck and lay some cards out. The number of cards and the shape in which you form them are your choice. It's amazing, but looking at them will spark answers to your question.

Having used them now to develop a character, I believe the Arcana--the "secrets and mystery"--of the cards lies in the fact they tap into what's already lurking in your mind. Although there are guidelines as to what each card means, you're the one interpreting the scenes on the cards.

Another fun Tarot site is http://www.ate-tarot.com/reflections/01-05-08/. Also, Delisi recommended "Learning Tarot" by Joan Bunning. Bunning has a free online class I stumbled onto at http://learntarot.com

Happy reading,
Dee Ann Palmer
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--------------------------------------- Sunday, January 06, 2008

WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA STRIKE

These are just my thoughts:

Gradually, writer groups are settling with the WGA. The brunt of the strike has been borne by the late night TV shows because they're written daily. I'm not surprised that Jay Leno, Conan O'Brian, Carson Daly and David Letterman are on the air again after two months off. Letterman probably lost $6 mil in income and Leno $4 mil. On top of this, they each paid their people something to keep them afloat during this time. If I'm quoting him correctly, Leno said his first night back, "Nineteen people are keeping 160 people out of work."

The strike needs to end. Now. People need to earn credit to continue their health insurance, for one thing. They need to buy food, pay rent and property taxes. As much as I believe the writers are asking for the right things in regard to digital rights, I know they'll never recoup what they're losing in this strike.

Someone, who insists they know, says SAG (Screen Actors Guild) will strike in June.

I hope not. This is disastrous enough for too many for too long already.

Here's hoping for a normal and prosperous New Year!

Dee Ann
http://www.deeannpalmer.com

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