Judith Norris and Kathy Gereau are long time Galena residents who moved to this little community years ago because of the beauty and history of the wonderful little town.
They became friends many years ago and among other things discovered that they shared an interest in the Tarot. Both of them had been reading the cards for family and friends off and on for years. So when the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra was planning a fundraising party themed on the opera "Carmen", they put out the word that they were looking for someone that could read the Tarot.
The ladies answered the call, thinking it would be great fun and a way to meet lots of interesting people. Judith and Kathy dusted off their cards, and for the few weeks leading up to the event, practiced on anyone who would let them.
At the party the ladies soon had people standing in line to hear what the "Gypsy fortune tellers" had to say about their future. The ladies discovered that almost everyone was surprised at how accurately the cards described their situation, and gave them helpful insight into their future.
As Judith and Kathy were leaving the hall that evening, they decided that reading tarot cards was, along with being a lot of fun, something that might be worthwhile pursuing as a business. And so the Two Tarot Ladies were born. Since then the ladies have read cards for large and small parties, bridal showers, red hat parties, bus tours, girls nights out, as well as individuals. They have even read for a disc jockey on air on his radio program. They have had many positive responses from their clients who range from admitted skeptics to professed psychics and mediums.
But each reading is always new, different and exciting. And although they have read for hundreds of people, they never tire of spreading out those mysterious cards and revealing their secrets to someone new.
No one knows the 'true' origin of the Tarot. The most common myth (and the most romantic) is that it was brought to Europe by the Gypsies. In fact, the Tarot came to Europe about the same time as any other the origin of the tarot is a mystery. We do know for sure that the cards were used in Italy in the fifteenth century as a popular card game. Wealthy patrons commissioned beautiful decks, some of which have survived. The Visconti-Sforza, created in 1450 or shortly thereafter, is one of the earliest and most complete.
Later in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the cards were discovered by a number of influential scholars and mystics who used it as a tool for divination. These gentlemen were fascinated by the tarot and recognized that the images on the cards were more powerful than a simple game would suggest. They revealed (or created) the "true" history of the tarot by connecting the cards to Egyptian mysteries, the Kabbalah, alchemy, and other mystical systems. These pursuits continued into the early part of the twentieth century. Although the roots of the tarot are cloaked in mystery, interest in the cards has expanded in the last few decades to include many different perspectives. New decks have been created that reflect these interests. There are Native American, Angel, Fairy, and even Gummy Bear decks of tarot cards!
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