Expected FAQs for the July 2005
International Tarot Conference
Jean-Michel David
Some expected frequently asked questions...
Where is the Conference held?
Victoria University Conference Centre, 12th Floor,
300 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Where is Melbourne?
For our overseas visitors other than our South African
and New Zealand guests (who are already aware of the same)
Melbourne is located near the centre and top of the world,
as the following map clearly shows, viewable online at flourish's
upside down map:
Whereabouts in Melbourne?
an important question... especially for visitors. So here
is a map that I trust will be of use throughout the Conference:
Can I park close by?
Adjacent the Conference Centre is a Car Park. Please note
that weekend parking rates are fixed, and that during the
week (Mon-Wed), a discount rate of nearly 50% applies to
Conference participants - approximate car parking fee per
day will therefore be AU$15. You will need to purchase
a ticket from the Conference centre each day to pay this
rate (otherwise, the charge may be up to AU$29).
Do I need to bring my own deck to participate?
Not at all... we'll have decks there for you to buy!
But seriously, no, though some workshops may have this
specified. Note that most workshops will cater for a range
of participants, from the total novice to the quite experienced.
What if I wanted to do a workshop that is now full?
Part of the reason for the unscheduled afternoon session
is to also allow for more informal participation amongst
participants. It may therefore also be possible to catch
those presenters during that time, though please be sensitive
to the gifts each is bringing by their participation in
this event.
Will I be able to get a reading?
It is expected that some readings will be available during
the afternoons during the Conference. Please check the
information desk for further details. Some presenters have
indicated that some time will be available for this, and
other professionals may offer the same.
In addition, impromptu readings may be made amongst participants.
Please be sensitive to both the venue, and Victorian laws.
Victorian Laws???
Apart from the more expected and sensible laws in place
to protect general citizenship, Victoria still has what
many of us consider not only an outdated law, but one that
really needs to be repealed: section 13 of the Vagrancy
Act states that 'Fortune telling and pretending to exercise
witchcraft etc.: Any person who pretends or professes to
tell fortunes or uses any subtle craft means or device
by palmistry or otherwise to defraud or impose on any other
person or pretends to exercise or use any kind of witchcraft
sorcery enchantment or conjuration or pretends from his
skill or knowledge in any occult or crafty science to discover
where or in what manner any goods or chattels stolen or
lost may be found shall be guilty of an offence.'
(my emphasis)
Last time someone charged under this section of the Act?
difficult to believe, but in the 1999-2000 period!
For the record, Victoria is not the only state with such
laws still on the books.
[please note that the Act was repealed in September 2005 - two months after the Conference - jmd]
Do people just use Tarot for divination?
no... I merely give the above to bring to attention something
pertinent to the use some of us do value.
Other uses include using it as inspiration for creative
tasks (such as writing novels or musical compositions),
as a psychological tool of self-discovery, as images useful
for the development of spiritual faculties, and as pictures
that tell a thousand words!
I'm not staying long in Melbourne - where do you suggest
I visit?
Ah! what a question. Depends on tastes, of course, and
where one is from. If from New Zealand, you may want to
compare how cold it can get by visiting our snow fields
about 1.5 hours out of Melbourne (not sure there's snow
yet!).
If coming from Queensland, check out our National Gallery
and Museum... it contains stuff from there! Or check our
beaches along Great Ocean Road: beautiful and with a chill
that will surprise you!
If coming from North America, you may be interested in
seeing drop-bears and other real native animals at Healesville
Sanctuary... or in the wild around Marysville (if you get
lucky!)
Wanting more Tarot? visit Ma Deva Padma's gallery, or
Kay Steventon's studio, or Bruno's Gallery, each within
1.5 hours of Melbourne... in opposite directions!
For night life, you'll have to ask the younger ones.
I've heard Melbourne's famous for its esoteric culture?
Perhaps, but it's all secret stuff.
If interested in either Co or Freemasonry, there'll be
people at the Conference (I have been told!). Likewise,
there will be some with Rosicrucian interests (again, I
have been told).
'Ask', they say, 'and the door shall open'... the first
step is to therefore find the door.
It perhaps should also be noted that Melbourne has a very
diverse community, with many of the world's religions having
a presence... it may be worth visiting some of the centres
if interested.
What about esoteric bookshops and such?
Sure... there's a few around the place, and some list
will be made available at the Conference. Also note that
Tarot Garden, which ships worldwide, will have one of its
owners present. So if don't have an item locally available,
take the opportunity to see how to go about ordering via
the internet.
May I buy books at the Conference?
There will be some books on Tarot and some decks available
(haven't I already written that earlier?). Of especial
note are decks and books by Docters van Leeuwen and by
Michael Owens (two of our presenters). Mary Greer's books
available from the local wholsalers will also be available,
but stock there was very low at time of writing.
Do I have to have cash to buy stuff?
No. Most places tend to have EFTPOS facilities (and we
shall too, by the way). If coming from overseas, your Visa
or MasterCard will be acceptable in most places for purchases
over AU$10. Some other credit or charge cards are accepted
in some places... but only some.
Teller machines to obtain cash from (subject to your account,
of course!) are readily located in numerous places.
Can I drive in Victoria?
If you can drive in other places, you'll be able to drive
here. However, you'll need to have a license to legally
do so. Remember as well (for those coming from various
strange far away places) that we drive on the right side.
Ie, we drive on the left-hand side of the road... unless
overtaking.
Will there be any evening festivities?
Apart from the opening? depends. I have heard that some
people are organising various things, for example, Kat
Black will have a very very very late night on Saturday
night. You'll have to ask her why... something to do with
lights and things.
It is also suggested that participants use the opportunity
to get together for dinners at variously priced restaurants.
One suggestion is that a cheap restaurant is organised
one evening (that'll be my turn to pay!), and a different
one another evening (someone else's turn!!)
errr... when do I have to get there?
The frontpage of the [printed version of the] newsletter
already answered that!
Friday, 5pm onwards, music around 5:30 +, opening at 6pm,
with nice finger foods (no, we don't eat fingers!).
Other days, please arrive by 9 am (ouch, Kat, you'll have
little sleep for the Sunday!)
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