By Major Tom Schick
Prior to the global pandemic there were many places around the world where one could get a tarot card reading outdoors. Some of the best known include Jackson Square in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Parque del Retiro in Madrid, Spain. Somehow much lesser-known, Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Texas was the only place in the wild world one could get that tarot card reading for free. I know because I provided those readings and did so every weekend from June 2016 right up until March 2020.
So I'd like to thank Terri Clement for inviting me to share a few stories from those times for the inaugural edition of Tarot Sushi. It was her suggestion I write about my time in the park and my suggestion that I share stories of my encounters with Evangelicals. But before I launch into those stories I want to address the elephant in the room. Why on earth would I give my time freely to give away tarot card readings?
I am Major Tom Schick and a lot of people have asked me why I tell fortunes for free. Like, aren't I telling the world my fortunes are worthless by giving them away? Not at all. My readings are valuable and my reasons for providing free readings in public are sound. 1. Gratitude - my motivating factor. Tarot and tarot card reading have given me a wonderful life. This is how I pay it forward. 2. Communication - spreading the word. A lot of people I tell fortunes for tell me it's their first-ever experience getting a reading. 3. Education - giving experience to my students. Students who accompany me from time to time may be getting their first experience of reading for strangers. 4. Spirit - directed from above. The Holy Spirit compels me.
Yes friends, I'm Christian myself. Which is part of what makes stories of my encounters with Evangelicals while telling free fortunes so comical? These were not by any means frequent.
One spring afternoon, the park was full. Children and adults were walking around, playing games, and generally enjoying themselves. I wasn't terribly busy, the odd reading here and there but I didn't mind at all it was such a beautiful day. With about half an hour remaining to my time in the park a man came striding purposefully through the park stopping short in front of my table reading my sign. He then began quizzing me regarding my beliefs. I assured that I'd accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord & Savior. At that point, he took two steps backward, still facing me, and began chanting what I took to be scripture, I couldn't really hear him. I asked him what he was doing but he kept chanting and staring at me. He kept at it until I left – my time expired.
The very next weekend the weather wasn't so clement. The park was nearly empty. It started to rain – a scattered drizzle so I packed up. Just as I'd shouldered my bag a couple appeared about 50 yards away. The woman called my name so I turned to listen. "Wait, we'd like to tell your fortune!" My curiosity peaked I waited until they joined me at my table.
The woman pulled out her phone and began reading (rather haltingly) bible verses regarding God's love. I said, "Yeah, yeah, tell me something I don't know."
She launched into a long explanation of how she felt strongly that I was a Seeker needing to brought into God's loving embrace. I simply said that one does not seek what one has already found.
He spoke for the first time, "We need to know the shape of your relationship with Jesus."
I said, "Jesus does not employ gatekeepers. It's raining. I'm leaving."
Then there was the time set up directly opposite me in my line of sight was the young man with a large sign reading Free Life Coach. The park was fairly quiet so I watched as in ones and twos a large group sitting at tables wandered over to the Life Coach before returning to their tables. Then they did the same with me coming for their readings in ones and twos each time quizzing me on my beliefs which by this time I simply deflected. After that, they posed for a group photo with their church banner, got on a bus, and left the park.
Another time, I had a student with me. S. was a 24-year-old woman, fiercely intelligent with a flair for dramatic makeup that older women sometimes found threatening. It was a warm summer evening and when we arrived a man was playing an amplified acoustic guitar and singing songs about Jesus through a microphone. He had drawn a crowd.
We set up well back from the massed crowd. No sooner had we set up two men were standing in front of our side-by-side tables. One was very tall, early 40s perhaps, while the other was not as tall in his late 20s. Both worn nice trousers and knit polo shirts with collars.
The older man exclaimed, "If you're telling free fortunes you must be willing to talk spirituality with me!"
I said, "No."
He said, "That's not very open-minded of you."
I simply smiled at his attempted manipulation. As I did so I glance over at S. and saw she was ready to engage in debate. I asked her if she wanted to talk to them and she said she did so I left them to it. There were already people who wanted the fortune told so I got with that while keeping an eye on S.
Twenty minutes later and I had a respite so I went to stand next to S.'s table. I pointed at the older man and pulled a card for him, the Heirophant. I pointed to the younger man and pulled a card for him, the 3 of Wands. I said, "You aren't going to be able to change his mind and he doesn't care if you change yours. His objective is to prevent you from telling fortunes. The other is here to watch and learn. I returned to my table to do more readings and two minutes later the two men left S.'s table.
The taller could not resist leaning over my table as I read for a couple to shout, "It's a scam! It's a scam!" The man at my table said, "Yeah, that's why it's free." and laughed.
I'll leave you with the story of my most recent encounter in February 2020. Another beautiful, sunny day with lots of people enjoying the park. A man, woman, and dog stroll past. The man approaches me and tells me a story of how Jesus healed him of a serious illness. His doctors called it a "miracle recovery".
Then he asked, "Have you thought of dedicating your life to Jesus?"
I smiled, "You're singing to the choir. I am a Christian."
He looked shocked and said, "You'll pardon me but you've got tarot cards, I assumed you are an unbeliever. You must admit tarot cards and Christian don't mix?"
I said, "I disagree."
Again, he looked shocked but said, "In that case I'm not here to argue with you. I don't wish to cause arguments."
I said, "Good. Have a nice day." He turned and rejoined the woman and dog.
I've got to say I really miss getting out in the park every weekend to tell Free Fortunes but I'm doing the very next best thing. Every Saturday afternoon from 2:30pm to 4pm I'm telling Free Fortunes on Zoom. All one has to do is join my Meetup group at https://www.meetup.com/Major-Toms-Authentic-Tarot/ and RSVP 'yes' for Free Fortunes to get the Zoom link.