Originally Published in the Seeker's Journey
Volume 1 · Issue 1 · July 03

Is There A Catdoc In The House?

By Ms Ritz

Catdoc is a member of TFL since June 2002, and has been contributing to our ‘ create a tarot deck’ project using some of her beautiful felines as models. We plan to feature a different TFL member with each newsletter. We hope you enjoy this interview…

Ms. Ritz What got you interested in tarot?

CatDoc My first exposure to the tarot was a reading done by the mother of a friend at a Halloween party in 1994. The events of my life over the next few years proved eerily consistent with the insights of that reading. Christmas of 1999 I was given the major arcana deck, Tarot For Cats, by a client-friend. This began my quest for knowledge about the tarot. I was most fortunate to find Joan Bunning’ s on-line learn tarot course. As I began my study I now needed a full deck of 78 cards. I followed Joan's advice and searched for a deck that 'spoke' to me and chose Tarot of The Cat People. This proved to be an excellent choice for me, the illustrations appealed to me and the card meanings were close enough to the Rider-Waite meanings that I was able to make good use of Joan's on-line exercises.

Ms. Ritz How long have you reading tarot?

CatDoc By January of 2000, I felt well enough acquainted with the tarot to share my enthusiasm by doing readings for friends. My interest in, and continuing study of, the tarot really took off in 2001 when Barnes and Noble sponsored classes on line with who else but my personal virtual tarot mentor Joan Bunning as the instructor. The Barnes and Nobel University also led me to the world of Internet communities.

Ms. Ritz I know that you are a cat vet. Has tarot helped you in your work? If so, how?

CatDoc The tarot provides innumerable clues about the human experience. Anything that helps one understand human behavior is an asset in the workplace. I have used the tarot to help aid in conversations with my staff about what is going on in their lives. The tarot is a tremendous help when one is trying to sort through the many nuances of a situation, it causes one to consider things which might otherwise go unnoticed. I do not use the tarot to 'predict' the future, however I do find that the cards which one is given to consider are very often exquisitely appropriate to the situation at hand.

Ms. Ritz What brought you to TFL?

CatDoc Participation in the original Tarot for Beginners course on-line at the Barnes and Noble University introduced me to the concept of virtual communities. A group of students from that first class began a community on MSN that would allow for more effective communication (the Barnes and Noble message boards were a bit awkward and limiting). Tarot for Life was a natural progression from that introduction to the many opportunities for friendships around the world with persons sharing similar interests.

Ms. Ritz How many decks do you own?

CatDoc At last count 19 decks with my own deck in progress as deck number 20. I have purchased and given as gifts several other decks.

Ms. Ritz What's your favorite deck? Why?

CatDoc I would have to say my Tarot of The Cat People deck is still my favorite because it has served me well and this deck is the deck I initially learned with. I am most anxious to complete my own deck and it will probably become my favorite. Among my other decks I have really enjoyed reading with The Victoria Regina, The Vision Quest, and The Herbal Tarot.

Ms. Ritz When do you find yourself grabbing for a deck?

CatDoc This question inspired thoughts of two different types of tarot deck grabbing, the purchase of decks (often referred to a tarot deck syndrome or tarot it is in this community) and the use of tarot decks for insightful readings. Often I am prompted to purchase a deck whose images have been posted in this community, but I also just get the urge to go browsing and find a deck that tickles my fancy. Tarot Totes is a site that frequently inspires a desire to purchase a particular deck. Color coordination is awfully appealing to me and she does such a nice job of presenting her totes with beautiful coordinating cards. :-) I have also purchased decks on impulse from local shops and bookstores. In terms of grabbing for a deck to do a reading, I try to do a two card reading each morning as part of my journal entry. I will usually do a more complex reading (like a Celtic cross or calendar spread) on special days like birthdays, new years day, Halloween etc. I will also 'grab for a tarot deck' when I feel the need for some insight into a particular situation. Last but not least, I 'grab for a tarot deck' when a friend feels that a reading will help them sort through a problem or make a decision.

Ms. Ritz I am a great admirer of the tarot deck you are creating. How long have you been working on it and when do you expect to finish?

CatDoc Thank you so much. The feedback I have received from the members of TFL has been so helpful. Like many of you I have been searching for the perfect tarot deck almost from the start. I began recording ideas for my own deck in a notebook in May of 2001 before I had met all of you on-line. However my first actual original artwork was created and made its debut on the TFL Create a deck project in September 2002. I do not know how long it will take to finish the entire deck, I seem to have periods of creative energy followed by long lulls. I am currently working on my 15th card, Temperance. In my mind's eye, images for most of the cards have taken shape, it is the transition to watercolor on paper that is the rate limiting step.

Ms. Ritz What inspires you to create?

CatDoc hat is a tough question to answer in a simple concise manner. I guess it boils down to the fact that painting gives me pleasure. There is the pleasure of the physical challenge of using a media such as watercolor to recreate what the eye can see and the mind can imagine. There is the pleasure of being able to share what is in your imagination with others and in turn have them share with you. With art there is also the simple aesthetic joy of color, shape, and form. Finally, when I am painting I am completely engaged, time passes and no other worries intrude. Finding time when ignoring other worries is practical is probably why I seem to paint in fits and starts.

Ms. Ritz Are your family and friends supportive?

CatDoc Yes, very! Both of my painting and my interest in the Tarot.

About the author: Ms Ritz seriously started to study tarot when she joined TFL a year ago. She feels her interest in tarot in inherited from her maternal grandmother but didn’ t buy her first deck or take her first tarot class until 1995 when she lived in Colorado. Ritzy feels that she has a gift from her grandmother that she hopes to develop into its full potential by continuing to study, practice, and share with her fellow TFL members.