I gave up practicing the Ouija board when a ghost revealed to me that Tarot cards weren't real. I was devastated.
I've got an excellent tarot book by Benabel Wen. She lists a number of questions she does not allow the Seeker to ask during a reading. Number one, never talk about death or answer questions about it. Two, never predict tragedy or hard times ...instead focus on attitude and actions (don't take risks, be mindful of others, don't be hasty, watch your finances, etc) Never give legal advice. Never give medical advice. Instead she makes the Seeker formulate questions like: What energies are relevant to my situation? What do I need to know about? How do I obtain/achieve/overcome? Where am I most blind? What am I refusing to admit? What do I need to understand, in order to progress? Her philosophy, which I share, is to phrase the truth in a way that will empower and strengthen coping mechanisms, not do harm. It sounds as if that's exactly what you did at the time ...but yeah. The tarot can be pretty powerful. And the truth can be hard to face. I'll probably continue to read the tarot Death card as if it's clear-out time, until the day I die, said Pollyanna. Am I hijacking this thread? Sorry....
Ouija boards are an evil that you should not mess with. It is owned by Hasbro, which also owns My Little Pony, so unless you want Pinky Pie haunting you, I recommend staying away.
Oh christ don't go there... you're too new to remember the wonders of the bronies thread (who'd have thought my little pony could cause so much angst and discord)
I have no expertise (I dont really feel like i'm an expert in anything, really) but I have a BA in English Literature (I especially loved Literary Criticism, Irish Literature and Post Modern) 2D Visual Art. I was working toward an MFA... my advisor told me that I could do English Lit and get credit toward an MFA if I took some writing classes too. So I took Introduction to Pop Fiction and then Horror & Suspense, but starting this new major, playing catch up, and double majoring... i couldnt keep it up and dropped the MFA track. My first major was Art Therapy. so I took various psych and counseling classes (the counseling classes are what made me drop the major... t'was depressing). I've been in Catholic school for 8 years, and every year it was a requirement to take a religion class. Though I dont find myself as a "religious" person, i do call myself a catholic because its how i was raised (i'm a terrible catholic, btw). Anyway, I loved World Religions, Third World Theologies, Bible as Literature (analyzing the bible through a literary lens and not a religious/spiritual lens), and Islam: Religion and Culture. I have a Masters in Information Sciences and have worked in Academic libraries and currently work in a Public library. I've volunteered in an archive and have a bit of knowledge about preservation. Dont quite know how any of the above will be helpful.... I also have 12 years experience in Track & Field and endurance/obstacle races (Spartan race, for example). Soooooo, i guess if you have characters running for their lives, hurdling over dead bodies, throwing a spear or something like that... i'm your person, haha!
Tarot stuff in the spoiler: Spoiler Nice to see I'm not the only tarot reader with a list of rules for my clients! I also have three, but they're entirely different. 1) I will not read for you if your significant other is present, unless it's specifically a question about relationship problems and you've both agreed to it. I have been put in a horribly awkward position by a surprise Inverted Lovers/Inverted 2 of Cups/3 of Swords too many times. 2) Do not give me any information that I do not specifically ask for. You can think I'm describing your mother all you want, but unless I ask "Could this be your mother?" do not tell me. I'm not "cold reading" you. 3) Don't ask questions you don't really want answered. If you're just looking for good news or positive spins on things, find another reader (like the person who won't ever predict tragedy or hard times). Anyway. For professional expertise, I can answer questions about warehousing/logistics, driving a CDL Class B dump truck, general construction site stuff, handyman-level trades stuff, and just about anything about lawn care/gardening/weed control/insect control. Or dairy goats, but I never made money on that so I don't know if that counts as "professional".
A small amount of knowledge in Chemistry. Quite a bit of knowledge in biology (I'm in college, so don't expect anything professional). A knowledge of a few procedures on microbiology. And a bit of low-tech knowledge.
Oh, I don't know. I've got one back from pre WW2 that Hasbro had no hand in--J.M. Simmons aka the "Ouija King" made it in the 1920s. Though I'm not sure he was much better: "The public are fools!" laughs the "Ouija king." "They'll bite on anything," he continues. "The public belief In the ouija board is a joke. We don't foster it. But the poor deluded fools want the board and we're giving it to them by the thousands." Also, I don't really consider myself to offer much professionally. The longest running job I had was ice cream making/managing an ice cream story. I have undergrad degrees in English and Psychology before I gave up on academics. Generally, I learn things on my own and within the past five years only, have tried to make money with them. I was moderately traumatized by my first "adult" job (they made me be an accountant and HR manager... it was horrible and I was horrible at it) and haven't really wanted to repeat the experience. Writing and photography have been my go-to skills. Though I think cover design and somewhat copywrite are new things in my back pocket that I've picked up this past year.
I am a licensed and bonded notary public specialized in witnessing real estate contract signing, a multi-lingual teacher since 2005, and an electric vehicle builder. I also owned a company based in HK that operated in Beijing doing photogrammetric historical preservation in VR and AR. Hit me up if you have questions.
I also used to be able to perform (stage) hypnosis. I could probably still do it, but it's been a long time. I don't know if that counts as "professional" or not.
I have a PhD in computer science, specializing in high performance computing. Currently, however, I work for a non-profit organization that specializes in high school and vocational education (primarily web development because the basics of such are an easy introduction to the field, but we teach other types of programming as well at higher levels).
It so badass, that we are not allowed to know. Instead we must sort out what [ IMG ] really stands for, or means.
My professional careers have been few, but I think I've gotten a lot out of them. I don't have a degree, but I'm finishing an English undergraduate degree with a minor in Creative Writing by the end of next month. I will be immediately moving into a Master's program in English Literature with a focus in Gothic. My early jobs were pretty irrelevant, so I won't waste time with them. I worked in the USMC as an F-18 electrician for five years and loved it. Best job I ever had, though the hours were ridiculous and physical stress was extreme. I know a fair bit about how intake engines, flight controls, air data systems, radar, communications, egress systems, and military operations on flight lines work. There's also the fair bit I know about general military things I know as well, being that I made it to sergeant in those five years and was running the shop as the head supervisor for a year of that. For the last few years though, I've been a field service engineer for transmission electron microscopes. It's a niche field with a wide variety of technical tasks and customer relationships to uphold. I'm proficient in both high and low voltage systems, plumbing, survey equipment, vacuum, electromagnetic mechanics, computer software and hardware, x-ray mitigation and safety, troubleshooting, and general microscopy operations. I work in many labs and colleges repairing these large microscopes and get to first hand see atoms and their various structures up close. A lot of my job is customer relations as well, considering that each microscope is purchased and designed per customer. Many of these are old as well, and the Windows operating systems and hardware match the age. So I'm proficient on Windows NT through 10. It's an everything sort of job that travels and is different every day, much like F-18 work was. I love talking about my work stuff, so feel free to ask if you have any interest or want to bounce some technical stuff off of me for a story.
I'm a scientist, currently testing drugs and medical equipment, I also have a degree in medicine, but that was a long time ago. Thanks for whatever you do, people!
Restaurant GM and operator. I sell food, booze, and ego for a living... kind of a cross between Quark from DS9 and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca. Glad to help with any scene involving restaurants, bars, casinos, or smoke-filled rooms. Or general business questions... particularly how to win friends, influence people, and take their money. And once upon a time I earned history degree with a focus on Nazism and Holocaust studies, but that becomes less relevant as I get older.
I've been a nurse for 14 years, the last three I have taught student nurses in addition to "working the floor." I've worked medical/surgical my whole career. Therefore, as med/srg nurses say, I'm an "expert" in many things medical and a specialist in none. In reality, I'm not an expert, but I have experience with a lot. Happy to help with medical questions as I can.
I worked as a naturalist for more than twenty years so I know a lot about nature, plants, wildlife and Earth sciences (volcanoes, glaciers ...).
I am a lawyer in 3 countries with two science degrees and practical experience in computer programming and electrical engineering. It sounds like a hodgepodge, but actually they are weirdly connected with what I do professionally.
I got my degree in Wildlife Biology a few years back, but nearly became a merchant sailor (3rd Mate). I've worked for independent ecological research groups, namely the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and now currently work for the U.S. Forest Service. In a few years I'd like to start "night school" and get a few welding certifications. However, my real profession has always been the creation and selling of fine art: I'd like to think of the above as an alter-ego cover story, but my bank account says otherwise... Also, was once a Chippendale, but that's all I'll say on that one.
Noooo Naturalist: Specialist talking about nature and wildlife. Naturist: Someone who likes to spend time nude.
