MayaCassar.Blogs

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The Unknown World of Tarot Card Reading

Featured image of tarot cards (Tumblr n.d.) via Pinterest

MayaCassar.Blogs

Never Stop Learning

May Anne Cassar's avatar

May Anne Cassar

2–3 minutes
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The Unknown World of Tarot Card Reading

About my niche and ethnographic research: (Audio)

My Pitch

The beginning of my research:

The rapid technological advancements of digital media in recent years have created a new social sphere without geographical or communication barriers. Online media allows us to create new intricate communities where individuals can share and express themselves with like-minded people. Within digital media, there are sub-groups known as media niches that target specific interests (Moore 2023). 

I intend to research the specific niche of tarot card reading by implementing ethnographic approaches. Ethnographers developed participant observation which is a technique I will be utilising in my research. Observing and participating in my media niche will allow me to gain a deeper understanding of my field site and its participants, and to collect accurate qualitative data (Seligmann & Estes 2019). 

The field site of my online media niche, which refers to the spatial characteristics of a research project conducted in the field, has been narrowed to tarot card reading on the platform TikTok. Defining this space is crucial as it identifies where the researcher should be situated as a participant observer (Burrell 2009). 

Example of tarot card reading on TikTok:

@rashitarot

part 2/2 #tarot #tarotreading #astrology

♬ original sound – rashi 🫶✨❄️
Video via TikTok (rashitarot 2023)

One highly significant aspect of my study involves conducting it ethically as researchers are ethically bound consider their impact on the communities they study (Mertens n.d.). Hence, I will be sure to be considerate of sensitive data by not including screenshots or direct quotes or links. 

Moreover my research will explore how my auto-ethnography allows me as the author to further extend my knowledge about my media niche by drawing on my personal life experiences (Wall 2006). 

References: 

Burrell, J 2009, ‘The Field Site as a Network: A Strategy for Locating Ethnographic Research’, Field Methods, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 181–199, Viewed 7 August 2023, <10.1177/1525822×08329699>

Moore, C, 2023, Lecture 1.3, ‘Lecture Part Three: What is a Media Niche’, lecture notes, Media Ethnographies BCM241, University of Wollongong, Delivered 24 July 2023.

Seligmann, LJ & Estes, BP 2019, ‘Innovations in Ethnographic Methods’, American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 64, no. 2, p. 000276421985964, Viewed 7 August 2023, <10.1177/0002764219859640>

Mertens, D n.d., Ethical Use of Qualitative Data and Findings, Mertens n.d., pp. 510-523, Viewed 7 August 2023,  <https://moodle.uowplatform.edu.au/pluginfile.php/4102953/mod_resource/content/1/Ethical%20Use%20of%20Qualitative%20Data%20and%20Findings%20510%20Donna%20M.%20Mertens%20The%20SAGE%20Handbook%20of%20Qualitative%20Data%20Analysis.pdf>

Rashitarot 2023, What’s Next in your Life Part 2/2, TikTok, Viewed 7 August 2023, <https://www.tiktok.com/@rashitarot/video/7264103557933354246?_r=1&_t=8ei6HyzU3YV>

Tumblr n.d., Pinterest, Viewed 7 August 2023, <https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/932245191595551207/> 

Wall, S 2006, ‘An autoethnography on learning about autoethnography’, International Journal of Qualitative Methods, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 1-12, Viewed 7 August 2023, <https://moodle.uowplatform.edu.au/pluginfile.php/4102913/mod_resource/content/1/Wall%20S%202006%20An%20Autoethnography%20on%20Learning%20about%20Autoethnography.pdf>

Get in Touch

mayacassar@live.com
0488 660 452

May Anne Cassar

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2 responses to “The Unknown World of Tarot Card Reading”

  1. bambi avatar
    bambi

    Hi May Anne, I love Tarot and interacting with my Wild Unknown deck at home. Which deck(s) do you have? Your pitch is well presented, intriguing and well sourced. I remember noticing a peak in tarot reading on TikTok during the pandemic and found an interesting article speaking to this in the UOW online library – Old meets new as psychics, tarot readers thrive on TikTok, social media: In these uncertain times, some people are taking comfort from psychic readings over the internet. So, what’s driving the phenomenon?

    What angle will you be forming the research on your niche? I think creating Tarot Card reading videos is an awesome idea and you can be really creative with the scene, will you be drawing cards in the videos and applying them to your life or approaching the content as a throw back to its historical roots, which was a card game. You mentioned you are conducting an interview, is this part of auto ethnography? I’m asking because I’m not sure, looking forward to your DA!!

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  2. Yuri avatar
    Yuri

    I really enjoyed your pitch and was already interested in the title alone! Your pitch was presented extremely well; it was on theme with your topic, makes good use of related images, and your delivery was clear. You were very distinct with your methods, which ones you’ll use, and how you’ll approach them. I think creating your own TikToks and Reels is a great idea; what type of videos will you make? Will you be using physical cards for your readings? Will you be doing general readings or will you also make readings for certain people?

    Although this might not be new information to you, I recommend Pam Richards’ book, ‘Understanding Tarot’ for in-depth information on the cards and how to read for other people– however, this is only exclusive to the Rider-Waite deck.

    Great work and I look forward to how your digital artifact turns out!

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