Join Ryan Hurd in conversation with Beck Ravenswood, owner of the Serpent’s Key Shoppe and Sanctuary in Hanover, PA. Beck is challenging the 165 year-old state law that makes it a crime to charge money for tarot readings and fortune-telling for gain or lucre.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The 1861 Pennsylvania law: An obscure state law dating back to the Civil War era criminalizes fortune telling, divination, and tarot reading which was originally enacted to target Romani immigrants.
- The police confrontation: In October 2023, Hanover's police chief threatened Beck with arrest, fines up to $2,500 per offense, and up to a year in jail for offering tarot readings at their brick and mortar shop and community center
- The lawsuit: After failed negotiations with the police department, Beck filed a federal case in August 2024 arguing the law violates First Amendment and 14th Amendment protections.
- Why this matters for you: Beck's fight has wide-ranging implications for religious freedom in the 21 century, especially given the erosion of the separation of church and state at all levels of governance.
About the host: Ryan D. Hurd is a dream researcher, author, and holistic educator. The Dream Studies Podcast explores dreams, consciousness, and the imagination, bridging 21st century science with intuitive ways of knowing. More to explore at
DreamStudies.orgOriginal music and art by Eldest Child (c) 2026
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