As a follow-up to my previous post on the relationship between the RWS and Thoth decks and their common source in the Golden Dawn's esoteric system, I conducted a small exploratory analysis of the relative adherence of the RWS pip cards to their Golden Dawn roots. I took the descriptions in Liber T and compared … Continue reading Adherence of the RWS Pips to Their Golden Dawn Roots
Month: October 2017
Cheap Shots #21: Thoth vs RWS, Head-to-Head
Let it be said right up front: I'm not a huge fan of the Waite-Smith (aka Rider-Waite-Smith or "RWS") deck. I think that, in many cases, the narrative vignettes embedded in Pamela Colman Smith's scenic "pip" cards - the minors with their ready-made stories - hijack the deeper esoteric meaning that lies at its core, … Continue reading Cheap Shots #21: Thoth vs RWS, Head-to-Head
Thoth Pip Cards as Emotions
A couple of years ago one of my Aeclectic Tarot forum mates conducted an exercise to explore how the Minor Arcana, or "pip" cards, of the Thoth deck might be categorized as a range of emotional expressions: Joy, Anger, Love, Grief, Surprise, Fear, Trust and Anxiety. Because the Thoth pips have titles on them as … Continue reading Thoth Pip Cards as Emotions
The Aces: “First Whirlings”
I often hear novice tarot readers say, upon encountering an Ace in a reading, "You're going to be starting something new!" I think to myself "Well, no . . . at least not yet." The Aces represent the impulse to act that sparks (or should spark) the focus and concentration essential to mounting any well-planned … Continue reading The Aces: “First Whirlings”
A Finger-of-Fate Test Reading
As usual, I ran a test reading with the new spread I just posted to see how well it works. I have a moderately challenging home repair task underway. The first half went well, and I'm finishing the rest of it today. I chose that project as my target, pre-selecting the Thoth "Work" card (3 … Continue reading A Finger-of-Fate Test Reading
The “Fickle Finger of Fate” Needs-Fulfillment Spread
Sometimes all we really want to know is "How will my day go?" but the single-card pull and even the 3-card "past/present/future" line seem just a little short on substance (which for me is most of the time). Here's a slightly more involved way to get a deeper look at the situation that brings in … Continue reading The “Fickle Finger of Fate” Needs-Fulfillment Spread
The “Serpentine Fire” 36-Card Lenormand Tableau
I don't create many new spreads for the Lenormand cards. The traditional layouts (the 3, 5, 7 and 9-card lines, the 9-card square, the Petit Tableau and the Grand Tableau), are sufficient for almost any purpose. However, that doesn't stop me from occasionally experimenting. This spread uses all 36 cards and applies the concept of … Continue reading The “Serpentine Fire” 36-Card Lenormand Tableau
A Crowded House, or Where Do I Put All Those Planets
For those old-timers like me who may wander in here, the title of this post should bring back fond memories of William Conrad's narrated taglines to the animated Rocky and Bullwinkle episodes, which invariably went "Be here next time, when . . . " followed by a tongue-in-cheek pair of amusing but not always obviously … Continue reading A Crowded House, or Where Do I Put All Those Planets
Court Cards as Scapegoats
It can probably be said with some confidence that a good many people, when finding themselves in difficulty, first cast about for some other person on whom to fix the blame. Human nature seems to crave a salve for the troubled conscience, and woe to anyone who is careless enough to look even marginally culpable. … Continue reading Court Cards as Scapegoats
The “Soulmate Connection” Spread
Here's something to have a little fun with. Although I think the term "soulmate" is shunned now in favor of "twin flame" (the New Age keeps right on a-rollin', doesn't it?), most people, single or otherwise, still wonder whether that fascinating individual they just met might be "The One." This is a way to check … Continue reading The “Soulmate Connection” Spread
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 