The members of the Wands court are the "doers" of tarot royalty. In business settings they personify the risk-taking entrepreneurs and adventurers, in social terms the "movers and shakers" who can be more style than substance. They symbolize the human qualities of ambition, enthusiasm, enterprise, initiative, inspiration, excitement, boldness, opportunism - in short, just about any attribute that embraces vigorous and spirited … Continue reading Tarot 101, My Way – Court Cards: The Wands Court
Month: August 2018
Tarot 101, My Way – Court Cards: A Brief Introduction
Any detailed examination of the tarot court cards will inevitably encounter the confusion surrounding the different titles given to the cards over their 600-year history. In early decks like the Tarot de Marseille, it was transparent: the cards showed the members of a medieval royal hierarchy. The Kings were seated on thrones, variously bearded and suitably august in … Continue reading Tarot 101, My Way – Court Cards: A Brief Introduction
A Moment’s Reflection
I have now completed my detailed instructional material for the cards of the Major Arcana. In going back over it, I realized just how much of a personal connection I've made with them over the last four decades, and how seriously I've taken Aleister Crowley's advice to heart regarding the best approach to the cards: … Continue reading A Moment’s Reflection
Tarot 101, My Way – Major Arcana: Judgement and the World
Although Judgement (the archaic spelling of judgment, as spell-check keeps reminding me) has a biblical origin, showing the Archangel Gabriel summoning souls to their final reckoning with his trumpet, it is fundamentally a card of individual renewal and regeneration. It is the final bend in the road on the Fool's Journey, a "wake-up call" that presents an offer that can't … Continue reading Tarot 101, My Way – Major Arcana: Judgement and the World
Tarot 101, My Way – Major Arcana: The Moon and the Sun
We have now come to what might be termed the Dark Side and the Bright Side of the human experience. The Moon comes first, marking the treacherous path to its opposite pole, the Sun, with signposts of dubious reliability. The Moon does not offer a clear view of anything that comes under its dim rays; its realm … Continue reading Tarot 101, My Way – Major Arcana: The Moon and the Sun
Many Fish Bites
Although I prefer the Grand Tableau when working with the Lenormand cards, I'm always looking for opportunities to explore more single-pointed themes using smaller spreads. This was a good one. My brother and our nephew, who flew in from California, are embarking on an epic Atlantic salmon fishing trip to New Brunswick. For those who are … Continue reading Many Fish Bites
Tarot 101, My Way – Major Arcana: The Tower and the Star
This is the classic "calm after the storm" scenario: the Tower topples the unsteady empire of the Devil and a soothing calm (and new hope) descends upon the ravaged landscape in the presence of the Star. There is nothing benign about the uncompromising Mars energy of the Tower; here is the "necessary" nature of the … Continue reading Tarot 101, My Way – Major Arcana: The Tower and the Star
For Lack of an Anchor . . .
In a recent Facebook dialogue we were talking about the practice of letting the cards in a spread "hijack" the reading, taking the story-line well away from the focus of the original question or topic. The usual scenario is "You asked about that but the cards are saying this, so let's go this way with the reading … Continue reading For Lack of an Anchor . . .
Tarot 101, My Way – Major Arcana: Temperance and the Devil
It could be argued that these cards are in the wrong order. In real-life situations, temptation often comes first and, if the Will is strong enough, abstinence follows as a condition of recovery. This might be a reasonable scenario if Temperance actually referred to redemption through behavioral moderation; but the old verb "to temper" meant to adjust the properties of something in a … Continue reading Tarot 101, My Way – Major Arcana: Temperance and the Devil
The “Evolving Question” Scenario
Since 1972 I've generally followed Eden Gray's advice about not asking my sitters to tell me their specific question or topic of interest in advance of a reading, instead letting the cards speak their piece with no subconscious "preconditioning" due to foreknowledge on my part. Sitters silently invest the cards with their inquiry during the shuffle and cut, and their reactions to my … Continue reading The “Evolving Question” Scenario
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 