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
Courts
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
Where Is “Rogue #13” (Carrie’s Killer)?
As promised, I ran the King of Swords from the previous "Whodunit" reading through my "Sundial Location Spread." I also used the RWS Centennial Edition for this layout. The Significator turned up in the South quadrant, implying a warm, sunny place. If the suspect was over 45 years old at the time of the murder, … Continue reading Where Is “Rogue #13” (Carrie’s Killer)?
Who Killed Carrie? – A “Whodunit” Example Reading
This is the first use of the "Rogue's Gallery" spread I posted earlier today. Fourteen-year-old Carrie Moss was found murdered in New Boston, NH in 1989; no charges have ever been filed in her death. I used the RWS Centennial Edition deck in this reading. http://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-unsolved-case-file-carrie-moss/22551101 All images copyright U.S. Games Systems, Inc, Stamford, CT … Continue reading Who Killed Carrie? – A “Whodunit” Example Reading
The “Whodunit” Rogue’s Gallery Spread
I spend quite a bit of time examining missing-person cases - both current and "cold" - and have encountered a few alternate situations where the police have a body but they don't have a suspect, who is actually the absent person. These victims don't qualify as missing, so neither of my spreads designed for that … Continue reading The “Whodunit” Rogue’s Gallery Spread
The “Redneck Romantic Worthiness Scorecard”
Sometimes tarot can be just plain fun. This spread is a step up from the GEICO "caveman" shtick (although admittedly a small one). Use it at your next "Walking Dead" house party, or on your SO to reset the bar (or maybe the "scales will fall from your eyes"). I hope there aren't many thin-skinned … Continue reading The “Redneck Romantic Worthiness Scorecard”
The Pages and the Priestess: Acolytes of the Mysteries
I've always felt that the lowly Pages have more to them than conventional wisdom assumes. They are often described as youthful students or apprentices of either sex who have yet to attain mastery of their element, and are therefore of marginal potency in the hierarchy of the tarot court. Their function has sometimes been limited … Continue reading The Pages and the Priestess: Acolytes of the Mysteries
The Knights and the Empress: Fealty and Favor
Some writers make much of the fact that the court cards are unnumbered and therefore can't be used in any way associated with numerology. Personally, I consider them to be part of the suit sequence and to have an implied numeration, 11 through 14. I've been having some fun linking them through numerical correspondence to … Continue reading The Knights and the Empress: Fealty and Favor
The Queens and the Emperor: The Power Behind the Throne?
Continuing my thoughts on the veiled connection between the court cards and the "higher court" represented by the "noble" trumps, I'm now looking at the Queens and the Emperor. The Queens are the thirteenth card in each suit, which number reduces numerologically to Four, the number of the Emperor. This suggests that they can act … Continue reading The Queens and the Emperor: The Power Behind the Throne?
The Kings and the Hierophant: An Unholy Alliance?
In historical times there was little separation between Church and State, with secular rulers relying on the sway that the clergy held over the pious to keep them tractable. When you're praying you can't be fomenting unrest (unless you're Martin Luther). The clergy, in turn, relied on the King's protection and largess. Tarot shows us … Continue reading The Kings and the Hierophant: An Unholy Alliance?
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 