There is a line from Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor where the braggart Pistol obliquely threatens Falstaff when the latter refuses to lend him money: "Why then the world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open" I figured this quote is a good inspiration for a spread aimed at exploring unknown territory that … Continue reading “The Oyster and the Sword” Eye-Opener Spread
Esoteric Tarot
Life After Intuition
I'm not a huge fan of purely intuitive tarot reading. There, I said it. It will probably be dismissed as mean-spirited literalism toward what is chiefly an elastic, visionary pursuit, but there is something too fatuously "squishy" about unmitigated intuition for my taste. I think the idea is fed to beginners as "The Way" because … Continue reading Life After Intuition
An “Astrological Lemniscate” Problem-Solving Spread
I've become rather bored with the traditional 12-position astrological spread; it often turns into a case of too much information, to the point that you "can't see the forest for the trees." But I do believe a good deal of interpretive mileage can be gained from blending the active and passive natures of the twelve … Continue reading An “Astrological Lemniscate” Problem-Solving Spread
A “Tarot Persona” Example Reading
This was too juicy an opportunity not to try out on myself, so here is a test reading for the "My Tarot Persona" spread. I used the Thoth deck for the esoteric line and the CBD (Conver Ben-Dov) Tarot de Marseille for the exoteric line. All images copyright U.S. Games Systems, Inc, Stamford, CT The … Continue reading A “Tarot Persona” Example Reading
The Tarot Gods Speak!
I've been having an interesting discussion with another tarot writer about the distinctions between the "esoteric" and "exoteric" branches of tarot practice. The former is commonly held to be the domain of serious study in occult symbolism and correspondences, while the latter is better suited to practical divination. Although I used the esoteric Thoth deck … Continue reading The Tarot Gods Speak!
Those Fractured Court Cards
A tarot artist in one of the Facebook groups I frequent has been working on a project to blend the qualities of two court cards into a single entity; combining the King of Cups and the King of Pentacles is her current task. My first thought was that some intriguing possibilities are offered by this … Continue reading Those Fractured Court Cards
The Pentagram of Air Spread
This is the last of my "Invoking Pentagram" spreads. It begins with an emotional urge to clarify one's thinking on a subject of interest (Water); crystallizes that impulse into workable ideas (Air); acts creatively on those thought-forms (Fire); addresses the ethical and moral implications of such actions (Spirit); and experiences the practical outfall of the … Continue reading The Pentagram of Air Spread
The Pentagram of Water Spread
The third iteration in my series of "Invoking Pentagram" spreads is focused on interpersonal relationships of all kinds: building, maintaining and repairing them. It begins with the "ideal" of harmonious communion (the Air position), moves toward emotional fulfillment (Water), and plays out in pragmatic (Earth), moral (Spirit) and self-actualizing ways (Fire). It is intended to … Continue reading The Pentagram of Water Spread
The Pentagram of Fire Spread
Here is the second product of my exploration of the Golden Dawn's Invoking Pentagrams as a source of insight from an elemental perspective. The goal of this one is to examine the developmental potential arising from one's enterprise and initiative, whether in starting a business, finding a new job or embarking on any creative endeavor. … Continue reading The Pentagram of Fire Spread
Elemental Pentagram Spreads
The 5-card Pentagram Spread is a time-honored layout that is almost as prevalent as the line spread. But I have always felt that something is lacking in its construction, principally in the sequencing of the cards as commonly practiced. Many readers start with Card #1 at the upper point of the diagram, others work from … Continue reading Elemental Pentagram Spreads
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 