Kubla Khan and the Major Arcana

I've been having a lot of fun lately trying to marry popular song titles and lyrics to the images of the tarot by creating metaphorical links between them. I realized this morning that something similar should be do-able with the mystical poetry that forms part of the "Great Works" of traditional literature. I already used the "bloody but … Continue reading Kubla Khan and the Major Arcana

Who Killed Mary? – A “Whodunit” Reading

Thirty-seven-year-old Mary Critchley was murdered sometime between July 25, 1981, when she attempted to hitch a ride from Framingham, MA to Waterbury, VT, and August 9, 1981, when her body was discovered in the woods of rural Unity, NH. https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-unsolved-case-file-mary-elizabeth-critchley/22677217 I performed my "Rogue's Gallery" spread to see what it might tell me about this cold … Continue reading Who Killed Mary? – A “Whodunit” Reading

The “Last Word” Positional Awareness Spread

This is a decision-making spread and a variant of my typical "situational awareness" approach. In this case, the decision involves whether a position being maintained or contemplated by the querent in a particular situation is in fact tenable, or whether  the advisability of sustaining or pursuing it should be reconsidered. The positional meanings are self-explanatory. … Continue reading The “Last Word” Positional Awareness Spread

Who Killed Eric? – A “Whodunit” Reading

On September 19, 2009, the body of 33-year-old Eric Fitting of Fall River, MA was found in the woods off Route 124 in Sharon. NH. His death was ruled a homicide but no charges have ever been filed. https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-unsolved-case-file-eric-fitting/22617614 Two critical pieces of information are missing from media reports that make it difficult to assess … Continue reading Who Killed Eric? – A “Whodunit” Reading

“Head ‘Em Off At The Pass” – A Decision-Making Spread

Here is a complex. multi-input spread that is intended to be used at the "brainstorming" stage of any important initiative, either personal or professional. It takes its inspiration from the "fishbone" (or "Ishikawa") diagram used in root-cause analysis but instead focuses on developmental insights rather than forensic ones; my working title for the spread was "The Dancing Flounder," but then I … Continue reading “Head ‘Em Off At The Pass” – A Decision-Making Spread

Where Is Mollie? – A Missing-Person Reading (Final Update)

UPDATE: The body of Mollie Tibbetts was found in a cornfield in rural Poweshiek County, Iowa. She was discovered "on a farm" as suggested in the reading, but was probably not detained or murdered by a resident. In an interview this afternoon, authorities said the suspect, an illegal immigrant, had lived in the area for from four to seven years. The … Continue reading Where Is Mollie? – A Missing-Person Reading (Final Update)

Spread Technician: The Artist-Philosopher-Engineer at Play

Having passed the "century" mark in self-designed tarot spread creation and presently working on my second hundred, I've been thinking (when am I not?) of what it takes to develop a truly informative and compelling layout that avoids being tiresomely trite. The most common formula in use today is to take five card positions, which seems to be the  … Continue reading Spread Technician: The Artist-Philosopher-Engineer at Play

A “Hidden Agenda” Example Reading

This is a test reading for the developmental insight spread I just posted this morning. The scenario addresses our ongoing initiative to sell our current residence; if you've been following this blog you will have seen previous posts on the subject. I used the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus deck, with reversals. All images © 2015 M.M. Meleen The "index" card … Continue reading A “Hidden Agenda” Example Reading

The “Hidden Agenda” Developmental Insight Spread

My reserves of philosophical commentary are starting to run low, so it's time to float another new spread. This one presents a novel way to populate a three-card line. Twelve cards are dealt (and a "quintessence" card is derived), but only three cards and the pertinent quint are read. It uses the concept of an … Continue reading The “Hidden Agenda” Developmental Insight Spread