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
Experimental Methods
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!
Soul Train or Love Boat: A Life-Purpose Spread
Upon first entering wider society, young people (although they aren't as young at that point as they once were) are often at a loss as to what their life's purpose should be. This usually involves deciding which of two or three possible paths seems the most compelling at the time. I will normally use a … Continue reading Soul Train or Love Boat: A Life-Purpose Spread
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 “No Guts, No Glory” Risk Analysis Spread
Sometimes you just "gotta do what you gotta do." This simple spread is designed to show the risk and payback potential of any chancy course of action. No detailed guidance is needed, the spread positions are self-explanatory. Either your idea is a good one or it isn't. The "Advice" card is the quintessence derived from … Continue reading The “No Guts, No Glory” Risk Analysis Spread
A “Tough Love” Example Reading
This reading was performed on a hypothetical romantic relationship by applying my "Relationship Crisis Spread." I used the Thoth deck, with reversals; this spread does not require a Significator card. I also calculated the two optional "quintessence" cards to show how that is intended to work. The relationship in question was between a man and … Continue reading A “Tough Love” Example Reading
Tough Love: A Relationship Crisis Spread
There is a saying "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Although it is intended to mean that the tough knuckle down and battle on through to the end, when things get truly ugly the toughest option may be to pull up stakes and leave the situation. The main question is obviously "Should … Continue reading Tough Love: A Relationship Crisis Spread
Where Is Celia? – A Missing-Person Reading
UPDATE: It has been reported that Celia was found "safe in New York." There was no detail regarding where she was found, how she got there or whether she was aided in any way. This has the earmarks of an "assisted runaway" scenario, but we will probably never know. Case closed for now. Fifteen-year-old Celia … Continue reading Where Is Celia? – A Missing-Person Reading
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
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 