AUTHOR'S NOTE: I prefer to keep my Lenormand practice free of entanglement with other modes of divination: that means no mingling with tarot or astrology and no psychic conjecture based on free-association from the images. I'm more practical and literal than eclectic and improvisational in my interpretation, and my use of intuition in Lenormand reading … Continue reading Lenormand and Astrology: Strange Bedfellows?
Oracle Cards
Like Water and Wind
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In my estimation, Edward Fitzgerald's vibrant and evocative translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is a masterpieces of English mystical poetry. Relative to the subject of this essay, here is one magnificent quatrain: Into this Universe, and Why not knowing,Nor Whence, like Water willy-nilly flowing:And out of it, as Wind along the … Continue reading Like Water and Wind
The I Ching Cards and the “Big Party”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Although I normally use Chinese coins for my I Ching predictions, I've had Anthony Clark's delightful I Ching Pack (now out-of-print) for many years and seldom work with it. I'm on the verge of buying Benebell Wen's new I Ching translation and thought I would give the deck a workout. (Note that I … Continue reading The I Ching Cards and the “Big Party”
An Oracle with Teeth
I'm on a mission to discover an oracle deck with a natural or mythological theme that isn't full of bland, breezy New Age affirmations or shamanistic pretensions. Angel decks are "right out," as Monty Python used to say. Tennyson's line "Nature, red in tooth and claw" comes to mind, although I'm looking for a balance … Continue reading An Oracle with Teeth
Mystical Motivations: A Weekly Meditation
This idea has been a long time coming to fruition, but I think I've hit upon a meaningful way to use the handful of oracle decks I currently own. I've commented elsewhere that oracle cards seem more "atmospheric" than pragmatic for the purpose of divination; in sports broadcasting terminology, they are more about the "color … Continue reading Mystical Motivations: A Weekly Meditation
Sacred Geometry Cards for the Visionary Path: A Deck Review
First off, I want to say that I bought this deck by accident. I thought I was getting Francene Hart's original Sacred Geometry Oracle deck, which has a "Frieda-Harris-synthetic-projective-geometry" vibe to it, and which I hoped to use in combination with the Thoth deck. That said, my first impression is that this deck has charms … Continue reading Sacred Geometry Cards for the Visionary Path: A Deck Review
The “Flashing Colors” Tarot/Oracle Lemniscate Spread
I haven't created many spreads for use with oracle decks (to be honest, except for Lenormand, exactly none). But I know people love their oracle cards, so here is a spread that is intended to blend your favorite tarot and oracle decks into a single comprehensive overview of any situation. It displayed "flashing colors" on … Continue reading The “Flashing Colors” Tarot/Oracle Lemniscate Spread
Julian Assange: A Psycard Reading
When I heard that Julian Assange had been forcibly removed from the Ecuadoran embassy in London, I decided to do a reading to see what fate might await him. I have two decks with a literal "Prison" card in them - the Psycards and the Kipperkarten - and chose one of them for this reading … Continue reading Julian Assange: A Psycard Reading
The Thing About Oracles
I have to admit that I just don't "get" the current crop of oracle decks. I have several and a number of them are quite beautiful, but they don't really speak to me in any useful or meaningful way. The main problem, at least for me, is that each deck has its own unique system … Continue reading The Thing About Oracles
Original Kipperkarten: First Thoughts
I recently received the Original Kipper Wahrsagekarten from Germany and have been scouring the internet for information on its use. (I'm aware of Toni Puhle's book, The Card Geek's Guide to Kipper Cards, but the consensus seems to be that it is best used with her own deck.) Kipper is a system of cartomantic divination … Continue reading Original Kipperkarten: First Thoughts
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 