AUTHOR'S NOTE: Tarot spreads frequently include positions for "Do This" and "Don't Do That." Here is a problem-solving spread that expands on that premise by offering two paths, one involving active disposition of situational factors in five areas and the other suggesting either inaction or a more passive stance in those aspects of the matter. … Continue reading The “Do/Don’t Do” Problem-Solving Spread (with “Bottom Line”)
Problem-solving Spreads
The “Philosopher’s Scorecard” Problem-Solving Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Any armchair philosopher and cerebral cartomancer who has ever encountered a complex problem-solving scenario has most likely waffled between the various ways to tackle the solution: emotionally, intellectually or intuitively. Rather than just throwing down a series of cards and reading them, the diviner tries to finesse the situation by "what-iffing" it to … Continue reading The “Philosopher’s Scorecard” Problem-Solving Spread
A Lenormand “Whodunnit” Tableau & Example Reading
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Those who have been following this blog know that I have an abiding interest in criminal "cold-case" readings. I normally use horary astrology and tarot for this purpose, but here I'm exploring an interesting way to apply the Lenormand cards. The first thing I did was locate all of the cards that could … Continue reading A Lenormand “Whodunnit” Tableau & Example Reading
The “Devil’s Due” Square-and-Cross Conflict Resolution Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here is a conflict-resolution spread designed around the 3x3 "mini-tableau" of the Lenormand system, although I've altered the flow of the reading slightly. It can be used with any deck, but when working with Lenormand I would substitute the materialistic "Bear" (Card #15) for the equally materialistic "Devil" (Card #15) of the tarot … Continue reading The “Devil’s Due” Square-and-Cross Conflict Resolution Spread
“Crisis at the Crossroads” – A Problem-Solving Spread
This spread uses elemental affinity and reversal to arrive at one of three possible outcomes for problem resolution: "Accept and Support;" "Try Everything" or "Do Nothing." In each case it creates a five-card reading with the "Crossroads" card as the "turning point" in the matter. Shuffle the deck to allow for reversals.
A “Fork in the Road” Supplemental Outcome Spread
As a rule, I have no use for "clarifying" cards since I think they can encourage laziness in not trying very hard to get our head around the original pull if we don't like it or can't immediately understand it. (My motto in this regard is "More is not necessarily better.") But sometimes I will … Continue reading A “Fork in the Road” Supplemental Outcome Spread
The Three-Card “Tarot Sentence”
It has been proposed that the three-card line forms the basic "sentence" of tarot reading, and adding more cards to the series only augments but doesn't supersede the original narrative. Three cards in sequence can be read in a number of ways: as a traditional "Past/Present/Future" outlook; in the Hegelian sense of "Thesis/Antithesis/ Synthesis;" according … Continue reading The Three-Card “Tarot Sentence”
The “Falling Into Conclusions” 3-Phase Process Development Spread
Here's some more fallout from my study of Etteilla; in his reading examples he talks about one card in a spread "falling into" another, and the meaning of both being modified by their interaction. This spread looks suspiciously like "Production Management 101," but I can see it being used for complex personal or group projects.
The “Mystic Gyroscope” Developmental Insight Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This spread was (or is soon to be) published in the online magazine AstroLogic, although I retain all rights. The Cosmic Tarot is copyright of AGM Urania/Königsfurt-Urania Verlag GmbH, Ringstraße 32, D-24103, Kiel, and the Rohrig Tarot is copyright of U.S. Games Systems, Stamford, CT. Here is a tarot spread designed around two … Continue reading The “Mystic Gyroscope” Developmental Insight Spread
The “Crucible” Problem-Solving Spread: An Alchemical Approach
While thinking about using the Temperance card as a kind of "talisman" for my reading sessions (an adaptation of another of Alejandro Jodorowsky's ritualistic ideas), I decided to create a spread based loosely on alchemical principles, specifically Aleister Crowely's assumption that the vigorous interaction of Fire and Water release Air. The premise is that one's … Continue reading The “Crucible” Problem-Solving Spread: An Alchemical Approach
