AUTHOR'S NOTE: Although morality has lost much of its grip on modern romance, I still prefer the older definition of the Lovers card as being presented with a decision that has ethical implications. The Tarot de Marseille "Lover" makes this abundantly clear. I almost always read the Lovers as a "crossroads" from which the seeker … Continue reading Mischief Afoot: External Meddling in the Lovers’ Affairs
Reversed Cards
Dysfunctional Brinkmanship On Display
UPDATE: There has been conjecture in the "court of public opinion" that Donald Trump's "calling out" of the unconscionable profits being reaped by health insurance companies from the Affordable Card Act had a net positive effect in breaking the Senate's shutdown "logjam." I'm not convinced that it wasn't just the mounting stress on the public … Continue reading Dysfunctional Brinkmanship On Display
“Not What It Seems” – Cards of Deception, Delusion, Distraction and Distortion
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Before I cover the subject of the header, I should mention the general belief that reversal of any card can redirect its upright meaning into unfamiliar byways and thus invite misapprehension. This is one of a host of related interpretations for reversal that I gathered a few years ago, specifically in the following … Continue reading “Not What It Seems” – Cards of Deception, Delusion, Distraction and Distortion
Here’s Looking at You! – Gaze as a Directional Indicator
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The concept of facing, gaze or regard has a long history of use with the Tarot de Marseille, although fans of more modern decks tend to disregard it. Here is a spread that applies the facing and orientation of one of the 16 court cards to choose which of four 3-card sets becomes … Continue reading Here’s Looking at You! – Gaze as a Directional Indicator
Cresting the Wave: A Case for Odd-Numbered Lines
AUTHOR'S NOTE: When it comes to designing line spreads for tarot reading, I typically employ an even number of cards only in situations that require a choice between two options, or when invoking the four classical elements represented by the suits. One thing I learned from Lenormand reading is that an odd-numbered line will always … Continue reading Cresting the Wave: A Case for Odd-Numbered Lines
Syncretic Card Selection: Alternatives to the “Straight Deal”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In The Book of Thoth, Aleister Crowley discussed metaphysical syncretism as it applied to spiritual beliefs and practices across a wide range of ancient cultures, drawing parallels between them when it struck him as significant. At a more humble level, I employ syncretism ("the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions") in … Continue reading Syncretic Card Selection: Alternatives to the “Straight Deal”
An “Open Field” Tarot Tableau
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This array is a "prepared" layout that randomly selects 25 cards from the population of 78 to set up a more limited range of probable circumstances. It is an outgrowth of my extensive work with the Lenormand Grand Tableau spread. Once the 5x5 arrangement is established, a second step locates the "starting point" … Continue reading An “Open Field” Tarot Tableau
“Grounding the Archetypes” – A Three-Card Daily Draw Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just encountered the idea that whenever we receive a Major Arcana (aka "trump") card in a reading, we should immediately pull another card to describe its practical (as opposed to its universal or spiritual) significance for the querent's future. I'm no fan of using clarifying cards in my work, but I can … Continue reading “Grounding the Archetypes” – A Three-Card Daily Draw Spread
Reading Reversals: “Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: "You're missing half the fun" is one of my favorite rebuttals for those who avoid reading reversals because they find the practice unnecessary, inconvenient or confusing. (My title alludes to the old Doublemint gum commercial.) But, unless we deliberately ignore or suppress them as some do, they are going to dog us whenever … Continue reading Reading Reversals: “Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun”
The Inverted Pentagram in Tarot: “Dying Cockroach Syndrome”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: During the late 20th Century, a common way to express utter futility was by citing the "dying cockroach" analogy and invoking the image of a roach with its legs waving feebly in the air, unable to right iteslf and scuttle away to safety. In tarot terms, the pentagram symbol appears in many of … Continue reading The Inverted Pentagram in Tarot: “Dying Cockroach Syndrome”
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 