UPDATE: I discovered that I made a "fortuitous error" in the quintessence calculation for this reading. The trump card thus derived should have been Justice and not the Hanged Man. But this deck is emphatically non-cerebral, so I'm going to leave the essay as it stands. (Maybe the Magician was peeking out cautiously from behind … Continue reading Tarot of Mystical Moments: An Atypical Deck Interview
Tarot Opinion
The “Opportunity Spotter”
There is a certain queasiness in tarot circles about use of the term "fortune-teller" to describe what we do, as if we're contemplating the commission of a scurrilous or unclean act. The rational-sounding "psychological" approach to the tarot is usually trotted out to dispel any taint of moral impropriety that the mere mention of prognostication … Continue reading The “Opportunity Spotter”
The Tyranny of the Familiar
I presently own just over 70 tarot, Lenormand and and oracle decks and, although I've made great strides in my battle with "Deck Acquisition Syndrome," I despair of ever completely conquering it. But I just had an epiphany regarding the nature of my addiction. I've come to realize that, at least in the realm of … Continue reading The Tyranny of the Familiar
Celtic Cross – “The Right Tool For The Job”
As is probably obvious from the examples I've posted, I'm a big fan of the well-thought-out positional tarot spread. I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum from the "I never use formal spreads!" crowd and slightly to the conservative side of those who say they make unique spreads on-the-fly to suit the question or … Continue reading Celtic Cross – “The Right Tool For The Job”
“Fundamental” vs. “Derived” Divination
AUTHOR'S NOTE: These are just random thoughts prompted by my reaction to what I see as imprecise terminology. Take them for what they're worth. Recently I came across the notion (touted somewhat brashly as "divination for a new millennium") that there are two main types of divinatory insight: an innate approach (often viewed by its … Continue reading “Fundamental” vs. “Derived” Divination
“Intuition Pandering” (or “The Soft Underbelly”)
Alternate Subtitle: "I Don't Know What It Is, But I'll Know It When I See It" Intuitive truth, that is. For the last few years in these essays I've nibbled around the edges of what it means to read the tarot cards "intuitively," but only in the last few days has my grasp of the … Continue reading “Intuition Pandering” (or “The Soft Underbelly”)
The Long Shadow of Jung
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In retrospect, I probably should have titled this essay "Saving Tarot from Psychology" as mentioned in the last paragraph, but I decided to let the original title stand as more representative of the overall thrust. More to the point, I already have an earlier essay with that title. I'm greatly amused (I used … Continue reading The Long Shadow of Jung
Tarot Taboos
This subject comes along with some regularity on the tarot forums and social-media pages, especially among new readers: "What topics can't (or shouldn't) we attempt to read with the cards?" My personal opinion is that almost any matter is fair game as long as the question is worded with finesse (although I do draw the … Continue reading Tarot Taboos
The “Wrong Answer” Dilemma
Lately I've been frequenting the "r/tarot" sub-reddit forum since it is one of the more active public tarot platforms. What caught my eye is the regular appearance of posts that express dismay over the incorrect results of self-reading: "Why did the cards tell me this when exactly the opposite happened?" Most of these observations come … Continue reading The “Wrong Answer” Dilemma
The “Good” Beginner’s Tarot Deck
Novice tarot readers frequently ask online which deck would be good as a first-time buy. I've written several detailed essays on this subject in the past, but thought a "punchlist" format might be useful in answering this question. So here is my abbreviated overview of what, at least for me, makes a "good" tarot deck. … Continue reading The “Good” Beginner’s Tarot Deck
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 