This post is a continuation of my earlier thoughts on the subject of fate. I was just reading the Art of Cartomancy blog run by cartomancer extraordinaire Kapherus, in which the nature of fate or destiny was debated. Comments were closed and I wasn't able to add to the discussion, so I'm bringing my observations … Continue reading The Fateful Dodger
Tarot Opinion
Position, Position, Position
The real estate agent's mantra is "Location, location, location." It refers to the fact that the location of a house is frequently more important to a prospective home buyer than the features or condition of the building itself. There is an analogous situation in the landscape of a tarot spread: the position of a particular … Continue reading Position, Position, Position
An Open-and Shut Case
By the time Arthur Edward Waite formulated the iconic RWS tarot deck with Pamela Colman Smith, he had forsworn the magical pursuits of the Golden Dawn era and moved on into Christian mysticism. So apparently, when envisioning the Strength card, he decided to ignore the entire Tarot de Marseille tradition behind it and show the … Continue reading An Open-and Shut Case
An Indelicate Proposal? (The Client and the Cards)
One of those curious questions that occasionally pop up on the tarot forums (with what I sense is a faintly scandalized tone), and a real head-scratcher for old-timers at this stuff, is "Do you let other people touch your cards?" The assumption is that a troubled sitter's "negative energy" will bleed all over the cards, … Continue reading An Indelicate Proposal? (The Client and the Cards)
A Good Question
There is a wide range of opinion and much debate on whether any conceivable request can be brought to the tarot. Some say you can't answer simple "yes-or-no" questions in a straightforward way with it because its answers are too conditional and nuanced. Other believe you should steer well clear of anything that could create … Continue reading A Good Question
The Ideal Study Group
Esoteric study groups of the face-to-face kind are mercurial beasts. Interest tends to wax and wane, and attendance is anything but consistent as members occasionally choose to deal with more mundane matters on meeting day. When I lived in the Hartford, CT area in the '70s, there were numerous opportunities to meet regularly with kindred … Continue reading The Ideal Study Group
Cheap Shots (The Final Cut): “Is It Live or Is It Memorex?”
This will be the last installment of my "Cheap Shots" series. My "inner curmudgeon" isn't going anywhere, of course, but I've moved on into more productive (as well as kinder) areas of expression. I've said enough already about my views on current populist tarot culture, and need to chill before the "New Age police" discover … Continue reading Cheap Shots (The Final Cut): “Is It Live or Is It Memorex?”
The “Wrapper” and the “Filling”
As a continuation of my last post, I want to talk about reading style. Interpreting a tarot spread can be a little like eating an enchilada. You have the "wrapper" (the visual presentation captured in the images) and the "filling" (the core meaning of the cards). It can be all too easy to become seduced … Continue reading The “Wrapper” and the “Filling”
Crossing the Line
There is mixed opinion in the tarot community about whether it's necessary for a reader (at least in a face-to-face setting) to know exactly what a sitter wants before attempting a reading. Some ask the sitter to tell them the specific question, others want to know as little as possible in advance. My early tarot … Continue reading Crossing the Line
Recycled Material
Since I have nothing new to say today (not yet, anyway, although the day is still young), I thought I would reflect on the course of this blog since its start-up last July. Although I make a dedicated effort to avoid it without good reason, with over 400 posts now you may notice that I … Continue reading Recycled Material
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 