It sometimes seems to me that trying to learn tarot as a neophyte in the 21st Century is like stepping into quicksand with cement overshoes, especially when talking to those ad-hoc mentors who see intuition as the only reliable arrow in a reader's interpretive quiver. The idea that there is any kind of intellectual bedrock … Continue reading The Literal Tarot
Tarot Opinion
Eden Gray: A New Age Icon
I thought I was going to have to do some prodigious legwork to write this post, but Mary Greer saved me the trouble with her informative blog article on Eden Gray. Read hers first, since summarizing her excellent research for my own purposes would be pointless: https://marykgreer.com/2008/03/27/eden-grays-fools-journey/ There was little in the way of popular … Continue reading Eden Gray: A New Age Icon
The Pangloss Syndrome
Because I try to post something new almost every day, I'm delighted by how often random forum conversations serve up grist for my philosophical mill. Today I was talking to katrinka/fennario (Stella Waldvogel) on one of the cartomancy forums about the book Tarot on Earth by Tom Benjamin, who apparently subscribes to the belief that, … Continue reading The Pangloss Syndrome
The Gold Standard
It's a rare tarot deck that doesn't have a single fan of its charms, even if appreciation is limited to the deck's creator or reserved for a particular purpose (such as esoteric study, self-reflection or divination). Generally, it's the skill of the artist that garners the most interest followed by the accessibility of the symbolism … Continue reading The Gold Standard
Signs, Signs . . .
"Everything is a sign." (Yoav Ben-Dov, The Open Reading) As a life-long student of all things occult (even though I've gained no more than a nodding acquaintance with some of them), I've formed definite opinions about the "inner workings" of divination. In a shamanistic sense, what we're looking for are "signs" that point toward intimations … Continue reading Signs, Signs . . .
Perfect Is As Perfect Does
One fascinating question that often comes up in conversation with tarot novices is "What is the perfect deck for my first one?" Usually they know that the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) deck in one of its numerous incarnations is recommended by most experienced readers as a good place to start, and the broad, deep field … Continue reading Perfect Is As Perfect Does
The Fateful Dodger
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
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)
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 