"Cold-reading" is an interesting subject; it seems to mean something entirely different now than in the past. In my own experience, it used to describe reading with zero prior knowledge or information, simply drawing insight from the cards or other tools of divination with no preliminary "warm-up" clues from the sitter. But it now implies … Continue reading Cold Reading Then and Now
Tarot Opinion
“Is this love, or is it just confusion?”
Jimi Hendrix could have been channeling a dysfunctional 2 of Cups when he wrote the lyrics to "Love or Confusion:" Oh my head is pounding pounding Going 'round and 'round and 'round and 'round Must there always be these colors? Without names without sound? My heart burns with feelin' but Oh but my mind is … Continue reading “Is this love, or is it just confusion?”
Hangin’ Out
It has always seemed to me that the Hanged Man gets a bad rap. After all, patience is a virtue and in my experience the “sacrifice” almost universally applied to interpretation of this card often means relinquishing time or initiative rather than irretrievable loss of anything more concrete. Inaction can even be the most prudent … Continue reading Hangin’ Out
The Art and Science of Divination: An Opinion
Aleister Crowley stated it succinctly and perversely in the front-piece to “A Description of the Cards of the Tarot” from The Equinox, Volume 1, Number 8: “All divination resembles an attempt by a man born blind to obtain sight by getting blind drunk.” In his 1907 motto for the Astrum Argenteum, while also taking an … Continue reading The Art and Science of Divination: An Opinion
“Let Me Face It”
I once had a friend whose English pronunciation was a bit on the ragged side. He added an "s" to many singular nouns (those of you from a certain part of the world will relate) and instead of the common idiom "Let's face it," he always said "Let me face it." Looks like a ready-made … Continue reading “Let Me Face It”
What’s Your Style?
This question is more about personality than professional demeanor. What is the best "face" to present to clients when reading in-person? Sunny and breezy? Casual and friendly? Confident and focused? Sympathetic and upbeat? Clever and glib? Solemn and serious? Wise and scholarly? Perhaps a pinch of each? Personally, I'm about as far from the description … Continue reading What’s Your Style?
“Cheap Shots” #10: Who Are the Pros?
Since I first connected with other tarot enthusiasts on-line back in 2011, I've met numerous talented readers who have honed their craft to the point that they have successfully entered the ranks of professional diviners. In fact, these contacts encouraged me to return to public reading after many years away. On the other hand, I … Continue reading “Cheap Shots” #10: Who Are the Pros?
Changing Gears: Recovering from a Weak Start
(These observations apply to face-to-face reading; on-line reading is frequently performed in a vacuum with no opportunity to "check-and-adjust" the narrative through interactive feedback from the seeker.) Those of us who read for others sometimes sense that we're about to "fail open" like an electrical circuit breaker when the responses we're receiving from our sitter … Continue reading Changing Gears: Recovering from a Weak Start
“Cheap Shots” #9: Where’s the Beef?
Many of us remember the old Wendy's TV commercials in which actress Clara Peller grumpily complained "Where's the beef?" when handed a competitor's burger. There is a parallel phenomenon in tarot divination that takes two different paths but eventually arrives at the same place. On-line reading exchanges offer a perfect vantage point for observing this … Continue reading “Cheap Shots” #9: Where’s the Beef?
Astrology is Your Friend
Those who prefer an entirely intuitive, visual approach to reading tarot cards are in the habit of pushing back vehemently against the use of any kind of knowledge-based occult symbolism or esoteric correspondences in their practice. In some cases a certain dismissive elitism is behind this resistance, in others it's simply a matter of being … Continue reading Astrology is Your Friend
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 