AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm sure you're asking yourself what on Earth the three subjects of the title could possibly have in common, even though my admitted fondness for making odd connections is no secret. Bear with me while I spin the yarn. Back in the heyday of Saturday Night Live, John Belushi occasionally did his "Samurai" … Continue reading Belushi, Etteilla and Holy Water
Tarot Resources
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”
A Quick “Semi-Commercial” Soft-Sell
If you're new to this blog, this is just a quick reminder that it isn't monetized on the basis of "clicks." At least not by me. WordPress rides on my coat-tails and puts up ads, even though I have no say in them, never see them myself, and can't get rid of them unless I … Continue reading A Quick “Semi-Commercial” Soft-Sell
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
Half-Measures
Here's another tidbit from Paul Marteau's Tarot de Marseille book. In describing the "inverted" or reversed image of the Knight of Cups, he says "The power of the card is only reduced in half, being too active for the effects to be extinguished; there are delays or impediments." One popular assumption about reversed cards in … Continue reading Half-Measures
The Teaching Way
Back in the mid-70s my brother and I had an esoteric teaching gig in Connecticut. He was an accomplished astrologer and I was an up-and-coming tarot reader with the Thoth deck. We had several lively study groups going on simultaneously and were busy with them a large part of every week. Unfortunately, it didn't last … Continue reading The Teaching Way
A Tarot de Marseille “Energy Translation” Tableau
Here I align the seminal "root power" of the Ace and the linear binary projection of the Two with the "agency" of the court cards and the situational "ways and means" symbolized by the remaining pips to produce a developmental tableau that enlivens Tarot de Marseille delineation. Rather than following the esoteric assumption that only … Continue reading A Tarot de Marseille “Energy Translation” Tableau
The “Condensing and Concentrating” Cups
In his 1949 Tarot de Marseille book, Paul Marteau made frequent use of the term "condensing" when discussing the action of the suit of Cups on the emotional "vapors" (my word, not his) of the human psyche. The Cups are obviously vessels for holding liquid, and my fanciful take on Marteau's idea is that they … Continue reading The “Condensing and Concentrating” Cups
Pips, Courts and Trumps: A Short, Simple Guide to the Tarot de Marseille
UPDATE: Success! I was finally able to publish my book on Lulu, the only platform I could find that will accept OpenOffice "ODT" documents without a lot of reformatting effort. I should mention that this is not a work for the absolute beginner since it's aimed it at the "experienced TdM generalist and serious student" … Continue reading Pips, Courts and Trumps: A Short, Simple Guide to the Tarot de Marseille
Tarot Trumps and Planetary Hours of Greatest Potential Impact
I just came across the notion of "day" readings and "night" readings that can supposedly exhibit different qualities. This reminded me that traditional astrology includes the concept of "planetary hours" that can be used for selecting the most favorable time to undertake any activity governed by one of the seven classical planets. From there it … Continue reading Tarot Trumps and Planetary Hours of Greatest Potential Impact
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 