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”
Tarot Spreads
A “Solar Ingress” Monthly Astro-Tarot Reading Template
Here is another original take on the monthly forecast that uses an astrological "front-end." Previously, I've created a monthly projection framed on the 28-day "lunation cycle" beginning with the New Moon. This time I've calculated the horoscope for the ingress of the Sun into Libra on October 23, 2022 at my location. (The latitude and … Continue reading A “Solar Ingress” Monthly Astro-Tarot Reading Template
“All The World’s A Stage:” A Three-Tiered Short-Term Development Spread
This spread illustrates my long-held opinion that the Major Arcana rarely show significant "big-deal"events in a short-term reading; they may create an environment conducive to such events but they seldom "pull the trigger" all by themselves. Instead, they provide an archetypal "stage-setting," "thematic backdrop" or "environmental prompt" for the situational drama delivered by the Minor … Continue reading “All The World’s A Stage:” A Three-Tiered Short-Term Development Spread
The “What-If?” Alternate Reality Lessons-Learned Spread
Yesterday I came across a question on the r/tarot sub-reddit asking whether we can put "what-if" questions to the tarot. For example, "What would have happened if I had made a different decision than the one that landed me where I am now?" An ideal specific subject might be "Where would I be in life … Continue reading The “What-If?” Alternate Reality Lessons-Learned Spread
The “Jodo’s Judgement” Situational Breakout Spread
The “syncretic” approach to esoteric study and practice has fascinated me ever since I first encountered Aleister Crowley's exhaustive and rather intimidating catalog of mystically-linked assumptions in The Book of Thoth, and in his even more relentless source material, Sir James George Frazer’s Golden Bough. I often combine ideas from more than one metaphysical discipline … Continue reading The “Jodo’s Judgement” Situational Breakout Spread
The “Gatekeeper and Keymaster” Best-Case Scenario Spread
The title of this spread comes from the two demonic characters ("Zuul" and "Vinz Clortho") played by Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis in the first Ghostbusters movie. The premise was rife with thinly-veiled sexual innuendo about the "gate" and the "key," but it seemed like a good basis for a tarot spread. The spread uses … Continue reading The “Gatekeeper and Keymaster” Best-Case Scenario Spread
The “Test of Strength” Developmental Insight Spread
As is probably obvious from my track record, I love to create spreads around cultural metaphors or analogies. This one is based on the "test of strength" games (aka "Strongman" or "High-Striker") that are popular at carnivals, in which the player uses a hammer to drive a metal striker up a vertical column with the … Continue reading The “Test of Strength” Developmental Insight Spread
Supporters and Detractors: A “Human Factors” Developmental Spread
The rationale behind this spread is fairly self-explanatory. None of us "live, and move and have our being" in a total vacuum. Even if other people have no direct or apparent involvement in the circumstances of the reading, we may still have cautionary feelings about them from a "what if" perspective that can color our … Continue reading Supporters and Detractors: A “Human Factors” Developmental Spread
The “Pursuit of Happiness” Spread
"You hold me up and you let me flyGivin' me a sweet kind spirit to swing by"from "Jazzman" by Pure Prairie League No particular reason for this quote other than that it captures the joyous "spirit of tarot" I'm trying to invoke here. As diviners we spend a lot of time looking for potential challenges … Continue reading The “Pursuit of Happiness” Spread
“Where, Oh Where, Is My . . .”
. . . little dog, gold necklace, missing brother, true love?" There has been a recent uptick in questions on the social-media pages about the use of the tarot to locate anything that has gone missing or has yet to be found. The first thing to point out in this regard is that, while tarot … Continue reading “Where, Oh Where, Is My . . .”
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 