A discussion I've been following on the "r/tarot" reddit board brought up the point that the tarot can be overused (or improperly used) in the search for personal awareness and advancement. It is a fascinating thread for what it reveals about the extremes some people will go to in overthinking their daily lives rather than … Continue reading “You’ll Fall Right In . . .” (b/w “The Beef Stew Annual Forecast Spread”)
Tarot Spreads
The “A La Carte” Business Development Spread
Here is a twist on the business startup spread. The premise behind this layout is that the reader has some leeway (and responsibility) in hand-picking (from a randomly-drawn sub-set) the best cards to support an entrepreneur's objectives in mounting a new business venture, as represented by an intentionally-selected "Business Venture" trump card. The idea is … Continue reading The “A La Carte” Business Development Spread
“Passing the Monkey” – A Problem-Solving Spread
We have all been in situations that make us squirm uncomfortably, wishing with all our heart that we could "get off the hot seat" or "out from under the microscope." I was just reading some commentary about an old Harvard Business Review book titled Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey? by William Oncken and Donald … Continue reading “Passing the Monkey” – A Problem-Solving Spread
The “Three-Part Cacophony” Reading Method: One Part Melody, Two Parts Counterpoint
Here's one from "way out in left field;" I chose "Cacophony" because "harmony" is never a foregone conclusion in a tarot reading. This layout has some similarities to the Celtic Cross (CC) in the way it is read, but the structure differs, the number of "developmental" cards is flexible and there are fewer fixed position … Continue reading The “Three-Part Cacophony” Reading Method: One Part Melody, Two Parts Counterpoint
The “Stones in My Passway” Situational Spread
Here is another "tricksy" (pardon me, I'm channeling my "inner Gollum") situational spread that employs a redirected flow, this time according to elemental assignments and their "active" or "passive" nature. All of the explanatory text and instructions are included in the spread graphic. This spread is not all that different from reading a straight multi-card … Continue reading The “Stones in My Passway” Situational Spread
A Best-Case/Worst-Case “Offset” Spread
Here's an unusual spread that requires a "prepared" deck with favorable and unfavorable sub-packs; the cards' nominal "good" and "bad" qualities are based on my personal system, which applies Aleister Crowley's essays and keyword meanings from the Book of Thoth. The model also employs some occult number theory (see Joseph Maxwell's The Tarot), in that … Continue reading A Best-Case/Worst-Case “Offset” Spread
The “12 Modes of Consciousness” Spread
Although I'm no fan of using tarot for psychological profiling (which is better served by natal astrology), preferring instead a more action-and-event-oriented approach, here is a spread that adopts a creative spin on the four cognitive functions of Carl Jung. Reversals may be used to show a further elaboration of the inner landscape.
“My Way, Your Way or the Highway” Conflict-Resolution Spread
We've all heard of the expression "It's my way or the highway!" as the take-it-or-leave-it crowing of someone who holds the upper hand in a disagreement and is rubbing the other person's nose in it. I decided to use that concept in a conflict-resolution spread in which dice and cards are consulted to indicate whether … Continue reading “My Way, Your Way or the Highway” Conflict-Resolution Spread
The “Life’s One-Act Play” Situational Awareness Spread
A long time ago there was a song by British blues band Savoy Brown titled "Life's One-Act Play." It struck my as a perfect idea for a small spread that shows the outcome of a single "act" or "scene" in the life of the seeker. It is a three-carder at heart, with an additional summary … Continue reading The “Life’s One-Act Play” Situational Awareness Spread
The “5:30” Mixed-Media Situational Development Spread
One weakness of the traditional method of drawing from the top of the deck is that it leaves a large majority of the cards out of the running for selection. Although I trust the shuffle to bring the "right" cards to the top, I'm always looking for ways to enhance the credibility of the process. … Continue reading The “5:30” Mixed-Media Situational Development Spread
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 