As is no doubt self-evident from my previous posts here, I love complex spreads with lots of working parts to coordinate. This spread is a substitute for the Celtic Cross and covers much the same ground, but is entirely situational in content with no overt psychological assumptions other than the inferred attributes of the Significator … Continue reading “Parsifal’s Microscope” In-Depth Analysis Spread
Tarot Spreads
A Summer Solstice Processional Spread
New Year's Day is basically a meaningless date for me. My annual cycle begins on the Summer Solstice, which happens to be my birthday. This month marks the end of my 70th trip around the Sun, so I decided to create a new solstice spread to mark the occasion. I figured seven cards (one for … Continue reading A Summer Solstice Processional Spread
The “Twist of Fate” Course-Correction Spread
Any enterprise or project can reach a point where it becomes vulnerable to external meddling, especially when someone on the outside sees an opportunity to gain some kind of advantage, whether that individual is a corporate raider, a wealthy investor, a wheeling-and-dealing venture capitalist, a conniving co-worker or a pushy mother-in-law. This is the stuff … Continue reading The “Twist of Fate” Course-Correction Spread
The “Flying Leap” Illness and Injury Risk Assessment Spread
Back in the '50s when people were marginally more genteel, there was an expression of disdainful dismissal that went "Go take a flying leap" (typically off a tall building), the objective being that the miscreant would not return. Where in the '70s we might have said "Go s**t in your hat" and today we get … Continue reading The “Flying Leap” Illness and Injury Risk Assessment Spread
“The Oyster and the Sword” Eye-Opener Spread
There is a line from Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor where the braggart Pistol obliquely threatens Falstaff when the latter refuses to lend him money: "Why then the world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open" I figured this quote is a good inspiration for a spread aimed at exploring unknown territory that … Continue reading “The Oyster and the Sword” Eye-Opener Spread
The “Friend in Need” Value-Added Spread
In working with a sitter who was very concerned about the plight of her best friend and was wondering what she could do to help. I realized that I don't have a spread to address this specific situation. So I created one. What I came up with includes an initial action/reaction scenario, a "willing and … Continue reading The “Friend in Need” Value-Added Spread
An “Astrological Lemniscate” Problem-Solving Spread
I've become rather bored with the traditional 12-position astrological spread; it often turns into a case of too much information, to the point that you "can't see the forest for the trees." But I do believe a good deal of interpretive mileage can be gained from blending the active and passive natures of the twelve … Continue reading An “Astrological Lemniscate” Problem-Solving Spread
The Tarot Gods Speak!
I've been having an interesting discussion with another tarot writer about the distinctions between the "esoteric" and "exoteric" branches of tarot practice. The former is commonly held to be the domain of serious study in occult symbolism and correspondences, while the latter is better suited to practical divination. Although I used the esoteric Thoth deck … Continue reading The Tarot Gods Speak!
Tarzan and Jane’s Sexual Adventure Spread
That title grabbed your attention, didn't it! A couple of years ago, someone on the Aeclectic Tarot forum asked point-blank in a reading exchange "Does X want to have sex with me?" After I got done laughing at the audacity, I realized that all of the hopeful, high-minded "friendship" spreads and the widespread curiosity over … Continue reading Tarzan and Jane’s Sexual Adventure Spread
Soul Train or Love Boat: A Life-Purpose Spread
Upon first entering wider society, young people (although they aren't as young at that point as they once were) are often at a loss as to what their life's purpose should be. This usually involves deciding which of two or three possible paths seems the most compelling at the time. I will normally use a … Continue reading Soul Train or Love Boat: A Life-Purpose Spread
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 