UPDATE: This spread has been modified to give a better idea of the subject's condition, both at the time of the reading and the time of discovery. In working with and discussing my current missing-person spread (the "Train to Nowhere"), I came to the conclusion that, while it offers considerable finely-tuned detail regarding the possible … Continue reading Hit the Road, Jack: The “World of Hurt” Missing-Person Spread
Tarot Spreads
The “Be All You Can Be” Archetype Alignment Spread
There was an old recruitment slogan used by the U.S. Army for over 20 years that went "Be All You Can Be." I poached this phrase to reflect aspiration to the universal human ideals captured in the first four numbered trump cards of the tarot as Fire (Emperor/Mars), Water (High Priestess/Moon), Air (Magician/Mercury) and Earth … Continue reading The “Be All You Can Be” Archetype Alignment Spread
The Fool’s Debut Revisited
If you've been following this blog for a while, you will have noticed that I've been making increasingly broader use of the "quintessence" card, a numerical roll-up of the cards in a spread that, when numerologically reduced as necessary to yield a number below 22, produces a trump card offering high-level insights on the situation … Continue reading The Fool’s Debut Revisited
A “Collision Course” Spread
Astrology uses the concept of "open enemies" (7th House) and "hidden enemies" (12th House) to describe the interaction of an individual with others who may not have his or her best interests at heart. I have never seen this approach used in a coordinated way in a tarot spread, but there is always a first … Continue reading A “Collision Course” Spread
The “Melting Pot” Decision-Making Spread
New ideas for this blog are starting to stack up; I created this spread a couple of days ago but have been trying to limit myself to one new post a day. I really should write a book (as many people have been encouraging me to do), but the "bite-size" scope of these blog posts … Continue reading The “Melting Pot” Decision-Making Spread
The “Marchetti Mash-up” 3-Deck Interview
This is an example reading for the "Three-Deck Triathlon" spread I posted yesterday. It is my first use of the spread, so I will be learning as I go along. I don't use reversals in deck interview readings. Note that, although I don't think tarot decks have "personalities," speaking of them as if they do … Continue reading The “Marchetti Mash-up” 3-Deck Interview
The “Three-Deck Triathlon” Spread
As I accumulate more decks in a similar style (for example, Thoth and RWS clones, Tarot de Marseille variants, pagan-themed decks, and so forth), I encounter the need to decide which deck of the type is the most effective for everyday use, and which is the most worthy to become a mainstay in my practice. … Continue reading The “Three-Deck Triathlon” Spread
“Parsifal’s Microscope” In-Depth Analysis Spread
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
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
