Back when I was employed and had to rise before dawn to get ready for work without waking my wife, I used to judge the promise of the coming day by whether or not I slid my slippers on the right feet on the first try in total darkness. If I got it wrong, I … Continue reading “Coin-Flip” Divination
Tarot Spreads
Counting with the OoTK: The Ultimate Solution?
As I discussed in a previous post, the Book of Thoth is silent about how to count and pair the cards when the Significator is at or near one end of the line, such that the full count can't be reached and pairs may not be achievable. In Israel Regardie's Complete Golden Dawn System of … Continue reading Counting with the OoTK: The Ultimate Solution?
The “Fickle Finger of Fate” Needs-Fulfillment Spread
Sometimes all we really want to know is "How will my day go?" but the single-card pull and even the 3-card "past/present/future" line seem just a little short on substance (which for me is most of the time). Here's a slightly more involved way to get a deeper look at the situation that brings in … Continue reading The “Fickle Finger of Fate” Needs-Fulfillment Spread
The “Soulmate Connection” Spread
Here's something to have a little fun with. Although I think the term "soulmate" is shunned now in favor of "twin flame" (the New Age keeps right on a-rollin', doesn't it?), most people, single or otherwise, still wonder whether that fascinating individual they just met might be "The One." This is a way to check … Continue reading The “Soulmate Connection” Spread
An Opening of the Key First Operation Template
Those who are interested in the Golden Dawn and Thoth methods of divination have the complex and lengthy Opening of the Key (OotK) series of "operations" to entertain them. This includes a relatively straightforward initial operation that provides an overview of the querent's situation at the time of the reading. It is followed by three … Continue reading An Opening of the Key First Operation Template
“A Little Magic” Prepared-Deck Spread
As a long-time user of the Golden Dawn's "Opening of the Key" method of reading (or at least the First Operation), I'm always looking for novel ways to apply the "four elemental sub-packs" model to other spreads. I've also been intrigued by the notion that the deck can be separated into four equal sub-packs with … Continue reading “A Little Magic” Prepared-Deck Spread
The “Hold ‘Em or Fold ‘Em” Gambler’s Option Spread
Here's a fun spread that makes use of Joseph Maxwell's numerological approach to odd-numbered and even-numbered cards; the former actively seek change leading to equilibrium , while the latter strive to maintain the present balance. In decision-making space, the two extremes spell the difference between an aggressive approach to the solution and a more passive … Continue reading The “Hold ‘Em or Fold ‘Em” Gambler’s Option Spread
A “Personal Encounter” Test Reading
I'm always looking for opportunities to test and validate my self-created spreads, and today I had an opportunity to do so with my "Inconvenient Truths" Personal Encounter Spread. We have friends who are going through an acrimonious divorce, and were looking for some hint of how things might go. I used Robert Place's Tarot of the … Continue reading A “Personal Encounter” Test Reading
Zeroing In
There are times when the 78 cards in a tarot deck seem like a case of "information overload," even when pulling only a small number for a particular spread. Although I realize it's part of the broader question about how tarot works, I sometimes think "What am I missing here that's hidden in the rest … Continue reading Zeroing In
The “Water Under the Bridge” Relationship Dynamics Spread
This spread is modeled on a spread created by Odete Lopez Mazza, as shown in the book Baralho Petite Lenormard-Metodo Alemao, and my own Troll Under the Bridge spread. I was struck by how much Mazza's layout resembles a suspension bridge with towers and an arched span, complete with water running underneath. I renamed and … Continue reading The “Water Under the Bridge” Relationship Dynamics Spread
