Having given up on single-card daily draws years ago as relatively meaningless for most "real-world" purposes, I'm constantly tinkering with more advanced ways to increase the mileage I get from daily, weekly and monthly self-readings. Here is my latest effort. It uses the Golden Dawn's Chaldean wheels of astrological correspondences (developed by and offered free … Continue reading The “Chaldean Mirror” Daily Meditation Spread
Tarot Techniques
The Pangloss Syndrome
Because I try to post something new almost every day, I'm delighted by how often random forum conversations serve up grist for my philosophical mill. Today I was talking to katrinka/fennario (Stella Waldvogel) on one of the cartomancy forums about the book Tarot on Earth by Tom Benjamin, who apparently subscribes to the belief that, … Continue reading The Pangloss Syndrome
A “Tarot and Trauma” Vignette
Early last week while working on a construction project at home, I fell off a 4-foot step-stool while dismounting with tools in my hand when it tipped on the carpet. I landed on my feet and was immediately thrown off-balance (hold that thought, it's significant here), briskly back-pedaling my way into the corner of a … Continue reading A “Tarot and Trauma” Vignette
A Romantic Interlude Sample Reading
I was asked to write up a sample reading for this spread to show how it is to be approached, and chose this real-life scenario. I used the Golden Universal Tarot for the querent's line and the RWS Centennial Edition for the love interest's "moving lines." The querent is a young professional man and the … Continue reading A Romantic Interlude Sample Reading
Position, Position, Position
The real estate agent's mantra is "Location, location, location." It refers to the fact that the location of a house is frequently more important to a prospective home buyer than the features or condition of the building itself. There is an analogous situation in the landscape of a tarot spread: the position of a particular … Continue reading Position, Position, Position
An Indelicate Proposal? (The Client and the Cards)
One of those curious questions that occasionally pop up on the tarot forums (with what I sense is a faintly scandalized tone), and a real head-scratcher for old-timers at this stuff, is "Do you let other people touch your cards?" The assumption is that a troubled sitter's "negative energy" will bleed all over the cards, … Continue reading An Indelicate Proposal? (The Client and the Cards)
Where Is Isaiah? – A Missing Person Spread
Update: It appears the missing boy in this case found his way safely to Florida. There are no details about how that happened, or how long he may have stayed in New York City. http://www.wmur.com/article/missing-sunapee-teen-found-safe-in-florida/19459142 First a note on the method. The main problem I'm finding with this approach is that I'm using missing-person notices … Continue reading Where Is Isaiah? – A Missing Person Spread
The “What of a Much of a Which” Event Analysis Spread
Although he had more dire implications in mind, ee cummings might have been talking about the fortune-teller's art in his poem what of a much of a which of a wind (for example, "blow soon to never and never to twice"). http://plexipages.com/reflections/whatif.html One of the greatest challenges facing those who try to discern past, present … Continue reading The “What of a Much of a Which” Event Analysis Spread
“Oh, No, Not Again!” (A Simple Yes-or-No Reading)
I have a simple yes-or-no spread (titled, oddly enough, "A Simple Yes-or-No Spread") that I decided to use to find out whether New England will be hit by another major "Nor'easter" snowstorm next week. I used the Anna K Tarot, my most reliable weather-forecasting deck. For the Significator, I chose the 3 of Swords, which … Continue reading “Oh, No, Not Again!” (A Simple Yes-or-No Reading)
A Clash of Wills: Trump vs. Mueller
I used my “Enemy at the Gate” vulnerability spread to examine the ongoing confrontation between President Donald Trump and Special Counsel Robert Mueller over alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. I chose the Tarot of the Golden Serpent for the Significator and the “quint” cards, and the Star Tarot for the main reading. … Continue reading A Clash of Wills: Trump vs. Mueller