This morning I was thinking abut the old Doublemint gum jingle and how it might be applied to the elemental dignities between the Minor Arcana in two-card sets. "Double your pleasure, double your fun!" But I switched it up a bit to create four "opportunities:" "Double your pleasure, double your pain;Double your money, double your … Continue reading Pleasure and Fun, On The Double
Tarot Techniques
“And the Winner Is . . .” – 2022 “Run for the Roses”
UPDATE: It turned out that the only thing accurate about this reading was that Epicenter would make a strong showing. The problem was that I limited the population of likely winners to horses with short odds, and the actual winner, Rich Strike, was a long shot at 80-1 and one of the least likely contenders. … Continue reading “And the Winner Is . . .” – 2022 “Run for the Roses”
The “Solunar” Situational Development and Outcome Spread
When I was a young fisherman and knew nothing about astronomical cycles, I used to ponder the "solunar tables" that purported to forecast the best fishing times. I never did completely fathom them, but most used the daily position of the Moon (Moonrise, Moonset, Moon Overhead, Moon Underfoot); some added Sunrise and Sunset; a few … Continue reading The “Solunar” Situational Development and Outcome Spread
The Can-Opener and the Nutcracker
For a long time now I've considered the number Five in the numerical sequence to be a figurative can-opener or nutcracker that releases the stale atmosphere of the Four, the idea being that it represents reactionary change in response to a stalled state of affairs. But today I was thinking that this "can-opener" function is … Continue reading The Can-Opener and the Nutcracker
“Spin of the Day” Card-Drawing Method
I had a minor brainstorm this morning. I have a board-game spinner that I bought to use with what I call my "multi-media" spreads. I discovered that it is an almost perfect fit for the Golden Dawn's Chaldean correspondence wheel that I employ in my work with the Thoth deck. Spinning the pointer will indicate … Continue reading “Spin of the Day” Card-Drawing Method
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – A Needs-Analysis Spread
The premise behind this spread is that what we want may not be what we need, but what we need may not be something we deserve (the "karmic" perspective), while what we get may be something entirely different. The title is based on the bombastic Rolling Stones song. Tarot de Marseille author Paul Marteau believed … Continue reading “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – A Needs-Analysis Spread
“The Kettle’s On Boil!”
I've written in the past with curmudgeonly intent about the practice of adding "clarifers" (extra cards) to a positional spread when the meaning of the original cards is unclear, as if that is going to brighten the waters instead of muddy them further. In my opinion, an artist with too many colors on the palette … Continue reading “The Kettle’s On Boil!”
Tarot and the Nature of Desire
The tarot reader is often tasked with divining "what someone wants" in a situation. In natal astrology the answer is much simpler: Venus and Mars rule the realm of basic human appetites and their interaction goes to the heart of the matter. Boston astrologer Isabel Hickey once said "Mars goes out and gets what Venus … Continue reading Tarot and the Nature of Desire
The Fun Factor
Let's be honest. As solemn as we can be about our sacred mission of helping people with our divining skills, reading the tarot cards for others can be just plain fun! Ideally, my sitters will get enjoyment as well as useful insights out of the experience, so I hope the pleasure is mutual (unless they're … Continue reading The Fun Factor
Missing Person Case Closure: “Dewey” Poulin
Back in 2018 when I had just begun working on missing-person cases, I tackled the disappearance of Dwain "Dewey" Poulin from Tamworth, NH. Today while browsing a local news feed I found an article from February of this year noting that his remains (which were discovered in Ossipee, NH in 2020) had finally been identified. … Continue reading Missing Person Case Closure: “Dewey” Poulin
