I've never been content with the conventional wisdom that any card placed in the far left position of a line spread usually refers to past aspects of the matter. Right now I'm reading the English translation of Paul Marteau's 1949 Tarot de Marseille book, in which he suggests that left-facing figures in individual cards denote … Continue reading The Turning Away
Tarot Theory
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I would not be surprised if this has been done before (and perhaps better), but this is my own spin on it. In a previous essay I floated the idea that a reversed court card might exhibit the qualities of the preceding zodiacal sign more prominently than those of its primary astrological referent … Continue reading Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
The Unevolved Fire Signs: A Study in Vanity
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I struggled to find a polite way to say "arrogance" without actually saying it, but that would be an extreme example of my point. Also, there is an idea here regarding the reversed court cards and their Golden Dawn assignment to the Chaldean zodiac that warrants further exploration in another essay. In astrology … Continue reading The Unevolved Fire Signs: A Study in Vanity
Tarot Symbolism in Divination: Fabulism or Impressionism?
I'll clarify my terms before starting. "Fabulism" denotes the placement of fantastical elements into an everyday setting; "impressionism" refers to allusions based on subjective reactions, often loosely-stated. As an example, this distinction aptly displays the difference between the Waite-Smith 7 of Cups, which could best be described as moodily phantasmagorical, and the same card in … Continue reading Tarot Symbolism in Divination: Fabulism or Impressionism?
The”Holistic Well-Being” Example Reading: A Personal Wellness Blueprint
I originally created an example reading based on an existing medical crisis (not mine) but caught myself trying to massage the meaning of the cards to fit the circumstances, so I scrapped it and started over. This time I strove to come up with a personal "wellness blueprint" capturing my present and future state of … Continue reading The”Holistic Well-Being” Example Reading: A Personal Wellness Blueprint
Contemplate the Edges
Here is an ancient adage that we all know well: "There are two sides to every coin." But in my ongoing reading of The Tao of Thoth I was intrigued by the notion that it might be more fruitful to contemplate the edge of the coin that simultaneously divides and unites the obverse and reverse … Continue reading Contemplate the Edges
A “Yin-and-Yang” Monthly Pattern
My efforts to apply the Yin and Yang principles of Chinese philosophy to the monthly cycle of the Moon via the Major Arcana of the tarot proved to be more difficult than anticipated. I suspect this is due mostly to the fact that the Moon is a quintessential symbol of the feminine Yin, and the … Continue reading A “Yin-and-Yang” Monthly Pattern
A “Yin-and-Yang” Seasonal Pattern
As I continue to explore the Taijii ("Yin/Yang") symbol in combination with the Major Arcana of the tarot, I downloaded an image and inserted the semi-annual solstices and equinoxes to create a four-season cyclical pattern showing the interplay between the dark of Yin and the light of Yang over the course of a year. I … Continue reading A “Yin-and-Yang” Seasonal Pattern
“Tao Jones and the Wages of Yin”
Copyright U.S. Games Systems, Stamford, CT Forgive my weakness for loopy "pop-culture" titles, but this one comes from a serious place. As I previously mentioned, I'm reading a fine book titled The Tao of Thoth and went online to look for an image of the Taijii ("Yin-Yang") symbol. I came up with one that showed … Continue reading “Tao Jones and the Wages of Yin”
“No Wrong Way” (But Maybe Better Ones)
I'm weary of hearing well-intentioned metaphysical mavens trumpet "There is no wrong way to read the tarot," which is usually appended with "Just do whatever you feel." I recently came across a quote from Aleister Crowley that I think is appropriate here: "There are only two operations possible in the Universe, Analysis and Synthesis. To … Continue reading “No Wrong Way” (But Maybe Better Ones)
