AUTHOR'S NOTE: This essay was first published in the September 2022 issue of the online AstroLogic magazine. It was written in early August, at which time the Alaskan special-election outcome was undecided. As we now know, Palin was unsuccessful in her bid. Sarah Palin's Political Reboot: A Horary Perspective The mainstream media has recently been … Continue reading A Horary Success – Sarah Palin’s Failed Political Initiative
Celtic Cross – “The Right Tool For The Job”
As is probably obvious from the examples I've posted, I'm a big fan of the well-thought-out positional tarot spread. I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum from the "I never use formal spreads!" crowd and slightly to the conservative side of those who say they make unique spreads on-the-fly to suit the question or … Continue reading Celtic Cross – “The Right Tool For The Job”
“Fundamental” vs. “Derived” Divination
AUTHOR'S NOTE: These are just random thoughts prompted by my reaction to what I see as imprecise terminology. Take them for what they're worth. Recently I came across the notion (touted somewhat brashly as "divination for a new millennium") that there are two main types of divinatory insight: an innate approach (often viewed by its … Continue reading “Fundamental” vs. “Derived” Divination
A “Solar Ingress” Monthly Astro-Tarot Reading Template
Here is another original take on the monthly forecast that uses an astrological "front-end." Previously, I've created a monthly projection framed on the 28-day "lunation cycle" beginning with the New Moon. This time I've calculated the horoscope for the ingress of the Sun into Libra on October 23, 2022 at my location. (The latitude and … Continue reading A “Solar Ingress” Monthly Astro-Tarot Reading Template
“All The World’s A Stage:” A Three-Tiered Short-Term Development Spread
This spread illustrates my long-held opinion that the Major Arcana rarely show significant "big-deal"events in a short-term reading; they may create an environment conducive to such events but they seldom "pull the trigger" all by themselves. Instead, they provide an archetypal "stage-setting," "thematic backdrop" or "environmental prompt" for the situational drama delivered by the Minor … Continue reading “All The World’s A Stage:” A Three-Tiered Short-Term Development Spread
“Intuition Pandering” (or “The Soft Underbelly”)
Alternate Subtitle: "I Don't Know What It Is, But I'll Know It When I See It" Intuitive truth, that is. For the last few years in these essays I've nibbled around the edges of what it means to read the tarot cards "intuitively," but only in the last few days has my grasp of the … Continue reading “Intuition Pandering” (or “The Soft Underbelly”)
“So Many Words . . .”
Those four syllables were spoken (well, written) by tarot author and entrepreneur Marcus Katz during a recent online conversation about the symbolism that has been attached to the tarot cards since the advent of esoteric contemplation with Etteilla in the 18th Century. It came across as a slightly rueful acknowledgement of the monumental effort involved … Continue reading “So Many Words . . .”
The “What-If?” Alternate Reality Lessons-Learned Spread
Yesterday I came across a question on the r/tarot sub-reddit asking whether we can put "what-if" questions to the tarot. For example, "What would have happened if I had made a different decision than the one that landed me where I am now?" An ideal specific subject might be "Where would I be in life … Continue reading The “What-If?” Alternate Reality Lessons-Learned Spread
The Long Shadow of Jung
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In retrospect, I probably should have titled this essay "Saving Tarot from Psychology" as mentioned in the last paragraph, but I decided to let the original title stand as more representative of the overall thrust. More to the point, I already have an earlier essay with that title. I'm greatly amused (I used … Continue reading The Long Shadow of Jung
The “Jodo’s Judgement” Situational Breakout Spread
The “syncretic” approach to esoteric study and practice has fascinated me ever since I first encountered Aleister Crowley's exhaustive and rather intimidating catalog of mystically-linked assumptions in The Book of Thoth, and in his even more relentless source material, Sir James George Frazer’s Golden Bough. I often combine ideas from more than one metaphysical discipline … Continue reading The “Jodo’s Judgement” Situational Breakout Spread
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 