AUTHOR'S NOTE: I first came across the idea of "numerological counterparts" for the Major Arcana in the companion book to the Druid Craft Tarot by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm. It was derived in the same way as the "quintessence" card, but here is a slightly more involved method. In The Way of Tarot, Alejandro Jodorowsky … Continue reading Jodo’s Numerical Counterparts: “VI in the Ones Place”
The Nines: One Foot Out the Door
AUTHOR'S NOTE: My metaphysical view of the cards of the Minor Arcana has long been steeped in the numerical symbolism of the Hermetic Tree of Life, seasoned with a little Pythagorean number theory. But it can be refreshing to consider other perspectives, and in this example I'm addressing the opinions of Alejandro Jodorowsky in The … Continue reading The Nines: One Foot Out the Door
Nature vs. Nurture in Tarot Education
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I may not be the ideal person to comment on this subject since there were no local teachers or mentors back in 1972 when I began my tarot journey and since then I haven't needed any, so my awareness of what is available in the way of tarot education (outside of self-study via … Continue reading Nature vs. Nurture in Tarot Education
The “PITA” Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: (Hint: It's not hummus.) Acronyms are an economical convenience. As verbal shorthand, they can go straight for the jugular without mincing words. Take one of my current favorites among those in modern usage (or at least those that are suitable for polite company): "PITA," or "Pain in the Ass" (in earlier times often … Continue reading The “PITA” Spread
The “S&N or CS” Multi-Path Life-Reading Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: No, this has nothing to do with Crosby, Stills and Nash splinter groups, it is a complex, branching spread for general life-reading. As is probably obvious by now, I love complex, finely-tuned tarot spreads for the purpose of performing open-ended readings with no specific question or topic. If they offer multiple paths for … Continue reading The “S&N or CS” Multi-Path Life-Reading Spread
The “Ill Wind” Troubleshooting Forecast
AUTHOR'S NOTE - Question: What tarot concept involves zodiacal elements, English proverb, folklore, Shakespeare, Dickens, the Archangel Gabriel, yard maintenance and meteorological metaphor? Answer: This spread, obviously. English idiom: "It's an ill wind that blows nobody good." I've always felt that this proverb can be easily misconstrued as an ironclad guarantee of misfortune (e.g. "no … Continue reading The “Ill Wind” Troubleshooting Forecast
Universal Love: Magnetism, Gravity or Wishful Thinking
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Consider this the "curmudgeon's-eye-view" of the subject since, philosophically speaking, I find most exhortations of unconditional, universal love at the spiritual level to be debatable at best and improbable at worst. But don't take this too seriously (except the anti-religious part); my goal is as much sly humor as criticism. (For the record, … Continue reading Universal Love: Magnetism, Gravity or Wishful Thinking
A Measure of Self-Protection
With the current increase in litigation over the use of licensed Creative Commons material on public sites without proper citation, I thought it wise to state my monetization status for this blog. For those who don't read sidebar pages, I decided to bring this notice front-and-center on the main feed. If you like my writing … Continue reading A Measure of Self-Protection
Trump Indictment: A Yes-or-No Reading in Two Parts
To test my archetypal "Yes-No-Maybe" template, I asked the question "Will Donald Trump be indicted for sedition due to allegedly encouraging insurrection in Washington DC on January 6, 2021?" This was before I learned that an indictment for Espionage Act violations may be even more likely because it is seen as an "open-and-shut" case (if … Continue reading Trump Indictment: A Yes-or-No Reading in Two Parts
An Archetypal “Yes-No-Maybe” Template
There is constant argument on the tarot forums and pages about whether the cards can or should be used to address "yes-or-no" questions. I strongly believe that any inquiry can be put to the tarot as long as we are perceptive and sensitive about how we interpret the verdict. Simply saying "The tarot is ineffective … Continue reading An Archetypal “Yes-No-Maybe” Template
