Someone on Facebook used the analogy that three randomly drawn cards placed in a line resemble the "windows" of an old-time slot machine that roll up when you pull the lever. This inspired me to create a spread that operates in a similar manner using dice.
Deck Lust and Forbearance: A Tale of Two Extremes
I haven't counted lately, but last I knew I had just over 70 decks distributed unequally among tarot, oracle and Lenormand cards. It would be dishonest of me to say that I use all - or even most - of them. From 2011 through 2018, I went through a serious episode of "Deck Acquisition Syndrome" … Continue reading Deck Lust and Forbearance: A Tale of Two Extremes
A 3-Card “Twist” Example Reading & Walk-through
I tried out this spread by asking "What is the advice for tomorrow?" The first picture below shows how the draw progressed within the overall pattern. I didn't deal all of the face-down cards, just the three face-up ones, but I thought it would be useful to put in placeholders showing the flow of the … Continue reading A 3-Card “Twist” Example Reading & Walk-through
The 3-Card “Twist” Advice Spread
I'm intrigued by surprise endings in tarot readings, which I usually achieve through face-down "hidden" cards. But here is a spread that uses the successive "facing" of the randomly-drawn cards to offer the possibility of a "twist" or emphatic bend in the flow of the narrative. This spread requires the use of reversals to populate … Continue reading The 3-Card “Twist” Advice Spread
“Who Ya Gonna Call?”
In Chapter 18, Part IV of Book Four: Magick in Theory and Practice, Aleister Crowley gives a brief summary of his understanding of how divination "works." "The theory of any process of divination may be stated in a few simple terms. 1. We postulate the existence of intelligences, either within or without the diviner, of … Continue reading “Who Ya Gonna Call?”
Musings on Another Year
I just renewed my WordPress subscription (or, more accurately, I allowed it be renewed) for another year. Thus begins my fourth year of running this blog, and I thought it would be a good time for a quick review. I've covered a lot of ground over the past 36 months, in 1,170 posts. Some of … Continue reading Musings on Another Year
The “Morpheus Effect” Dream Message Spread
I sometimes encounter interest in a dream-analysis spread but never created one specifically for that purpose. However, the effect of dreams on waking life might be considered similar to the impact of past-life experiences on present-life circumstances, and I do have a couple of those. I tweaked one to make it work for dream scenarios. … Continue reading The “Morpheus Effect” Dream Message Spread
The Thrill of the Chase
There is an old aphorism that any activity worth pursuing is "more about experiencing the journey than about reaching the destination." In other words, the things you learn along the way are often more valuable than what you find at the end of the road. This truth is abundantly obvious in the art of tarot … Continue reading The Thrill of the Chase
A Duty of Honesty
The question sometimes comes up regarding whether a diviner has a professional duty to be brutally honest in making predictions for paying clients, or whether a little leeway should be allowed in the interest of human kindness. I believe there are a couple of different scenarios where this consideration arises. Obviously, in cases involving sensitive … Continue reading A Duty of Honesty
Half-Steps and Stepping Stones
I believe it was Paul Fenton-Smith, in his book Tarot Masterclass, who first introduced me to the idea that reversed cards represent unfinished business from the previous card in the sequence. Thus, if you get the 5 of Pentacles reversed, you still have accounts to settle with the 4 of Pentacles before the Five will … Continue reading Half-Steps and Stepping Stones
