AUTHOR'S NOTE: According to the Golden Dawn's esoteric worldview, the classical elements of Empedocles (Fire, Water, Air and Earth) as used in the tarot are distinguished by four unique degrees of compatibility that dictate how potent a card will be in performing its role when bracketed by certain other cards in a spread. This is … Continue reading Complementary Opposites: “Neutral and Supportive” Elemental Dignities
Psychological Parallels in Tarot: The Mechanics of Redirection
AUTHOR'S NOTE: First a disclosure. After studying and working with the tarot cards for over five decades, I'm convinced that they aren't ideal for psychological profiling and character analysis (or, put less academically, what someone else "thinks or feels"), in which capacity they are too much like "mind-reading-with-props." That's why I use natal astrology for … Continue reading Psychological Parallels in Tarot: The Mechanics of Redirection
A Suit-of-Swords “Elemental Storyboard” Test Reading
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here is an "elemental storyboard" test reading that uses the suit of Swords to represent the "base element" of Air. It involves a hypothetical client who intends to leverage his intellectual property by compiling a group of previously-published essays into a formal book. (It's not me, I've already "been there, done that" . … Continue reading A Suit-of-Swords “Elemental Storyboard” Test Reading
A “Storyboard” Approach to Elemental Progression in Tarot Reading
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Some time ago I created a set of "storyboards" for the Minor Arcana of the Waite-Smith tarot, from which I scripted a narrative "roller-coaster ride" that began with the Ace and ended with the Ten of each suit. Here I'm blending that idea with the concept of Elemental Dignities as they occur across … Continue reading A “Storyboard” Approach to Elemental Progression in Tarot Reading
Eyes Wide Open: A Meditation on “Confirmation Bias”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Self-styled "tarot debunkers" are convinced that those who book readings from professional diviners are only looking for substantiation that some outcome they covet will actually occur. In the naysayers' opinion, these obsessed seekers don't really care about the truth unless it agrees with their preconceptions, which they hope will result in a self-fulfilling … Continue reading Eyes Wide Open: A Meditation on “Confirmation Bias”
Refreshing the Perspective for Repeated Readings: An Opinion
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Pardon the unintended alliteration; it must be my "inner Poe" coming out. I occasionally encounter questions regarding "how soon is too soon" to repeat a reading on a subject that received a disappointing answer the first time around. My usual response is "Not until the previous outcome has had a reasonable chance to … Continue reading Refreshing the Perspective for Repeated Readings: An Opinion
A “Warring Factions” Political-Profile Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This spread needs little explanation. It is intended to examine the key qualities of aspirants to public office. (I'm leaving age and infirmity off the table.) It is best to use a different deck for each contender so all cards are available to both (or all) of them. In the US political system … Continue reading A “Warring Factions” Political-Profile Spread
The “Need to Know” Barometer of Consequence Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In the practice of horary astrology, one of the ironclad tenets is that the querent must have a legitimate need to know the information being sought. Idle-curiosity questions are frowned upon and generally ignored as inconsequential. Those who seek a tarot reading are usually much less fussy about it and often cast their … Continue reading The “Need to Know” Barometer of Consequence Spread
A “Meaning of Life” Example Reading
AUTHOR'S NOTE: To demonstrate the "Meaning of Life" spread I posted yesterday, here is a fictional reading based on real-life circumstances. A 47-year-old New Hampshire man was living in his mother's basement. She bought him a Playstation 5 for his birthday, but he jacked up the volume so high while playing that it annoyed her. … Continue reading A “Meaning of Life” Example Reading
Purpose, Potential and Performance: A “Meaning of Life” Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: At the risk of impersonating a "self-help guru," I've created a spread for those who feel that life is bereft of meaning, and who want to stop drifting and "jump-start" their private reality. Craving a path to a better place through divination, they want to tap into subliminal glimpses of what the immediate … Continue reading Purpose, Potential and Performance: A “Meaning of Life” Spread
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 