There is a 1970s hard-rock song by Deep Purple called Child in Time, replete with Ian Gillan's visceral moans and screams (remember "Primal Scream Therapy?"), with a verse that has me thinking about "outcome" cards. "Sweet child in time You'll see the line The line that's drawn between Good and bad See the blind man … Continue reading Wait For The Ricochet
Culture
The Pangloss Syndrome
Because I try to post something new almost every day, I'm delighted by how often random forum conversations serve up grist for my philosophical mill. Today I was talking to katrinka/fennario (Stella Waldvogel) on one of the cartomancy forums about the book Tarot on Earth by Tom Benjamin, who apparently subscribes to the belief that, … Continue reading The Pangloss Syndrome
The Ideal Study Group
Esoteric study groups of the face-to-face kind are mercurial beasts. Interest tends to wax and wane, and attendance is anything but consistent as members occasionally choose to deal with more mundane matters on meeting day. When I lived in the Hartford, CT area in the '70s, there were numerous opportunities to meet regularly with kindred … Continue reading The Ideal Study Group
Cheap Shots (The Final Cut): “Is It Live or Is It Memorex?”
This will be the last installment of my "Cheap Shots" series. My "inner curmudgeon" isn't going anywhere, of course, but I've moved on into more productive (as well as kinder) areas of expression. I've said enough already about my views on current populist tarot culture, and need to chill before the "New Age police" discover … Continue reading Cheap Shots (The Final Cut): “Is It Live or Is It Memorex?”
The “Take No Prisoners” Transition Spread
Any major transition, whether corporate, political or sociological, can produce significant upheaval in the "receiving" organization. This is especially unnerving for those on the lower rungs of the pecking order, whose best interests aren't always served by the leadership in these situations. This spread is designed for subordinate members of any group to explore important … Continue reading The “Take No Prisoners” Transition Spread
The Multi-Billion-Dollar Question
Full Disclosure: Before I get into this, know that I'm a cryptocurrency skeptic, even if Microsoft did infuse it with credibility. I just can't see how something with no intrinsic value, created out of thin air and fueled only by hope and greed, can have a secure place in "real world" economics. Some critics call … Continue reading The Multi-Billion-Dollar Question
The “Wrapper” and the “Filling”
As a continuation of my last post, I want to talk about reading style. Interpreting a tarot spread can be a little like eating an enchilada. You have the "wrapper" (the visual presentation captured in the images) and the "filling" (the core meaning of the cards). It can be all too easy to become seduced … Continue reading The “Wrapper” and the “Filling”
Recycled Material
Since I have nothing new to say today (not yet, anyway, although the day is still young), I thought I would reflect on the course of this blog since its start-up last July. Although I make a dedicated effort to avoid it without good reason, with over 400 posts now you may notice that I … Continue reading Recycled Material
The Long Result of Time
Bear with me here, soon enough you'll see my quirky connection between Tennyson's poetry and the professional practice of tarot divination. Back in 1965, British science fiction author John Brunner wrote a novel dubbed The Long Result. He lifted the title from a couplet in Tennyson's long lyrical poem, Locksley Hall, which - even though … Continue reading The Long Result of Time
Win, Lose or Punt?
To punt (Informal): To cease doing something; give up. ("Let's punt on this and try something else.") Predicting the scores for opposing teams in sporting events is a fascinating minor sidelight to our more ponderous cartomantic excursions, and - at least in my experience - one that seldom yields accurate results. I've come to believe … Continue reading Win, Lose or Punt?
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 