AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've always been fascinated by the vision of human personality portrayed by natal (aka "birth-chart") astrology, and to a lesser extent by the cards of the tarot. But in recent years I've left behind the highly-nuanced character profiling of "New Age" psychological astrology and evolved (some might say devolved) into the simpler techniques … Continue reading “Watching the Grass Grow” – Elemental Humours and Temperaments in Divination
Divination
The Separation of Church and Fate: Taking Religion Out of Tarot
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry about the clumsy malapropism, it was the best I could come up with as a riff on the "separation of Church and State" in tarot terms. As everyone knows if they have even a smattering of knowledge about tarot history (or just the eyes to see), the traditional cards have a strong … Continue reading The Separation of Church and Fate: Taking Religion Out of Tarot
Mistaking the “Medium” for the “Message”
AUTHOR'S NOTE. In his 1967 study The Medium Is The Message: An Inventory of Effects, Canadian communication theorist Marshall McLuhan proposed that the medium by which knowledge is transmitted can have an impact in shaping our understanding of the world that goes far beyond the information it conveys. A good case in point is the … Continue reading Mistaking the “Medium” for the “Message”
Taking Time Off from Tarot – A Cure for Stale Readings?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: First a confession: I'm probably not the best person to recommend taking time off from the tarot since today's essay completes a 75-day streak of daily posts on this blog, and I previously had an unbroken 450-day run to my credit. Compulsive and occasionally addictive behavior dogs my family, and my personal vice … Continue reading Taking Time Off from Tarot – A Cure for Stale Readings?
“Do As I Say, Not As I Do” – Authoritarian Posturing in Spiritual Practice
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Having recognized (and suffered from) the glaring inadequacies of the second-rate teachers and administrators hired by my small rural high school back in the 1960s, I've never had much patience with authority figures. (With that attitude, just imagine how I fared in the US Army!) In the realm of spirituality, the recent documentary … Continue reading “Do As I Say, Not As I Do” – Authoritarian Posturing in Spiritual Practice
“The Shadow Knows” (aka “How Tarot Works”)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Shadow was a supernatural detective show that ran on AM radio in the United States from 1937 to 1954. In its early years it featured the distinctive voice of Orson Welles intoning at the beginning of each episode: "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" trailing … Continue reading “The Shadow Knows” (aka “How Tarot Works”)
“Your Own Best Friend, You Are”
"I'm a mog! Half man, half dog. I'm my own best friend!"- John Candy as "Barf" in the Mel Brook's comedy Spaceballs AUTHOR'S NOTE: Consider this a bit of skewed wisdom from "pseudo-Yoda the Tarot Guru." I was just reading a news feed that mentioned a growing "national loneliness crisis" as one of the main … Continue reading “Your Own Best Friend, You Are”
Court-Card Conceits: Player, Dreamer, Schemer and Delver
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was just reading Paul Fenton-Smith's character analysis for the court cards in Tarot Master-Class (a thorough portrayal that I find to rival that of Aleister Crowley for useful insights), and encountered his description of the Swords personality as a "skimmer" who is known to casually stroll through any topic without dipping too … Continue reading Court-Card Conceits: Player, Dreamer, Schemer and Delver
Got a Bad Case of “DDD?” – There’s Always a Way Out
"These are the days you wish your bed was already made"- from Manic Monday by The Bangles "I got stones in my passwayAnd my road seem dark as night"- from Stones in My Passway by Robert Johnson AUTHOR'S NOTE: "Discouraging daily draw," that is. Although I admit to seldom doing them unless a major event … Continue reading Got a Bad Case of “DDD?” – There’s Always a Way Out
Tarot Reading: Transformative Experience or Just Plain Fun?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Those who request a tarot reading are often called "seekers" (among other things), but what exactly are they seeking? The obvious reply is "answers" but their goals vary: many querents want to know what they should do in a challenging situation, others care more about what they will get out of it, and … Continue reading Tarot Reading: Transformative Experience or Just Plain Fun?
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 