AUTHOR'S NOTE: In The Discarded Image (a seemingly bottomless source of inspiration for this blog), C.S. Lewis describes the insertion of astrological principles into Medieval literature and architecture as, in the best cases, being "woven into the plot," while in the less salutary examples the addition amounts to an "overload of philosophy." These observations offer … Continue reading “Absence of Strain” – Managing Esoteric Correspondences
Esoteric Tarot
Approaching the Hub: An Elemental Alignment Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: While reading about the Medieval concept of "Fortuna" (later identified with the tarot Wheel of Fortune), I was impressed by the thinking of Boethius (as presented by C.S. Lewis), who put the following into the mouth of his philosophical muse, Philosophia. (Note that, although "Divine Providence" is not in my personal vocabulary as … Continue reading Approaching the Hub: An Elemental Alignment Spread
Qabalah, Cabala, Wherefore the Kabbalah?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Western occultists of the late 20th Century (or at least those with no prior background in Jewish mysticism) who spent time with the Hermetic Qabalah invariably encountered its progenitor, the Hebraic Kabbalah. This typically occurred (and probably still does) through exposure to the Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Formation) and the numerology of Gematria, … Continue reading Qabalah, Cabala, Wherefore the Kabbalah?
The “Power Grab” Spread: A Personal Power Profile
AUTHOR'S NOTE: As inquisitive beings we are always looking for insights that will aid us in understanding our inherent strengths and weaknesses. Although I don't use the "Tree of Life" spread often, here is a version that employs tarot cards to create a "power profile" showing the relative potency of eleven different aspects of our … Continue reading The “Power Grab” Spread: A Personal Power Profile
Rhythmic Attunement: Harmony and Discord in Tarot Reading
"Proper rhythm forms and flows with the situation . . . "- Ethan Indigo Smith, from The Tao of Thoth AUTHOR'S NOTE: Those tarot readers who work with esoteric correspondences know that the elemental alignment of Fire, Water, Air and Earth cards in a spread has a lot to say about the natural rhythm of … Continue reading Rhythmic Attunement: Harmony and Discord in Tarot Reading
The Heart of the Matter: Quality Over Quantity and Simplicity in Action
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Early in my re-reading of Ethan Indigo Smith's The Tao of Thoth, I once again encountered his analysis of the virtue of simplicity over complexity. He observes that "Simplicity is often a quality, whereas complexity yields mostly quantities." His premise is that "qualifying ourselves and (our) surroundings" through focused "inner work" is far … Continue reading The Heart of the Matter: Quality Over Quantity and Simplicity in Action
Revisiting the Astrology of the Major Arcana
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Recently, someone in the r/tarot sub-reddit community voiced the opinion (for which they had been previously chastised and downvoted) that some of the astrological correspondences proposed by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn for the Major Arcana of the tarot just don't seem to hold water. Although I don't personally agree with … Continue reading Revisiting the Astrology of the Major Arcana
Complementary Opposites: “Neutral and Supportive” Elemental Dignities
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
Ascending and Descending Energies as Ruling and Yielding Principles in the Tarot
AUTHOR'S NOTE: As I pursue my study of the I Ching, I'm encountering numerous new ideas that demand scholarly attention while also creating a wealth of intriguing notions that I intend to fold into my ongoing exploration of the syncretism between the tarot and the Book of Changes. Here is the latest example. In general, … Continue reading Ascending and Descending Energies as Ruling and Yielding Principles in the Tarot
Aspiring to Perfection: Mining a Metaphor
AUTHOR'S NOTE: As part of my exploration of esoteric syncretism, here I'm paraphrasing a quote from Benebell Wen's I Ching, The Oracle: A Practical Guide to the Book of Changes to make it more relevant to tarot reading. The quote relates to invoking the "Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens" as a metaphor to aid … Continue reading Aspiring to Perfection: Mining a Metaphor
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 