Expanding on my analysis of elemental Fire as described in The Book of Thoth, I examined Crowley's observations regarding the other two "primal" elements ("completely spiritual forms of pure energy"), Water and Air, and the special case of Earth, which represents a "crystallizing out" or coalescing of the other three in order to effectively impinge … Continue reading Water, Water Everywhere
Esoteric
The Inner Flame
In re-reading The Book of Thoth for what is now the fourth time, I'm constantly being enriched by fresh insights and epiphanies regarding the esoteric underpinnings of the modern tarot. I've long appreciated Crowley's statement regarding the Hebrew letter Shin (relative to Judgement in the Golden Dawn system of trump-card correspondences) that "The element of Fire … Continue reading The Inner Flame
Puttin’ on the Rex
As an American with strong ancestral ties to Scotland and Ireland, I have more than a passing interest in the outcome of the Brexit controversy. I realize that the term is a conflation for "British Exit" from the European Union (EU), but I latched onto the subsumed fragment "Rex," which was a title once given … Continue reading Puttin’ on the Rex
My Favorite Things
A subject that is usually approached piecemeal in the tarot forums is "What is your favorite card?" More pragmatic readers (and maybe those who don't want to think too hard) almost invariably reply "all of them," since every card makes a unique contribution to any reading it appears in and, depending on the context and … Continue reading My Favorite Things
The Sticking Point
sticking point (noun): "a point, detail, or circumstance causing or likely to cause a stalemate or impasse." For those with enough cartomantic experience to instantly spot what is working in a reading and what isn't, there is often one card (and frequently more than one) that stands out by defying meaningful connection to the matter … Continue reading The Sticking Point
“Adam Cardman”
There is a qabalastic tradition that places an image of the male human body within the structure of the Tree of Life, such that the ten spheres (or sephiroth) of the Tree relate to different parts of the anatomy. This image is known as "Adam Kadmon," or the Primordial Man. The most common version of … Continue reading “Adam Cardman”
A Life-Factors Reading: Who Is Brett Kavanaugh?
I decided to test my Temperament and Character spread on Judge (now Justice) Brett Kavanaugh to see what kind of person it shows him to be. I used the Thoth deck, with reversals, and selected the senior member of the Swords suit (the Thoth Knight) as Significator. My camera is packed away for our move, … Continue reading A Life-Factors Reading: Who Is Brett Kavanaugh?
The Life-Factors Spread: A Human Temperament and Character Mash-up
Some time ago I was reading about the difference between temperament and character as aspects of the human personality. These terms are frequently confused in conversation, but they aren't interchangeable. Temperament is viewed as fundamental "human nature," embodying innate qualities that are present at birth, while character is understood to be the product of environmental … Continue reading The Life-Factors Spread: A Human Temperament and Character Mash-up
Building the Perfect Deck
Although I'm a trained graphic artist with the skills to do so, I don't have the inclination or enthusiasm to tackle the monumental task of creating 78 individual works of art to populate my own tarot deck. But that doesn't prevent me from having opinions as to how I might go about it. It is … Continue reading Building the Perfect Deck
A “Turning-Point” Example Reading
We are on the verge of a major household move to the other side of the State, so I thought I would use that event as a test case for my "Turning Point" spread. I used the Golden Universal deck with reversals, and the RWS Centennial Edition for the one duplicate trump card that came up … Continue reading A “Turning-Point” Example Reading
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 