The Waite-Smith (aka "RWS") tarot deck, which modern revisionist thinking has insisted on renaming the Smith-Waite Tarot (nearly as much of a misnomer as calling the Thoth deck the "Harris-Crowley Tarot"), does indeed cast a long shadow (or pall, depending upon your opinion) over the world of exoteric tarot, and specifically over the art of … Continue reading A Long Shadow
Learning
Cutting Remarks
***NOTE*** This post won't be of much interest to you if you prefer to pull your cards from a "fan," or don't bother to cut the deck. There is an old practice, still popular among tarot mystics, that after shuffling a deck of tarot cards, the pack should be "cut into three piles with your … Continue reading Cutting Remarks
“The Nature of the Evidence”
I stole a sub-title from the "Theory of the Tarot" section of Aleister Crowley's Book of Thoth for this post because I'm going to revisit the subject of "how tarot works" based on recent forum discussions (which frankly didn't change my mind on anything, just tweaked it). Premise #1: The tarot cards communicate knowledge of … Continue reading “The Nature of the Evidence”
Mystical Motivations: A Weekly Meditation
This idea has been a long time coming to fruition, but I think I've hit upon a meaningful way to use the handful of oracle decks I currently own. I've commented elsewhere that oracle cards seem more "atmospheric" than pragmatic for the purpose of divination; in sports broadcasting terminology, they are more about the "color … Continue reading Mystical Motivations: A Weekly Meditation
The “Light-and-Shadow” Decision-Making Spread
The "Holy Grail" of decision-making advice is the simple, straightforward "yes-or-no" answer: "Should I or shouldn't I? Will she or won't she? Is it or isn't it?" There are numerous short spreads that strive for this goal; this isn't one of them. It recognizes that every sunny street has a shady side, and a ray … Continue reading The “Light-and-Shadow” Decision-Making Spread
The “Flashing Colors” Tarot/Oracle Lemniscate Spread
I haven't created many spreads for use with oracle decks (to be honest, except for Lenormand, exactly none). But I know people love their oracle cards, so here is a spread that is intended to blend your favorite tarot and oracle decks into a single comprehensive overview of any situation. It displayed "flashing colors" on … Continue reading The “Flashing Colors” Tarot/Oracle Lemniscate Spread
2019 Summer Solstice GT: A Tarot Perspective
The Storks card in my annual Summer Solstice GT (see previous post) implied positive changes in the romantic picture (perhaps involving the "Other Woman," although I'm not currently seeking one.) But, since the thrust of the reading pointed in a direction that I won't be actively pursuing, I decided to do a tarot reading to … Continue reading 2019 Summer Solstice GT: A Tarot Perspective
The “Hot-and-Cold Running Commentary” Problem-Solving Spread
Here is an intricate 12-card spread that uses elemental temperaments to determine which course of action will produce the best solution to a problem. The moderate traits of "warm" and "cool" are applied to suggest an integrated approach rather than the absolute qualities of Fire, Water, Air and Earth (which are considered background forces here … Continue reading The “Hot-and-Cold Running Commentary” Problem-Solving Spread
An Elemental Dignity “Short Form” Example Reading
As I've mentioned before (I know, more than once!), we moved into a newly-constructed home last December and are now working (well, struggling) to get a lawn going. But the tide seems to be turning (I refuse to succumb to that old Bobby Fuller lament, "I fought the lawn and the lawn won"), and now … Continue reading An Elemental Dignity “Short Form” Example Reading
An Elemental Dignity “Short-Form” Decision-Making Spread
Not every choice in life is gut-wrenching, although it may still be vexing when it comes to making a snap decision: "Should I go with X to the pub or with Y to the show?" In such cases a simple spread with a touch of subtlety is all that is needed when a straightforward yes-or-no … Continue reading An Elemental Dignity “Short-Form” Decision-Making Spread
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 