On the tarot forums and Facebook pages we're fond of throwing words around loosely with the assumption that everyone agrees on their inherent meaning and usage, so critical debate about them is scarce. One of those is "empowerment." We are reluctant to present harsh judgments to our sitters even when the cards deliver them in … Continue reading But What Does It “Mean?”
Opinion
Cheap Shots Redux: Any Excuse Will Do
As I contemplate the flood of new tarot decks on the market (some of which are even offered as "New Tarot," apparently to signify a cultural shift), I'm struck by the impression that many of them are just an excuse to circulate portable artwork of a personal nature with little regard for the metaphysical and … Continue reading Cheap Shots Redux: Any Excuse Will Do
Here We Go Again!
There is no subject more mystical (and in my opinion, more overstated) in the art of "guided" divination (as distinct from purely psychic prescience) than that of intuition. It's often touted as the "gold standard" by which to read the signs in the tarot cards, but I think that advice is misleading, especially for those … Continue reading Here We Go Again!
The Land of 1,000 Chances
Some of you (but I'll bet not many) may remember the old Wilson Pickett song "The Land of 1,000 Dances." I'm stealing his song title, slightly modified, for this post to reflect the observation that "There are no negative cards, only opportunities." So every card in a reading, no matter how dire it seems, always … Continue reading The Land of 1,000 Chances
Don’t Memorize, Internalize!
Tarot neophytes are often mortified when they reach the inevitable conclusion that they have to memorize the complex and often non-intuitive meanings of 78 images before they can effectively read the cards. While I believe that acquiring a solid grounding in traditional lore is vital to full comprehension of the tarot, the very thought of … Continue reading Don’t Memorize, Internalize!
The Best or Worst of Times?
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness . . . " (from A Tale … Continue reading The Best or Worst of Times?
The Myths of Tarot: Sacred Cows and Tin Gods
I haven't had a good rant in a while and this topic has come 'round again with a vengeance. As I cruise the Facebook tarot pages I keep encountering the same old tired myths related to the tarot, usually brought up by neophytes who haven't been told any different. Not all of these folkloric superstitions … Continue reading The Myths of Tarot: Sacred Cows and Tin Gods
Deck Lust and Forbearance: A Tale of Two Extremes
I haven't counted lately, but last I knew I had just over 70 decks distributed unequally among tarot, oracle and Lenormand cards. It would be dishonest of me to say that I use all - or even most - of them. From 2011 through 2018, I went through a serious episode of "Deck Acquisition Syndrome" … Continue reading Deck Lust and Forbearance: A Tale of Two Extremes
“Who Ya Gonna Call?”
In Chapter 18, Part IV of Book Four: Magick in Theory and Practice, Aleister Crowley gives a brief summary of his understanding of how divination "works." "The theory of any process of divination may be stated in a few simple terms. 1. We postulate the existence of intelligences, either within or without the diviner, of … Continue reading “Who Ya Gonna Call?”
Musings on Another Year
I just renewed my WordPress subscription (or, more accurately, I allowed it be renewed) for another year. Thus begins my fourth year of running this blog, and I thought it would be a good time for a quick review. I've covered a lot of ground over the past 36 months, in 1,170 posts. Some of … Continue reading Musings on Another Year
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 