AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here is another take on the phenomenon of reversed cards in a tarot reading, this time inspired by the interpretation of a reversed court card from Paul Fenton-Smith's Tarot Master-Class. The male subject was described as being disconnected from expressing the characteristics of the upright orientation, and the impression was of being barred … Continue reading Reversal as Disconnection: “How Far Should I Stick My Neck Out?”
Professional Tarot
Reductionism as the Tarot Reader’s Duty
"Your goal as a reader is to clarify the client's situation, so reducing the possible meanings for each card on the table is a part of this process."- Paul Fenton-Smith in Tarot Master-Class AUTHOR'S NOTE: My belief has always been that the tarot cards are infinitely flexible and adaptable to any situation, given that each … Continue reading Reductionism as the Tarot Reader’s Duty
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?
The Diviner’s Role: Oracle or Coach?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Back in the day when professional tarot reading was almost exclusively a face-to-face affair (unless - like Etteilla, the "father of modern cartomancy" - one occasionally resorted to "snail-mail" communication with clients), the reader served as a personal advisor who delivered first-hand consultation regarding a seeker's presumed future and what might be done … Continue reading The Diviner’s Role: Oracle or Coach?
The 5 of Wands: Strife, Striving or “Sham” Battle?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here I'm departing briefly from my usual two-pronged comparison of a Thoth card to the Golden Dawn's original meaning by interjecting a few observations about the Waite-Smith version. Although Aleister Crowley conformed to the Order's description of "Lord of Strife" in his own title of "Strife" for the 5 of Wands, somewhere in … Continue reading The 5 of Wands: Strife, Striving or “Sham” Battle?
Love, Sex . . . and Tarot
AUTHOR'S NOTE: There is a well-established marketing ploy that assumes "Sex sells, and everyone's buying!" In the tarot-reader's world, the sales model is more like "Love sells, and sex is along for the ride!" Most diviners have extensive experience with the "love" question, usually phrased as "When will I find it?" Some querents are actively … Continue reading Love, Sex . . . and Tarot
“Beware the Devil Woman”
"Crystal ball on the tableShowing the future, the pastSame cat with them evil eyesAnd I knew it was a spell she cast She's just a devil womanWith evil on her mindBeware the devil womanShe's gonna get you from behind"- from Devil Woman by Cliff Richard AUTHOR'S NOTE: I confess to a bit of "trolling" with … Continue reading “Beware the Devil Woman”
The Haunting: Residual Implications of Reversal
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here is a companion piece to my previous essay on reversed cards as indicators of introspection or introversion that explores another notion I picked up from Paul Fenton-Smith, who observed that the reversed 3 of Swords can imply being "haunted by past disappointments." Unlike the influence of an upright card, which will often … Continue reading The Haunting: Residual Implications of Reversal
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 