AUTHOR'S NOTE: The title of this essay was inspired by the Pink Floyd song "On the Turning Away," although my use of the idea isn't identical. It can be said with some confidence that every tarot card has a preferred path for expression of its influence and that route is usually indicated by its upright … Continue reading The Turning Away: Reversal as the “Other Fork”
tarot-reading
“On the Cheap:” A Tarot Trend
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I call myself a "professional tarot reader," and in fact there have been periods in my life when I've lived up to the calling. But I don't have to make a living at it now, which is a good thing given the fact that I won't succumb to the trend for ultra-cheap online … Continue reading “On the Cheap:” A Tarot Trend
Major Arcana As “Step-Change”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In manufacturing jargon, effective process control begins with the engineering of a work-station performance envelope that ensures steady-state functionality by permitting only minor, easily-adjusted shifts in operating parameters for the duration of the activity. (As a former quality-control technician, later an engineer and ultimately a manager, I know a little about the subject.) … Continue reading Major Arcana As “Step-Change”
Grooming the Significator
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The classic Celtic Cross spread requires the use of a court card to represent the person for whom the reading is being done (the querent, seeker or sitter) or any other card that is appropriate to the subject of the inquiry. This is the first card placed on the table, and all of … Continue reading Grooming the Significator
Mars Abides: A Question of Surgery
AUTHOR'S NOTE: An acquaintance of mine has a long-standing medical issue related to several previous surgeries that looks like it may need another surgical intervention. In February I did a French Cross (tirage en croix) spread to ask that question. (Note that I performed this reading two hours before I learned the surgeon's recommendation.) Thoth … Continue reading Mars Abides: A Question of Surgery
The Science of Tarot: Fact or Fantasy?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: For the armchair scientists among my followers, my knowledge of quantum mechanics derives from nothing more academic than my reading of the rather quirky Robert Anton Wilson (who was not much of a believer in occult reasoning). Just so you know before you correct me. One of the theories about "how tarot works" … Continue reading The Science of Tarot: Fact or Fantasy?
Kicked Upstairs: A Numerical Displacement Method and Spread
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The assumption behind this spread is that the top tier of cards is more likely to be "fast-tracked" to closure, the middle tier will play out more gradually and the bottom tier will be substantially delayed. The table at the end of the essay offers a tool to determine which tier a card … Continue reading Kicked Upstairs: A Numerical Displacement Method and Spread
“Just the Right Words”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Last night I was watching a documentary by and about Scottish comedian, actor and musician Billy Connelly (there are apparently several but this two-part series on Prime was filmed in 2018-19), and he made a point that "resonated" with me (not an expression I like much but it seems to be in vogue … Continue reading “Just the Right Words”
Tarot Journaling: Why Bother? (With a Little “Blarrrrgh!” on the Side)
First a bit of personal drama. Pseudo-John Cleese intones gravely: "Tonight on 'Too Much Information,' we explore the frontiers of stomach flu." In the wee hours I woke up with a mild fever that went downhill to the point that I began to feel that glottal "Barfish" (not "Bar-fish," you're thinking of Douglas Adams' "Babel-Fish;" … Continue reading Tarot Journaling: Why Bother? (With a Little “Blarrrrgh!” on the Side)
The Speed of Dark
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was just reading a post of quotes from comedian and TV personality Stephen Wright and came across this humorous philosophical puzzler: "What's the speed of dark?" In the past I've done some work with a Jungian psychologist on use of the tarot to explore both the persona and the shadow side of … Continue reading The Speed of Dark
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 