AUTHOR NOTE: I was answering a question on one of the occult forums regarding what kind of magic I've found most effective, and I came up with the following response. Although I haven't performed any ritual magic since the mid-1980s, I realized that I now pursue what might be called "purposeful divination" as a form … Continue reading Purposeful Divination
Tarot Techniques
Banishing the Clerics: A Numerological Twist on the Calculated “Essence” Card
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Welcome to geek world! Here is an oddball notion that may appeal to the numerologically-inclined tarotist. It aligns with my earlier exploration of the "numerical essence" concept but with a couple of twists. For context, see my previous posts on that subject and the "quintessence" calculation. When discussing the particulars of telepathic research … Continue reading Banishing the Clerics: A Numerological Twist on the Calculated “Essence” Card
Distant Intention: An Alternative Approach to Remote Divination
AUTHOR'S NOTE: My long-time followers know that I'm skeptical of remote tarot reading because the querent has no direct contact with the cards for the purpose of subconscious induction, my fundamental understanding of "how tarot works." But with a little tweaking of the parameters, that attitude may be shifting. Recently, while reading about experiments in … Continue reading Distant Intention: An Alternative Approach to Remote Divination
“Uncontrolled Variables” in Remote Tarot Reading
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In the category of "A Little Knowledge Is A Dangerous Thing" for the mystical tarot reader, parapsychologist Dean Radin (in Supernormal, his 2013 study of yoga) had a few critical things to say about the lack of scientific confidence in online testimony. Dr. Radin made a tossed-off remark about the fact that the … Continue reading “Uncontrolled Variables” in Remote Tarot Reading
Tarot Reading Beyond the Lookup
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In a recent post titled "Most Tarot Readings Stop Too Soon," tarot author Paul Hughes-Barlow observed that, at its most basic, a tarot reading approximates a "lookup table:" Pull a card, look up the meaning, make the interpretation. He concluded by saying that "It works, but only in the same sense that a … Continue reading Tarot Reading Beyond the Lookup
Intuition: The Literal Diviner’s Trusty Sidekick
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In a recent r/tarot sub-reddit thread there was unexpected consensus among experienced diviners that intuition works in concert with knowledge and experience but is not superior to them. It has been my opinion for a long time that all three are vital to successful divination, and I'm used to seeing it dismissed by … Continue reading Intuition: The Literal Diviner’s Trusty Sidekick
The Practical Mystic: Intelligence and Imagination in Tarot Reading
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Some time ago I added a sub-category titled "Practical Mysticism" to the "Categories" drop-down menu on the sidebar. This feature was inspired by my reading of Lon Milo DuQuette's Tarot Architect and it was solidified by the observations of Dr. Dean Radin in Real Magic. I've written extensively in the past on the … Continue reading The Practical Mystic: Intelligence and Imagination in Tarot Reading
Maintaining a State of Immersion in Tarot Reading
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a companion piece to my post of June 19, 2026 that examines remote reading as distinct from its local (i.e. in-person) alternative. In his book Real Magic, Dean Radin discusses the subject of immersion or absorption in the conduct of "psi" (or psionic) activities, specifically the performance of magical operations like … Continue reading Maintaining a State of Immersion in Tarot Reading
Hooray for Reversals! – A Rational Perspective At Last
AUTHOR'S NOTE: An otherwise mean-spirited rant in an r/tarot sub-reddit thread posed the perfectly legitimate question "Since when did reading reversals become controversial????" One of the more thoughtful contributors to the conversation had the following to say, and it aligns quite well with my own long-standing defense of the practice. "In my opinion, the issue … Continue reading Hooray for Reversals! – A Rational Perspective At Last
The Benefits of Structured Tarot Reading (or Pattern-Recognition on Steroids)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In my considered opinion, one area where modern tarot reading has "gone off the rails" is in the rise of the so-called "freestyle" layout in which there is no established rhyme or reason to the arrangement of the cards. Its proponents claim that this "deconstructed" approach sparks their creativity but it seems to … Continue reading The Benefits of Structured Tarot Reading (or Pattern-Recognition on Steroids)
