I've long believed that for every reader there is one tarot deck that fits like a glove: skin-tight and perfectly responsive to every nuance of interpretation. While we might protest that we can read effectively with any deck, there is almost certainly one that stands out from the pack. We can all recognize those that don't quite measure up; … Continue reading One Deck to Rule Them All
Tarot
Who Killed Eric? – A “Whodunit” Reading
On September 19, 2009, the body of 33-year-old Eric Fitting of Fall River, MA was found in the woods off Route 124 in Sharon. NH. His death was ruled a homicide but no charges have ever been filed. https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-unsolved-case-file-eric-fitting/22617614 Two critical pieces of information are missing from media reports that make it difficult to assess … Continue reading Who Killed Eric? – A “Whodunit” Reading
“Head ‘Em Off At The Pass” – A Decision-Making Spread
Here is a complex. multi-input spread that is intended to be used at the "brainstorming" stage of any important initiative, either personal or professional. It takes its inspiration from the "fishbone" (or "Ishikawa") diagram used in root-cause analysis but instead focuses on developmental insights rather than forensic ones; my working title for the spread was "The Dancing Flounder," but then I … Continue reading “Head ‘Em Off At The Pass” – A Decision-Making Spread
Where Is Mollie? – A Missing-Person Reading (Final Update)
UPDATE: The body of Mollie Tibbetts was found in a cornfield in rural Poweshiek County, Iowa. She was discovered "on a farm" as suggested in the reading, but was probably not detained or murdered by a resident. In an interview this afternoon, authorities said the suspect, an illegal immigrant, had lived in the area for from four to seven years. The … Continue reading Where Is Mollie? – A Missing-Person Reading (Final Update)
Spread Technician: The Artist-Philosopher-Engineer at Play
Having passed the "century" mark in self-designed tarot spread creation and presently working on my second hundred, I've been thinking (when am I not?) of what it takes to develop a truly informative and compelling layout that avoids being tiresomely trite. The most common formula in use today is to take five card positions, which seems to be the … Continue reading Spread Technician: The Artist-Philosopher-Engineer at Play
A “Hidden Agenda” Example Reading
This is a test reading for the developmental insight spread I just posted this morning. The scenario addresses our ongoing initiative to sell our current residence; if you've been following this blog you will have seen previous posts on the subject. I used the Tabula Mundi Colores Arcus deck, with reversals. All images © 2015 M.M. Meleen The "index" card … Continue reading A “Hidden Agenda” Example Reading
The “Hidden Agenda” Developmental Insight Spread
My reserves of philosophical commentary are starting to run low, so it's time to float another new spread. This one presents a novel way to populate a three-card line. Twelve cards are dealt (and a "quintessence" card is derived), but only three cards and the pertinent quint are read. It uses the concept of an … Continue reading The “Hidden Agenda” Developmental Insight Spread
Hard and Soft, Red and Black
During my intermittent involvement with the Tarot de Marseille (I'm still waiting for that "one book to rule them all"), I've come across the opinion that Batons and Swords are the "hard" suits, while Cups and Coins are "soft." There is some logic to this: both wooden batons (also called staves) and edged metal blades … Continue reading Hard and Soft, Red and Black
The “Bowling for Dollars” RWS Storyboard
This is the fourth and last of my "storyboard" studies of the RWS minor cards. The title comes from the old TV show "Bowling for Dollars" and plays off the bizarre impression created by the central image on the Ace of Pentacles. It is tempting to think of the suit of Pentacles (Coins or Disks in other decks) … Continue reading The “Bowling for Dollars” RWS Storyboard
Cardboard, Ink and Magic
The forum conversations used to go something like this: Question: Do tarot cards have "personalities?" Answer: Nope, they're just tools made of cardboard and ink. The human qualities they seem to exhibit are those we project onto them. The formal word for it is "anthropomorphizing" but, put more simply, it's a type of animism with roots in … Continue reading Cardboard, Ink and Magic
Parsifal's Wheel Tarot & Astrology 