One of those curious questions that occasionally pop up on the tarot forums (with what I sense is a faintly scandalized tone), and a real head-scratcher for old-timers at this stuff, is "Do you let other people touch your cards?" The assumption is that a troubled sitter's "negative energy" will bleed all over the cards, … Continue reading An Indelicate Proposal? (The Client and the Cards)
Tarot
The Fours, Fives and Sixes
In the realm of esoteric number theory, this is one of the most fascinating transitions in the entire "One-to-Ten" sequence. The Four represents the initial fulfillment of the evolving energy of an element; the One is self-contained and stationary, while the Twos and Threes are restless, one constantly oscillating between opposite poles and the other … Continue reading The Fours, Fives and Sixes
Where Is Isaiah? – A Missing Person Spread
Update: It appears the missing boy in this case found his way safely to Florida. There are no details about how that happened, or how long he may have stayed in New York City. http://www.wmur.com/article/missing-sunapee-teen-found-safe-in-florida/19459142 First a note on the method. The main problem I'm finding with this approach is that I'm using missing-person notices … Continue reading Where Is Isaiah? – A Missing Person Spread
The “What of a Much of a Which” Event Analysis Spread
Although he had more dire implications in mind, ee cummings might have been talking about the fortune-teller's art in his poem what of a much of a which of a wind (for example, "blow soon to never and never to twice"). http://plexipages.com/reflections/whatif.html One of the greatest challenges facing those who try to discern past, present … Continue reading The “What of a Much of a Which” Event Analysis Spread
“Oh, No, Not Again!” (A Simple Yes-or-No Reading)
I have a simple yes-or-no spread (titled, oddly enough, "A Simple Yes-or-No Spread") that I decided to use to find out whether New England will be hit by another major "Nor'easter" snowstorm next week. I used the Anna K Tarot, my most reliable weather-forecasting deck. For the Significator, I chose the 3 of Swords, which … Continue reading “Oh, No, Not Again!” (A Simple Yes-or-No Reading)
A Clash of Wills: Trump vs. Mueller
I used my “Enemy at the Gate” vulnerability spread to examine the ongoing confrontation between President Donald Trump and Special Counsel Robert Mueller over alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. I chose the Tarot of the Golden Serpent for the Significator and the “quint” cards, and the Star Tarot for the main reading. … Continue reading A Clash of Wills: Trump vs. Mueller
A Good Question
There is a wide range of opinion and much debate on whether any conceivable request can be brought to the tarot. Some say you can't answer simple "yes-or-no" questions in a straightforward way with it because its answers are too conditional and nuanced. Other believe you should steer well clear of anything that could create … Continue reading A Good Question
Economy of Scale in Spread Design
In microeconomics, economy of scale refers to the theory that average costs start falling as output increases. As I apply it to tarot spread design, it asserts that the level of effort required to read a spread decreases as the number of card positions increases. While this seems counter-intuitive, it's due to the fact that, … Continue reading Economy of Scale in Spread Design
The Ideal Study Group
Esoteric study groups of the face-to-face kind are mercurial beasts. Interest tends to wax and wane, and attendance is anything but consistent as members occasionally choose to deal with more mundane matters on meeting day. When I lived in the Hartford, CT area in the '70s, there were numerous opportunities to meet regularly with kindred … Continue reading The Ideal Study Group
“The Blind Pig and the Acorn” Career Outlook Spread
Although Dukes of Hazzard fans would like to claim it as part of Southern heritage, as would Appalachia, the proverb alluded to in the title was apparently of ancient Roman origin: "Even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while." According to Wikipedia, there is a "related Latin saying that a blind … Continue reading “The Blind Pig and the Acorn” Career Outlook Spread
