* This spread was inspired by an article (“The B's”) on the Lorian Associations's blog site (see sidebar link) by David Spangler, one of the original architects of the New Age. It describes modes of being appropriate to successfully navigating the coming year and beyond. Think of it as a model for personal growth. The … Continue reading “Being There” – A Personal Growth Spread
Tarot
“Ars Longa, Vita Brevis”
Hippocrates was a physician who made this the opening statement in a medical text. The lines which follow: "The physician must not only be prepared to do what is right himself, but also to make the patient, the attendants, and externals cooperate." Thus in plainer language "it takes a long time to acquire and perfect … Continue reading “Ars Longa, Vita Brevis”
Wish List for 2018
I've slowed down considerably in buying new tarot and oracle decks over the last couple of years. It's not that I don't lust after the latest-and-greatest releases touted by people I trust on the cartomancy forums, it's just that - short of superlative artwork or a magnificent companion book - there just isn't much to … Continue reading Wish List for 2018
You, Me or the Universe?
One of my favorite on-line debates involves what to do with the court cards. The traditional approach is to consider them as other people involved in, or with an interest in, the querent's situation. It even went so far as attempting to describe the physical appearance of the person in question. But with the rise … Continue reading You, Me or the Universe?
The Eternal Question
Those who spend time on the tarot forums know that the most frequently asked questions in the reading exchanges, hands down, have to do with romance. Usually it's some variation of "What does X think or feel about me?" disguising the real question: "Does X love me?" But sometimes it gets more to-the-point and visceral. … Continue reading The Eternal Question
Republicans and Democrats: “Ne’er the Twain Shall Meet?”
I used my "Wheel of Opportunity" relationship spread to ask whether the Republican and Democratic political parties in the United States will ever agree on a common agenda that serves the best interests of the American people. The short answer is "No," but the details are very interesting. In this reading, the "Individual #1 spoke" … Continue reading Republicans and Democrats: “Ne’er the Twain Shall Meet?”
The “Wheel of Opportunity” Relationship Spread
I have always been fascinated by the idea that a relationship between two people (or two of "anything") is really a three way proposition; it involves the two parties to the situation and the relationship itself, which can become "bigger than both of them" and require dedicated care and feeding by both participants to avoid … Continue reading The “Wheel of Opportunity” Relationship Spread
The Time of the Season
Every year on the Winter Solstice I perform my "Wheel of the Year" spread for the coming year. This a 17-card layout with one trump card for the annual focus, 4 trump cards for the four quarters, and 12 minor cards (including courts) for the twelve months, moving clockwise from the Solstice. I use the … Continue reading The Time of the Season
Cutting-Edge Cartomancy
The Cartomancer is a glossy, elegant, high-quality and high-caliber quarterly international journal for the card-reading enthusiast, mainly focusing on Tarot, Lenormand and Oracle deck study and practice. After a distinguished turn at the helm by Jadzia deForest, the publication has now been purchased and is being published by Arwen Lynch-Poe. This is Arwen's inaugural effort, … Continue reading Cutting-Edge Cartomancy
Cheap Shots #26: The Slippery Slope
One thing that can be said with certainty about divination is that predicting the future in a "yes-or-no" fashion using any of the currently popular methods of inquiry is at best a 50-50 proposition: one percentage point either way spells the difference between success and failure. In short, despite our fascination with the details of the … Continue reading Cheap Shots #26: The Slippery Slope
