(I hope Edgar Allan Poe forgives me for pinching his story title.) Hop-Frog (the amphibian, not the dwarf) was happily riding along in the turnip truck with 77 other itinerant farm-hands from Frog Hollow. But the driver wasn't paying attention and hit a pothole. Hop-Frog was bounced out into the middle of the road. He … Continue reading Hop-Frog, the Ourangoutangs and the Tower of Babel: An Allegory about Jumpers
Tarot
“Cheap Shots” #4
Sometimes a deck - even one you've owned and used for years - seems to betray you and starts "speaking in tongues." I'm not one who believes that tarot decks have personalities, only idiosyncrasies introduced by the creator's unique perspective, so I think the fault, if it can be called that, lies with the reader's … Continue reading “Cheap Shots” #4
Tell Me No Lies
Many people like to conduct a "new deck interview" with every addition to their stable as a way to get a feel for its overall tone and ease of use. This is my version; it can be used for decks you've owned for a while as well. Everyone likes to talk about themselves! Update: The … Continue reading Tell Me No Lies
The “Luck and Prosperity” Spread
I was following up on something I read about Hindu iconography, and decided to create a "good luck" spread around the idea. The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit root swasti which is composed of su, meaning "good, well," and asti meaning "it is, there is." The word swasti occurs frequently in the Vedas, … Continue reading The “Luck and Prosperity” Spread
The “Rest of the Story” Follow-up Spread
I went away from tarot for a few years, during which the landscape changed considerably. Ever since I learned the extent to which modern readers like to use clarifier cards when they don't understand the significance of any card in a reading, I've had an ongoing "war" with the idea. Every tarot card has layers … Continue reading The “Rest of the Story” Follow-up Spread
The “Tripod of Self-Discovery” Spread
This spread is loosely based on the Celtic triquetra, showing the union of Mind, Body and Spirit in a kind of “Venn diagram” also related to the broader “Tripod of Life” concept. It uses elemental and astrological (planetary) correspondences. Tripod of Self-Discovery Spread New Astro Update
The “Three Judges” Turning-Point Spread
This spread makes creative use of the Major Arcana as pre-positioned "dark side/light side" signposts in a major turning-point scenario. Only the ten positional cards are read for specific insights; the anchoring trump cards are more "seasoning" than "substance," except for the three "judges" at the core of the spread: Justice, the Wheel of Fortune … Continue reading The “Three Judges” Turning-Point Spread
Crossroads of Necessity Decision-Making Spread
Self-directed, choice-driven change is the focus of this spread. It uses three decks to ensure that all options remain on the table for each of two decision chains. Crossroads of Necessity Spread
A Change-up: The 3-Point Landing Spread
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse . . . it doesn't! Here is a very (deceptively) simple three-card spread (plus Significator) built on the "thesis-antithesis-synthesis" model (or, if you prefer, "action-reaction-resolution"). It's unique twist is that it brings the central Significator card into an active role by pairing it with each of … Continue reading A Change-up: The 3-Point Landing Spread
Alternate Realities: The Lady or the Tiger
As I entered the stratosphere of elaborate and esoteric tarot spread creation (believe me, you ain't seen nothing yet), I got to thinking about two philosophical ideas and how they might be captured in a tarot reading: the Buddhist tenet that we create our own reality, and the Frank R. Stockton short story "The Lady … Continue reading Alternate Realities: The Lady or the Tiger
