This is one of my "situational awareness and developmental insight" spreads. It uses astrological (planetary) correspondences. Pentacle Spread
Tarot
Astro-Tarot Decanate Tableau and Spread
It's probably obvious that I'm a tireless tinkerer. In the present case, I took the round zodiacal presentation of the Chaldean decans aligned with the cards of the tarot and turned it into a tabular structure. This arranges all of the decan cards, the court cards and the Major Arcana in an easy-to-read format that … Continue reading Astro-Tarot Decanate Tableau and Spread
The “Dysfunction Junction” Conflict-Resolution Spread
This spread is designed for examining the strategic advantages and vulnerabilities of up to four antagonists in a confrontation. It is intended as a a majors-only layout, but that isn't carved in stone. The key points are: a) what each party wants from the others; b) what each party is willing to concede; and c) … Continue reading The “Dysfunction Junction” Conflict-Resolution Spread
The “Love Links” Compatibility Spread
This is a spread for comparing five key qualities usually sought by individuals in a new relationship. It shows what each partner brings to the table in these areas and whether one is better situated to benefit than the other. The areas are: Love, Fun, Sex, Reliability, Friendship and a roll-up quintessence, Overall Compatibility. It … Continue reading The “Love Links” Compatibility Spread
Do the Pips Roar or Squeak?
That's more than an amusing rhetorical question. One of the most daunting challenges facing those who would divine with historical decks like the Tarot de Mareille (TdM) is how to coax useful meaning from their sparely illustrated, non-scenic minor - or "pip" - cards. There is no body of traditional literature explaining how the stereotypical … Continue reading Do the Pips Roar or Squeak?
Parsifal’s Wheel – A Celtic Cross Variation
The famous (or as some would have it, infamous) “Celtic Cross” (CC) tarot spread popularized by Arthur Edward Waite in his Pictorial Key to the Tarot in the early 1900s and updated by Eden Gray and others in the last half of the 20th century is a mainstay of the tarot reader's art. In the … Continue reading Parsifal’s Wheel – A Celtic Cross Variation
Parsifal’s Bow Personal Destiny Spread
When working New Age fairs, I'm usually limited to brief reading sessions, no more than 20 minutes. My favorite spread has always been the venerable Celtic Cross, which I've tweaked to my own satisfaction over the years. But doing justice to one takes me a solid 45 minutes, and even trimming it to half-an-hour is … Continue reading Parsifal’s Bow Personal Destiny Spread
“All Well and Good, But . . .”
Along with requests for financial and legal advice, health questions of a diagnostic type are best avoided by the tarot professional. With rare exceptions, we aren't trained and credentialed (or licensed, or insured) counselors or therapists, and should direct our clients to someone who is. On the other hand, as long as we stop short … Continue reading “All Well and Good, But . . .”
Why Not Professional?
"Money for nothing and your pips for free" (with apologies to Mark Knopfler). A professional is anyone who performs services for pay and hopefully makes a living at it. A tarot reader who accepts payment for readings is by definition a professional. A tarot reader who reads on-line while still in pajamas could be called … Continue reading Why Not Professional?
The Daily Draw – An Alternate View
First, a confession: I didn't perform a daily draw for many years, since it just wasn't telling me much of anything useful. This despite the fact that it's touted far and wide as the best way to familiarize oneself with the cards. I just couldn't - and still don't - see much of value in … Continue reading The Daily Draw – An Alternate View
