According to author Richard Cavendish, the Roman philosopher Cicero considered the virtue of prudence to be comprised of three characteristics: memory, intelligence and foresight. When applied to the art of divination, these qualities refer to 1) fastidious contemplation of the past, 2) avid engagement with the present and 3) canny speculation about the future, all … Continue reading The “Prudence of Prognostication”
A “Paragon of Earth” Talisman
In looking over my "Aces/Princesses" paradigm of descent into materiality that "operates via the 'solar' potency of the Sixes, establishing their 'kingdom on Earth' through the administrative vigor of the fixed signs," I thought it might be interesting to use the "quintessence" technique to turn the series of cards into single trumps to use as … Continue reading A “Paragon of Earth” Talisman
Cosmobiology and the Chaldean Decans in Tarot
The German cosmobiologists of the mid-20th Century held that the "soft" aspects between planets (the sextiles and trines along with the less prominent quintiles and bi-quintiles) were largely a waste of time in that they seldom show anything "visible" happening. These astrologers focused on the "hard" aspects - squares, semi-squares, sesquiquadrates and oppositions - when … Continue reading Cosmobiology and the Chaldean Decans in Tarot
A “Wish, Will and Way” Example Reading
I decided to test my 5-card approach to this method by asking the same question I've been chasing for the last few years: "As a professional diviner, how can I become more publicly successful and sought-after?" I chose for my inspiration the time-honored assumption that a skilled cartomancer is both sensitive and intuitive (Queen of … Continue reading A “Wish, Will and Way” Example Reading
The Wish, The Will and the Way
In tarot divination, there is a tendency to look at the Major Arcana (aka "trump") cards that turn up in a reading and say "That's all well and good as a philosophical abstraction, but what does it really mean for this particular person or situation at this point in time?" Their archetypal aim can be … Continue reading The Wish, The Will and the Way
What Happened to Mike? – A Horary Astrology Perspective
The very first thing that crossed my mind upon waking at 4:26 yesterday morning, before ordering my thoughts and even before answering the usual "call of nature," was that no examination of a "missing anything" is complete until a horary astrology chart has been cast. Although I generally use them to find lost items, I … Continue reading What Happened to Mike? – A Horary Astrology Perspective
Aleister Crowley: The “Measure of the Man”
Since Aleister Crowley's birthday was October 12, I thought I would run my new "Measure of a Man" (aka "homunculus") spread to see what it might say about him. Of course I used the Thoth deck for this, although the layout got a bit crowded. I didn't apply reversals because, in many ways, Crowley was … Continue reading Aleister Crowley: The “Measure of the Man”
The “Measure of a Man” Personality Profile Spread
Back in my early 20's, before I discovered Monty Python, I was a big fan of the Bonzo Dog Band, the British "novelty" act headed by the brilliant eccentric Vivien Stanshall. They were fond of sticking an occasional non-sequitur into the middle of their album tracks. In one, a band member piped up with "And … Continue reading The “Measure of a Man” Personality Profile Spread
A List Of My Tarot and Lenormand Spreads
Below is a list of all the tarot and Lenormand spreads and other layouts I've created and posted on this blog. They are offered both for your private, non-professional use and as spreads that I will (with a few exceptions) perform professionally upon request. The idea behind the quirky titles is to pique your interest … Continue reading A List Of My Tarot and Lenormand Spreads
The Ringmaster Speaks
While digging through on-line interview material looking for videos by Enrique Enriquez, I came across a quote of his that put something into perspective for me. "The first metaphor in tarot happens when we shuffle the tarot. There is a carnivalesque stance in this debasement of hierarchies. I associate this with sabotaging reality. Shuffling the … Continue reading The Ringmaster Speaks
