My aversion to very small spreads is well-known; in most cases, even three cards don't do much for me. However, I often find ways to extract meaningful subsets from larger patterns, especially if there are compelling indicators bringing them to my attention. The "cross" section of the Celtic Cross spread with its "past-present-future" triplicity is … Continue reading The “Build It As You Go” 3-Card Vignette
Tarot Theory
Utility, Overkill or Elegance: A Spread Designer’s Dilemma
"Once upon a time there were three bears . . . oops, I mean tarot spreads that lived in a binder on my bookshelf. There was a great big 'father' spread, a middle-sized 'mother' spread and a tiny 'baby' spread. One was too large and hard and one was too small and easy but the … Continue reading Utility, Overkill or Elegance: A Spread Designer’s Dilemma
A “Two Paths” Example Reading
The Question: "What is the best way to approach local metaphysical (formerly "New Age") shops about getting card-reading gigs at their establishments? The Deck: Conver Ben-Dov (CBD) Tarot de Marseille This reading will test both the spread and my provisional TdM "pip" card meanings. The court-card "pointer" came up as the Valet of Cups reversed, … Continue reading A “Two Paths” Example Reading
A Tarot de Marseille Thumbnail: Ace of Coins
I consider the TdM Ace of Coins a "gambit" card (an action that is calculated to gain an advantage), one that entails some "grit" and requires getting one's hands dirty. The expression "dirt under the fingernails" gives an idea of how much hands-on engagement and self-reliance are required. It has no patience with the proverb … Continue reading A Tarot de Marseille Thumbnail: Ace of Coins
The Tarot de Marseille “Pips:” A Divinatory Tabulation
As a service to my readers, I decided to capture all of the divinatory "snippets" from my previous posts in a single document for ease of reference. Note that I went back and tweaked the keyword entries in my Swords overview essay to match this summary after receiving some excellent comments from Lee Bursten. This … Continue reading The Tarot de Marseille “Pips:” A Divinatory Tabulation
A Tarot de Marseille “Pips” Overview: Footnotes on the Suit of Coins
Because I commented on all of the Coins individually, I'm not going to do a detailed overview of them as I did for the rest. Unless I choose to develop my thoughts on the Ace of Coins or decide to amplify my brief cameos of the pips of the other suits at "book length" (and … Continue reading A Tarot de Marseille “Pips” Overview: Footnotes on the Suit of Coins
A Tarot de Marseille Thumbnail: 10 of Coins
In the TdM 10 of Coins, the "seed" shown in the 9 of Coins has gone straight to flower and the sheltering husk has dissolved. The flower now takes center stage and the converging triangles of the 5 of Coins have been driven apart by a blocking square, while the four leaves that were tightly … Continue reading A Tarot de Marseille Thumbnail: 10 of Coins
A Tarot de Marseille “Pips” Overview: The Inspiring and Irritating Cups
Due to their liquid-bearing connotation, the Cups of the tarot have long been associated with the fluid, emotive side of life and the expression of both joy and the sorrow. The Tarot de Marseille "pip" cards strip this down to its bare essentials; all we see for the most part are suit emblems (chalices) and … Continue reading A Tarot de Marseille “Pips” Overview: The Inspiring and Irritating Cups
A Tarot de Marseille Thumbnail: 9 of Coins
Going strictly on visual appearance, the TdM 9 of Coins is the "squashed" version of the 5 of Coins. The doubling of external suit emblems has compressed the capsule holding the "seed" to a fraction of its former volume, intensifying the conditions for germination and ideally coaxing or "forcing" the kernel to sprout on a … Continue reading A Tarot de Marseille Thumbnail: 9 of Coins
A Tarot de Marseille Thumbnail: 8 of Coins
The design of the TdM 8 of Coins makes me think of "warehousing:" neatly organized shelves of goods laid up for storage. (In an ideal world they would all be racked barrels of ale!) Well-planned productivity is indicated, with no helter-skelter rush to fill the distribution channels with output. There is a low-key professionalism to … Continue reading A Tarot de Marseille Thumbnail: 8 of Coins
