Tarot deck buying is an addictive pleasure. I know a few people who have thousands of them. Those who grouse that you actually need only one deck to ply your trade (if you're a professional) or explore your inner landscape (if you're not) obviously haven't felt the potent allure of the "next big thing." There … Continue reading Stemming the Tide
Culture
“Oh, the Shame . . . “
I had a novel experience yesterday. I was bounced from a Facebook group for being too forthcoming with my knowledge. I won't name it, but it's a very popular tarot students' site. The convenient excuse was that I was promoting my divination business, but I never did. The real reason was that I didn't fit … Continue reading “Oh, the Shame . . . “
The Name of the Game
A question frequently asked by what we might call "journeyman" tarot readers is "How can I break into professional practice on a full-time basis?" In my case, I backed into it part-time through the patronage of a metaphysical shop owner who, when she learned that I was a local diviner, invited me to work out … Continue reading The Name of the Game
Cheap Shots Redux: Any Excuse Will Do
As I contemplate the flood of new tarot decks on the market (some of which are even offered as "New Tarot," apparently to signify a cultural shift), I'm struck by the impression that many of them are just an excuse to circulate portable artwork of a personal nature with little regard for the metaphysical and … Continue reading Cheap Shots Redux: Any Excuse Will Do
The Best or Worst of Times?
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness . . . " (from A Tale … Continue reading The Best or Worst of Times?
The Myths of Tarot: Sacred Cows and Tin Gods
I haven't had a good rant in a while and this topic has come 'round again with a vengeance. As I cruise the Facebook tarot pages I keep encountering the same old tired myths related to the tarot, usually brought up by neophytes who haven't been told any different. Not all of these folkloric superstitions … Continue reading The Myths of Tarot: Sacred Cows and Tin Gods
Of Smoke and Mirrors
. . . but not the kind you're thinking. The more popular Facebook tarot pages are constantly awash in the sentiment - prevalent among the overwhelming majority of neophytes - that spiritual energy ("good" or "bad") can cling to the cards in some unexplained fashion, encouraging the practices of mystically infusing them with the former … Continue reading Of Smoke and Mirrors
COVID-19 Recovery: End of June Outlook
I haven't done much with Lenormand lately, so I thought I'd throw a 3x3 square to ask where we will be (in the United States) with the coronavirus recovery by the end of June, 2020. My intent was a disease increase/decrease forecast, but that's not exactly what I wound up with. This is Edmund Zebrowski's … Continue reading COVID-19 Recovery: End of June Outlook
“Lucky You!” – A Tarot Board Game
UPDATE: I just tweaked some of the rules for the trump cards. Also, I've been playing around with this and found that, since I skewed the population of cards to the lower end, it's very difficult to get a +5 card in order to get out of jail (especially factoring in reversals); so I changed … Continue reading “Lucky You!” – A Tarot Board Game
Tormentor of Fish: A 2020 Season Forecast
Although I'm now well into my "senior" years, sit more than I should and have to be careful how much I push my limits, I still consider myself an "outdoorsman." (I like to say that I'm the only whisky-drinkin', pickup-drivin', ballcap-wearin', fly-fishin', alpine-skiin', kayak-paddlin', hill-climbin', rock & rollin', theater-goin', poetry-lovin', horoscope-castin', tarot-card-readin', grey-bearded, half-Canadian geomancer … Continue reading Tormentor of Fish: A 2020 Season Forecast