The "Holy Grail" of decision-making advice is the simple, straightforward "yes-or-no" answer: "Should I or shouldn't I? Will she or won't she? Is it or isn't it?" There are numerous short spreads that strive for this goal; this isn't one of them. It recognizes that every sunny street has a shady side, and a ray … Continue reading The “Light-and-Shadow” Decision-Making Spread
Esoteric
The “Hot-and-Cold Running Commentary” Problem-Solving Spread
Here is an intricate 12-card spread that uses elemental temperaments to determine which course of action will produce the best solution to a problem. The moderate traits of "warm" and "cool" are applied to suggest an integrated approach rather than the absolute qualities of Fire, Water, Air and Earth (which are considered background forces here … Continue reading The “Hot-and-Cold Running Commentary” Problem-Solving Spread
An Elemental Dignity “Short Form” Example Reading
As I've mentioned before (I know, more than once!), we moved into a newly-constructed home last December and are now working (well, struggling) to get a lawn going. But the tide seems to be turning (I refuse to succumb to that old Bobby Fuller lament, "I fought the lawn and the lawn won"), and now … Continue reading An Elemental Dignity “Short Form” Example Reading
An Elemental Dignity “Short-Form” Decision-Making Spread
Not every choice in life is gut-wrenching, although it may still be vexing when it comes to making a snap decision: "Should I go with X to the pub or with Y to the show?" In such cases a simple spread with a touch of subtlety is all that is needed when a straightforward yes-or-no … Continue reading An Elemental Dignity “Short-Form” Decision-Making Spread
A Question of Value
Value can be a slippery thing; it's not the same for all people and its presence is often apparent only in "the eye of the beholder." In manufacturing, adding value to something is defined as "the amount by which the value of an article is increased at each stage of its production, exclusive of initial … Continue reading A Question of Value
Who Killed Stacey? – A “Whodunit” Rogue’s Gallery Reading
On Mother's Day in 2009, 41-year-old Stacey Burns of Wolfboro, NH was found stabbed to death in her bed; nobody has ever been charged with the crime, although the investigation is still active. I have a special tarot spread for these circumstances, the "Whodunit Rogue's Gallery Spread," and decided to put this case through it … Continue reading Who Killed Stacey? – A “Whodunit” Rogue’s Gallery Reading
Elementary, Really
I recently did a Celtic Cross reading that strongly emphasized the importance of elemental qualities in tarot interpretation. I realize that many people don't appreciate or apply esoteric correspondences in their readings, but if there is a single method that should be in every diviner's toolbox, that would be a good grasp of the four … Continue reading Elementary, Really
A “Spiritual Release” Example Reading
This was an interesting exercise because I have been on an esoteric spiritual journey for over four decades, and count myself among the 37% of Americans who consider themselves "spiritual but not religious." I used the Radiant RWS for this reading. Card #1 - "What I Know" (The Footing): High Priestess I believe this card is talking about … Continue reading A “Spiritual Release” Example Reading
Context Is King
Although this has been a recurring minor theme in many of my previous posts, I thought I would expand on it a bit. In a lengthy thread on the Cartomancy Forum titled "Is There Such a Thing as Bad Cards?" author Andy Boroveshengra (of Lenormand fame but equally accomplished in tarot and traditional astrology) made … Continue reading Context Is King
The “Two Out of Three” Decision-Making Spread
I've always found the typical three-card draw to be rather uninspiring. My long-held opinion is that the reader has to inject entirely too much intuitive guesswork into the gaps between the cards to make a compelling narrative out of the sequence. A five-position spread is the minimum I prefer to work with in order to "just read … Continue reading The “Two Out of Three” Decision-Making Spread
