Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Copyright, 1996, David Clark Jones. Please see the table of contents for the location of the full listing of the
copyright notice.
"When we lay out the Tarot in the Spirit of Wisdom, we objectify the subjective, make the invisible visible
and provide form for the formless. The Tarot exteriorizes the interior life, it reveals the inner life like
disclosing fluid."
-- Naomi Ozaneic, The Element Tarot Handbook
Table of Contents
=================
1) The Layouts
1.1) Action Spread (#5, C2)
*1.2) Eliphas Levi Wheel Spread (#5, C3, X)
1.3) The Line Spread (#5, C1, L)
1.4) Spread of the Elements (#5, C2)
*1.5) Chakra Spread (#7, C3, X)
1.6) Magic Seven Spread (#7, C4)
1.7) Soul Dreamers Spread (#7, C4, SX)
1.8) Spirits of the Circle Spread (#7, C4)
1.9) Split Hexagram Spread (#7, C4)
1.10) Four Seasons Spread (#8, C5, S)
1.11) Hearth Spread (#8, C2)
1.12) Planetary Spread (#8, C3, A)
1.13) Amanda's Fan (#9, C3)
1.14) Arianrhod Spread (#9, C4, 1year)
1.15) Awen Spread (#9, C2, L)
*1.16) Mandala/Alchemical Spread (#9/13, C3/4)
1.17) Spiral Layout (#10, C1)
1.18) Tree of Life Spread
1.18.1) Davis' Tree of Life (#10, C5, X)
1.18.2) Doane's Tree of Life (#10, C6, X)
1.18.3) Peach's Tree of Life (#78, C7, X)
1.18.4) Comments and Variations
*1.19) Trinity Spread (#10, C3, L)
1.20) Yes or No Spread (#10, C2, Y)
1.21) The Celtic Cross
1.21.1) Waite's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
1.21.2) Danburg's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
1.21.3) Peach's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
1.21.4) Lines within the Reading (C7)
1.21.5) Variations and Comments.
*1.22) Cup of Relationships Spread (#11, C4, S)
1.23) Key Spread (#11, C4)
1.24) Four Trines Spread (#12, C5, A)
+1.25) Twelve Houses Spread (#12, C5, A)
+1.26) Astrological Spread (#13V, C4, A)
1.27) Magic Cross Spread (#13, C3)
aka Christian Cross Spread
1.28) Planetary Spread (#14, C4, A)
1.29) Qabalistic Cross (#14, C3)
1.30) Daily Spread (#15, C4, 1day)
1.31) Fortune Teller's Spread (#15, C3)
1.32) Thoth Spread
1.32.1) Original Thoth Spread (#15, C4)
1.32.2) Peach's Thoth Spread (#16, C4)
1.33) Wish Spread (#16, C4, S)
1.34) Grand Source Spread (#21, C6)
1.35) Playing Deck Spread (#21, C3, L)
1.36) Pyramid Spread (#21, C4)
1.37) Romany Spread (#21, C2, L)
1.38) Twenty-One Card Spread (21, C6)
1.39) Sephiroth Spread (#26, C9, A)
*1.40) Triangular Spread (#28, C8)
1.41) Magic Mirror Spread (#29, C5, S)
1.42) Spread of Thirty-Six (#36, C4, L)
*1.43) Story Spread (#45, C7)
1.44) Solar Spread (#49, C5, LA)
1.45) Life Spread (#50, C9)
1.46) Three Fans (#54/78, C9)
1.47) Ladder Spread (#78, C9)
1.48) The Waite Spreads (#43/78, C9, L)
1.48.1) The Forty-Three Card Layout (#43, C9, L)
1.48.2) The Thirty-Five Card Layout (#35, C5, L)
*1.49) Geomancy Spread. (#V, C9, AX)
1.50) Name Layout (#V, C3, L)
1.51) Tetragrammaton Spread (#V, C7, LX)
1.52) Timing Spread (#V, C2, Y)
2) Layout Modifiers
2.1) Additional Card Modifiers
2.2) Extending the Path
2.3) Rotating the Layout
2.4) Yes/No Answer
2.5) Querent Cards
2.5.1) Personality Traits
2.5.2) Astrology
2.5.3) Physical Traits
2.5.4) Open Deck
2.5.5) Random Selection
2.5.6) No Querent
*2.6) Ateration of the Elements
*2.7) Multi-line Associations
3) Useful Information
3.1) Astrological Houses
3.2) Planetary Symbols
3.3) Astrological Symbols
3.4) Divination w/ normal deck of playing cards
3.5) Timing Information
*3.6) Astrological House Numbering
*3.7) The Four Elements and the Tarot
A Lesson in Relationships between Cards
3.7.1) Stage One: Traditional Method
3.7.2) Stage Two: Elemental Rules
3.7.3) Stage Three: Positions
4) Rituals of Meditation
4.1) Mandalas
4.1.1) Daily Focus Point
4.1.2) Contemplation Ritual
4.1.3) Opening the Door
4.2) Qabalistic Cross of the Tarot Ritual (4)
4.3) Suit and Function Meditation (14)
4.4) Figure of Eight (22)
4.5) Square-Triangle Layout (78)
5) Useless Information
5.1)
Copyright Notice
5.2)
Where to find this document
5.3)
Administrativia
5.4)
Who am I and how this list got started
5.5)
Really Useless Information
*5.6)
How to Use this Document.
5.6.1) If you are new to tarot....
5.6.2) If you are new to this document....
5.6.3) Supplements and version numbers
5.6.4) Paradigm Spread
5.6.5) Maps and Legends
6) References and Thanks
7) History of this document
A - Astrological Spreads.
L - Line Spreads.
S - Specific Question Spreads.
X - Cross Subjects.
Y - Yes/No Spreads.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
1) The Layouts
1.1) Action Spread (#5, C2) (Morison)
Layout:
1 5
2 4
3
Reading:
Card 1 - Present situation
Card 2 - Waning influences. Obstacles already overcome. Changes
which have occured in the past.
Card 3 - Hidden or unconscious influences
Card 4 - Emerging influences.
Card 5 - Synthesis. Draws together the other four influences.
Layout:
5 4 3 2 1
Reading:
Cards 4 and 5 represent the future
Card 3 represents the prenysent
Cards 1 and 2 represent the past
Reading: Use to gain insight into aspects of the self which need
balancing or development.
Card Q: Querent
East: Intellectual or Mental Life
South: Sensual and/or Instinctual Life
West: Emotional Life
North: Intuitive and/or Spiritual Life
1.5) Chakra Spread (#7, C3, X) (Guiley)
Layout/Deal: Using only the major arcana, deal seven cards upward
forming a single vertical line.
Reading:
Card 1: Past event leading up to the present state
Card 2: The present state
Card 3: Immediate future
Card 4: Suggested Solution, what the querent should do to obtain
more control over the current situation
Card 5: The current environment and/or its affect on the matter
Card 6: Opposition
Card 7: Result
X's are used merely to show relative position of the cards. The
cards should be placed such that they create an outward clockwise
spiral and should be more circular that the above diagram appears.
Deal: Select card 1 as you would a querent card. Shuffle the deck
and deal numerically as shown
Reading:
Card 1: Querent
Card 2: Spirit of the Ancestors - influence of family elders
Card 3: Spirit of the Tribe - influence of culture
Card 4: Spirit of Time
Card 5: Spirit of Place - influence of birthplace and residence
Card 6: Spirit of the Journey - influence of previous lives
card 7: Awen - gifts/blessings/graces of the gods or nature
Reading:
Cards 1 & 2: Unknown spiritual influences. Card 1 will have a
stronger affect than Card 2
Card 3: Spiritual advice for the matter
Card 4: Unconscious desires
Card 5: Conscious desires
Card 6: Practical advice
Card 7: Final outcome if you proceed with matter at this time.
1 5
2 8
7
Reading:
Card 1: Dominant for Spring, symbolizing the conception or
initiation of an action or ambition, the planting of the seed,
so to speak. The modifier for spring is card 8.
Card 2: Modifier for Card 3.
Card 3: Dominant for Summer, symbolizing the progression of a
plan, the way in which an idea will flower. The modifier for
summer is card 2.
Card 4: Modifier for Card 5.
Card 5: Dominant for Autumn, symbolizing the resolution of the
plan, how events will "wind themselves up." The modifier for
autumn is card 4.
Card 6: Modifier for Card 7.
Card 7: Dominant for Winter, symbolizing the period of reflection
after an action or plan has been completed, or what the
querent may wish to learn from the progression of events. The
modifier for winter is card 6.
Card 8: Modifier for Card 1.
Reading:
Cards 1 & 2: East - Perceived - way querent perceives the issue
Cards 3 & 4: South - Observed - way others perceive the issue
Cards 5 & 6: West - Desired - way querent wishes issue to be
Cards 7 & 8: North - Potential - way issue could be
Reading:
Card 1: Moon Card 2: Mercury
Card 3: Venus Card 4: Sun
Card 5: Mars - Also may represent the solution or answer to the
matter which is why it is called the reconciler.
Card 6: Jupiter Card 7: Saturn
Comment: "Cards of this spread can and ought to be paired and read
in juxtaposition, i.e., the card in the position of the Moon
should be paired with that in the position of the Sun; the
card in the position of Venus with that in the position of
Mars, and so on." - Peach
Reading:
1. Questioner
2. Crossing
3. Foundation
4. Past
5. Present
6. Future
7. Outcome
8. Inner Influences
9. Outer Influences
Reading:
The three columns (C1 - C3) represent the past, present, and
future, respectively. In each row, cards are interpreted as
follows:
Reading:
Card 1 - The Self.
Card 2 - Desires.
Card 3 - Dreams. What we want to achieve.
Card 4 - Pursuits. What we actively try to achieve.
Card 5 - Attachements. Pursuits which hold us back from achieving
our dreams. For example, many people dream of happiness but
pursuit money thinking it will make them happy. However, it
is the worry about money, not the lack of it, which actually
prevents happiness.
Card 6 - Qualities. Good aspects about the querent.
Card 7 - Sorrows. Faults of the querent which need improving.
Card 8 - Self-Image. How the querent views him/herself.
Card 9 - Soul's Urge. One's true purpose and desitiny.
Variations: Doing the reading with only the first nine cards is
called the Mandala Spread. Adding the four elemental cards is the
Alchemical spread.
Deal: Lay out the cards with Q first and then numerically.
Reading:
Q: The Querent
1: Foundation: What the querent's current situation is built on.
2: Past Actions: Actions that the querent has taken in the past
that have contributed to the current situation.
3: Past Emotions: The querent's emotional status in the past
4: Past Outside Influences: Other peoples actions/emotions that
have affected the querent's situation.
5: Current Position: Where the querent stands now in relationship
to the situation.
6: Future Outside Influences: Others actions/emotions that will
affect the querent.
7: Future Emotions: Emotions the querent should watch out for in
the future.
8: Future Actions: Actions that the querent may take in the
future.
9: Outcome: The foreseen outcome of the situation.
Readings:
Deal: Using only Major Arcana and Court cards only, shuffle and
deal numerically as shown.
Variations: Guiley states that only court and major arcana should
be used. A full pack could be used at the readers discretion.
Card 1 partially overlaps, but does not cross, the Querent as shown
Reading:
Card 1 - Called the 'answering card'. If upright, the answer to
the question was yes; if reversed, no. Also the outcome
card for the reading.
Cards 2 & 3 - 'Helpful' Influences. Reasons the outcome will
occur.
Cards 4 & 5 - Querent's thoughts regarding the matter
Cards 6 & 7 - 'Adverse' Influence. Things that are working against
the outcome
Card 8 & 9 - Querent's feelings regarding the matter
Layout: +-----+ - Q
10 |+-----+ - 1
03 09 +----------+ - 2
06 1Q2 05 | |
04 08 +----------+
07 +-----+
Note that card 1 is placed directly on top of, and therefore
concealing, the Querent card. Also note that card 2 is placed
across (or perpendicular) and on top of card 1, as the diagram on
the right not-so-vividly demonstrates.
Reading:
Card 1 - Influences, atmosphere.
Card 2 - Obstacles
Card 3 - Often called the crowning card. May have one or more of
several meanings:
3a - Highest state the querent can achieve in the matter
3b - Highest perception the querent has in the matter
3c - What the querent wishes to achieve
Card 4 - Often called the base card. It represents foundations or
possessions of the querent. Events that have already passed.
Card 5 - Past
Card 6 - Future Influences
Card 7 - Attitude or position in the matter
Card 8 - House, Environment
Card 9 - Hopes or Fears
Card 10 - Future Events
Reading:
(These are all lifted from the alt.tarot FAQ)
Variation 2: I have seen the Celtic Cross done locally (& it seems
to be a local variant) with 3 cards allotted to each position in
the "pillar" to the side of the central cross (i.e. positions 7 -
10). This means that there are 12 cards to work with, as opposed
to the usual 4; it can be quite useful. (Smith)
Q1 Significator 1
Q2 Significator 2
1. The Foundation of the Relationship
2. Recent Past
3. Current State of the Relationship
4. Obstacles they both face
5. Views of #1 regarding the relationship
6. Views of #2 regarding the relationship
7. Expectations of #1 regarding the rel.
8. Expectations of #2 regarding the rel.
9. Best Outcome
Reading:
Card 1: Querent & position in relation to your question/situation.
09 02 06
05 10
01 03
12 07
08 04 11
Reading: As the name suggests, there are four sets of three cards
(trines) that work in conjunction with another.
02 06
09 10
05 03
01 07
12 11
08 04
Reading: Even though the deal uses the awkward scheme shown above,
the cards are read by what house they are in astrologically. House
one is in the same position as card 1, but house numbers increment
by one going in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus, House two is
in position 12, house three in position 8, and so on.
11 09
12 10 08
01 Q 07
02 04 06
03 05
Reading:
Card 1: Aries Card 2: Taurus
Card 3: Gemini Card 4: Cancer
Card 5: Leo Card 6: Virgo
Card 7: Libra Card 8: Scorpio
Card 9: Sagittarius Card 10: Capricorn
Card 11: Aquarius Card 12: Pisces
Reading:
Left Branch: The past
Card 3: The present
Lower Branch: The future
Right Branch: Obstacles
Upper Branch: Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams.
14
12 13
10 09 11
08 07
05 04 06
02 03
01
Each row shown has the height of half a card length, thus the cards
look staggered.
Reading:
1. Earth 2. Moon
3. Sun 4. Mercury
5. Venus 6. Mars
7. Jupiter 8. Saturn
9. Uranus 10. Neptune
11. Pluto 12 & 13. Environment
14. Divine Light...advice from Higher Power
Reading:
It is suggested that the cards in this spread be read in the order
shown below
Card 4 - Querent's state of mind
Cards 13, 12, 11 - Past, with 13 being the farthest back in time
Cards 1, 2, 3 - Present
Cards 10, 9, 8 - Future, with 8 being farthest in time
Cards 5, 6, 7 - Feelings of others involved in the matter
Deal: First, remove the month and day card indicated in the table
below and place them in the positions shown above. Shuffle
and cut as normal, then deal numerically as shown.
Month Card Day Card
Aries Emperor Sunday Sun
Taurus Hierophant Monday High Priestess
Gemini Lovers Tuesday Tower
Cancer Chariot Wednesday Magician
Leo Strength Thursday Wheel
Virgo Hermit Friday Empress
Scorpio Death Saturday World
Sagittarius Temperance
Capricorn Devil
Aquarius Star
Pisces Moon
Reading:
It is suggested that cards be read in the order presented below.
Cards 11-13: Events leading up to the day in question. Start with
card 13 and work toward 11.
Cards 1 - 3: Morning Events, start with card 1
Cards 5 - 7: Afternoon Events, start with 7
Cards 8 -10: Evening Events, start with 8
Card 4: Outcome of any special projects of the day and/or how the
day will go overall.
Deal: Use the same deal, but add a Querent card underneath card 1.
Reading:
It is suggested that the cards be read order described below
Card 1: Querent's primary concern
Cards 2, 3: Further depth into problem and/or Querent's character
Cards 14,10,6: Background, how the querent came into the situation
Cards 7,11,15: Activities of other people in the situation
Cards 4,8,12: How the problem will progress, harmonize w. 7,11,15.
Cards 13,9,5: Possible alternative actions
If two cards in set 7,11,15 are Major Arcana then the progression
given in set 4,8,12 cannot be changed, otherwise the querent has
the power to alter the situation via events in set 13,9,5. If two
Major Arcana appear, set 13,9,5 indicate either how a bad outcome
can be lessened or how a good outcome may be assisted.
Q - Querent card
Reading:
It is suggested that this reading be used if the querent has a
specific wish that s/he would like to happen, hence the name.
Group 1: Environment
Group 4: Description of querent's wish
Group 7: Opposition
Group 10: Factors that will enter into this matter
Group 13: Realizations of the querent (usually in the future)
The nine of cups is often called the wish card. If this card
should turn up anywhere in the reading, except in group 7, this
would be a strong indication that some part or all of the querent's
wish will come true. The closer it appears in the above numeric
sequence, the sooner the wish will be realized. If the nine of
cups appears in group 7, this is an indication that the wish will
probably not come true; the other two cards in the group will yield
the cause. If the nine of cups does not appear, this should not be
taken as an indication of either fate, although other cards in the
reading may confirm or deny the wish.
Q 07 14
04 05 06 09 11 13 18 19 20
Reading:
Card Q: Querent
Cards 1, 2, 3: Inner influences at work, the motivations of the
querent, or what the querent wishes to learn.
Cards 4, 5, 6: Outer influences, or the influences from people or
things outside of the querent that may have caused the querent
to ask their question.
Card 7: Initiation of the action, the seed that will grow, or the
question that will be answered.
Cards 8, 10, 12: Three stages of the action or answering of the
question under examination, and they are modified respectively
by cards 9, 11, and 13.
Card 8: beginnings. The initial stages of the actions.
Card 9: modifies card 8. It may give a hazy picture of the
outcome that the querent has in mind, or it may simply be
a further examination of the beginnings of the action
under consideration.
Card 10: Progress. The way that the outcome is achieved.
Card 11: modifies 10 in the same way card 9 does card 8.
Card 12: possible changes in plan, or resolution. This card
may serve to examine any ways that the querent will have
to change course in midstream.
Card 13: modifies 12 like card 9 does card 8.
Card 14: Outcome of the process outlined in cards 8 - 13.
Cards 15, 16, 17: Possible effects of the resolution on the querent
Cards 18, 19, 20: Possible effects of the resolution on things
other than the querent or on the querent's relationship to the
world around him/her.
Deal: Shuffle the pack choose a Querent card. Cut the pack into
three decks, one each to signify the past (left), present (middle),
and future (right). Have the Querent pick one pack. Indicate which
deck is which please!
Reading:
Row 1: Situation, State of mind
Row 2: Family, Relationships
Row 3: Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams
Row 4: Long-term expectations
Row 5: Unexpected events
Row 6: Immediate Developments
Row 7: Long-term results
Reading:
Cards 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21 are referred to as key cards
Cards are divided into five sequences as follows:
Sequence 1 - cards 1 - 5
Sequence 2 - cards 5 - 9
Sequence 3 - cards 9 - 13
Sequence 4 - cards 13 - 17
Sequence 5 - cards 17 - 21
It is important to note that each key card is not only the final
card in a sequence of five, but also the first card in the next
series of five. Thus 9 ends the second sequences and also starts
the third. The four cards to the right of a key card represent the
events previous to the time or event that the key card signifies.
Key cards always represent significant events; if a card of the
Major Arcana appears in a key location, it may mean that event is
of great significance. This is a list of the suggested time
intervals each key card represents.
Key 1 - Present
Key 2 - Immediate Future
Key 3 - Intermediate Turn of Events
Key 4 - Distant Future
Key 5 - End of the Matter
To do this spread, remove all 22 major arcana and the Ace of each
suit. These are the only 26 cards used in the reading.
Layout:
Row 1: 03 18 04 17
Row 2: M C
Row 3: 02 19 | 05 16
Row 4: 20 | 06
Row 5: ASC --+-- DES 22 21
Row 6: 01 | 15
Row 7: 11 10 | 14 07
Row 8: N C
Row 9: 12 09 13 08
Deal:
The four Aces must go in the ASC, DES, NC, and MC position.
Shuffle the four aces. Place the first Ace in the position marked
ASC and continue in a clockwise direction. (Humorous note: the
Doane/Keyes book says to shuffle and three-cut these cards as you
would the regular deck. Is there actually anybody out there who
has ever bothered three-cutting a four card deck?)
Reading:
The four aces represent the Astral Kingdoms and relate to the four
angles of the horoscope. Astrologically ASC represents ascendence
or first house and pertains to life. MC stand for Midheaven or
tenth house and pertains to honor or business. DES stands for
descendence or seventh house and pertains to love or war. NC
stands for Nadir or fourth house and relates to secrets or
outcomes. You should start your reading based on which kingdom
most closely relates to the question your querent has asked. (ie
if the querent asks about marriage, start the reading in the
descending house)
Note that Asc and Des have three thrones while Mid and Nadir have
only two. When reading the Asc or Des thrones, the center throne
(1 or 6) will indicate the most important factor of that throne.
Reading: The layout shows the possible progresses into the future
from the present situation (card 01) to the final out come (row 7).
It is most often used to plot a genreal fortune form derived from
one element of the present specified by card 01 to the end of life.
Each level goes a little farther down the path of life, and splits
into greater complexity and/or diversity of possibilities.
08 03 13 10 05 15 06 01 11
Water Essence Air
22 18 26 21 17 25
Sacrifice Integration
07 02 12
Fire
28 and 29 are Magic Cards
Reading:
In each group of three cards, the middle card is the key card. The
other two cards are used for additional insight. Suggested order
of reading is Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Essence, and then "the four
gates which are linked to the four Wiccan Sabbats".
Reading:
The first three rows should be read from right to left, bottom up.
Each of these rows are associated with their own time interval as
shown above. Cards whose sum total 37 are related. Card 36 should
be used to either modify, clarify, or gain more information about
the details of card 1. Similarly, card 35 modifies card 2, etc..
07 10
08 09 11 12
13
14 15
The layout should be done three times, once each for past, present,
and future. Shuffle and redeal for each time period.
Reading:
In each row, the middle card (4, 11, 18, 25, etc) represents
present conditions or influences. The three cards to the right
represent the past; the three to the left, the future. Each row
will relate to either a certain aspect of life or certain people
(or perhaps both)
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
14 37 23
13 36 38 24
12 /----\ 25
11 35 | 50 | 39 26
10 34 \-41-/ 40 27
09 33 32 31 30 29 28
08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01
The book which I am getting this out of shows one diagram for the
layout but then shows an actual layout with cards in a different
order. I will attempt to describe both.
Reading:
As the name suggests, this should be used for a general life
reading; a specific question is not required or suggested but may
be used to focus on one area of the querent's life.
Card 50, dominant life factor: This card represents the most
important event that occurs and affects all three planes. This
card will show the most dominant influence shaping the life of the
querent.
This should look more like 3 fans than it does the above layout.
Also, cards should all point outward from a central point.
Deal: Shuffle the deck and deal into three piles. Take the middle
pile and set it aside as Pile A. Take the remaining two piles and
shuffle them. Again, deal into three piles. You should have one
extra card, set it aside. Take out the middle pile and set it
aside as Pile B. Take the remaining two piles and extra card,
shuffle and deal into three piles again. You should have two extra
cards, set them aside. Pull out the middle pile as Pile C. Take
the extra cards and extra piles and set them aside as Pile D. Deal
Piles A, B, and C into the three arches shown above.
Reading:
Pile A - Querent psychological condition in present & near future.
Pile B - Querent's work or occupation and his/her thoughts of it.
Pile C - Q's material condition regarding home, health, & finance.
The following two layouts come from the Waite book and are meant to
be used in conjunction with one another. The forty-three card
spread is offered as a regular method of divination while the
thirty-five card spread is meant to be used only if part of the
first spread is unclear or left in doubt. In keeping with the
flexibility of this document, I see no reason why the thirty-five
card spread could not be used on its own nor why it could not be
used in conjunction with other layouts to resolve similar
ambiguities, but these are merely my assertions and not those of
Waite himself.
Deal: I include this method of dealing only for those who are
interested in ritual. I, personally, see no point in it. This
passage is lifted directly from the Waite book:
Shuffle the entire pack and turn some of the cards round, so as to
invert their tops. Let them be cut by the Querent with his left
hand. Deal out the first forty-two cards in six packets of seven
cards each, face upwards, so that the first seven cards form the
first packet, the following seven the second, and so on-as in the
following diagram: --
[6th packet] [5th packet] [4th packet] [3rd pack] [2nd] [1st]
Take up the first packet; lay out the cards on the table in a row,
from right to left; place the cards of the second packet upon them
and then the packets which remain. You will thus have seven new
packets of six cards each, arranged as follows --
Take the top card of each packet, shuffle them and lay out from
right to left, making a line of seven cards. Then, take up the two
next cards from each packet, shuffle and lay them out in tow lines
under the first. Take up the remaining twenty-one cards of the
packets, shuffle and lay them out in three lines below the others.
You will thus have six horizontal lines of seven cards each,
arranged after the following manner.
[Same as above layout w/out card Q]
Comment 2: Waite suggest that this method be used when "no definite
question is asked". In other words, this is a spread that is good
for just a general reading but, Waite goes on to note that the
reading can be used even the querent specifies a time span for the
reading.
Comment 3: This layout does not have a known name. Waite merely
titled the section "An Alternative Method of Reading the Tarot
Cards."
Waite does not specify any pattern in which the layout must be
setup, other than each packet (see below) be dealt in a line.
Therefore, you need not follow the above diagram; an aesthetically
pleasing variant might be center each row about a vertical axis
causing lines one thru five to form an upside-down pyramid and line
six to be a very broad base. No method of line ordering is given
either, so these may be swapped around so long as each line retains
its meaning once moved, although the above line ordering would
probably be best to use to maintain consistency with the previous
layout.
Deal: Take up the 42 cards from the previous spread an put them in
one pile to the side. Place the querent card on top and upright.
Take the 35 cards constituting the remainder pile. Shuffle and cut
as before. Divide into six packets as follows: Packet 1
containing the first seven cards, Packet 2 containing the next six
cards, Packet 3 containing the next five cards, Packet 4 having
four cards, Packet 5 having two cards, and Packet 6 having the last
eleven cards. As before, packet one should be on the right and
continuing numerically leftward. Take each packet in turn and deal
each one into its own line.
Reading:
Line 1 - House, Environment
Line 2 - Querent, Subject of the divination
Line 3 - Events and Persons passing on the outside
Line 4 - Surprises, the unexpected
Line 5 - Consolidation. May also moderate the unfavorable cards of
previous lines.
Line 6 - "...that which must be consulted to elucidate the
enigmatic oracles of the others; apart from them it has
no importance." - Waite (gobbledeegook at its finest)
Each line should be read from right to left.
Comment: Waite does not specifically state that cards from each
packet should be dealt from right to left. I have assumed that he
meant as such since this would be consistent with everything else
in the previous layout.
The first thing you must realize is that this is not a simple
"spread" of tarot cards, but a multi-disiplinary approach to
divination. It should also be understood that this can be a rather
involved system to work with.
GEOMANCY
Geomancy (earth magic) is a type of divination which the diviner
strikes the ground repeatedly with a stick (thus making holes)
while channeling the "spirits of the earth." The number of holes
is countered and recorded as even or odd. This is done sixteen
times to get the full reading. I have studied, but not actually
practice this technique. The even and odd numbers are then used as
the basis of of a pseudo-astrological reading. What I did was come
up with a system of making the reading using tarot cards (any type
that can be numbered will do).
MY USE OF "GEOMANCY"
Instead of using a stick to poke holes in the ground, I developed
a system of using cards. The diviner shuffles and cuts the deck,
and then begins to deal out the cards FACE DOWN, in to sixteen
piles. The diviner focuses meditatively and place as many cards in
each pile as feels right, and then move on to the next pile. (This
eliminate the problem of seeing the holes being made.) The cards
are then fliped and counted to get sixteen numbers as so (see
example below). These are then read into eight columns of dots,
into sets of one for odd or two for even:
3 7 13 12 <-IV
4 23 2 17 <-III
1 15 7 18 <-II
5 10 3 9 <-I
^ ^ ^ ^
VIII VII VI V
I
___
*
*
* *
*
All eight sets should be on one row. Each two sets (first+second,
third+fourth, fifth+sixth, and seventh+eighth) are combined to get
to four more signs, numbered IX through XII. They are combined by
adding the dots in each row to determine even and odd dot fo the
new figure, as so:
II I IX
___ + ___ = ___
* * * *
* * * *
* * * *
* * * * * *
After this, the four new figures are combined (IX+X and XI+XII) to
get two more figures, which are then combined to get the final
figure which sums up the whole reading.
TAROT GEOMANCY
Now that you now how to do the geomantic portion of the reading, I
will go back over my method. First I deal out twelve cards in a
circle (I usually angle them so that the bottom is toward the
center of the circle, most do not and it doesn't mater as long as
you can read them and tell if they are reversed or not). This is
the astrological spread. I then take the rest of the deck and deal
them into sixteen piles, as expained above. These cards are taken
for their numerical value only (page=11, knight=12, queen=13,
king=14, numbered cards and major arcana = number written on them).
The the geomantic figures are read in the context of the tarot
cards, and both are read in the context of the houses. (For
explinations of astrological houses, see section 3.1)
I have found this technique very useful for long term questions
that deal with the final outcome of event or issues over mounths or
years. It is not worth it for short term divination and of limited
usefulness in terms of hows and why question or for determining
courses of event leading up to the conclusion. It is very
involved, but for issues appropriate to it, very accurate and
detailed - well worth the effort.
R O B E R T
1 2 3 4 5 6 - Past
| Remote | Transition | Recent |
E D W I N
7 8 9 10 11 - Present
| Influence | Key | Influence |
| on others | | of others |
S O U T H W O R T H
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 - Future
| feelings | goals | future | influences | outcome |
Reading:
Each row is divided into sections. The first two rows have
three sections while the last has five. The middle card(s) in each
row is the key card(s).
The first row represents the influences and past experiences
of the Querent. To the left of the key card there are the remote
past influences cards, which represent the substrate of the
Querent's life. To the right of the key card there are the recent
influences cards, which represent influences from last months,
weeks or even days ago. The key card represents very near
influences that may not have ended their action yet.
The middle row refers to the actual influences. To the left
of the key card there are the influences the Querent exercises on
the people near him. The cards may also show impressions or
opinion of others on the Querent. To the right of the key card
there are the influences or pressures that others exercise on the
Querent. The key card shows the structure and environment in which
the Querent lives and works right now.
The last row refers to the future and the final answer. To
the left there are the inner emotions and specific goals of the
Querent. To the right, the future influences or the spheres of
influence that may appear in a near future. To the rightmost part
there's the final result of the influences shown on the rest of the
cards. The key card shows the future the Querent is just entering
in. This card may show obstacles to pass or the moments, good luck
or the progress towards a goal the Querent is trying to reach.
This layout also contains a very interesting aspect: the Age
card. This card is obtained with the Querent's age and it's very
important. For example, if our Querent is 18 year-old, you will
count from card number 1 until you reach the 18th card (in this
example, the 2nd "O" in Southworth). If the Querent is 29, the Age
card would be the "D" in Edwin. This Age card is very strong and
of great influence. Its meaning is a very important key for the
understanding of the past, present and future of the Querent.
Next search each pack until you find the Querent card. Do not take
the Querent card out of nor change its position in that deck.
Discard the remaining three decks. Begin dealing the cards of the
selected deck from right to left, bottom up, into rows of six,
until the deck is depleted. If the Querent card is not surrounded
on all four sides, have the reader choose one card randomly from
the discarded piles and place it such that it properly covers the
Querent card. Begin by reading the cards which surround the
Querent card.
Deal: Start dealing cards into the first pile, face up, one at a
time. Stop dealing when either an ace appears or when you reach
the thirteenth card for that pile. Repeat for piles two and three.
Reading:
Pile 1 - Top card indicates reasons why the Querent may be hesitant
toward the matter.
Pile 2 - All cards in the pile reveal why the matter is stagnant.
Pile 3 - The top card will indicate a yes/no answer for the
question. All cards indicate information about the
events that will resolve the matter and when the matter
will be resolved.
Comment 2: Peach claims that the spread will reveal a definite time
period telling when the matter will be resolved, but fails to
explain how to derive it. (See Section 3.5)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
2) Layout Modifiers
This is a list of variations which can apply to many or all of the
layouts listed above.
2.5.2) Astrology
One second method is to use Astrological symbolism. There are
several different and varying methods that will map the twelve
symbols of the zodiac into the sixteen royalty cards. These
mappings, however, can vary from book to book and, therefore, from
person to person. If you wish to use this method, it would
probably be best to find a couple of such lists to use as a guide
and then compose your own correspondences from there.
2.5.6) No Querent
Finally, and most boring, the Querent card can simply be taken out
of the reading. Some readers feel that this actually allows for
more clarity in the reading. For example, I know a teacher and a
student both of whom I associate with the Queen of Cups. If I do
a reading for the student and pull that card out of the deck as the
Querent, it is more difficult to tell when her teacher will have an
influence on the matter in question, since her (the teacher's) card
can't come up anywhere in the reading. Conversely, if I simply
don't use a querent card (or use Random Selection) and the Queen of
Cups comes up somewhere in the reading, it is a strong indication
that her teacher will be giving her guidance in the matter.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
3) Useful Information
The following entries are useful bits of information which may be
useful for specific layouts. Other entries may just be tarot
related information which I though might be useful.
Hearts:
Aces- Happiness, love, friendship
King- a fair-haired man, affectionate and generous but impetuous
Queen- a fair-haired woman, trustworthy
Jack- a fair-haired young person, a good friend
10- good fortune, happiness
9- the "wish" card; desires come true
8- invitations, but also partings
7- someone is unreliable
6- unexpected good fortune; generosity
5- jealousy, indecision
4- changes, possibly travel or postponements
3- need for caution
2- success, friendship
Spades:
Ace- conflicts, a difficult love affair
King- dark-haired man, ambitious, usually successful
Queen- dark-haired woman, can be seductive or unscrupulous
Jack- dark-haired young person, a well-meaning person
10- worry
9- bad luck, can mean delays or quarrels
8- disappointments and opposition
7- a warning against possible loss of friendship
6- an improvement in the person's life
5- anxiety, setbacks, interferences
4- jealousy, business troubles
3- partings, possible due to faithlessness
2- scandal, gossip, danger of deceit
Diamonds:
Ace- a money, ring
King- fair-haired man, stubborn and powerful
Queen- fair-haired woman, flirtatious, sophisticated, witty
Jack- a relative, someone not quite reliable
10- journey, changes, usually bringing wealth
9- opportunities and surprises, usually financial
8- late marriage or new relationship; unexpected money
7- a gift
6- a reconciliation; a warning against a possible second marriage
5- successful meetings, particularly in business
4- an inheritance, a change for the better
3- legal or domestic battles
2- a love affair becomes more important than hitherto
Clubs:
Ace- Harmony, property, achievements, love
King- a dark-haired man, honest, open
Queen- a dark-haired woman, string-minded, helpful, attractive
Jack- a reliable friend
10- money from an unexpected source, good luck or gift
9- a new romance
8- opposition, danger or recklessness
7- prosperity, though a danger of romantic interference
6- business success
5- help from a friend or spouse
4- bad changes or alliance
3- good marriage or alliance
2- disappointment and opposition
Significators:
1. fair or grey-haired man over 40....... King of Diamonds
2. fair or grey haired woman over 40..... Queen of Diamonds
3. fair-haired young man ................ King of Hearts
4. fair-haired young woman .............. Queen of Hearts
5. dark-haired man over 40............... King of Spades
6. dark-haired woman over 40............. Queen of Spades
7. dark-haired young man................. King of Clubs
8. dark-haired young woman............... Queen of Clubs
Suits:
Wands, Spring
Cups, Summer
Swords, Fall
Pentacles, Winter
Personal interpretations of this relationship may vary individually
Ranks:
Aces - Week at the beginning of the season.
Kings - The matter was completed last year at this time.
Queens - The matter was completed last season.
e.g. - Ace of Wands would be the first week of the Spring Equinox
Stages Method:
Aces - The beginning of a situation.
Twos - Direction the matter will take. May be a 1st meeting point.
Threes - The point at which details grow and the matter solidifies.
Fours - Foundation has begun. Roots are put down in order to build.
Fives - The first challenge or glitch in the situation.
Sixes - Issue changes & grows;If it stagnates, it will not continue
Sevens - Variety added, Scope of the idea/project may be expanded.
Eights - Evaluation period. People & ideas may be put to the test.
Nines - Moving forward. The issue is nearly completed.
Tens - Completion of the cycle, project, or issue.
Pages - Signify risks and messages.
Knights - Indicate movement and direction.
How many people's lives are that black and white? Remember, a
reversed card does not necessary mean bad news. Using sequential
spreads rather than positional spreads (the Celtic Cross is a
positional spread) gives one the opportunity to be more
sophisticated in the use of reversed cards.
M P M
1 2 3
These cards can be transposed two more times by moving the Left
Modifier to the right hand side:
M P M
2 3 1
3 1 2
As a general rule:
Minor cards are within the control of the Querent
Major cards are out of the querent's control
Court cards personify an action or actually represent a person.
Next, transpose the cards as shown above, and see if you feel
different about them. Repeat the process. Then reverse one of the
cards, and reinterpret. There are far more combinations of
reversal than transpositions. Hopefully you should experience
slightly different feelings each time. It is usually easier to
avoid Court cards to begin with, but persevere.
This stage is essentially how most people would read the cards.
Most people's experiences are that there is some difference with
each transposition, but it is hard to quantify exactly.
Once you have done this, actually apply and combine the meanings of
each card with appropriate weighting. I suggest you follow the
order given here, but do experiment.
EXERCISE 1
==========
Now we will interpret the 3 Card Spread purely on elemental
principles. It may help to make up some Flash Cards with only the
elemental symbols on them if you wish to practise yourself.
As an example,
1 2 3
F A W
1 2 3
A F W
1 2 3
A W F
SUMMARY
So far, the above has been an exercise rather than an actual
spread. I have avoided mention of any individual card or meaning
deliberately. Anyone using a standard Tarot deck of 78 cards
should be able to follow this system. There is another advantage
in that one's own interpretation of each card does not have to
change, however idiosyncratic they may be.
FIRE POSITION:
Fire deals with actions.
1 2 3
F A W
WATER POSITION:
Water indicates emotions, feelings, and is passive.
1 2 3
F A W
Using the same order of cards as for the Fire position, we have a
completely different situation. Modifier 3 is now the strongest
card. Modifier 1, an enemy of Water, is very weak. Air is
friendly to both cards and the Water Position, however Water is
passive. The Querent is dreaming about a situation: it may never
happen. The lack of Earth indicates little practicality. One
could interpret this as an effeminate or ineffectual man, or a
woman who is able to put her ideas into practice, but she may lack
confidence in her abilities, depending of course on what the actual
cards are.
AIR POSITION:
Air is traditionally an indication of trouble and problems.
1 2 3
F A W
The Principal card is in its own place, very strong, and the
Modifiers are both friendly to Air. So far, so good. The problem
comes from the Modifiers being enemies to each other, weakening
themselves. We may have a situation where the Querent is trying to
rise above conflicting emotional experiences that is paralyzing
him/her. Of course s/he may just be intellectualising about the
situation, avoiding the conflict around, hoping it will go away.
This is a good example of how even when an element is in its own
position, it may not have a good prognosis.
EARTH POSITION
Earth is practical, dealing with money, security and work.
1 2 3
F A W
At last we have the opportunity to see what Earth can do, even
though it does not appear in the cards. The Principal, Air, is
very, very weak; in the enemy camp, so to speak. Fire and Water
are friends of Earth. The Querent is within a maelstrom of
conflicting actions and emotions, possibly at work. Office
politics is rampant. The Modifiers support the environment, rather
than the Principal, or at least, they are not in a position to aid
Air. There may be a total lack of forethought in any action.
Actions may be motivated by power and greed. This may also
indicate a situation where someone is not being as practical about
their career or work choice.
SUMMARY
I have deliberately kept the above simple to give you the idea. You
do not have to build things up in the order I suggest. Approach
with an open mind, and you may be surprised with the results.
Graham Nickells
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
4) Rituals of Meditation
This section contains Tarot layouts which are not expressly
intended for divinatory purposes, but rather, are intended for
personal introspection and meditation. DISCLAIMER: Be forewarned
that I make no claims as to the usefulness or safety of these
layouts. Many of them require some sort of knowledge of the
magickal arts and I would definitely recommend that, unless you are
already proficient with such practices, you discuss these
techniques with your teacher or path-shower before using them.
1) Select the Trump you wish to work with. Have the relevant Trump
in front of you.
2) Enter a meditative state. Visualize the Tarot Trump clearly in
your mind.
3) Allow the image to grow so that the frame of the Trump becomes
a doorway.
4) Step into the image. Deepen your meditative state. What can
you learn from this Tarot Trump? When the meditation is
finished, step back through the image, reduce it to a proper
size and return all images to a passive state.
5) Record your experience straightaway.
6) Do not attempt to encounter more than one image during a single
session.
Ritual:
1) Prepare the temple. From a consecrated pack of Tarot card
containing the traditional Qabalistic symbolism, remove the
following: THE HIGH PRIESTESS, TEMPERANCE, THE UNIVERSE, STRENGTH.
Place the four trump cards upon the altar as indicated in the
diagram.
2) Take a Ritual Bath.
3) Place your right index finger above the crown of your head.
Bring your hand down as if drawing the Divine Light into your body.
Touch your forehead and intone the word, "ATAH" (ah-tah). This
means "I Am." Visualize a Bright light centered at the crown of
your head.
4) Bring your finger down to the middle of your chest and
vibrate the name, "MALKUTH" (Mahl-kooth) which means "The Kingdom."
After touching your chest, draw the hand down to the level of the
groin and point toward the floor. Imagine a shaft of white light
extending from the top of your hand down to your feet and ankles.
Concentrate for a minute on the white pillar of light stretching
from Kether to Malkuth.
5) Touch your right shoulder and intone the name, "VE-GEBURAH"
(V'-geh-boo-rah) which means "And the Power." See another point of
white light beginning at your shoulder.
6) Bring your index finger directly across your body to the
left shoulder. Vibrate the name, "VE-GEDULAH" (V'-geh-doo-lah),
which means, "And the Glory." See a brilliant white shaft of light
perpendicular to the first one which connects both shoulders.
7) Put both hands out in front of you and clasp them together
as if praying. Then bring the clasped hands close to your body and
position them straight up, just in front of your heart. Intone
"LE-OLAHM, AMEN" (lay-oh-lahm, Ah-men), which means "Forever, Unto
the Ages." Visualize a complete cross of light formed within
yourself, which consecrates the temple of the body through the
power of the Divine Names.
Once you have established the Qabalistic Cross you may
initiate the Cross of the Tarot. However the image of the Cross of
Light must remain firmly fixed in your mind. With your index
finger tough the four points on your body a second time, and repeat
the names from ATAH through VE-GEDULAH, but add the following
visualizations:
8) At the crown of your head, imagine a brilliant spiral shape
contained within the point of light at KETHER. This is the symbol
of the First Whirlings. [ed - there is a small picture of a spiral
making nearly two full rotations.]
9) At the bottom of the first shaft of light, visualize the
symbol of the cross within a circle. See this sigil at your feet
in black. This represents MALKUTH, the manifested kingdom. [ed -
picture of an 'X' circumscribed in a circle.]
10) At your right shoulder, see the red symbol of Mars flaming
within the white shaft of Light. This symbol alludes to GEBURAH,
the Sphere of Severity. [ed - picture of Mars, more commonly known
as the symbol for male, or a circle with an arrow pointing to the
NW.]
11) At your left shoulder, picture within the point of light,
the blue sigil of Jupiter. This suggests CHESED, the Sephirah of
Mercy. [ed - picture of Jupiter. Looks like the number 2 with a
line going through and perpendicular to the line at the bottom of
the 2.]
12) Now return to the complete image of the Cross within your
body. Vibrate the name of the Hebrew letter "GIMEL" (Gee-mahl).
See the first shaft of it from Kether begin to change to the color
blue. The blue light descends from your head to the area of your
heart and stops there. Concentrate your thoughts on the image of
THE HIGH PRIESTESS from the second Key of the Tarot. The High
Priestess controls the flow of Divine Power from its eternal Source
in Kether to the rest of the temple (you -- as a reflection of the
Tree of life). Through her you experience all spiritual events.
She controls and regulates all life, and she connects that which is
above to that which is below. Contemplate her image for a few
moments.
13) Intone the name of the Hebrew letter "SAMEKH" (Sahm-ehk).
The shaft of light turns brilliant blue from your heat down to your
groin area. Visualize the figure of TEMPERANCE from the 14th Key
of the Tarot. The feminine, angelic form of TEMPERANCE blends the
opposing elements of Fire and Water, Sun and Moon, Intellect and
Emotion, Force and Form. She harmonizes these contradictory
elements of your personality into a mixture of perfect balance,
clearing the way for real spiritual growth to take place. Meditate
upon this image for a short period of time.
14) Vibrate the name of the Hebrew letter "TAU" (Taw). The
shaft of light leading from your groin to your feet turns indigo or
violet-blue in color. Imagine the female figure from THE UNIVERSE,
the 21st Key of the Tarot. The form of the Dancing Goddess gives
final form to the Manifest Universe. She is the womb of Heaven,
giving birth to the signs of the Zodiac, the Planets and the
Elements. She is the completion of the Grand Design in the Mind of
the Eternal. Take time to mediate upon this image.
15) Vibrate the name of the Hebrew letter "TETH" (Tayth).
Envision the second shaft of white light which connects the two
shoulders begin to turn bright yellow, starting at Geburah.
Imagine the woman from STRENGTH, the eighth Key of the Tarot. She
holds the fierce and mighty lion under perfect control through the
power of her Will. She has tamed the raw, fiery energy of the
beast and transformed it by discipline. The strength generated
from passion and intellect working together under will is
tremendous. Feel the sense of inner strength given off by this
image.
16) Repeat once more the words "LE-OLAHM, AMEN" while making
the appropriate gestures. Visualize the complete Cross for the
final time in glowing white light.
Thus ends the ritual.
Ritual: (verbatim)
Find yourself standing in an antechamber within a castle. You
wait. Ahead of you a pair of great double doors are closed.
Beside the doorway you see a bell. You move forward and ring the
bell. A deep note rings out. You stand back. The doors swing
open slowly. You enter and find that you stand in a Great Hall.
At the far end seated on a long low dais you see four crowned
figures. Here are the King, Queen, the Prince and the Princess.
An unseen voice rings out, 'Welcome to the Elemental Court'. You
move forward further into the hall. A fanfare rings out. 'Let the
Elemental Powers step forward.' Now from behind the dais a
character dressed plainly comes to meet you. The character carries
the Ace of the elemental suit and shows it to you. You meditate on
it. The character returns. A new figure appears bearing the Two
of the suit. In this way each character appears before you,
bearing the appropriate Tarot card. The characters appear from the
direction that you have prepared in your spread. When the bearer
of the tenth card has returned, spend a few moments in the quiet
meditation before moving on to the next phase.
When you are ready, approach the dais where the Elemental
Court sit.
Face the King and pose the question, 'What must I do to awaken
the function of ...?'
Face the Queen and pose the question, 'What must I do to
develop the function of ...?'
Face the Prince and pose the question, 'What must I do to
sustain the function of ...?'
Face the Princess and pose the question, 'What must I do to
express the function of ...?'
Each question presents an opportunity for personal
realization. Meditate on all that has transpired. Offer thanks
for what has taken place. Close the meditation.
The work does not finish when the meditation closes. The
impetus is transformed from the private interior experience into
daily life and ordinary interaction. Become aware of the
repercussions and effects of your work, recording the perceived
results in your diary. These results may in turn become the
subject for further reflection. The process becomes self-
perpetuating. Initiation is a cycle.
[paragraph deleted]
Each of the Tarot suits may be used in the same way. We may
safely explore and enrich these basic functions within ourselves.
Do not hurry such work. It is important to allow all effects to be
integrated into life. The four elemental initiations could be
spread through the space of a year.
Deal: Deal the 22 Major Arcana cards into the positions shown
Keep the orientations consistent [when dealing] and you should find
that the first loop of 10 cards (Fool-Hermit) are all facing
outwards from the loop, yet by an Escheresque twist of orientation,
the second 10 cards (Strength - Judgement) are all facing inwards.
Significant, huh?
I hope I've got these opposites correct from memory, I haven't got
a pack in front of me right now to test the layout!
Ponder the fact that the Fool can "see" either the secular, worldly
domain of the minors, or the spiritual progression domain of the
majors. He can't experience both, because he is constrained within
the two-dimensional world of the cards he inhabits and one of the
domains is always obscured from him by the other.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
5) Useless Information
If you feel that there is any newsgroup not listed above which
would be appropriate for, and benefit from, a regular posting of
this document, please inform me via e-mail and I will include it.
Permission has been granted for any person to upload this document
to an appropriate area at the following online services:
Compuserve, America Online, Prodigy, and The Microsoft Network.
Personally, I do not have access to any of these services.
Updating this document to those servers is dependent upon their
clients.
David C. Jones
1805 Sena
Denton, TX 76201
5.3) Administrativia
A mailing list for new versions will not be maintained for the time
being. It is very difficult for me to do multiple e-mails on my
system and it requires over an hour for me upload the REF for e-
mail (my server does not have an option to attach files). Also,
since the new REF is always sent to the above web sites on odd
months, keeping a mailing list is redundant. Until this situation
changes, the ONLY people who will receive new copies on a regular
basis via e-mail are the web site maintainers and people who made
new contributions to that version of the REF. You may still send
requests to have the REF e-mailed, but they will only be honored
for one mailing. In regard to this new policy, I have received a
few notes from people stating that some of the web sites are not
posting the new FAQ's; I will be having a discussion with the
people who run these sites and the problem will be rectified in
future versions.
On a similar note, some of the things that I have learned and come
to believe about tarot cards go directly against some of the things
presented in this document. It is my intention, however, to relate
information and not to pass judgement, especially since some things
I disagree with may work for others. As such, I will attempt to
include any informational comments that I receive from anybody as
long as it doesn't seem redundant, so please send in anything that
you believe might be useful to others.
First, read section 5.6.2 and then start with the line reading
(section 1.3). It is the simplest layout in this cataloge and thus
makes a good place to start. This should give you the basics of
how to read layouts. Always try to tie all the cards in together
as you are reading them. How the cards interract with each is
often as important as the cards themselves. Help for learning how
to relate cards together can be found in section 3.7.
Second, find a layout which contains several lines. These are easy
to find because they have an L next to them in the table of
contents. These will be as easy to do as the line reading, but
should give you better practice relating cards together.
Third, do the Celtic Cross. This is layout which EVERYONE has used
at least once in thier life. Even if you never use it again, it
will at least give you some type of reference point about which you
can interact with other people about tarot layouts. Also, since it
is probably the layout which your book will teach you, it can help
you learn how to relate this document to correspond with whatever
book you are learning out of. If you ever get _really_ serious
about tarot divination, you will learn to hate the Celtic Cross,
but for now, it will be useful.
After this, just go through the layouts in the way they are listed,
which is by the number of cards they use. In general, the more
cards that are used, the more complex the layout. Progressing
through document in this manner will ease you into the big league
layouts which normally take a good couple of hours to do.
Reading over section 5.6.4 will help you understand how each layout
is listed in the REF. Section 5.6.5 contains an in depth
description of the complexity rating and grouping flags.
The primary version number will increase by one only under the
following circumstances: A) A major structural change occurs in
the layout of the REF or B) the secondary version number exceeds
nine.
Deal: This is the order in which the cards are traditionally dealt
for this layout. I would like to emphasize the word traditional.
In a few of these layouts the card ordering does not appear to make
any sense, so if something seems to work better for you I see no
reason why you shouldn't do it. Also, sometimes readers will
intentionally alter the order of the deal if they have a
premonition to do so.
Flags:
Complexity:
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6) References and Thanks
Baewer, Carl.
(Carl.Baewer@Mixcom.com)
(Sysop of Astro Net-1 BBS, 414-481-9976)
Doane, Doris Chase and King Keyes, _How to Read Tarot Cards_.
Harper & Row Publishers, New York. 1971.
(Not a very good book, IMHO. Somewhat strict about how things
should be done and interpreted, but it does contain twelve
different layouts.)
Graham, Sarena.
(graham@ionet.net)
(maintains web site containing this document)
Jackson, Michele.
(jacksn@norfolk.infi.net)
(maintains web site containing this document)
King, D. T.
(dtking@iii.net)
(maintains web site containing this document)
Philpott, Tammie.
(philpott@egr.msu.edu)
(maintains web site containing this document)
Silbury, Tira, _Sacred Marriage, The_ Honoring the God and Goddess
Within Each Other._ Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul,
Minnesota. 1994.
(Another loan from Ms. Withee)
Tyagi
(tyagi@HouseOfKaos.Abyss.Com)
(Tyagi provided many suggestions and helpful hints which prompted
and guided the restructuring of version 4.0)
Wolf, Randy.
(wolfd@icanect.net)
(web site maintainer)
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7) History of this document
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