Problem solving by fortunetelling: Part 1—The setup

I have been having fun the last few days while (trying to) write the book*. I want to add sample readings using various techniques and “mind-sets” as illustrations of how to use the cards for creative thinking; one of these is a “predictive” reading, i.e. a good old-fashioned fortunetelling reading. Even a sceptic can “use” a fortunetelling reading to stimulate the creative juices. If you want to know how, read on!

My first type of reading is a straightforward and simple predictive reading, using set keywords or phrases. For the card meanings, I have used Arthur Edward Waite’s Pictorial key to the Tarot, Eden Gray’s The Tarot revealed: A modern guide to reading the Tarot cards, and Leanna Greenaway’s Simply Tarot.

To do this kind of reading, all you need is the little white book (LWB) that comes with the deck, or a book that provides you with meanings for all the cards. You don’t need to understand where any of these meanings comes from, and you do not need to do any deep soul searching. (Of course you can do these things, but for this type of reading you don’t have to.)

Future posts will discuss readings involving the more advanced techniques; these will include readings that use “book meanings,” as well as those that are purely intuitive or use free association exclusively (i.e. no books are consulted to interpret the cards).

The “predictive” reading, or pure fortunetelling reading, is not as popular as it once was. Most Tarot readers today prefer a more self-exploratory, psychological approach, and will point out that as we create the future with the choices we make every day, there is hardly any point in relying too much on predicting it.

I did not worry about looking too deeply for patterns and themes that may emerge, or work with dignities, card proximities, esoteric meanings or any other technique that Tarot readers use to enhance their readings. I wanted to keep this reading as simple as possible.

I also did not use a significator (a card that represents the querent or the person for whom the reading is done, or one that represents the situation you are exploring). Significators are usually drawn from the court cards or major arcana cards, and can depend on aspects such as your appearance, sex, age, or the type of problem you face. Some people draw a random card to serve as significator.

I used the Rider-Waite deck, and the Celtic Cross spread (as “traditional” as I could get!).

My reading did not involved a specific question, but was headed “Writing the book.”

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* The book has had many titles so far, but describes the ways a sceptic (specifically one who does not believe in any supernatural forces or psychic senses at work during a Tarot reading) can use Tarot cards. And of course, why one should wish to do so in the first place, as a sceptic! It also involves problem solving and other aspects of creative thinking.