SynTAROTis

Evocative Tarot

The success of a Tarot reading is directly related to the evocative power of the cards. In a well-designed deck, the images are not only rich in symbolic content, but also inspire the creative imagination with their ambiguity.

The images have no context, inviting us to create our own story. What, for example, is happening on the first image below? Is the woman mourning a lost love (symbolized by the dead dove and its mourning partner)? Is she sad about the dead dove? Did she kill the dove? What about the second one: who is the man stealing away with the swords? Why is he doing it, and who is he stealing from? Who is the woman on the third card? What is that expression on her face? She looks less concerned about being bound than one would expect. In fact, might she enjoy being a martyr? Or is she a masochist? The scene on the fourth card looks innocent enough, but who is the man in the background? A soldier? Why would he be there?

Because the images are ambiguous, they are open to numerous interpretations. Psychoanalysts would say that, whatever story we make up for a card, we are “projecting” an inner state—fears, desires, motives, beliefs—on the card.

Tarot decks differ in the ambiguity of their images. Take a look at these examples. Two decks that excel in ambiguity are the Bohemian Gothic Tarot and the Victorian Romantic Tarot by Magic Realist Press. In these decks, not only are the images richly evocative: the expression on the faces of people are often ambiguous. In this card from the Bohemian Gothic Tarot, for example: who is the predator, and who the prey? In the Rider-Waite deck, people have no or neutral expressions, so we project our own meanings on the scenes.

The Tarot of Metamorphosis is ambiguous in a different way: its surreal images have a dreamlike quality, with people, objects and scenes morphing into something else.

Tarot cards are evocative for another reason: the images contain symbols that are universal yet, like dream images, we might have our own associations with them. The images and symbols can conjure up metaphors, clichés, myths, fairy and folk tales, religious figures and even personal memories.

Decks that rely heavily on symbols to add and expand card meanings include Robert Place’s Alchemical Tarot, Rachel Pollack’s Shining Tribe Tarot, and the Haindl Tarot. Ciro Marchetti’s Tarot of Dreams indicates the astrological symbol, Hebrew letter and position on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life in the corners of the major arcana cards, and the astrological symbols for the minor arcana. The Quantum Tarot includes science and physics symbols.

If you are interested in learning more about the symbols, consult a dictionary of symbols such as Cirlot’s A dictionary of symbols or Jack Tressider’s The Watkins dictionary of symbols. An excellent book to consult for number, suit and court card symbology is Mary K Greer’s 21 ways to read a Tarot card. It lists associations for each number, suit, and types of court card (kings, queens, knights and pages). Sandra Thomson’s Pictures from the heart is one of my favourite sources of information on symbols. She also includes myths and mythical figures associated with the cards.

Because of the rich symbology and ambiguous images, card meanings can be frustrating. As Tarot became associated with various esoteric systems, the meanings ascribed to the individual cards expanded. Some Tarotists shifted the traditional interpretations to match their themes or chosen systems, while others combined the often disparate interpretations in one comprehensive list. This meant that the cards were given meanings that diverged considerably from one another, and even contradicted one another.

Here is Mary K Greer’s suggested meanings for the Seven of Swords (see the second card above—the man sneaking away with the swords) from her Tarot for your self.

Sneaking around. Lying. Overwhelmed by the odds, avoiding confrontation. Research: collecting the knowledge and ideas of others. Preparation. Set-up. Distribution. Stealth. Subterfuge. Theft. Wit. Disarming others.

I am particularly fond of “Research: collecting the knowledge and ideas of others.” The suit of Swords is, after all, about ideas, thoughts, reasoning, and communication!

On the other hand, Rachel Pollack, in Seventy-eight degrees of wisdom, suggests “schemes and actions that do not solve anything.”

According to Aleister Crowley, the card is titled “Lord of Futility.” He goes on:

There is vacillation, a wish to compromise, a certain toleration. This card suggests the policy of appeasement, a contest between the many feeble and the one strong, a striving in vain.

No wonder Arthur Edward Waite says “The design is uncertain in its import, because the significations are widely at variance with each other.”

The variations can be explained by taking note of the esoteric systems the author applied to the cards. There are differences, for example, between the meaning of numbers assigned by numerologists, and those taken from the Tree of Life. Tarot decks also differ in the way they assign elements to the suits. Although most decks follow the Rider-Waite and Thoth example of associating Swords with Air and Wands with Fire, decks based on Gardnerian witchcraft usually associate Wands with Air and Swords with Fire. Tarotists also differ in assigning planets and astrological signs to the cards and elements to the court cards.

As contradictory as the upright meanings of the cards can be, it is nothing to the variety of reversed meanings. For the Seven of Swords, Waite suggests “Good advice, counsel, instruction, slander, babbling.” Mary Greer adds:

Prudence. Avoiding danger. Overturning plans and arrangements. No subterfuge. Coming out in the open. “Out of the closet.” Retrieving something. Returning to the scene of the crime. Stolen goods returned. Examining past actions. Advice and instruction. Initiation. Esoteric knowledge and interpretation. (Tarot for your self)

For divination, these contradictions may pose a problem. For creative thinking, however, more is always better. Every association you make with a card is a source of inspiration. Once you have noted all your associations with a card, you might want to consult one or more of the excellent books that offer a variety of interpretations for each card. Some that I would recommend are:

• Mary K Greer’s Tarot for your self: includes upright and reversed meanings, both traditional and some very interesting variations.
• Anthony Louis’s Tarot plain and simple: gives several upright and reversed meanings per card, and includes “situation and advice” and “people” sections per card.
• Sandra Thomson's Pictures from the heart: A Tarot dictionary is a wonderful source of card meanings; she includes a discussion of each card, giving examples from various decks.
• Paul Huson (Mystical origins of the Tarot), Jana Riley (Tarot dictionary and compendium), and Bill Butler (Dictionary of the Tarot) offer compilations of interpretations taken from various sources, old and new (from Etteilla, to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and on to modern interpretations).
• If you like working with reversed cards, a must-read book is Mary K Greer’s The complete book of Tarot reversals.
• Another wonderful book that does not give card meanings, but teaches you ways to read a Tarot card, is Mary K Greer’s 21 ways to read a Tarot card.

Related articles

• 12 Creative Uses for Tarot Cards | The Spiritual Skeptic
• Brainstorming with Tarot cards (www.psychsoma.co.za)

It takes courage to live your life (Decision spread)

Living your life means that you take responsibility for who you are and the choices you make. The other option is to sit passively while people and events happen to you.

How do you know which option you are living? If you find yourself saying “I have to” or “I must,” you are making the wrong decisions, or not making them at all. If you often resent others because they are “making you” do things, you need to start living your life.

Of course this sounds easier than it is. Living your life means you need to know yourself; it can mean choosing the difficult option because that is what you believe in; it means you have to be conscious of what you decide to do, even when you feel that there is nothing you can do.

Living your life does not mean that you will always be doing what you want, or have exactly the life that you wish for. It does not mean that you neglect your responsibilities or act in a self-centred way. It does mean that you make choices based on your values.

Values are not the same as principles, although they can overlap. A value is something that is important to you. Neatness is a value; to some it is important, to others less so. Success, wealth, security, learning, privacy, comfort, family, solitude—these are values. You may value some principles more than others. If you value solitude more than being social, you might choose not to accept invitations to social events; but if you value friendship highly, you might make the effort to attend at least some of the events.

If you value your reader’s time, you will get to the point (I say to myself) :-)

Some decisions need reflection. As always, I believe that Tarot cards are an excellent aid to reflection. They can also help you make decisions—not by “telling” you what to do, but by helping you reflect on your various options.

I designed this spread to cover important aspects when you have to decide between two actions. You are not limited to two options, of course; just add cards for positions 2 to 8 for each additional option.

When you use this spread, make notes on your thoughts for each of the options. Halfway through the spread, one option may start to look like the best one—don’t stop there! Each position in the spread can give you valuable information on the options at hand. More than that: each card in the spread can help you consider strengths and weaknesses in your position, not only the cards in the option you choose in the end. Think of the spread as a whole as “the cards you’ve been dealt,” and then how to play them.

For example, look at where the majors fall in the spread. Could these considerations be the most important? And which option is emphasized by majors? Is there a predominance of one suit in one of the options, or the absence of a suit, and can this help you discover whether one option is perhaps dominated by emotion (Cups), or rational thought (Swords)? Can you find any significance in the suit or number of the corresponding cards for each option? Look at the number of reversed cards (if you use them), major arcana cards and court cards. Consider the energy in each option. Passive or active? Passionate or cool? Emotional or thoughtful?

The more you play with these cards, the better your chances of making the most effective choice.

Card positions:

1. Situation
2. Option A / Option B
3. The most important thing to consider
4. Best thing that can happen if I choose this option
5. Worst thing that can happen if I choose this option
6. What motivates me to choose this option?
7. What I want to happen
8. What will probably happen if I choose this option
9. What might happen if I don't make a choice? (Sometimes choosing not to choose can be a good option.)

Problem solving with fortunetelling: Part 11 – Outcome

This post continues the reading started in Part 1: The setup.

The reading is one using “traditional” meanings (gleaned from authors such as Arthur Edward Waite, Eden Gray, and Leanna Greenaway), in a “predictive” (or fortunetelling) reading. The purpose of this reading is not fortunetelling, but to demonstrate how a predictive reading can be used to stimulate the creative imagination and as an aid in problem solving. (See Part 1 of this series for the reasoning behind the exercise.)

Outcome: Trump XVIII--The Moon

An eerie card, isn’t it? The moon is associated with night, illusions, dreams and nightmares. The crab symbolizes the primitive and deep subconscious (life crawling to land from the deep seas; a long time before humanity appears on Earth). The wolf and the dog represent the animal nature and instincts, with the wolf being the more savage and dangerous, and the dog safer and more domesticated.

This is another watery card (see the previous post for the other water cards in the spread). The water links the card to the feminine, to the origin of life and to the personal and collective unconscious. The card denotes emotion, instinct, the irrational and the psychic. The moon is eclipsing the sun of rational thought and clear sight. The mountains (often symbols of wisdom and enlightenment) seem to be the goal, but the road runs past two animals howling at the moon, and between two mysterious towers with dark windows. Does this mean there is no help for the traveller? Or that something or someone is lying in wait?

In the context of creativity, this card could be a positive one. Creativity touches the realms of imagination, dreams, illusion, emotions, and even danger. But it should not be taken lightly. As bright as it can be, moonlight is treacherous. Domesticated animals can still pose danger.

In this spread, with its abundance of water (and not only in the Cups cards; look at Temperance, where the angel has its toe in the water; and the Fool, with its frozen water on the mountaintop), the card could serve as a warning: look out! The way ahead is filled with danger. The sun is eclipsed by the moon. The road ahead is uncertain and dark. Maybe this is a time to pause and reflect on what is needed before I travel further along this path. The Page of Swords hinted that the thinking faculty has been neglected. The Moon is suggesting that the emotional has taken over completely. If I don’t redress the balance before I go on, I might make like the reversed Fool and not see the chasm before it is too late.

And take another look at Temperance: doesn’t this card look like a brighter version of the Moon? With an angel instead of a howling dog and wolf, and bright sunlight instead of the moon eclipsing the sun, but the same path leading to the mountains. How did the bright and optimistic situation turn into the dark and fearful Moon?

Let’s see: in this journey I have trampled on the rainbow of happiness, turned commitment and rational enthusiasm and optimism upside down, refused the temptation of having a little fun, disregarded the chasm opening at my feet, and hung around with no purpose in mind. Is it any wonder that I experienced regret and sorrow, crying over spilt milk? Or that I have come face to face with the treacherous Moon?

If the situation has turned from Temperance to the Moon, how can I use the Moon’s energy to return to my earlier optimism? Looking at the two cards together, however, I sense that the situation as represented by Temperance might not have been ideal for this project. Doesn’t Temperance look just too bright and cheery for a creative project that focuses on Tarot cards? I have certainly lost that earlier optimism and sense of balance, but the mystery and illusion of the Moon are attractive qualities to me right now.

This then could be the focus of my next spread. The current reading has raised many interesting questions about and clues to the appearance of my “writer’s laryngitis.” A subsequent spread could take the Moon card as significator (a card representing the querent or situation), and explore solutions from there.

Problem solving by fortunetelling: Part 10 – Hopes & fears

This post continues the reading started in Part 1: The setup.

The reading is one using “traditional” meanings (gleaned from authors such as Arthur Edward Waite, Eden Gray, and Leanna Greenaway), in a “predictive” (or fortunetelling) reading. The purpose of this reading is not fortunetelling, but to demonstrate how a predictive reading can be used to stimulate the creative imagination and as an aid in problem solving. (See Part 1 of this series for the reasoning behind the exercise.)

 Hopes & fears: 5 of Cups (reversed)

The “Hopes & Fears” position can be confusing: should the card be read as a hope, or as a fear? These two need not be mutually exclusive--you could hope for something but fear you won’t get it—but you could also have distinct hopes and fears in a situation. My interpretation of Waite’s direction here is to consider the emotional state of the reader; an indication of how the reader’s feelings (both hopes and fears) are influencing the situation.

Upright meanings for the 5 of Cups include: regret; sorrow; crying over spilt milk; not all is lost (three of the cups are still upright). Reversed meanings: hopeful expectations, renewed hope and happiness.

This card is absolutely perfect for describing my current emotional state: “renewed hope” just about sums it up.

This leaves only one more card to go!

It is interesting to note that the three cards from the Cups suit (2,3 and 5 of Cups) are all reversed. In most Tarot decks, the Cups suit is linked to the element Water. Water is associated with the feminine—with the origin of life, birth, intuitive wisdom, passivity and adaptability. It also denotes cleansing and the subconscious. In addition to these, in Tarot, water carries the connotations of emotions and relationship matters. Since creation (birth), emotions and intuition are part of the creative process, the Cups suit also has a link to creativity.

The reversed cards remind me that my reading of the spread has emphasized an imbalance that needs to be redressed: “the ideal circumstances in which to continue the book project would be to attain an inner and outer state of balance, harmony, creative achievement and moderation.”

The imbalance is not only in the emotional and creative aspects. The Page of Swords has reminded me that being prepared, using the rational faculty to balance the emotional, and making a thoughtful effort to fan the flames of enthusiasm are all necessary elements. And the Devil (I simply cannot take him seriously when he’s upside down!) is raising a hand for some fun and a less serious attitude. The reversed Hanged Man is saying “no” to too much self-sacrifice. Even the romantic-looking Fool has put on his jester’s cap to get my attention. Maybe the reversed 2 of Cups is a warning against over-commitment, taking everything too seriously?

Problem solving by fortunetelling: Part 9 – Your home

This post continues the reading started in Part 1: The setup.

The reading is one using “traditional” meanings (gleaned from authors such as Arthur Edward Waite, Eden Gray, and Leanna Greenaway), in a “predictive” (or fortunetelling) reading. The purpose of this reading is not fortunetelling, but to demonstrate how a predictive reading can be used to stimulate the creative imagination and as an aid in problem solving. (See Part 1 of this series for the reasoning behind the exercise.)

Your home: The Hanged Man (Reversed)

Working with only the (more-or-less) traditional meanings of the cards can be challenging. If you let everything about and on the card inspire you—the image, the colours, the atmosphere, the attitude of the people in the scene—it is much easier to “fit” an interpretation to the circumstances. You can imagine stories, reflect on personal associations that come up when you look at the cards, consider any metaphors or clichéd phrases, or combine suit and number to find interpretations that make sense to you, in these particular circumstances, but not necessarily to another Tarot reader. In such a case, the possibility for projecting your current concerns on the card or the spread is also greater. The danger, however, is that the field is too wide; that you will have enough options to dismiss the ones you should be reflecting on.

A further advantage of forcing connections between a narrower range of interpretations and the card position, is that you can exercise you “innovation” muscles. At times, finding a connection can stretch your ingenuity uncomfortably far. Consider the Hanged Man in the “Home” position.

The “Home” position is about your environment, which can include the attitudes of people around you, or something in your environment that is influencing you.

The Hanged Man is about sacrifice, particularly self-sacrifice, and being “suspended,” hanging around. Earlier meanings for this card included “betrayal” or “traitor.” In older decks, coins fell from the pocket of the Hanged Man, or the figure would hold bags of money. These cards referred to Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. In 15th century Italy, escaped criminals and traitors were depicted in this hanging-upside-down position in what were known as pittura infamante, or ‘shame paintings.’

For the reversed card, Waite offers “selfishness, the crowd, body politic.” Eden Gray has “Absorption in physical matters. Pre-occupation with the ego. Resistance to spiritual influences. Arrogance. False prophecy.”

None of these interpretations fitted. I tried reversing the upright meanings, but came up blank. Then I tried Mary K Greer’s suggestion of “breaking through” from “The complete book of Tarot reversals.” And there you go: no more “hanging around”—I have broken through the feeling of being stuck (which, I remembered, is one of the interpretations for the reversed Fool). Read together, cards 7 and 8 could mean that I have been feeling stuck and unenthusiastic, against a backdrop of a project that has been suspended--just “hanging around,” in fact—but that there has been a change in the environment, some movement. True: however unenthusiastic I felt, I have still done some work, including these posts about this particular spread.

Here is another example of how reading the cards for problem solving and reading them for divination can differ: I am not concerned with the “correct” interpretation of the cards, but only with gaining insight. I’m mixing up time frames by letting some cards refer to the current situation, and others to the past. Some cards describe the ideal situation, and others the real one. I also don’t use a consistent method to interpret reversed cards.

I remembered that I had wanted to investigate the “wrong choices” suggestion from Eden Gray, however, so I considered the other upright meaning of the Hanged Man: sacrifice. I played with a few thoughts here: could I have made the “wrong” sacrifices by starting this particular project? Alternatively, have I perhaps not been making the right sacrifices? These thoughts did not take me much further; and anyway, I do not believe that I have made the wrong choice. I dismissed this avenue.

But, something did strike me as funny: writing this book is one of the projects I started after I was retrenched almost four years ago. Not “self-sacrifice,” but sacrificed on the downsizing altar!

Problem solving by fortunetelling: Part 8 – You

This post continues the reading started in Part 1: The setup.

The reading is one using “traditional” meanings (gleaned from authors such as Arthur Edward Waite, Eden Gray, and Leanna Greenaway), in a “predictive” (or fortunetelling) reading. The purpose of this reading is not fortunetelling, but to demonstrate how a predictive reading can be used to stimulate the creative imagination and as an aid in problem solving. (See Part 1 of this series for the reasoning behind the exercise.)

This is you: The Fool (Reversed)

The meaning of the Fool has shifted over the centuries. Earlier decks portrayed the Fool as vagabond, jester, pilgrim, or lunatic. The Rider-Waite deck broke from this tradition to portray a much more romantic image of the Fool, emphasising innocence, childlike wisdom, and idealism.

What can we say of an upside-down Fool in the “You” position? This position refers to your role or attitude in the matter, or to how you see yourself in the situation.

Keywords for the Fool in its upright position would include beginnings, newness, enthusiasm and trusting the universe; in keeping with the “story” that has been unfolding in the spread, the interpretation for the reversed Fool would be feeling stale, unenthusiastic, and having little faith in either myself or the universe.

Waite adds “apathy” to the reversed meanings; Eden Gray has “the choice made is likely to be faulty,” and Leanna Greenaway adds “stuck in a rut.” As I agree that these interpretations fit the situation, I could leave it at that and move on to the next card, or I could dig a little deeper. Maybe I should reflect on Eden Gray’s suggestion of wrong choices? Could I have made the wrong choice in deciding to write this book, or am I perhaps tackling the project in the wrong way? Or maybe this is something I fear, for no good reason.

To help me with this question, I can reflect on the remaining cards in the spread: the Hanged Man (reversed), the Five of Cups (reversed), and the Moon.

One thing to note is that I am not consistent in my reading of this spread. I started by reading some cards as the ideal situation, as opposed to a description of my current situation. Other cards again I take to refer to my current situation.

In true fortunetelling or divination readings, the reader would not switch between “ideal” and “real,” but make a consistent “story” from the spread. In problem solving, however, any ideas sparked by the cards are valuable. I play with the traditional interpretations of these cards until something fits, something with which I can work. This technique is similar to the creative-thinking technique known as “forced relationships” or “forced connections”: taking two unrelated items (in this case a card with its associated meanings, and a particular card position) and finding some way to connect the two.

And something else: my reading of some of the cards in this spread are helping me formulate a question, or problem statement, for a later spread; from other cards, I am building a picture of my attitude toward the project. Not all the cards in this spread strike me as equally useful in my investigation, so some of them I take note of, and move on.

When read together, the card in the “You” position and the next two cards (“Home” and “Hopes & Fears”), can help form a picture of the reader’s internal and external environment.

Problem solving by fortunetelling: Part 7 – Before you

This is before you (Near future): Trump XV—The Devil (Reversed)

This post continues the reading started in Part 1: The setup.

The reading is one using “traditional” meanings (gleaned from authors such as Arthur Edward Waite, Eden Gray, and Leanna Greenaway), in a “predictive” (or fortunetelling) reading. The purpose of this reading is not fortunetelling, but to demonstrate how a predictive reading can be used to stimulate the creative imagination and as an aid in problem solving. (See Part 1 of this series for the reasoning behind the exercise.)

Ah, the Devil himself! Traditionally, the Devil has the   connotations of temptation, bondage, materialism, black magic, and the "shadow.” When reversed, the card could mean the same, but to a lesser intensity, or a release from the above.

What immediately leapt to mind when I saw the reversed Devil, was "release from bondage," which I take to mean that my natural optimism is resurfacing: whereas I had been feeling negative, pessimistic and stuck, I can now see the possibility of breaking these bonds to move forward.

Also, in its reversed position the card makes me think of mischief rather than evil, of pranks and poking fun at things that are too serious. The Devil can seem a force of oppression and depression, or a reminder of the ridiculous in life (and how good it can feel to fall for temptation!). I see another hint here of how to regain the balance that I have lost: some fun might be just what I need. Even better: if I could laugh at myself!

My worries and complaints about my writing ability must have been getting on my husband’s nerves. We had been trying to get our bookshelves in order, when he suddenly pounced on what he called the perfect book for me in my current state: Philip K Dick’s Confessions of a crap artist …! Sometimes all you need is a good laugh to break the spell.

A note: One of the most valuable aspects of a Tarot reading is that it can show you what is on your mind.

I don't always respond to the same cards in the same way. Sometimes the Hierophant irritates me with his hidebound outlook; at other times he is a kindly father figure. The Lovers can at times seem more cloying than loving; the Fool can seem a "wise child" or an idiot.

My response to a card--and I'm sure that of other Tarot readers as well--depends on mood and circumstances, and can show me when my mood or attitude has shifted even before I have become conscious if it myself. It could also reflect whatever is on my mind, and can make me aware of attitudes and emotions that have been just below the surface.

To recap: So far in this reading, the stand-out aspect is the lack of balance in my life: the balance between work and rest, and the balance between being committed to a project and not taking things too seriously. Although my current situation appeared very bleak to me, I have discovered pockets of optimism and energy that I can use to get my enthusiasm for the project back.

The motive for doing this spread was to explore my current situation, determine areas of concern, and to formulate a problem statement that can be used in a future spread.

Problem solving by fortunetelling: Part 6—Behind you

This post continues the reading started in Part 1: The setup.

The reading is one using “traditional” meanings (gleaned from authors such as Arthur Edward Waite, Eden Gray, and Leanna Greenaway), in a “predictive” (or fortunetelling) reading. The purpose of this reading is not fortunetelling, but to demonstrate how a predictive reading can be used to stimulate the creative imagination and as an aid in problem solving. (See Part 1 of this series for the reasoning behind the exercise.)

This is behind you (Recent past): Page of Swords

Another card to remind me that I am a beginner when it comes to writing books!

This card immediately makes me think that I have not been acting rationally lately, which is perfectly true.

The Swords suit is the suit of the mind, of rational, logical thinking, and of cutting through the waffle to the heart of the matter. Swords also represent communication (in particular when Swords are linked to Air: we need air to make, transmit and hear sounds).

Pages, on the other hand, are about beginnings, enthusiasm, optimism, curiosity … and a-ha, here is something I can use! I have recently lost my enthusiasm for this specific piece of communication! The project began to seem a chore, something I have to do, not something that (as in the past), I approached with enthusiasm and energy.

Another thought about the upside-down Page of Swords: in losing my sense of adventure about this project, I have also “lost my voice” as writer. Instead of sounding as enthusiastic as I (used to) feel, my writing became stilted, forced, and artificial.

So, not only have the Page-energy been reversed, but also my (Swords) ability to communicate efficiently and entertainingly.

The really really really nice thing about doing this series of posts is that I am regaining the enthusiasm that I have mislaid. As I am working on this post, I can feel that old, familiar sense of … what shall I call it? … a mixture of adventure, creativity, amusement, fun, the sparks in my stomach and in my brain … !

Here is an additional layer to the reading of this card: The Page of Swords in the Universal Rider-Waite deck looks like he (or she?) is ready for action; attentive, on guard, prepared. Reversed, the card could be interpreted as “letting your guard down.” In some ways, I have done exactly that. In any big undertaking, it is vital that you take care of yourself; that you keep your need for rest and relaxation in mind. When I am truly enthusiastic about something (which happens very often!), I can work like a maniac, until I collapse.

Now it looks as if I am getting to the heart of the problem! Remember the tentative problem statement about the need for balance?

Problem solving by fortunetelling: Part 5—The foundation

This post continues the reading started in Part 1: The setup.

The reading is one using “traditional” meanings (gleaned from authors such as Arthur Edward Waite, Eden Gray, and Leanna Greenaway), in a “predictive” (or fortunetelling) reading. The purpose of this reading is not fortunetelling, but to demonstrate how a predictive reading can be used to stimulate the creative imagination and as an aid in problem solving. (See Part 1 of this series for the reasoning behind the exercise.)

This is below you (The foundation): Page of Pentacles

Court cards are often difficult to read, mostly because 1) they can represent a person, an aspect of your (or someone else’s) personality, an atmosphere, or a type of action or event (“do as I do”), and 2) there seems to be confusion about the people represented by each of these 16 cards.

Older Tarot books would describe the appearance of each of the cards (“dark eyes and hair,” “blond hair with light-coloured eyes” and so on), but there are several opinions on which descriptions belong to which suit. There are even more divergent opinions on the type of person each court card represents.

One convention is to associate Pages with beginners/beginnings, students and apprentices, and with that kind of mindset: optimistic, enthusiastic, idealistic, young, immature, innocent, curious, and trusting. These aspects are then merged with the general characteristics of the suit. Pentacles are usually seen as grounded, stable, hardworking, reliable, traditional/conservative, the senses (sensuality; being in touch with the body, surroundings and nature), economically minded, practical.

The Page of Pentacles will be eager to learn about the physical world and everything that influences him or her. The least energetic of the Pages (Pentacles has the lowest energy), the Page of Pentacles is, nevertheless, enthusiastic and optimistic, and therefore a good student. He or she will apply themselves to learning and to practical skills.

The “good student” is only one aspect of the Page of Pentacles, but the one I decided to use for this reading.

The “Below you” or “Foundation” position describes the underlying forces in this situation, the root or cause of a problem, or something that the situation is based on. It can also depict a hidden, unconscious influence, especially if you have decided to treat card 3 (the “Crowns you” card) as “conscious, known influences.” According the Waite, the position portrays something that has already come to pass, something the reader or querent has made his or her own; some Tarotists therefore refer to this position as the “deep past,” further back than the “behind you” position, which refers to the recent past.

For this reading, I have taken this position as the basis of the situation.

In the “foundation” position, I see this Page as depicting the hard work that has gone into my study of Tarot, and in writing the book so far. In considering the “wholesome” aspect of the Pentacles suit, I decide that the work I have done so far is something to be proud of. Although there have been many quick insights, flights of imagination and grave analyses (characteristic of the Wands, Cups and Swords suits respectively), overall, I think I have done some solid and “worthy” work.

It seems I am more positive about the project that I realized! This interpretation of the Page of Pentacles seems to fit, so I will be looking to other aspects of the situation to help me formulate the problem statement, which I can then use as the basis of the next spread.

Problem solving by fortunetelling: Part 4—The crown

This post continues the reading started in Part 1: The setup.

The reading is one using “traditional” meanings (gleaned from authors such as Arthur Edward Waite, Eden Gray, and Leanna Greenaway), in a “predictive” (or fortunetelling) reading. The purpose of this reading is not fortunetelling, but to demonstrate how a predictive reading can be used to stimulate the creative imagination and as an aid in problem solving. (See Part 1 of this series for the reasoning behind the exercise.)

In a true divinatory reading, this card will have the alarm bells ringing: the previous card—10 of Cups (reversed)—seems to indicate a troubled family life; the 2 of Cups (reversed) would now appear to reinforce this interpretation. Let’s see where we can go with this card.

A note: Even as a sceptic, I am often startled by the “accuracy” of these pretend-fortunetelling readings. Of course this perceived accuracy can be explained by factors such as hindsight, coincidences, seeing what you expect to see, and self-fulfilling prophecy, but still …

This reading, however, by card 3 out of 10, is so wrong that it is almost as if the cards are saying: “See, we can be used for solving problems, but not for divining situations!”

This crowns you: 2 of Cups (reversed)

The “crowning” position often gives readers trouble: exactly what does it mean? Some take “crown” to mean “head” (which is where a crown usually sits), so that this position indicates something that is known, conscious. One could then take the next card, opposite this one in the “Foundation” position, to point to hidden or unconscious influences.

Waite describes the “Crown” position as “(a) the Querent's aim or ideal in the matter; (b) the best that can be achieved under the circumstances, but that which has not yet been made actual.”

I like to expand on Waite’s description by thinking of “crown” in the sense of “the cherry on top”, and “the top or highest part of anything, as of a hat or a mountain … the highest or most nearly perfect state of anything … an exalting or chief attribute” (from dictionary.com). In this sense then, card 3 could indicate something that “crowns” the situation, almost a blessing.

The 2 of Cups traditionally means a partnership—most often of the soul mate kind—but could also refer to a contract or partnership between two like-minded people. Reversed, it could mean a broken partnership or contract, or—the one I will choose for this reading—a delay. “A book contract? Not yet, baby!”

At least the “energy” of the card is present, even though the card is reversed: this I will take to mean that, although it is too early to start contacting publishers, the prospect is not completely out of the question. This interpretation would fit Waite’s option b, above—the best that can be achieved, but still just an ideal.

Another possibility that I like, is the continuation of the trend started by Temperance and continued by the reversed 10 of Cups: inner (creative and emotional) balance and harmony. The number 2 can indicate both balance and harmony, and the Cups suit represents not only relationships and emotions, but also creativity and the imagination. Note also the appearance of cups and water in the Temperance card. It is almost as if Temperance is emphasising the most important aspects of the balance and harmony it represents.

OK, I said I wouldn’t be looking at themes and patterns, but this one was too good to miss! It also fits in with the “problem statement” that is slowly taking shape: a problem statement that I will be able to use as the question for a subsequent reading.

So far, this tentative problem statement incorporates “the ideal circumstances in which to continue the book project would be to attain an inner and outer state of balance, harmony, creative achievement and moderation” (formulated in Part 3 of this series, and reinforced in the reading of the current card).

What I would like to achieve in this reading, is a more focused definition of “inner and outer state of balance and harmony”, as well as some ideas on how to achieve this.