SynTAROTis

Solve circle (Tarot spread)

This spread is more focused on problem solving than exploring a problem.

Use the cards as inspiration--write down everything that comes to mind while you are looking at the card.

This spread is not about divination or even exploring a problem in depth. The focus is on the possible solutions that you generate with card 3, and what comes to mind when you focus on the other six cards

Note: Write down all your ideas, even when they are not related to the card in question. The card should serve as starting point, not as a boundary of what you work with.

There is no wrong way or right way to use this spread. I would recommend that you freewrite everything that comes to mind while you look at a card

You don't have to stay with the particular position name of the card: e.g. with card 4, if more ideas spring to mind, write them down. Just try to also address the spread position.

Basically what happens is that you consider a problem by using the seven cards as inspiration and jumping-off point.

1. Problem
2. What do I have? This could be resources, obstacles and constraints, or a lack of something.
3. Have an idea! Keeping your notes from cards 1 and 2 before you, and using card 3 as inspiration, write down ideas that come to mind. Try to find at least two or three. Stretch your mind; use your imagination. Do NOT evaluate ideas at this stage. Simply write down what comes to mind, even if it is unrealistic or just plain crazy.
4. How do you feel about it? What is your gut telling you? Don’t evaluate, just feel. With this card, you can either work with each idea (from card 3) on it own, Pick one of the ideas from step 3.
5. Why might this idea not work? What is wrong with it? What obstacles or constraints are in the way? What are the possible negative consequences?
6. Why could the idea work? What is right with it? What are the possible positive consequences if the idea is implemented?
7. Conclusion. Card 7 could be encouragement, motivation, a "nod of approval" or a next step. It is basically a rounding off of your thoughts from cards 1 to 6.

Now pick another idea and repeat steps 4 to 7.

Magic square: Three things for the new year

January can be an unpleasant month: back to work, study, or school, resolutions broken, financial difficulties, and more. Here is a spread that lets you reflect on the good things and what to do next to make your dreams come true.

It is one of my 'magic square' spreads. (Here are the others: From worry to peace, I want, I have, I need, I deserve, and two variations here and here.)

The spread is not as complicated as it looks. Simply read the cards that the legend below the image directs you to.

(If you are new to tarot reading, look at the very brief introduction to card reading in Journaling prompts.)

The 'magic' of the magic square spreads lies in the perspective shift you have to make when you read cards that you have already read (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9) in a different mind-set. It transforms the spread into a creative exercise where you look at the cards from a different angle.

 

Cards 1, 2, and 3: Three things that gave life meaning in 2018.

Cards 4, 5, and 6: Three things you are grateful for right now.

Cards 7, 8, and 9: Three things you are looking forward to in 2019.

Cards 1, 5, and 9: Three things you have learned.

Cards 3, 5, and 7: Three things that will bring you closer to your dreams.

Inspiration spread

If you're feeling dispirited and without inspiration, try this spread. It focuses on aspects that, when answered, can make you feel rejuvenated and inspired.

Try not to give quick, superficial answers, but spend some time with the question and the card.

1. What makes me dream? (About possibilities. What do I yearn for? What inspires me?)
2. What do I believe in? (What do I value?)
3. What keeps me holding on? (When the going gets tough ....)
4. What keeps me trying? (Overcoming challenges and obstacles.)
5. What valuable lesson have I learned?

The filter spread

The most effective learning is learning from experience.

The best use we can make of such learning is to apply the lessons to the rest of our lives, and to the good of others.

Ideally, lessons learned from experience should lead to change.

If this sounds like reflection—yes it is! I wrote in another post: "Reflection is a deliberate and purposeful, imaginative and analytical exploration of events.... Research suggests that reflection, done constructively, leads to personal growth ...."

As we know, a tarot reading explores events from various angles until understanding is achieved. Here is a spread in the form of a funnel with six filters. The experience is 'poured' into the top, filtered through the cards, and the lesson(s) extracted at the bottom.

 

1. (The top four cards) Describe the event as thoroughly as you can.
2. (The second row of three cards) What effect did this event have on you, others around you, and the situation?
3. (The third row of two cards) What did you learn from this experience?
4. How can you best use what you have learned?
5. Commit yourself to use what you have learned.
6. What is the next action that you can take?

I based this spread on work done in 'adventure education,' in which experience takes place through various 'adventures' undertaken by the learners (Gass & Stevens, 2007). These adventures, if thoroughly explored, should lead to change when the learner internalizes knowledge gained.

The authors model this process on the idea of a funnel filter. The experience is 'poured' into the top, then filtered through a succession of questions until change is 'extracted.' The filters in this model (see image below) are review; recall & remember; affect & effect; summation; application; and commitment. By the end of this process, the learner should thoroughly understand the material and be able to apply it in the workplace.

The filter model is an expansion of the three questions asked by Terry Barton: What? So what? Now what?

In my spread, the questions correspond to What? (card 1), So what? (cards 2 and 3), and Now what? (Cards 4 to 6).

Sources

Borton, T. (1970). Applying the process approach. In In reach touch and teach: Student concerns and process education (pp. 93–105). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Gass, M. A., & Stevens, C. A. (2007). Facilitating the adventure process. In D. Pouty, J. Panicucci, & R. Collinson (Eds.), Adventure education: Theory and applications (pp. 101–123). IL: Human Kinetics.

So what?

Time for a short three-card spread?

The questions in this spread are based on the work of educationist Terry Borton, who used them as a framework for reflection.

1. What? (What happened? The experience.)
2. So What? (Reflecting on the event, including its consequences.)
3. Now what? (What is the next action? or, What have you learned?)

Simple? The questions might seem elementary, but their combination is effective in both small and great problems.

You might know by now that, for SynTAROTis, tarot, creativity, and reflection go hand in hand. For example:

• I have identified reflection as one of the principles of creativity.
• I have written about reflection in creativity and designed a tarot spread for reflection.
• A second tarot spread is based on a different model of reflection, the Gibbs reflective cycle.
• In Sceptic readings and divination: what is the difference? I discuss the similarities and differences between reading Tarot cards for divination and reflection (the sceptic’s reading).

Source

Borton, T. (1970). Reach touch and teach: Student concerns and process education. New York: McGraw-Hill. 

What have I learned? Tarot spread

Reflection with this spread is somewhat difficult, as it is deeply introspective. However, if something has happened that you feel you must take a lesson from (whether this was a pleasant or disturbing event), it is well worth it. I would recommend this spread for an experienced tarot reader.

1. The event
2. What have I learned?
3. How can I use what I have learned for the best?
4. How can what I have learned fulfil a need that has remained unfulfilled before? (This might have been an unconscious need.)
5. What can I do now that I have not been able to do before?
6. What am I learning right now?

Resolution circle

With a quarter of the year already gone, it may be time to revisit those goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year. How are you doing with those goals? If you need to revisit or even restate a goal you can use this spread:

(If you are new to tarot reading, look at the very brief introduction to card reading in Journaling prompts.)

1. The goal you want to revisit or restate
2. Why did you fail to reach this goal?
3. What can you learn from this failure?
4. What can you do to ensure success next time?
5. What is your strongest motivation to reach the goal?
6. (Card 6 is placed on top of card 1 to start a new cycle) Re-state or reword your goal

New Year's growth spread

Instead of resolutions that most of us break anyway, try this spread that will help you set your eyes on growth and sharing your wisdom with your community.

1. Who are you now?
2. How would you like to grow this year?
3. What will help you?
4. What have you learned in life so far?
5. How can you use this knowledge (in question 4) to benefit your family, friends, or broader community?

What do I know?

Sometimes you need to do a little digging to find out how wise you really are. Try this spread:

(If you are new to tarot cards, try the very, very short introduction to card reading in Journaling prompts.)

1. What do I know?
2. What have I forgotten?
3. What do I need to know and must never forget?

Gibbs reflective cycle with Tarot cards

You might have noticed that SynTAROTis focuses a great deal on reflection.

It is one of the principles of creativity I had identified (see no. 51 in The principles of creativity).

I have written about creative reflection with Tarot cards, and designed my own Tarot spread on reflection.

In Sceptic readings and divination: what is the difference? I discuss the similarities and differences between reading Tarot cards for divination and for reflection (the sceptic’s reading).

When you use a reflective model or Tarot spread, you structure your reflection and discuss each aspect systematically. One of the models of reflection is the Gibbs reflective cycle (Gibbs, 1988). It looks like this:

Image from Oxford Brookes University at https://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/upgrade/study-skills/reflective-writing-gibbs/

This model is perfect for using with Tarot cards. Simply arrange six cards in a circle that mirrors the Gibbs model, starting with the top card in the circle, and use these questions to reflect on an experience:

1. Description: What happened?
2. Feelings: What were you thinking and feeling? (You can perhaps use two cards here, one for thinking, one for feeling.)
3. Evaluation: What was good and bad about the experience? (Again, you could use two cards, one for good, one for bad.)
4. Analysis: What sense can you make of the situation?
5. What else could you have done?
6. Action plan: If it arose again, what would you do?

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Bibliography

Gibbs, G. (1988). Learning by doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Oxford: Further Education Unit, Oxford Polytechnic.