Tag: tarot

How to do a tarot reading for a loved one

A tarot reading is a uniquely helpful, yet deeply personal experience. So, when a loved one asks for a reading, it can sometimes get a little awkward.

I was prompted to write this post after a conversation I had with another reader. They mentioned that their spouse had asked them for a tarot reading about a sensitive subject. They declined, and their spouse got a little upset with them. Everything’s fine now between the couple, but this reader asked me how I would have handled the situation.

And that got me thinking.

A good tarot reading is personal

A good tarot reading is personal.

Whether we’re talking about a reading being done face-to-face or over the Internet, tarot readings are personal experiences. A person asks a question, and a person does the reading. If the question is sincerely asked, and the person asking is truly invested in the answer, there can be a lot of emotions involved.

If you’ve ever had a tarot reading, or read the tarot yourself, think of some of the questions you’ve asked. In my years of reading the cards, I’ve had questions about break ups, financial hardships, dire medical situations, and everything in between. Sometimes I’ve seen very good news in the cards. Other times? Not so much.

To me, it’s vitally important that both the querent and the tarot reader feel at liberty to share their thoughts and feelings without holding back. I don’t mean to imply we’re talking “brutal honesty,” here. There should be nothing “brutal” about a reading. But honesty? That’s a must.

Even reading for a total stranger can sometimes challenge a reader’s ability to speak the truth, kindly but plainly. How much more challenging might this be if the querent is someone you love?

“Do I have cancer again?”

That’s a question a lot of tarot readers won’t touch with a ten-foot pole, even for a stranger. Now imagine it coming from your ten-year-old nephew.

You can always say no

I deliberately chose an extreme example just now, because I wanted to illustrate a point. You can always, always say no when asked for a tarot reading. No one should ever try to force you into throwing the cards for them. If something, anything about the situation is making you uncomfortable, politely decline. If the person tries to insist, stand firm.

This goes for strangers as well as loved ones.

In my own tarot consultations, I’m willing to answer almost any question that’s sincerely asked of me. However, I also make it plain that I reserve the right to not answer a question if I don’t think it would be helpful or appropriate.

What are your tarot reading boundaries?

The last paragraph I wrote up above is worth re-reading. Yes, I’ll answer almost any question, unless I don’t think it would be helpful or appropriate. Those are my boundaries, and I hold to them.

So, how should you do a tarot reading for a loved one? First, you need to know and set your own boundaries for tarot reading in general.

What kinds of questions are you willing to take on? What are you not willing to consider? Are you willing to read for people under the age of eighteen? Will you read for couples or groups, or will you only do a reading one-on-one? Will you do readings in public, such as at a party or at the bar?

Sit with these questions and really, really get to know your answers to them.

What are your personal boundaries?

Now think about the boundaries you have in your day-to-day life. Think about the conversations you’ve had with friends and family. Think about interactions which have made you feel comfortable or uncomfortable.

If you’re a parent, would you be comfortable having a frank conversation about sex with your kid?

Would you feel comfortable having a frank conversation about death with your parents?

What if the people in these conversations were switched?

Every relationship we have is unique, and each comes with its own set of permissible versus non-permissible topics.

With that long preamble out of the way, let’s get to the meat of the post.

Doing a tarot reading for a loved one

Let’s assume a loved one has asked you for a tarot reading, and you’ve decided that you’re willing to do it. The first thing you need to do is think back over the tarot and personal boundaries you’ve set, and state them clearly. Tell the person what you are, and are not, comfortable discussing during the reading.

I can’t stress this enough. Be upfront and firm (but polite!) about how you’re willing to proceed. Make sure the other person understands, and they’re willing to respect your boundaries.

Once you’re both on the same page, go ahead and begin the reading just as you would any other. During the reading, however, there are some tips you should keep in mind.

Don’t hedge

I read somewhere once that live performers experience the most stage fright when someone they know is in the audience. I’ve seen this happen with tarot readers. People who would normally be able to drop stone-cold specifics for a stranger suddenly start rattling off long lists of possible interpretations. Why is this?

My guess is that either they didn’t really want to do the reading in the first place, so they’re “talking around” it, or…they’re worried they’ll get it wrong and look bad in front of their loved one.

Be bold. Get out of your own way and read the cards.

Be wary of your biases

Let’s say your best friend is dating someone you can’t stand. Let’s further say that your best friend asks you for a tarot reading about their relationship. If you decide to go through with this reading, be very, very careful in your interpretation. A reading like this is exactly the sort of thing which can get you in trouble.

If the cards come up, and you think they cast doubt on the future of the relationship, is that because of wishful thinking on your part? If you think they show a more positive message, is that because you’re trying to be “objective,” but really you’re just ignoring the negative?

And what if the cards really do come up showing trouble? Does your friend know how you feel about their significant other? What will you say to assure them you aren’t trying to break them up?

Whenever we’re very close to someone, they’re obviously a significant part of our lives. We’re emotionally invested in them. This makes it very hard to be objective, especially when it comes to something like the tarot. Tarot relies at least as much on intuition and feeling as it does on the “objective” meanings of the cards.

Keep the conversation going

A tarot reading should always be a conversation between the reader and the querent. Even if it’s done online over email, the reader should ask the querent questions, and the reader should answer any questions the querent has. If you’re doing a reading for a loved one, this becomes even more important.

Don’t let the reading become a monologue or sermon. Ask the querent what they think of each card. Ask open ended questions about your interpretations.

Think back to that relationship example I wrote above. Let’s say the cards show a recent fight between your bestie and their partner. Don’t just ask if they’ve been fighting. Rather, say something like this: “The cards are saying there’s been some real tension lately, what’s that about?”

The more the reading feels like a conversation, and less like prognostication, the better you’ll both feel.

Just one more thing

Reading the tarot for other people can be a challenge. Assuming we take it seriously (and I certainly do), it can test our boundaries, our ethics–even our basic assumptions about the world. When we read for someone we love, those challenges don’t go away, they often become harder. I figure I’ve probably made that clear up above, but I mention it here because there’s another point I want to contrast with it.

The tarot, in my opinion, is a beautiful, miraculous gift. Sure, we know its origins, and we can trace its path through history, but I still see it as something not quite of this world. Coming into contact with the tarot, and becoming immediately enraptured by it, was honestly one of the best things which ever happened to me. At the very least, it was one of the most significant turning points of my life.

If you’ve had a similar experience of the tarot, why not pass that along? That loved one who wants you to do a tarot reading for them? Why not buy them a tarot deck?

Remember, you can always say no, but maybe try saying: “No, I can’t read for you. But I can help you read for yourself?”

Sure, this won’t work for everyone who comes knocking on your door. But you know what? If it does work, you’ll have one more thing to share with each other.

Have a blessed day!

Posted on by Jeff

How to choose a tarot deck that’s right for you

Looking to get into the tarot, but aren’t sure which deck to use? In this post, I’ll give you some tips on how to choose a tarot deck that’s right for you.

Is it okay to buy your own deck?

There’s a myth that you should never purchase your first tarot deck, rather it must be given to you by someone else. I have no idea where this notion came from, but it’s been floating around for years. It’s also complete nonsense.

Tarot decks, particularly your first deck, are deeply personal objects. I still use a Rider-Waite-Smith deck for many readings, because that was the first deck I picked up. And whether or not you connect with a deck is far more important than how it came to you. In my opinion, this means you might even get better results from the cards when you choose a tarot deck to work with. Giving and receiving tarot decks is fine, but there’s no reason you can’t just walk into a store buy whichever one calls to you.

With that out of the way, let’s get on with it.

Try to choose a tarot deck which looks nice

Choose a tarot deck which looks good to you.
The Mystic Dreamer Tarot has an art style I quite enjoy, even if I don’t read with it very much.

For me, one of the most important criteria for choosing a tarot deck is whether or not I like how it looks. Do I like its theme? Its color scheme? Its art style? They say looks aren’t everything. I say that if I’m going to spend hours staring at a bunch of cards, I’m not going to choose a deck which I think is ugly.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (to drop another cliché), so behold every deck you might consider and ask yourself whether or not you think it’s beautiful. Do you like dark and moody things? Look for a deck in a dark and moody style. Are you really into colorful fairies? You’ll probably find a swarm of decks which appeal to you.

This might sound like obvious advice, but trust me, it’s not. I know many tarot readers who have decks with art they hate, but they still use them become someone else told them to. I also know many readers who’d probably be happiest with a light-hearted “theme” deck, but are afraid they won’t be taken seriously if they pull it out for a reading.

Look at the symbols

We’re still kind of in the realm of aesthetics here, but look at the symbols and glyphs on the cards. Do they resonate with you? Do they intrigue you?

One way to look at the tarot is to see the cards as a symbolic representation of the world. This means the symbols and themes you see in a deck should, in some way, reflect how you see the world itself. When you choose a tarot deck, you’re choosing the symbolic language you’ll be using for your readings.

If you’re just starting out with the tarot, some of the symbols might confuse you, but you shouldn’t feel especially “put off” by them.

Size matters

Some tarot decks use cards which are about the size and shape of regular playing cards. Others are very much oversized, while most fall somewhere in the middle. Many of my decks are a little over four inches tall by about two-and-a-half inches wide.

Why do I mention this? Because different people have different hand sizes, and some decks are easier to handle than others. A typical tarot deck contains seventy-eight cards. That alone makes them a little more challenging to shuffle than a poker deck. Very large or very small cards can make shuffling even more of a challenge.

Card stock matters

It’s rarely something you can check while you’re holding a sealed box in the store, but what sort of stock are the cards printed on? Is it thin and cheap? Thick and heavy?

I’ve seen a lot of tarot decks which are printed on stock so thin that they rip and wrinkle if you stare at them too hard. I’ve also seen decks where the cards are thick enough that you could probably use them as roofing shingles.

If at all possible, try to get a feel for how thick and flexible the cards are before you choose a tarot deck. I have one on my shelf with thick card stock and edges so sharp that it actually hurts my hands to shuffle them. You probably don’t want that sort of thing in your life. You also don’t want a deck that will shrivel up the first time you sneeze at it.

If all of the above looks and feels good to you, I say go ahead and buy the deck. That said, we’re not quite done yet.

After you choose a tarot deck

When you purchase a tarot deck, think of it as the first date in what might become a long-term relationship. You still need to get to know each other.

Take the deck somewhere quiet to open. Hold it in your hands, and try to remember the feeling you had when you were a kid about to open a present.

Then, open the box carefully, and explore what’s inside. If the deck comes with a booklet, set it aside and look at the cards with only your own impressions to guide you. Let curiosity take the lead.

Once you’ve gone through the deck, shuffle the cards and perform a few, three-card readings.

What questions should you ask? Here are my big three:

  1. What can you tell me about yourself?
  2. What kinds of questions do you like to answer?
  3. Why did you come to me?

Depending on the answers I get, and the overall “vibe” I feel from the deck, I’ll ask more questions and throw more cards.

I won’t try to get a “serious” answer from a deck until I’ve spent several days doing these little “getting-to-know-you” readings. And I’ll never use a new deck in a tarot consultation for someone else until I’ve done several “real” readings for myself.

If all seems well, and we have a good connection, I’ll put the deck into “rotation” and see where the relationship leads. If we don’t connect, I hand the deck off to someone else, and assume I’m just here to help it get to the person it’s actually meant for.

I hope this advice helps you the next time you go looking for a new tarot deck. And if you have any advice for others, why not drop it in a comment down below?

Have a blessed day!

Posted on by Jeff

Learning how to use the Celtic Cross

No other tarot spread is more well-known or widely-used than the Celtic Cross. In this post, I’ll tell you how it works, when to use it, and when not to.

What is the origin of the Celtic Cross tarot spread?

In 1909, British poet and occultist Arthur Edward Waite published what would become the most popular tarot deck of all time. Illustrated by the artist Pamela Coleman Smith, the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck came bundled with a thin book written by Waite himself. Called The Key to the Tarot, this book discussed the meanings of each card, and described how to use them for divination. He revised and re-released this book a year later as The Pictorial Key to the Tarot.

Near the back of this book, we get a description of the Celtic Cross spread. Waite refers to it as “An Ancient Celtic Method of Divination.” If you know your tarot history, this claim is a bit far-fetched to say the least.

In truth, Waite appears to be the first person to describe this spread. There are no printed references to it prior to 1909, at least that I can find anyway. It’s unclear whether the Celtic Cross was Waite’s own invention, or if he learned of it from someone else. Either way, since instructions for its use have come bundled with nearly every tarot deck sold over the last century, it’s almost certainly the most-used tarot spread today.

How do you use the Celtic Cross?

Waite’s instructions for using the Celtic Cross spread are fairly straight-forward. The instructions below are mostly his, although I’ve added my own thoughts based on thirty years of working with it.

Setting Up

Waite begins by telling the tarot reader to select a card to be the “significator,” which symbolizes either the person asking the question, or the subject being asked about. Here’s a quote:

“The Diviner first selects a card to represent the person or, matter about which inquiry is made. This card is called the Significator. Should he wish to ascertain something in connexion with himself he takes the one which corresponds to his personal description. A Knight should be chosen as the Significator if the subject of inquiry is a man of forty years old and upward; a King should be chosen for any male who is under that age a Queen for a woman who is over forty years and a Page for any female of less age.”

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot

We’re then told to put this card face up on the table before proceeding.

Personally? I don’t do this. And that’s for a couple of reasons.

First, I don’t find the Court Cards connect with people in the way Waite describes. I wrote an article about this, titled Understanding the Court Cards, if you’re interested.

Second, I think it’s better to leave all of the cards in the deck until we start dealing them out. If a so-called “significator” card is actually relevant to the situation, I trust that it’ll show up without my having to pull it out in advance.

Anyway, at this point, we (or the querent) shuffles the cards while thinking of the question. Then we (or, again, the querent) cuts the deck, and the tarot reader lays out the cards in the following pattern…

The Celtic Cross tarot spread.

What are the meanings of the card positions?

As with most tarot spreads, each card position in the Celtic Cross has a certain meaning. When we interpret the cards, we take this positional meaning into account. I’ve provided a keyword or title for each position in the diagram above for easy reference. In this section, you’ll find the full explanation for each position.

The Subject

This card represents the major influence or situation which the question refers to. It’s the “nutshell” version of the matter at hand, or the central theme of the situation.

The Crossing

This card usually represents the main or central obstacle which is blocking or opposing the Subject. I say “usually,” because if this card is very good, or its nature is very harmonious with the Subject, it may not represent an obstacle at all. It could be a “stepping stone” which can actually be a source of help or assistance. This is especially likely to be the case if it’s also of a similar nature to either the Self or Environment card.

The Basis

This card is sometimes called the “Foundation.” It represents something which has not only already happened, but is likely the main reason for asking the question in the first place.

When I conduct a tarot reading for someone using the Celtic Cross, these three cards almost always relate to the question or circumstance in a very obvious way. For example, in a question about a troubled love affair, I’d expect to see the Two of Cups, the Lovers, or the Three of Swords in some or all of these positions.

When I don’t see any connection between these three cards and the question, I proceed with considerable caution. I also explain to the client that I may not be getting an accurate read on the matter. Fortunately, at least in my experience, this is rarely the case.

The Past

This card represents something in the past which relates to the matter at hand, sometimes in an unexpected way. Many of the situations we find ourselves in today are connected to older events or patterns we’ve experienced before. This card usually shows us the most pertinent bit of history which has led to the current situation.

The Possibility

This is one of the two “outcome” cards in the Celtic Cross spread (the other being outright titled “The Outcome”). It typically shows us the “best case scenario,” or else what the client can hope for if they put their energy and focus toward achieving it.

I wrote “typically” above, because we need to compare and contrast this card with the Outcome card in order to be sure of its role. This is particularly true when the Possibility card appears to be much more negative than the Outcome. I’ll write a bit more about this later on when I discuss the final card in the spread.

The Future

This is an event or influence which will come into play in the immediate or very near future. In many cases, it gives us a good indication of the client’s next, best opportunity to alter the outcome of events. It’s something to keep an eye out for, and to either avoid or take advantage of. Which route we should take depends on the context, and the rest of the spread.

The Self

I also call this card the “Toolbox.” It tells us what the querent themselves is bringing to the situation. Often, this card represents a strength, or a source of aid. Other times, though, it represents an obstacle, or “baggage” the client is carrying with them. Just like the Future card, we need to look at the Big Picture to decide whether the Self is helping or hindering the client.

The Environment

This card is much like the Self, only instead of showing us what the querent is bringing to the party, it shows us outside influences. Again, these may be constructive or destructive to the querent’s objectives or goals. Only careful thought and experience will tell us which.

The Hopes or Fears

The second-to-last card in the spread tells us something about what the client wants to happen, or what they’re afraid might happen.

To be perfectly blunt, I hardly ever find this card useful. Like the first three cards, it can serve as a kind of “check” to make sure we’re getting an accurate read on the matter. Otherwise? The client probably knows what their hopes or fears are, so this card doesn’t give us much in the way of practical aid.

The Outcome

Like the Possibility card, this one shows us one way the situation can turn out. In general, the Outcome is what will come to pass if the situation is allowed to proceed without further interference. Contrast this with the Possibility–that which will come to pass if the querent puts in the effort and work.

When the Outcome card looks much more favorable than the Possibility, it’s a sign that the client should let things unfold naturally. When the Possibility looks better? That’s when it’s time for the client to push for what they want.

When should you use this spread?

Given the Celtic Cross is the most popular spread in the world, you might think it’s a one-size-fits-all solution. Me? I disagree. I think there are times when it’s a good one to use, but there are other times when it’s…less so.

It’s excellent when you want to get a detailed look at a situation, including all of the most important surrounding context. For example, it’s my go-to spread when I’m about to do some serious magic to influence a situation.

I wrote an article awhile ago about how I think it’s extremely important to divine before you enchant. My thoughts on the matter haven’t changed one wink, and the Celtic Cross is usually the spread I use before dusting off my altar and getting down to business.

It’s also a good spread to use when you’re faced with situations or circumstances which seem particularly chaotic or confusing. If you’re job hunting, and can’t seem to get your foot in the door anywhere, throw the cards and ask: “What’s up with my job search?” You’ll usually see multiple factors at work, and get a good idea of how to proceed.

When should you not to use this spread?

The biggest advantage to the Celtic Cross is that it uses ten cards, and you get a lot of context. This is also its biggest disadvantage.

Ten cards is a lot of cards. And, in my personal opinion, ten cards is too many for most questions and situations. With so many cards on the table, we can get overwhelmed with information, and that might actually prevent us from getting a useful answer.

I maybe use the Celtic Cross for one out of fifteen or twenty readings. Let’s face it, most questions people ask the tarot are actually quite simple. “Will I get the job?” “Will Sophie go out with me?” “Should I take a gap year or stay in school until I finish my degree?”

For questions like these, simpler spreads with fewer cards work just fine, and usually provide much clearer answers than the Celtic Cross.

Then again, that’s just my opinion. If you have a different one, I’d love to hear it.

Have a blessed day!

Posted on by Jeff

Which method of divination should you learn?

I’ve written before about how important I believe divination is to successful magic, but what I haven’t done is to write about which divination method one should use. This is because the answer to that question is: it’s up to you.

In my experience, which system of divination someone uses is a deeply personal choice. Yes, accuracy should be the most important factor in selecting a method of divination, but there’s also the question of feel. When you’re looking for guidance, answers, or knowledge of the future, whichever system or method you’re using should be something you resonate with.

It’s also important to understand that some methods of divination are better suited to certain kinds of questions.

That’s kind of what I want to unpack in this post: which sorts of questions you’re most likely to ask, and which systems of divination might be most suited to answering them.

Asking questions, getting answers

To be clear, regardless of which method of divination we’re looking at, the purpose of them all is more or less the same. You ask questions, you get answers. These questions might be specific, such as: “Should I go to the party tonight?”

Other times, we’re looking for a more “general read” on a situation, such as: “What does the next month hold in store for me?”

The most important thing to remember about any system of divination is that it’s only really useful if it gives you meaningful, actionable answers to the questions you ask. The more well-suited a method of divination is to the question, the better your chances of getting actionable information.

This is why I’ve studied and practiced many different methods of divination over the years. While I do have my favorites, I’m not opposed to reaching for whichever method is best suited for the kind of question I need answered.

With that said, let’s get into it. We’ll look at the kinds of questions we usually want to answer. As you’re experimenting with different systems, consider each of these broad “classes” of questions, and try to sort out which systems are best for answering each.

Yes or no?

One common sort of question we’d like to get an answer to are “yes-or-no” questions. Should I go to the party? Will I get a raise? Should I start looking for a new apartment? These are all questions where we’re looking for a direct “yes” or “no” response.

Unfortunately, many of the more popular methods of divination seem to be almost comically bad at answering direct, yes-or-no questions. For instance, I know relatively few Tarot readers who will even try to get their decks to cut to the chase and answer these questions directly.

In my experience, horary astrology is the best method for getting a yes or no answer to a question.

In horary astrology, you cast a chart for the moment you ask a question, then you follow a set of interpretive rules to determine the answer. You’ll almost always get a definite positive or negative response, along with a fair bit of other, relevant information.

For example, let’s say you were to ask: “Will I get a raise?” You’ll get a “yes” or a “no.” Let’s say it’s a “yes.” You’ll probably get a sense of how large or small the raise will be, as well as a pretty good idea of the time when you’ll get the raise. If it’s a “no” response, you can probably sort out why you won’t get it by looking at other factors in the chart.

The one real drawback to horary astrology (and astrology in general) is that it’s a pretty complicated subject with a lot of nuance. It can take months or even years to get even halfway good at reading a chart.

This might be why the most common divination tool I see used for getting a simple yes-or-no response is the pendulum.

Do a Google search for pendulum divination and you’ll find hundreds of articles and videos on its use, but the main idea is quite simple. Hold the pendulum by its cord and let it hang straight down in front of you. Make sure you start off with the pendulum still, then ask: “Show me yes.” Watch what the pendulum does. After a little while, steady the pendulum again and ask: “Show me no.”

Repeat this a few times until you’ve “calibrated” the pendulum, then ask the questions you want answered.

I don’t do a lot of work with pendulums myself, but according to those who do, it usually only takes a few sessions before you start getting consistently good results.

Either or? Should I?

Another very common kind of question is the “either-or” question. In fact, many “yes-or-no” questions can be re-phrased as an “either-or” one, particularly if you are asking a question that begins with the words: “Should I…”

For example, consider the question: “Should I go to the party tonight?”

That could probably be better expressed as: “Should I go to the party tonight, or should I stay home?”

In a case like this, I find the Tarot to be exceptional. My go-to way of answering such a question is to perform a “three-versus-three” reading.

I throw down six cards. The first three are to answer the question “What if I go to the party tonight?” The second three are for “What if I stay home tonight?” I look carefully at both situations, and choose whether or not to go based on which set of cards looks the best.

Most “either-or” questions tend to be rooted in this idea of “should I.” These are tricky sorts of questions to answer with most of the divination methods I’m familiar with. Horary astrology doesn’t do well with “shoulds,” unless you can honestly re-phrase the question to be a direct yes-or-no.

For example, let’s say you ask: “Should I invest in my friend’s business, or should I hold onto my money?”

Assuming your main interest in asking this question is growing your wealth, the question you’re really asking is: “Will I make a profit if I invest in my friend’s business?”

Horary astrology can answer that question quite easily.

Natal astrology can also help us a bit with “should” questions, although in a more roundabout way. By looking at your birth chart, and taking into account the current and upcoming transits to it, you can get a reasonable picture of which areas of your life are likely to be easier, and which are likely to be more challenging.

For out investment question above, let’s say that you look at your chart and upcoming transits and see what looks like a pretty hairy period of financial difficulties in your near future. You might want to set that “extra” money aside.

When?

Questions involving the timing of events can be among the most frustrating.

“When will I get married?”

“When will I find a job?”

“How long will it take for my business to take off?”

I already mentioned that horary astrology can usually give you a good idea of when events are likely to occur, but using other divination methods to get answers to a “when” question can be tricky.

In my experience, there are two broad approaches to answering these questions, and both come with drawbacks.

The first method involves trying to get a specific time or date, or at least a very narrow range (down to a few days or hours, depending on the nature of the question). This really is a question horary astrology. To be perfectly honest, I’ve never gotten a reliable, specific time with anything else.

Another method you could try is to use Lenormand cards. This is an oracle deck, as opposed to the Tarot, and some people I know have had good success in getting precise timing out of it. Myself? I only use Lenormand on rare occasions, and when I’ve tried to get a time, it just doesn’t pan out. Things might be different if I really took the time to “master” the deck, but I just haven’t.

The second method of getting a time involves choosing a reasonable one as a starting point, and then asking whether the event will happen before the chosen time, or after it. You can then try for a yes-or-no answer, or try to ask a more general question with an eye toward that time.

For example, let’s say you’re unemployed and running out of money. You’ve put in for a number of jobs, have some good prospects. You want to know when to expect a job offer. Let’s pick a time—say, two weeks.

You could simply ask “Will I get a job within two weeks?” Assuming you have a good system for answering yes-or-no questions, you should get the information you’re looking for.

Taking the more general approach, you could ask “Show me what my work situation will be like in two weeks.” This tends to be the approach I take when using the Tarot.

One more thing I should point out is that, when using a system other than horary astrology for “when” questions, I usually get better results when I use “natural” events for timing. What I mean by this is, instead of asking if something will happen before “next Thursday,” I’ll ask if it will happen before “the next full Moon,” or “in the summer.”

Try it both ways and see what happens.

Where?

Sometimes you’ll want to know either where something will happen or where something is. These questions both involve the word “where,” but they’re very different, and they usually benefit from different approaches.

To be clear, “where should I move to,” is one kind of question. “Where are my car keys,” is another one entirely.

For the first kind of “where” question, you can usually sort out the answer doing variations on “either-or.” There are also some specific forms of divination which are tailored toward finding places, such as locational astrology.

When you’re trying to find a lost object (or a person, or a pet), again, horary astrology is a pretty decent choice. It can sometimes be a little tricky to find things using horary, because the methods involved usually give you a list of possibilities which don’t always narrow things down satisfactorily. For instance, if you’re looking for your missing cat, you might get an answer that it’s “a short distance to the north of your house, inside or under something.”

Well, that’s certainly a start, but it’s not exactly “sleeping under your neighbor’s car.”

Despite not using it very often, I’ve actually had a surprising amount of success with the Lenormand deck for “where” questions.

For example, maybe I’ve misplaced my keys. Well, there’s a “Key” card in the Lendormand deck. I’ll take out my Lenormand cards, shuffle them, and then look through the deck for the “Key.” If I find it between the “Book” and the “Letter” cards, I’ll go search my desk. If I find it between “Garden” and “Lillies,” I’ll go outside and check my flower beds.

It doesn’t always work, but sometimes the answers you get from Lenormand really can be that literal.

Getting a general “read” on a situation

We’ve covered several different types of “specific” questions, but in my mind, it’s the “general” sort of question or reading that’s the most useful. I find getting my head around a situation as a whole to be more helpful (and easier) than attempting a “surgical strike” for only the specific answer I might be interested in right then.

The answer to “will I get the promotion,” is less valuable to me than “show me my work situation for the spring.”

Astrology is an excellent tool for this, particularly natal astrology. I can pull up a birth chart, check the current and upcoming transits, and get a good sense of how things are going to go. This is especially true when I want to see which areas of a person’s life are likely to go well in the near future, which areas might be more challenging, and how these areas will affect and influence each other.

And, yes, the Tarot is my very next choice. I usually stick with a five-card spread when doing this sort of reading, but for particularly complex or confusing situations, I’ll use a full Celtic Cross.

Another method of divination which can be used similarly (and which I haven’t touched on yet) is geomancy. Put very simply, geomancy involves creating a series of figures using lines or points either drawn on paper or in sand, then arranging those figures into a kind of “astrologically-themed” chart. You then read this chart according to a set of fairly simple rules.

This is far from an adequate description of geomancy, and I encourage you to look into it yourself, especially if you don’t find yourself drawn to the Tarot. Geomancy was one of the most common forms of divination during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, prior to the rise of the Tarot and cartomancy in general.

Finding what works for you

In case it isn’t obvious, even in this long post I haven’t covered all of the types of questions you’re likely to encounter. For instance, I didn’t even touch upon “who” or “how” or “why.” Whenever you’re experimenting with a system, you’ll want to throw all of these kinds of questions (and more) against the wall and see what “sticks.”

As I wrote way back at the beginning of this overly-long post, don’t go looking for one system which will fit every situation. In my opinion, such a system just doesn’t exist.

Instead, you should study and experiment with several different methods of divination, and learn not only how each of them works, but also which kinds of questions or situations they’re best suited to. You should also consider whether or not you personally resonate with a system.

Some people just don’t like the Tarot. Other people find astrology too complex and confusing. These methods work very well for me, but they’re not for everyone.

Good luck on your search!

Posted on by Jeff

The three biggest mistakes people make when learning the Tarot

Over the years, I’ve seen the Tarot attract many people. The images on the cards, the history of the deck, the mystery of it—no matter how they are drawn to study the Tarot, I’ve watched dozens of would-be readers buy their first decks, and dive head-long into their studies.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen nearly as many people slowly lose their interest and enthusiasm over the days and weeks following. The decks come out of their boxes on fewer and fewer occasions, until they end up just sitting on a shelf.

Sometimes this is for the best. As much as I love the Tarot, it’s not for everyone. Some people never develop an affinity for the cards, or find that they don’t have a meaningful connection to them. This is perfectly fine, but a lack of connection is neither the only reason I see people get frustrated and give up the Tarot, it’s not even the most common one.

The most common reason people abandon their Tarot studies is, I think, because they don’t approach the cards in the best way. And, to be quite honest, many of the books written about the Tarot tend to encourage these less-than-ideal approaches.

So, if you’re new to the Tarot, or otherwise find yourself struggling to wrap your head around it, let me highlight some of the most common “mistakes” I see new students make.

People don’t look at the cards

One of the most common mistakes I see beginning Tarot students make is that they get their first deck, open it up, and go straight to the Little White Book without even looking at the cars themselves.

Don’t do this.

When you acquire your first Tarot deck, set aside some quiet time to open the box. Ideally, you’ll want about one hour, in a room to yourself, where you won’t be disturbed.

Once you’re in that quiet place, look over the box. Turn it over in your hands. Really get a sense of the weight of it, and allow yourself to feel at least a little anxious about opening it. Not fearful, mind you. What I mean is that you should come to your first deck with a sense of excitement and anticipation.

If you can open the box with the same thrill as you might have done when opening a present as a child, you’re in the perfect frame of mind.

After you’ve opened the box, set that Little White Book aside, along with any other promotional materials or add-in cards. The only thing you want in your hands are the seventy-eight cards of the Tarot deck itself. Turn them over and over in your hands. Feel the size of the cards, the stock they’re printed on—just run your hands all over them.

Also? Give them a smell.

Seriously. Try to engage all of your senses during this first encounter. Really attempt to absorb and remember everything you can about this experience. They say first impressions are everything when it comes to human relationships. Why should your relationship with the Tarot be any different?

Now—and this is the most important part of this initial meeting—look at the cards. Examine their backs, then turn over each one and really, really study it.

What do you notice first? How does the card make you feel? What do you think of the art style? Do you notice any symbols, animals, or people on the cards? Do any of these stick out? Do you notice any objects or themes repeating from card to card?

Take your time, study the images, and think about what they might mean. What questions might they answer? What questions might they be asking?

If doing all of this touching, feeling, and “impression gathering” seems strange to you, remember: this is what the first Tarot reader had to do.

The Tarot was originally conceived as a deck of cards to be used for playing games. Divination came later. And the first people to use the Tarot for divination didn’t have a Little White Book to tell them what the cards “really meant.”

Instead, they looked at the cards and used their intuition.

For your first encounter with the Tarot, why not approach the deck in the same way as those earliest of readers?

After you’ve taken this quiet time, then you can go ahead and read the Little White Book that comes with it. Check out the meanings given for each card, look at the card in your hand, and try to see where the author or deck designer is coming from.

Just give the deck a chance to speak for itself, first.

People think of the Tarot as work

A lot of the Tarot readers and students I know explain their practice as “working with the Tarot.” I use this phrase myself, from time to time.

Why is that?

Why is the first word which comes to our minds a word associated with labor? Even if you are (or wish to be) a professional Tarot reader, why use the word “work” when you could use words like “play,” or “talk to,” or even “hang out with?”

To borrow a quote, why so serious?

Yes, the Tarot is a wonderful ally which can provide wisdom and guidance to help you, and those you read for, even at the most serious and desperate of times. And yes, when you’re preforming a reading, you should treat the questions you’re asked, and your answers, seriously.

However, I think you’ll have much better results in your readings if you treat the Tarot as a friend, first and foremost. It’s not your co-worker who you never see outside of the job.

It’s also not your priest or your therapist.

Some readers treat their Tarot decks like holy objects—sacred things which must only ever be approached with reverence and timidity. Or, perhaps even worse, they treat their decks in the same way that they treat a medical professional—thinking of the cards as cold, objective, and secretly disappointed in you.

I’ve never understood this attitude.

Try grabbing your Tarot deck, sitting on the couch, and binge watching your favorite show while shuffling the cards.

This is one of my favorite things to do, especially when I’ve just acquired a new deck. I’ll keep the Little White Book next to me, shuffle for a while, then flip a card out. I’ll look at, maybe check to see what the book has to say, then shuffle it back in.

This is a great way to learn the “traditional” meanings of the cards if you’re not already familiar with them.

Another fun thing I frequently do is ask the deck what it thinks of the show or movie we’re watching together. Or I’ll ask it questions about what’s going to happen next.

“What!?!” You might be shouting. “You ask the Tarot ‘whodunnit’ while watching some police procedural on Netflix?”

Yes! And why not?

What’s wrong with hanging out with a friend, watching television, and getting to know each other?

People try to read way too many cards

In many Tarot books, the first spread you’ll encounter is almost certain to be some version of the “Celtic Cross.” This is a spread of ten (or eleven) cards which you lay out on a table and interpret.

To be perfectly frank, this is way, way too many cards for someone just starting out with the Tarot. In fact, I think it’s too many cards for most readers in most situations. I can count on one hand the number of times in the last month that I’ve felt this spread was necessary. It’s a good spread, to be sure, but only for certain situations.

Most of the time, I use either a three cards or five cards. Sometimes, I’ll use only two.

A two-card spread is good as a kind of “daily check-in.” If I’m looking at a busy day, or otherwise feel a bit overwhelmed by what I need to do, I’ll throw two cards. For the first card, I’ll ask “What should I focus most of my attention on?” For the second card, I’ll ask “What should I not worry about too much?”

I’ve used slight variations of this two-card spread at various times, and even wrote about it here. It works really well to help me navigate those challenging days where I feel like I’m being pulled in too many different directions.

My go-to three-card spread is pretty close to your basic “Past, Present, Future” reading. This is great when I have a clear picture of a situation, but I’m just not sure of what specific action I should take.

The first card in this spread represents the situation up until the point I asked the question. The middle card represents either the best action I can take right then, or else it shows me a hidden factor which is influencing the present. The last card shows me either the most probable outcome of the situation, or a further action I can take.

Knowing which cards mean what in which position is a bit of an art, and is something I was only able to become better at through practice.

As for the five-card readings I do, they’re what I use when someone has asked a question (usually a client, sometimes me) but I feel like I don’t know enough of the context in which the question is asked. I lay out five cards from left to right, with those on the left usually indicating the past, and those on the right usually indicating the future. In these cases, the card in the middle is related to present.

I say “usually,” because sometimes the question or situation involves a choice between two alternatives. In these cases, the card in the middle will often depict or suggest a choice, and the cards on each side will carry a definite theme.

Again, practice and time will help you sort things out.

So when do I actually use the Celtic Cross?

When I absolutely, positively need to know everything I can about a confusing or complicated situation. And I have a solid hour to spend in ceremony pulling on all of the threads. Mostly, these situations involve either myself or a client being in a tough spot, and I’m contemplating doing a whole lot of magic to get things moving in the right direction.

I wrote before about the importance of using divination before performing magic, and my opinion hasn’t changed. I rarely dive into “big enchantments” without getting a good read on the situation first, and the Celtic Cross is my preferred spread when it comes to such reads.

The bottom line? If you’re just starting out, begin by reading with as few cards as possible. Start with a daily two-card reading as I described above. Once you’re comfortable with that, bump yourself up to three cards, then try your hand at five.

Remember, Tarot cards are meant to be read in relationship to one another. We don’t typically read cards in isolation (unless for a daily meditation, or perhaps to get a sense of the overall “theme of the day”). Rather, we either compare and contrast them, or else we are attempting to weave them together into a story which answers our question.

That’s a lot to ask of someone just coming into relationship with the Tarot, so start small.

Less really is more.

Good luck on your journey!

Posted on by Jeff

Tarot readings are open

If there’s a question on your mind, or a specific situation you would like some guidance with, I want you to know that I provide tarot readings via email. I try to respond to requests within twenty-four hours, and ask only for a small donation in return, provided that you are completely satisfied with your reading, and you are able to afford it.

That’s the short version. Here’s the longer one…

I’ve been offering tarot readings and other types of consultations for quite some time, but earlier this year I had to close my services to the public. While I still provided assistance to family, friends, and friends-of-friends, my life had become hectic enough that I didn’t feel comfortable with an ongoing commitment to provide readings to others.

Fortunately, things have since settled down, and I’m now in a position to offer consultations to anyone who wants one.

During the time when my consultations were closed, though, I came to some conclusions about how I wanted structure my services, as well as how to best meet both my need to help people as well as my need to pay rent. It was after a lot of meditation and soul-searching that I came up with what I think is the best solution, at least for now.

At this time, I am only providing tarot readings via email, rather than over the phone or through a service like Zoom. This not only affords me the flexibility that scheduling “face-to-face” consults lacks, it also means that I can get back to clients much sooner. I do my absolute best to respond to clients within twenty-four hours, and am usually able to respond more quickly than that.

I also decided that I did not want to request any payment in advance of the services I preform. Rather, I wanted to experiment with a donation-based approach. That is, I ask clients to consider making a donation after I have handled their request. I have a provided a “suggested donation,” which is a dollar amount that I feel fairly compensates me for the time and effort I put into my work.

I prefer this arrangement for two reasons which are both very important to me.

First, I don’t want anyone to be reluctant to reach out for assistance because they aren’t in a good financial position. A person’s ability to pay will have no bearing on the quality of service I provide.

Second, I want every client to be 100% satisfied with their consultation, and to not worry that they’re simply “out the money” if they don’t feel that they received a good value. I think the best way for this to happen is to leave money “off the table” until our work is done. And if you are dissatisfied with your consultation for any reason, please let me know so that I can try to address your concerns.

At the end of our exchange, I will provide a link which you can use to send a donation. Please use it if, and only if, you are thoroughly satisfied with my work, and you are able to afford it.

With that said, and with the understanding that I will try my best to help everyone, I do reserve the right to revise this policy in the future, or to politely decline to provide a consultation if I feel as though I am being unfairly taken advantage of. I truly do not think this will be necessary, though.

If you would like to know more, please read my updated terms and conditions page. If you would like a tarot reading, you can request one here. If you have any questions, or just want to say “hello,” please email me and I’ll get back to you soon.

Have a great week!

Posted on by Jeff

Two Wizards

When I was about twelve years old, my parents dragged me off to a used book store we liked to visit, and I was in a mood.

I don’t remember why, but for some reason I’d decided to be a sulking little brat that day, and had zero interest in going anywhere. That’s kind of weird, when I think about it. I loved that store. The shelves strained under the weight of books piles on books, and every corner of the place had at least two tall stacks of tomes leaning precariously.

I’m sure if a fire marshal had ever visited the place, it would have been shut down in an instant. Then again, maybe they were a book lover, too.

Anyway, my parents insisted I come along for the trip I didn’t want to take, and I made various unhappy “harumphing” sounds in the back seat the whole way there. Once we’d arrived, I dove out of the car, probably slammed the door, and went inside to find the deepest corner of the store in which to hide and pout.

As it turned out, the deepest corner of the store was home to the occult section. And just about five minutes after stepping into it, my life changed forever.

I know that’s a cliche, but honestly there’s no other way to describe it. I walked into the aisle crammed with esoterica, found myself drawn to a mustard-colored paperback, and pulled it off the shelf.

It was a book on the Tarot.

I don’t remember thumbing through it in the store, though I must have. I do remember that it was two dollars. I took the book, went in search of my mother, and sheepishly asked if I could have it. She glanced at the cover, then said “sure” without even blinking.

There’s no real way to explain how remarkable her unremarkable reaction was. First, since I’d been so miserable on the trip, it was somewhat of a miracle that my mother let me have anything that day. Second, while I’d never heard her disapprove of the Tarot or other “occult-type” things, she’d never glowingly endorsed them either. The fact she didn’t even question my interest was a little odd.

Also? She didn’t even ask the price. She just said yes.

On the car ride back, I didn’t sulk. I was too busy reading the book I’d just acquired. And once we’d gotten home, I dove out of the car again and spent the rest of the day in my room, reading the whole thing by that evening.

The next morning, I asked my mother if I could get a deck of Tarot cards. Once again, she replied with a “sure,” and asked no questions. That afternoon, I had a copy of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, and started re-reading the book.

Over the next thirty-plus years, the Tarot has come in and out of my life. I’ve set it aside, picked it up, and put it down again. Over time, the cycles grew shorter—I spent more time with the Tarot than without it.

Now, I’m forty-four, and the Tarot is as interwoven into my life as anything else. It’s my go-to tool for divination, and central to my magical practice.

And, if I’m being perfectly honest, it’s pretty much the whole reason I began to study magic in the first place.

I’ve spent thousands of hours in the occult sections of various bookstores since that first day, and even more thousands of hours learning and practicing every form or approach to magic I’ve been exposed to.

To be fair, I was never very disciplined about my studies. It was only about seven or eight years ago that I began to seriously and consistently practice magic, and it was only about five years ago that I decided to make magic my “full-time job.”

In some respects, at some points in my life, I’ve thought of this as a bit of a waste. If I’d been more “mature” or less “lazy,” I’d be able to straight-facedly claim an additional twenty years of experience and study. I like how that sounds, of course, but more importantly the idea has me looking ahead, staring down the “back nine” of my life, and wondering if I have time enough to learn everything I want.

The answer is “no,” of course. Magic is infinite, and no one can ever learn it all, in one human lifetime or a hundred.

Anyway, I was thinking these thoughts the other day, while trying to ignore my to-do list, and I found myself considering the “Magician” of the Tarot.

In the ever-popular Rider-Waite-Smith deck, the Magician is modeled closely after the ceremonial magicians familiar to anyone who’s come upon the “Western Magical Tradition.” They’re a serious-looking character, with their wand upraised as they stand before an altar bearing the traditional four “weapons” associated with each of the four elements.

The Magician here definitely never skipped classes or blew off their homework. You can easily imagine that their house resembles a library more than it resembles a home, and I suspect they can rattle off “correspondences” from dawn to dusk.

Then, there’s “Le Bateleur.” This is the “Magician” as represented in the earlier Tarot de Marseilles. We can clearly see some similarities here, which point to the evolution of the card, but there are enough differences to be intriguing.

First, the name of the card, “Le Bateleur.” This is a French term which means a street performer, tumbler, or juggler depending on who and when you’re asking. “Juggler” is interesting, as it’s a term that was sometimes used to describe magicians, and the term “jugglery” is usually defined as “manipulation or trickery, especially to achieve a desired end.”

Suffice it to say, magicians haven’t always been held in high regard by mainstream society. And there’s a casual, almost carefree air to the Bateleur that we don’t see in the Magician.

Not only is it hard to imagine the Bateleur as a hard-working student of Super Serious Esoteric Mysteries with a house full of books, they might very well be homeless. A drifter, roaming from town to town, plying their trade—at least until the fine, upstanding citizens of the town drive them off.

When I first came upon the Tarot de Marseilles about six years ago, the appearance of the Bateleur (and its contrast to the Magician of the RWS deck) was what struck me the most. Here was a wizard I could relate to.

I don’t mean to say that I consider myself a shiftless drifter to be driven out of the country (although I do like the idea of living the “van life” someday). Rather, I mean that if you look back at old stories about magicians, wizards, and witches, you’ll find that, yes, they often liked their magical tomes and had great power, but they were also apt to be tricksters—and maybe even a little bit mad.

Look into the literary history of Merlin, if you don’t believe me.

The point of all this is to say that as I’ve been working myself to exhaustion these last few weeks, more and more I’ve come to appreciate my own evolution as a wizard. A slow, wandering drift from Magician to Bateleur. A leaving behind of memorized correspondences and fixed rituals, for the more expressive lands of spirit communication and celebratory performance.

So while I’m by no means some huckster, shining folks on until the torches and pitchforks say it’s time to leave, I am taking myself less seriously than did years ago, and I’m having much more fun doing it.

Incidentally, you can get both the Magician and the Bateuler on a t-shirt from my Spring store.

Just sayin’.

I hope you have an excellent week.

Posted on by Jeff

Playing the Fool

In the Tarot, the Fool is often considered the first of the twenty-two cards in the Major Arcana. This ordering isn’t universally subscribed to, of course, but in most modern decks, the card is given the number zero, and placed at the beginning because that’s how math works.

Image of the Fool from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck.

In many older decks, however, the Fool bears no number at all, and this is sometimes taken to mean it belongs both nowhere and everywhere. And, “Because Reasons,” there are few schools which place the Fool as the second-to-last card, sandwiched in between the card called Judgement and the card call the World.

Myself, I lean toward putting it at the beginning of the suit, mostly as a nod to a popular and sometimes useful conception of the Major Arcana as a whole.

The Hero’s Journey

In Western storytelling, there’s a narrative pattern which seems to crop up rather frequently.

Someone, usually a someone of no particular note or skill, is called to adventure. At first they refuse, but ultimately they are drawn into an epic journey.

During their adventures, they face many challenges, all of which lead up to some huge, decisive crisis. They deal successfully with this crisis, but are profoundly transformed by it.

Finally, the adventure over, they return home.

This pattern is often called the “Hero’s Journey,” or the “monomyth,” and it was popularized Joseph Campbell. A professor of literature, and a student of comparative religion and mythology, Campbell’s work on the subject is so well-known as to fall safely into the realm of pop-culture.

In fact, George Lucas himself credited Campbell as being a major influence on the Stars Wars film series.

Campbell’s work has also influenced many Tarot readers’ approach to the Major Arcana. More specifically, many readers consider each of the cards of the Major Arcana as being one step or stage on the archetypal Hero’s Journey.

In this view of the cards, the Fool is our Hero, and on its own it represents the very beginning of the journey, where our innocent and naïve would-be adventurer has just set out, full of youthful energy, despite their earlier misgivings. Each subsequent card in the Major Arcana is a kind of way station along their path, representing the challenges or lessons which the Fool must face, understand, and overcome. Finally, at the end of the Major Arcana, and in true “monomythic” form, the Fool returns to the World, transformed and complete.

If you’re interested in the details of this Hero’s Journey approach, and how each card of the Major Arcana fits within it, you can find many different takes both online and in books. I may even bring my own version to the table someday, but for now, though, I want to focus on the Fool at the beginning.

Beginner’s Mind

Shunryū Suzuki was a Zen Buddhist monk and teacher, whose work helped to popularize Zen Buddhism in the United States during the late 1950s through early 1970s. He passed away in 1971, at the age of 67. Just prior to his death, a number of Suzuki’s talks on Zen were collected and published in a book: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind.

This concept of “beginner’s mind” (called “shoshin” in Japanese) is worth some deep consideration, and I highly suggest you read Suzuki’s words on the subject for the real truth of it. To give you the briefest, most surface-level description in my own words, the beginner’s mind is one which is eager, open, and holds no preconceptions.

It is the innocent and naïve mind of one who has just embarked on their path, without any real knowledge, but with great enthusiasm.

To me, the Fool possesses just this sort of mind. And it’s a mind we sometimes experience ourselves, to one degree or another, during our daily lives.

Think of how you feel when you first encounter something new which draws your attention. Maybe it’s a new city you’re visiting, or a new book you’ve decided to read. It might even be a new skill to learn, or some other topic which almost seems to call you over to explore it.

There’s excitement, right? Enthusiasm? Maybe even sheer joy?

Whenever we encounter something new and thrilling, whatever it may be, we experience a kind of passionate ecstasy. And it’s this initial passion, this feeling of a mind open, enthusiastic, and holding no preconceptions which the Fool represents.

It’s the height of “Foolishness” to throw one’s scant belongings in a bag, leave the known behind, and step out into the realms beyond our experience with nothing but hope and wonder to guide us.

It’s also might be the wisest thing we could ever do.

Foolish Meditation

This week, I wanted to connect with the Fool, and their beginner’s mind. That raw, unbridled enthusiasm and confidence which only innocence and newness can inspire. Tapping into Fool energy is a powerful way to rekindle one’s passion for things which may have become “old” or “stale” in our eyes. It also serves as a wonderful method of “reformatting” ourselves and our attitudes when we feel stuck in old patterns, or “in a slump.”

The easiest way to tap into this “Foolishness” is through a simple meditation exercise, which almost doubles as a kind of journey in and of itself.

For this exercise, you’ll need a relatively comfortable place to sit where you won’t be disturbed. You’ll also want to find an image of the Fool from the Tarot. I recommend the Fool from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck for this exercise, but any will do so long as it invokes that sense of “beginner’s mind” for you.

Place the card in front of you, or otherwise find some way to hold it comfortably so you can see it for the duration of the exercise. When I do Tarot meditations, I usually place a stack of two or three books on a table, and then lean the card I wish to focus on up against them.

Once you’re set, begin with your eyes closed. Take a deep, full breath in and let it out slowly. Do this again, slowly and deeply, and feel your body start to relax. Breathe in, breathe out, and just let all of your muscles slowly release their tension. Focus first on the muscles around your eyes and mouth.

Breathe and relax. Let a slow, comforting wave of relaxation flow down your body, from your head through your shoulders and torso, then finally your legs and your feet.

Feel your body relax and become heavy, breathing in and breathing out.

Once you feel totally and fully relaxed, slowly open your eyes and look at the Fool in front of you.

At first, let your eyes wander over the card however they wish. Let them take in the card as a whole, or allow them to focus on some specific detail which draws your attention. Whatever happens, happens. Just breathe, relax, and experience the card as though you are seeing it for the first time.

After a few minutes, take hold of your attention, and shift it to the background of the card. The far distance. See what is there. Let your eyes thoroughly explore the landscape behind the Fool.

Don’t leave any sight unseen or unconsidered, but slowly turn your attention toward elements of the card which are nearer to you.

Take in each detail of the card, slowly and carefully, from those furthest away to those nearest, until you are left regarding the Fool themselves.

Here is the Fool, with their beginner’s mind. Innocent, free of cares or preconceptions. No prejudices cloud their judgement, no shame obstructs their intention. They know nothing of the path before them, and so fear no dangers which may be ahead.

The whole of their being is filled with the simple delight of this: their leap of faith into the unknown.

Let these ideas swirl in your consciousness as the image of the Fool comes to life. See and feel the Fool in their beginning, with a mind open and full of joy and wonder at the newness to be found in even the simple objects surrounding them and you.

Imagine the card and Fool within not just as some lifeless picture, but as a doorway to that Great Beginning. Let the Fool’s enthusiasm and innocence become your enthusiasm and innocence.

And, should you feel it begin to happen, let yourself enter the card and become the Fool. Let the beginner’s mind of Fool fill you and thrill you, until there is no longer you and the Fool, but you as the Fool.

Feel this connection, this unity, and embrace the Foolish mind full of openness, innocence, and fearlessness. Let all preconceptions fade. Let every breath feel like the first breath your ever took. Let every moment come and pass as if time itself is nothing more or less than the constant flow of the New and Exciting.

Stay in this place however long you wish.

Then, slowly, allow yourself to come back to yourself. Allow the Fool to part from you. As the Fool settles back within the card, and you settle back into the place of your meditation, allow the card to become an ordinary picture again.

But let the feeling of this “Foolish” experience remain with you.

Breathing in, breathing out, still relaxed, allow this connection with the Fool to recede into the background, but know that a thread of it still remains, and that you can pull on it whenever you wish. Because once it has been felt, once you have truly experienced it, there is always a lingering echo of the Foolish mind. And that echo can be listened for, and embraced again, as it is needed.

As you slowly allow yourself to return to the world around you, that place where you began, know that you’ve taken a leap into the unknown—and the World is waiting.

Posted on by Jeff

A simple prosperity ritual using the Ace of Coins

Among the four minor suits of the Tarot, the Coins seem to have had the most name changes. In the earliest decks, Coins were Coins, represented by circles of gold which linked them to money and prosperity. Centuries later, some decks represented them as Pentacles, and authors linked the suit to “materiality” in all its forms. And even later still, this suit became known as Disks in some circles, keeping most of the “material” significations, but adding or subtracting certain subtleties.

But what are Coins, really?

For most of us, they’re those little hunks of metal we let pile up in the cup holders or unused ashtrays of our cars. We almost never really even use them now, unless it’s to throw them in a jar or can which we later haul to a bank and trade in for “real” money. Otherwise, they just get in the way or get sucked up in the vacuum cleaner whenever we decide to clean under our sofa cushions.

Honestly? We just don’t think of them as money anymore.

Money, to most of us, means paper, but even that is a bit of a stretch these days. I almost never carry cash of any kind, and I know very few people who do. Instead, most of us rely on debit and credit cards, or even apps on our phones, for our mercantile needs.

And of course by “mercantile,” I mean “Mercury.”

Trade and commerce today is almost entirely under the rulership of Mercury in every sense. Money changes hands as fast as electrons can fly through the air. It’s ephemeral, intangible, and interconnects every aspect of our world in innumerable and often-imperceptible ways.

And when we see the stock market booming while record numbers of people are out of work, well, it’s hard to imagine money as being anything other than under the rulership of a capricious deity too clever for their own good.

There’s absolutely nothing about money which can be properly called “material” in this day and age. It’s as immaterial as a thing can get, so equating Coins with money doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

Instead, in my opinion, Coins best represent tangible things which possess intrinsic value.

Take a look at the suit of Pentacles as illustrated in the world’s most popular Tarot deck, the Rider-Waite-Smith.

In the Ace of Pentacles, a hand issues forth from a cloud, bearing a single, enormous Coin. The scene takes place in a garden, with a path and archway leading out, to twin mountains beyond.

The handle cradles the Coin both gently and securely.

Is it presenting the Coin to us? Receiving the Coin from us as an offering? Or has it plucked the Coin from the bounty of the garden in which we stand?

Is the garden itself the Coin in some way? Aren’t the fruits, flowers, herbs, and vegetables we might find there more “real” than the zeroes and ones flipping about in our bank’s computer system?

In every bit of the scene below the hand, we see tangible, recognizable things which have intrinsic value. We see (or can infer) food, for instance. The walls of the garden provide us with a kind of shelter, don’t they? And the mountains beyond can provide us with stone to build with.

There is a solidity to the ground in this card which echoes that of the hand wrapped around the coin, even as the hand itself seems somewhat ephemeral, what with it coming out of a cloud and all.

If you look at the other cards of this suit, you’ll see patterns emerge which echo that of the Ace. In the three, we see a clear picture of an artist at work, crafting something which likely will outlast themselves. In the four, we see someone holding the Coins close, almost like armor. Are the Coins protecting the person, or is the person protecting the Coins?

Most clearly, though, I think the image on the eight most clearly shows the true meaning of this suit. A laborer, carefully and methodically creating piece after piece. They sit on a bench, hammer and chisel in hand, bringing tangible things into the world. We see a castle in the background, with a path leading out.

And just there in the corner, at the opposite end of the path from the castle—is that a forest? Or is it the edge of a garden? Is the laborer on this card actually in the garden of the Ace, and we just can’t see it from our perspective?

If so, might not the hand in the garden be the hand of the worker? Or is it our hand, receiving the fruits of the worker’s steadfast labor?

The concrete things we create. The physical objects we can hold in our hands to feel that “spark of joy.” The tangible items which fulfill our needs through their intrinsic value. These are all Coins, and the Ace is the source of them.

A Quick-and-Dirty Prosperity Ritual

One of the simplest ways to both see and use “Ace of Coins energy” in your life is to do a little “quick-and-dirty” prosperity work.

Variations of this spell or ritual can be found all over the place, most of which involve the use of paper money. For the reasons I discussed above (among others), I don’t do prosperity work with currency. I use Coins.

For this ritual, you’ll need a small candle, either white or green; a copy of the Ace of Coins (or the Ace of Diamonds from a regular deck of playing cards); a fire-proof or heat-safe plate; and a safe place where you can set a candle burning and keep an eye on it.

When I say that you want a copy of the Ace, I mean it. You’ll be getting wax on it. A photocopy is fine, but I usually just use an Ace of Diamonds from one of the ten million decks of playing cards I’ve somehow acquired.

As for the candle? Don’t be shy about using birthday candles. They’re cheap, come in an assortment of colors, and burn quickly enough that you don’t have to wait around for an hour or longer for them to burn down.

When you’re ready to begin, gather your materials where you’ll do the work, and take a few minutes to relax.

Put the plate down in front of you, then lay the Ace face up in the middle of it. When you do, imagine that this Ace is the seed or root of the prosperity and bounty which is to come. Remember, this isn’t the seed of money, but of the tangible rewards and goods which are about to come into your life. It’s better to think about the Ace as the root of the things you would use money to buy, rather than to think about the money itself.

As you place the card down, say something like this…

Ace of Coins (or Ace of Diamonds)

Seed of prosperity, root of good things

Promise of all that I need

Set your candle on top of the card, preferable in the middle of the Coin or Diamond. If you need to use a candle holder, you may. If it’s safe to do so, however, you can instead melt the wax on the bottom of the candle and stick it directly to the card.

After you’ve done this, light the candle, saying something like this…

As the Sun gives light to the seedling

Let this candle give light to thee.

Root of all I need

Fulfill your promise to me!

Allow the candle to burn down completely, imagining the light nourishing the Ace, allowing its gifts to grow. Imagine the heat and the smoke from the flame bringing the gifts of the Ace to life, and carrying them to you.

The words I provide above are just a suggestion, and I vary what I say a great deal whenever I do this work. Sometimes I’m looking for something specific, but most of the time when I use this for myself or on behalf of others, I’m looking for “generic prosperity.” It works either way.

And if you give it a shot yourself, let me know how it works for you!

Posted on by Jeff

Should you read tarot cards which fall out of the deck?

There’s an expression you might have heard: “What falls to the floor comes to the door.”

This is a popular saying among tarot enthusiasts, and it refers to the fact that sooner or later even the most able-handed shuffler is bound to drop a card or two during a reading. When this happens, many readers will consider the card which falls out of the deck to be significant–either placing it directly into the spread they are using, or else they’ll set it off to the side and allow it to inform their judgement as a sort of “background influence.”

It might surprise you, though, to know that not all tarot readers follow this practice. So let’s consider what this idea of reading cards which fall onto the table is rooted in, what other opinions are out there, and how we might best handle a clumsy shuffle.

Everything is significant

Some tarot readers consider everything which happens during a reading to be a sign. This is especially true for those tarot readers who view divination as a magical act or ritual. These readers will frequently begin a reading by setting up a sacred or ritual space, calling out to their guides or spirit helpers, and asking for their assistance. Everything which takes place from that point forward can be taken as part of the answer to whatever question is being asked.

Even those readers who wouldn’t necessarily call themselves magicians often consider the time and space of the session to be significantly different from the “mundane.”

In Yoav Ben-Dov’s excellent book, Tarot: The Open Reading, he writes:

The reading of Tarot cards involves a particular perception of reality. In the normal everyday perception, which is sometimes called “consensus reality,” the cards are pieces of printed cardboard, and shuffling them is a random process. Yet when we read the cards, we shift to another framework of reality perception in which there is one basic rule: everything is a sign.

The rule is first and foremost expressed in the fact that we interpret the cards not as a random collection of cardboard pieces, but as a meaningful sign with a message for the querent. However, the signs to be interpreted are not limited to the specific cards in the spread. Everything which takes place in and around the reading session may also be seen as a sign. In other words, during the reading session our perception of reality is that nothing happens by mere chance. Everything is a sign.

A little while later, he goes on to write specifically about cards which fall out of the deck during shuffling…

If at the initial shuffle in the reader’s hands a certain card pops up time and again, it’s a sign. If during the shuffle a few cards fall from the querent’s hands, we can look at them and try to understand what they signify. Maybe it is something which does not fit with the way we formulated the question, or a message that the querent rejects as it is too much for him to hold.

In my experience, this approach to dropped tarot cards tends to be the most common. The card popped out of the deck during the reading, so it’s a part of the reading.

There’s another wrinkle to consider, though.

Intention is everything

In the Western esoteric tradition you’ll see the word “intention” come up again and again. For example, in many How-To-Magic books the author will explain that if you perform, say, a spell for prosperity, it’s likely going to come to nothing if you don’t have a clear idea of what “prosperity” means to you fixed in your mind. Understanding what you want, and being able to concisely and confidently express it in a single thought is often seen as the first pre-requisite to performing any sort of magic.

Many tarot readers adopt this thinking with regards to how one should ask a question. It doesn’t do much good to throw the cards if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

The same thing, however, could be said about the act of laying the cards on the table. If we consider the cards in the spread to be individual pieces of a whole story, shouldn’t the act of drawing and placing each card be an intentional act meant to fill in that piece?

I know very few people in the tarot community who would give much credibility to a lazy, haphazard reading given by a tarotist who didn’t care about the session in the slightest and just sort of tossed the cards down. Given that, why give much weight to cards which just happen to fall out of the deck without deliberately intending to lay them down?

When worlds collide

Personally, I tend to lean toward the “everything is a sign” approach. I’m maybe 60/40 in the camp that, yes, when a card pops out of the deck, you ought to pay attention to it. That said, I also consider intention to be pretty important.

When I perform a reading, and either myself or the querent is shuffling the cards, I watch to see if any cards peek out accidentally. If one or more cards either “flash” or fall out of the deck, I take note of them, but I allow them to be shuffled back in. After I’ve laid out the cards of the spread (intentionally) the first thing I look for is whether or not any of the cards I saw during the shuffling have re-appeared.

Should a card on the table have been previously revealed, I consider that card to be strongly emphasized in the reading. For instance, if the querent has asked me a question about their financial health in the next few months, and I see the Five of Pentacles pop out while they’re shuffling, if that card also makes an appearance in the spread, it tells me that they are likely to experience some significant challenges.

If a dropped card doesn’t appear in the spread, however, I don’t necessarily discount it entirely. Rather, I keep it in my mind and consider whether or not it seems to be in agreement with, or otherwise related to, the cards on the table or the question which was asked. In particular, I try to determine whether or not the cards which fell out might be seen as pre-cursors or pre-requisites for the situation shown on the table.

For example, if a querent is contemplating a career change, and the Eight of Pentacles falls out of the deck, that’s probably a sign that what is revealed in the spread will only happen if the querent works or practices diligently to build up the skills they will need.

What this idea of “what must come first” is rooted in should be obvious. The card or cards fell out of the deck before the spread, so they most likely speak to what will or must happen before indicated answer will either make sense or come to pass.

All of that said, sometimes a dropped card is just a dropped card. If it doesn’t re-appear in the spread, and it doesn’t seem connected in any way to either the cards on the table or the question which has been asked, I chalk it up to having drank too much coffee and leave it at that.

At least, that’s my take on dropped tarot cards.

What’s yours?

Posted on by Jeff