Compiled by David C. Jones (djones@ponder.csci.unt.edu)
Copyright, 1996, David Clark Jones. Please see the table of
contents for the location of the full listing of the copyright
notice.
2) Layout Modifiers
This is a list of variations which can apply to many or all of the
layouts listed above.
2.1) Additional Card Modifiers
Sometimes one card in a reading may be ambiguous in meaning. Some
tarot readers will often throw another card on top of an ambiguous
card in order to gain more insight into the matter. For example,
in one reading of mine, the querent was engaged and also a college
student. The Seven of Pentacles came up in the environment card,
an indication that money may be a problem. Since the querent had
to worry about both tuition money and trying to adjust to moving
out from under his parents support, it was unclear where the root
of this monetary concern was coming from. I turned the next card
in the deck over on top of the Seven of Pentacles; the card was the
Two of Cups, indicating that the marriage and moving out his own
would be the main cause of his monetary problems. I have
occasionally seen tarot readers put up to three modifier cards in
one position, so there is not a one card limit. Remember, however,
that putting too many modifiers on the board can also create more
haziness than it does clarity, so don't saturate the board either.
In short, this is something that, generally, is only used when it
is either absolutely necessary or when the reader has an instinct
that such a card will be helpful.
2.2) Extending the Path
This is a modification that can be used whenever there is some sort
of sequential path or line in the reading. It is, however, very
infrequently used on non-temporal lines. Sometimes the querent (or
the reader) may wish to more information about what is to happen in
the future than what is currently displayed in the layout. To gain
more information, the temporal line may be further stretched into
the future by simply adding another card onto the layout and the
end of the current line. More than one card may be added if
desired. On the opposite end, sometimes events of the present or
future may not have obvious precursors. The temporal path may also
be extended farther into the past to help gain some insight as to
the causes of the present and/or future states.
2.3) Rotating the Layout
Usually only used for unclear readings. If a particular layout is
symmetrical (like a line spread) or at least partially symmetrical
(like the Celtic Cross) you may turn the layout upside-down and
re-do the reading with the same cards. Interpretations of this
variation differ. Some readers will say that occasionally the
reader forgets to rotate the deck toward him and that reversing the
layout adjusts for this mistake. (One reader I know tends to make
a big deal about the rotation of the deck before and after the
shuffle and whether a reading is done from the perspective of the
querent or the reader since they usually sit opposite one another.)
Another account says that if you turn the layout upside-down that
you are reading the opposite outcome, so such a reading should be
negated to get the results one is actually looking for. Use your
own discretion and stick with whatever fits in with your schema.
2.4) Yes/No Answer (Doane)
This is an additional variation generally only used on the line
spread. If you allow the querent to ask a yes or no question,
count each card turned upright as a vote for yes and each card
reversed count as a vote for no. The middle (or present) card's
vote gets counted twice. Interpret tie votes as you see fit.
This variation can actually be applied to any of these layouts,
although I doubt anybody would want to do so for some of the larger
readings like the Solar Spread. Even if a yes or no question is
not asked by the querent, some readers may do such a tally to
indicate a favorable or unfavorable outcome for the querent. It
should also be noted that many books on tarot strongly discourage
the use of tarot decks for yes/no type questions.
2.5) Querent Cards
In layouts that use a Querent card, there are several ways in which
such a card may be chosen.
2.5.1) Personality Traits
One method derives from the descriptions of the court cards
themselves. All of the court cards can be used to describe a
person's personality or character. Some readers will show the
querent a list of these descriptions and allow the querent to
choose the one which s/he feels is most like him/herself. If the
reader knows the querent fairly well or personally, s/he may choose
the card for the querent.
2.5.2) Astrology
One second method is to use Astrological symbolism. There are
several different and varying methods that will map the twelve
symbols of the zodiac into the sixteen royalty cards. These
mappings, however, can vary from book to book and, therefore, from
person to person. If you wish to use this method, it would
probably be best to find a couple of such lists to use as a guide
and then compose your own correspondences from there.
Actually, this method is the same as the one described above
(2.5.1). Authors will simply take the traits of the cards and the
traits of each astrological sign and pair up the ones which match
the most. Unfortunately, these matches aren't always perfect which
is why you may find different lists.
2.5.3) Physical Traits
A third method used is eye/hair color. Some authors associate each
of the sixteen court cards with an eye color, a hair color, and a
gender. Simply choose the card whose attributes match those of the
querent.
2.5.4) Open Deck
A similar method to the one described above works in the exact same
way, only it allows the reader to choose any card in the deck, not
just from the sixteen court cards. For example, if the querent has
a question related to his/her employment, the Eight of Pentacles
would be an appropriate Querent card. However, unless the querent
is very knowledgeable about Tarot, it is strongly discouraged to
allow him/her to choose his/her own card with this method.
2.5.5) Random Selection
In the same spirit as the method described above, sometimes a
reader will simply take the top card off of the deck after the
shuffle and cut and use that as the querent card. This method may
give the reader more information about either the question that has
been put forth or the character and personality of the querent.
2.5.6) No Querent
Finally, and most boring, the Querent card can simply be taken out
of the reading. Some readers feel that this actually allows for
more clarity in the reading. For example, I know a teacher and a
student both of whom I associate with the Queen of Cups. If I do
a reading for the student and pull that card out of the deck as the
Querent, it is more difficult to tell when her teacher will have an
influence on the matter in question, since her (the teacher's) card
can't come up anywhere in the reading. Conversely, if I simply
don't use a querent card (or use Random Selection) and the Queen of
Cups comes up somewhere in the reading, it is a strong indication
that her teacher will be giving her guidance in the matter.
2.6) Ateration of the Elements
At one point on alt.magick there was a discussion about the
elements and their compass positions. Not surprisingly, many
people had different associations. In each of the layouts above
where such associations were used, I used the compass points which
the author specified. You may find that a certain mapping between
these two groups works better for you personally.
2.7) Multi-line Associations
A few layouts are composed of many lines placed above one another
forming a rectangle. One additional interpretation which may be
helpful is to look for relationships between cards in parallel
directions. In other words, if you are normally viewing each line
in a horizontal fashion, try to look at the way the card relate
vertically.
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3) Useful Information
The following entries are useful bits of information which may be
useful for specific layouts. Other entries may just be tarot
related information which I though might be useful.
3.1) Astrological Houses (Doane, Blackburn)
1st House: Physical Body, personality, interests, the self
2nd House: Personal possessions
3rd House: Siblings, private studies, acquaintances, communications
4th House: Environment, family
5th House: Pleasures, love affairs, speculation, children
6th House: Work, health, pets
7th House: Marriage, partnerships, enemies, legal matters
8th House: Death, debts, gifts, possessions of others
9th House: Teaching, philosophy, travel
10th House: Honor, business, social status
11th House: Friends, hopes, wishes, and dreams
12th House: Self-ruin, enemies, obstacles, secrets
Northern Houses: 1,2,3 - deal with private matters
Eastern Houses: 4,5,6 - deal with private activities
Southern Houses: 7,8,9 - deal with self-starting activities
Western Houses: 10,11,12 - dependent upon energies of others
Fire Houses: 1,5,9 - vital, achieving, emotional
Earth Houses: 2,6,10 - material needs
Air Houses: 3,7,11 - social interactions, intellectual
Water Houses: 4,8,12 - emotional, spiritual
Cardinal Houses: 1,4,7,10 - starting, immediate
Fixed Houses: 2,5,8,11 - controlling, managing
Mutable Houses: 3,6,9,12 - change, aquisition, improvement
3.2) Planetary Symbols (Doane/Peach/Davis)
Sun: Outer expression. Honor. Health. Superiors. Men.
Achievement.
Mercury: Communication. Intellectual Concerns. Siblings.
Business.
Venus: Relationships. Love. Friendship. Money. Art.
Earth: present situation
Moon: Inner needs. Domestic or social concerns. Women.
Mars: Creation. Sex. Struggle. Misfortune. Enemies.
Jupiter: Opportunities for growth. Business. Religion.
Acquisitions.
Saturn: Lessons & limitations. Illness. Loss. Secrets. Elders.
Intellectual deliberation.
Uranus: Individuality, Differences
Neptune: Ecstasy/illusion
Pluto: Power for Transformation
3.3) Astrological Symbols
Aries - Querent, disposition and matter
Taurus - Financial situation
Gemini - Travel and communication
Cancer - Home life, family
Leo - Querent's pleasures
Virgo - Querent's health
Libra - Partnerships, marriage
Scorpio - Represents inheritances and deaths
Sagittarius - Philosophy, religion, education
Capricorn - Career
Aquarius - Friends
Pisces - Burdens, restrictions, fears, obstacles
3.4) Divination with a normal deck of playing cards (Vienneau)
The following is a near verbatim copy (spell check changes only) of
Viennau's post to alt.divination describing the meaning of each of
the cards in a regular playing deck when used for fortune-telling.
I would also note that I have seen a couple of books at my local
Bookstop with these listings. I have not compared them.
Hearts:
Aces- Happiness, love, friendship
King- a fair-haired man, affectionate and generous but impetuous
Queen- a fair-haired woman, trustworthy
Jack- a fair-haired young person, a good friend
10- good fortune, happiness
9- the "wish" card; desires come true
8- invitations, but also partings
7- someone is unreliable
6- unexpected good fortune; generosity
5- jealousy, indecision
4- changes, possibly travel or postponements
3- need for caution
2- success, friendship
Spades:
Ace- conflicts, a difficult love affair
King- dark-haired man, ambitious, usually successful
Queen- dark-haired woman, can be seductive or unscrupulous
Jack- dark-haired young person, a well-meaning person
10- worry
9- bad luck, can mean delays or quarrels
8- disappointments and opposition
7- a warning against possible loss of friendship
6- an improvement in the person's life
5- anxiety, setbacks, interferences
4- jealousy, business troubles
3- partings, possible due to faithlessness
2- scandal, gossip, danger of deceit
Diamonds:
Ace- a money, ring
King- fair-haired man, stubborn and powerful
Queen- fair-haired woman, flirtatious, sophisticated, witty
Jack- a relative, someone not quite reliable
10- journey, changes, usually bringing wealth
9- opportunities and surprises, usually financial
8- late marriage or new relationship; unexpected money
7- a gift
6- a reconciliation; a warning against a possible second marriage
5- successful meetings, particularly in business
4- an inheritance, a change for the better
3- legal or domestic battles
2- a love affair becomes more important than hitherto
Clubs:
Ace- Harmony, property, achievements, love
King- a dark-haired man, honest, open
Queen- a dark-haired woman, string-minded, helpful, attractive
Jack- a reliable friend
10- money from an unexpected source, good luck or gift
9- a new romance
8- opposition, danger or recklessness
7- prosperity, though a danger of romantic interference
6- business success
5- help from a friend or spouse
4- bad changes or alliance
3- good marriage or alliance
2- disappointment and opposition
Significators:
1. fair or grey-haired man over 40....... King of Diamonds
2. fair or grey haired woman over 40..... Queen of Diamonds
3. fair-haired young man ................ King of Hearts
4. fair-haired young woman .............. Queen of Hearts
5. dark-haired man over 40............... King of Spades
6. dark-haired woman over 40............. Queen of Spades
7. dark-haired young man................. King of Clubs
8. dark-haired young woman............... Queen of Clubs
3.5) Timing Information (Morison)
Some readers associate certain cards with specific time events.
The following is a list of such information.
Suits:
Wands, Spring
Cups, Summer
Swords, Fall
Pentacles, Winter
Personal interpretations of this relationship may vary individually
Ranks:
Aces - Week at the beginning of the season.
Kings - The matter was completed last year at this time.
Queens - The matter was completed last season.
e.g. - Ace of Wands would be the first week of the Spring Equinox
Stages Method:
Aces - The beginning of a situation.
Twos - Direction the matter will take. May be a 1st meeting point.
Threes - The point at which details grow and the matter solidifies.
Fours - Foundation has begun. Roots are put down in order to build.
Fives - The first challenge or glitch in the situation.
Sixes - Issue changes & grows;If it stagnates, it will not continue
Sevens - Variety added, Scope of the idea/project may be expanded.
Eights - Evaluation period. People & ideas may be put to the test.
Nines - Moving forward. The issue is nearly completed.
Tens - Completion of the cycle, project, or issue.
Pages - Signify risks and messages.
Knights - Indicate movement and direction.
3.6) Astrological House Numbering (Blackburn)
A few layouts contain an unusual ordering for the twelve
astrological houses. So far, the only information I have of why
such an ordering has been chosen was provided by Mr. Blackburn as
follows:
I choose the ordering based on a conseptualization of geomantic
figure placement I found in Agrippa's "Three Books of Occolt
Philosophy." I modified it by placing the cards in this order,
then simple assigning the figure around the circle, rather then the
(traditional) reverse. It is essencially a matter of crossing
bottom->top then right->left, (then staring over with the second
card in the circle) thus filling cardinal, fixed and mutable
together. I don't know how others would do it, though I have been
suggested that just be going around the circle, starting at the
top, might be easier and just as effective.
3.7) The Four Elements and the Tarot (Nickells)
[ Editors note: All of section 3.7 is a near verbatim copy of a
lesson which Mr. Nickells posted to alt.tarot and was also kind
enough to e-mail to me. Changes made were mostly grammatical, but
also include minor deletions for spatial purposes. - DJ ]
This essay is an attempt to describe a method of analysing a Tarot
reading using the Four Elements as a basis, to determine quickly
and simply the most important cards, their strength and weaknesses,
and how they interact with each other to gain information that may
have been apparent only thru intuition.
Tarot Readers may well have experienced the phenomenon of getting
'bad' vibes from apparently 'good' cards, and vice versa. After a
few rocky starts, I found that the querents confirmed these
contradictory feelings. I decided to research the hows and whys of
this, and eventually I came up with the ideas presented below.
These are the Main Points:
* There are no 'good or bad' cards.
* The cards are essentially neutral.
* Reversed cards are included, but do not have much weight.
* The basis of interaction is the Four Elements.
* The cards interact with the positions in spreads.
* Cards should never be read singly. Preferably, this means
that at least 3 cards should be read at a time.
* Elemental rules are simple and logical
* Works for all standard 78 decks
* No need to modify one's personal interpretation of
individual cards.
How many people's lives are that black and white? Remember, a
reversed card does not necessary mean bad news. Using sequential
spreads rather than positional spreads (the Celtic Cross is a
positional spread) gives one the opportunity to be more
sophisticated in the use of reversed cards.
The basis of what follows is to simply read and interpret Three
Cards at a time, gradually building up in sophistication as our
understanding grows. Practice is vital, so that the rules become
second nature, and eventually almost sub-conscious.
3.7.1) Stage One: Traditional Method
We