Tarot Layouts

This layout has two potential contexts. One is more involved, the other is a part of that, and can work alone.

This format contains four lines, with a total of thirteen cards, to honor the Watchers, and the Goddess.

The first line introduces the querant and the cards, and caries three cards.

1. The first answers the question “Who am I?” this refers to the persona of the querant, and is meant to cut through any façade the querant may have built for the reader.
2. The second card answers the question, “What am I doing here?” this is a question that the querant may not even have an answer for, as they may not be able to cope with irrational thoughts, or the irrational have not yet identified themselves. This card seeks to clarify the querant’s psycho-sonomo-emotional state of being, or how is the querant’s balance at the time of the reading. This could clue the reader on just how diplomatic (diplomat should not be confused with door mat) the answer should be.
3. The third card answers the question, “Where am I?” What is the relationship between the querant and the problem at hand?

This second line consists of four cards and can be presented independent of the rest. I call it the “Grammar” reading, because I have patterned it after English grammar norms for a minimum sentence.

I had created the above image for a class. I had randomly selected four cards with this arrangement in mind, with no particular question in mind. As I contemplated the meaning of these four cards, which is what story did they portray, Song of Songs 8.6 came to mind. The Devil, in this arrangement, is in a position of warning. The Devil will shine his light on truths we may not want to, but need to see. The Subject of the Reading is the Queen of Cups, Dreams, Love, and emotions are her chapters. The Verb, or action is in the nine of rods, The fellow has a fierce look, like he has seen too much danger for one day, and is expecting more. The Object of the reading is the Queen of Swords, who represents endings that cannot be recalled, and don’t always promise new beginnings. In other words, she truly represents death. She offers gifts and mercy in one hand, and death (which can be a form of mercy) in the other. The Summary: “Let me be a seal upon your heart, Like the seal upon your hand. For love is fierce as death, Passion is mighty as She’ol; Its Darts are darts of fire, A blazing flame.”

4. This fourth card is a wild part of grammar. It may be an interjection, a preposition, or a conjunction. The answer to this is usually based on the card itself.
5. Subject: this represents the querant’s authority, or the central function of the question that started this ritual. In Qabalistic terms, this is the mover.
6. Verb: This is the field of action of that subject. What is going on? In Qabalistic terms, this is the movement.
7. Object: What is the subject acting upon? In Qabalistic terms, this is the moved.

The third line is the advisory. It consists of five cards, each dedicated to a Hermetic element. The advice would be to maintain or adjust the current balances.

8. Fire is ardent and enthusiastic, spontaneous, self-sufficient, romantic. If repressed, he can burst out suddenly and violently, becoming destructive. If this sanguine personality is controlled, his passion can become compassion, and anger can become an engine of change.
9. Earth is pragmatic, dependable, conservative, and sensual. If repressed, she can prove to be like an old tree stump or a deep rock, stubborn and hard to get along with. Worst, she can be like a dog in a manger, neither eating, nor letting others’ eat. Her cold, indifferent apathy can become enduring diligence. She is the one who will finish what Fire has started.
10. Light is strange, and is never quite what Xe appears to be. This position focuses on some issue, and in doing so, throws shade on other issues that may also need attention. If repressed, the light may stagnate, become cold, undeveloped.
11. Air is judgment, rational and irrational knowledge, specializes in the intellectual pursuits, often at the expense of emotional ones. If repressed, air can be so focused on procedure that truth, mercy, and humility are sacrificed, and a soul can become like stale, foul air.
12. Water is where our emotions and intuition grow, it is the place where dreams are formed. Water gives air meaning, where meaning is otherwise missing.

The Last line is optional, though I would advise looking into it.

13. Dedicated to the Goddess as Crone, the grandmother whose experiences may keep us from making the same mistakes. She is the obstacle in our path that can turn the weak of will away, or the strong of will to look to their purpose. She may bless, that is helping our path. She may curse, that is hindering our path.

Created on ... November 23, 2002