The Tower says:
destroy old structures


humanism, magick, oracles, shamanism, storytelling
Tag: tarot
The Tower says:
destroy old structures


The high priestess says:
Proceed with study and meditation


The magician says: ACT!
31-Celebration:
take action while constantly bearing the past in the mind, without being afraid of having to change your ideas, even drastically
For me it is important to honour the accomplishments and the knowledge of the past (my ancestors and my own experience) without getting stuck in outdated practice.
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Recently I have been reviewing my methods of cartomancy, looking at accumulated results of study.
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I have learned many things from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, the underlying Golden Dawn system, but the qabbalistic doctrine felt too dogmatic and constricting for me.
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Just look at 10 pentacles in the RWS system:
The qabbalistic tree imagery influences the intrepretation of this card.
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compare this with the 10 diamonds in standard (French style) playing cards:

There are no distracting occult symbols in the standard playing cards…now I take up the challenge to see this card with a fresh outlook…it feels like refurbishing an empty room with my own stuff.
Considering the pips are numbered 1-10, the highest number is 10…this is an ending/completion of a cycle.
Diamonds were originally coins, money.
My intrepretation would be: a maximum amount of money/finances.
On the positive side: a treasure, jackpot.
On the negative side: extreme wealth will attract thieves and other predators.
Comparing the intrepretation of this playing card with the Oracle card 31-Celebration:
The inheritance of knowledge, skills, finances, all those things that were passed down by the ancestors should be applied in a sensible way.
Finding a balance between hoarding and over-indulging, between keeping the secret knowledge and throwing pearls to swine, between rote repeating the past methods and disregarding everything.
IS THE HISTORY A PRO OR CON?
The oldest known form of cartomancy are the 15th century Mamluk playing cards with oracular text written on the cards.
Nowadays there are many decks (like the Cartamundi Lenormand) with oracular texts.
IS THERE INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH?
There much information in books and on internet
HOW MUCH RESEARCH IS NEEDED?
Most of the time is being consumed by collecting and sifting information, expanding my own vision is a never-ending story
IS THERE A COMMUNITY?
There are many communities on the web, the quality might vary.
IS IT RELIGIOUS IN NATURE?
Basic cartomancy not affiliated with any religion; it is compatible with folk-lore.
IS IT PRACTICAL?
Yes, usable as one of the many ways to activate my intuition.
DOES IT MATCH MY SKILLSET?
Basic cartomancy is much easier than other systems like modern Tarot (especially Golden Dawn and their descendants)
DOES IT FEEL RIGHT FOR ME?
It feels back to basics, getting free from traditional/dogmatic systems!
inspiration: Which Method of Divination is Right for You? — Lisa Boswell
Must read…Camoin basic rules for reading TDM…
The method works for me, but…his claim ‘heir to a tradition which goes back for many centuries’ is contested in the Tarot community.

1st rule :
It is always the person asking the question who shuffles the cards and selects the cards. The cards are placed face down, and it is the Tarot reader who turns them face up at the appropriate time.2nd rule :
When a card is in reverse position (of course from the perspective of the querent) it means that the energies of that card are blocked. If there is not already a card directly above (or below when following a variant method – see Upward and Downward Spreads) the reversed card, another card is drawn and placed there. The new card is always placed upright. It indicates the solution, the direction to take, what needs to be done to remove the blockage of the reversed card below it. It is the card that “cures” the reversed card.
3rd rule :
When a figure in the card gazes, or “regards”, in a direction where no card has been placed, another card is drawn and placed next to the first in the direction of its Regard. This card can be either upright or reversed. For instance, if the Pope is upright in the future position and it is looking at an empty space without a card, another card must be drawn to see what the Pope is regarding. This new card can be either upright or reversed.4th rule :
When a similar symbol appears two or more times in the spread, it is important to pay attention to that symbol. For instance, in The Empress, The Emperor and The World, an eagle appears three times.5th rule :
When the problem related to the blockage in a reversed card is resolved through the Tarot reading, and/or in dialogue with the querent, the reversed card can be placed upright. The situation thus transforms and the new reading appears which corresponds to what is occurring now that the problem has been remedied.6th rule :
When all the cards have been placed and there are no more cards to draw, the spread is in principle finished. However, it is possible to continue to read the cards in the spread in relationship to information that surfaces during the discussion. For example, a certain card might represent a member of the querent’s family, a work colleague, or another person related to the question. Another reading can be made based on the card representing the particular person The new reading will give an idea about the life and surroundings of that person. 7th rule : Variations are of course possible using the Minor Arcana or with other structures than the standard spread beginning with three cards; for example, the Cross spread, spreads with more cards in a row horizontally, or any other spread. 8th rule : When using the Minor Arcana, the rules expressed above equally apply, in particular those on the direction of the Regard for the figures in the court cards: Page, Queen, King, Knight.
So many decks to choose from…
Hard-core traditionalists would prefer old Tarot te Marseille, but I find most old artwork too ugly for my modern senses.

Other Traditional decks: Choose a Deck | Tarot Heritage
On the other hand…modern versions of TDM sometimes diverge too much from the original tradition, almost becoming a Rider-Waite-Smith clone.

Other modern TDM: Marseille inspired Tarot decks
Rider-Waite-Smith…need I say more?
Diverging from de original TDM, heavily loaded with Golden Dawn dogma!

What is less good? RWS clones!
What is worse? Zombie RWS!

Casting of seven cards in a row, reading from left to right:

1. Please tell something about yourself
Denier 6: value for money
2. What is your most important character trait?
Epee 7: Resourcefulness
3. Your strengths as a deck of cards
XVI LaMaisonDieu: Upending stagnation
4. Your weaknesses as a deck of cards
XIIII Temperance: Slow moving
5. What is the best way to work with you?
XI LaForce: Discipline
6. The result of our partnership
Batons 7: Confidence
7. What else do you want to mention?
XVIII LaLune: Heed the visions
Gestalt reading: Denier 6-Epee 7-XVI LaMaisonDieu-XIIII Temperance-XI LaForce-Batons 7-XVIII LaLune.
Four major arcana:
XVI LaMaisonDieu-XIIII Temperance-XI LaForce–XVIII LaLune, the swift harshness of XVI LaMaisonDieu is tempered by the slow moving XIIII Temperance, while the power of the discplinarian XI LaForce is mellowed by the dreamy visionary XVIII LaLune,
Three minor arcana: two sevens (Epee & Baton) & Denier 6, the chancy sevens are grounded in the material world.
The emotional Coupe is missing, but on the other hand there is the dreamy XVIII LaLune.
It seems that here the Major Arcana shows the balancing act of opposite forces, while the Minor Arcana shows the grounding of complementary forces.
Conclusion: I have the feeling that Tarot de Marseille is really willing to work with me.
update…second opinions on the web:
1. The decks is best read using spreads;2. Best answers positive, pro-active questions ( 7 connected to Chariot, Swords – Thoughts) ;3. Sees through illusion and deception;4. Agree with your interpretation;5.Patience;6. Agree with your interp.; also i think it will become one of your working decks.P.s. of course i agree with all your interpretations, but i added where i have other thoughts too.Enjoy your deck!
1. Please tell something about yourselfit’s a new structure2. What is your most important character trait?Breakthrough prior boundaries3. Your strengths as a deck of cardsinspiration4. Your weaknesses as a deck of cardsBalance takes time5. What is the best way to work with you?Discipline6. The result of our partnershipProvide a whole new perspective7. What else do you want to mention?Keep it simple. Some will tell you things not true.
Welzijnswerk in Amsterdam Westerpark
author + reader
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