The Crone's MiniBooks

Sometimes a future event or change may be addressed within a reading that would cause you to wish to know approximately when it will occur, such as a birth, a wedding, a new relationship or a new line of employment. Predicting the exact time of an occurrence can be quite tricky since actions you and others take in day to day life can alter the timeline quite a bit. Events and especially change can sometimes be delayed or brought forward on the timeline simply by how receptive the person or persons involved are to it. Therefore, if you are predicting the timing of an event for a client, be certain to emphasize that this time is approximate and should only be used as a guideline. Also, pepper the speech liberally with "if things remain as they are now"

When the subject requiring a time frame is identified, the client should concentrate on the question, "When is this event/change to occur". He/she then cuts the deck of remaining cards and the reader flips over the top card.

The numerical value of the card (4 for the 4 of pentacles or 7 for the 7 of cups) is then applied. So, the 4 of pentacles would indicate 4 months and the 7 of cups would indicate 7 days.

If a sword card is drawn, the concept discussed and entered for a timing evaluation has too many obstacles involved in its progression to accurately predict the timing.

A queen or king indicates that the timing is in the hands of other people, possibly someone represented by the court card drawn.

A page of any suit tells you that more information is needed before the timing can be accurately evaluated.

A knight would indicate that you are presently undergoing changes to prepare you for what is to come and timing is temporarily suspended until those changes have manifested further.

If a sword card or a court card is drawn when a timing card has been requested, it would be wise to wait a few days and ask again.

If a Major Arcana card is drawn, the indication is that this is either an ongoing process or in underway at this moment. In that instance, it may be advisable to rephrase the question to, "When will this event/change be completed?" Interpretation in the usual manner of the Major Arcana card drawn can help lend additional insight to what is going on at that time.

Something that can unnerve a novice reader to no end is what a dear friend of mine calls a "dead card". This is a card that appears in a reading and rings no bells whatsoever. It doesn't inspire any psychic stimulation and the "classic" interpretation does not seem to apply within the context of the reading. After much intellectual deliberation and cerebral pondering, Bradley and I have come up with this explanation: "The card is an exhibitionist and wants to get in on the reading; it simply has nothing to say." Do not beat yourself to death trying to decode the meaning of a card that is making no sense at all. Write down the card and its classic meaning in your Tarot notebook and reference back to it in a week or so. Perhaps in retrospect you will be able to see what you cannot immediately discern.

Sometimes you may find yourself in the situation of doing a reading for someone who already knows how to read cards. If this is the case, do not forget that YOU are the one doing the reading. DON'T BE INTIMIDATED!! Your psychic impressions are important and the client should not be providing the interpretations for the cards. It should be determined from the beginning of the reading who, in fact, is reading the cards for whom. If the client wanted to do the reading for themselves, they should shouldn't ask you to perform the service. Reader or not, NEVER let a client argue with you over the meaning of a card. Often clients with a small amount of knowledge of the meanings of the cards will try to insist that the interpretation they read in such and such book is the correct meaning of the card. Remember, your psychic interpretation and immediate impulses are a very important factor in the interpretation of the reading. A client who persists in arguing with me about the interpretation of a card (after a gentle reminder that I am doing the reading) will quickly find me picking up the cards and wishing them a good day.

Although I thoroughly enjoy reading the Tarot for other people, I have sometimes come across clients who don't know when to stop. After they have had their questions answered, they are either refusing to accept the advise of the Tarot and continue to seek until they hear what they want to hear or they are so jazzed by this "new and exciting thing" that they want the reading to last forever. It is not a good idea to beat the cards to death by addressing the same issue over and over. Often, once the cards have said all they intend to say, repeated readings will only dissolve into a mass of incoherent contradicting garbage. Also, your scheduling of clients may be as such that you have to or choose to limit the amount of time you can devote to any one client. In any of those instances, I have found that the most tactful way to effect a graceful exit is to restate what has been learned through the readings in summary and smilingly tell the client that you feel that he/she has gained all the information available on the subject at this time. Do not be pushed or railroaded if you genuinely feel that the reading is over or you have given the client their money's worth.

When I was growing up, I was one of the particularly weird kids who genuinely liked math. I enjoyed all aspects of working with numbers, especially Algebra where numbers danced[ from one side of the equation to the other. You can imagine my interest several years ago when I learned that numbers play a very important part, not only in our day-to-day life, but also in the Tarot and divination in general.

I am embarrassed to admit that I had been reading for several years before I began to integrate numerology into my interpretations. I urge you not to make the same mistake, for in doing so, you loose a valuable and important part of many readings. A basic knowledge of the meanings of the numbers will enhance any reading you choose to do. When you see a predominance of certain numbers throughout a reading, it gives you an insight to the client's point of progress the situation at hand and is a good indicator as to how far the circumstances discussed in the reading have evolved. Each numerical interpretation works in accordance to the numerological significance of the card. Cards with double digit numbers are reduced by adding the digits together. So Death, which is #13, would reduce by adding 1+3, resulting in 4 being the attributed number. Below are listed some of the numeric values of Tarot cards along with the usual meaning associated with that number.

ONE: One is the universal prime number that indicates new beginnings of all sorts. The situation concerned in the reading is in its infancy and the client is being offered a new start in some area, usually clarified either by the card itself or the context of the reading. A cycle has ended and another has begun. Cards that represent the number one are: THE MAGICIAN, ALL ACES, THE SUN and ALL THE TENS.

TWO: Two represents duality, partnership, cooperation and assistance. Things are accomplished with a joint effort. Help is coming. Interaction with another person is indicated. The cards attributed to two are: THE HIGH PRIESTESS, JUSTICE (in most decks), ALL TWOS and JUDGMENT.

THREE: Three is the number of growth, plans, synthesis and of the ideal becoming a reality. The situation is leaving the nebulous, shapeless form and is working toward stability, toward something tangible. Three represents manifestation and an emergence of duty. The cards represented by three are: THE EMPRESS, THE HANGED MAN, THE WORLD and ALL THE THREES.

FOUR: Four means stabilization. Think of four legs stabilizing a chair or a table. Logic, structure, solidity and a grounding force (remember there are four elements). The cards relating to four are: THE EMPEROR, DEATH and ALL THE FOURS.

FIVE: Change, disharmony, fluctuation and imbalance are afoot with the fives. There is a need to find your place in life and work into a harmonious situation. Energy is being wasted. Think of a 'fifth wheel'. The number five cards are: THE HEIROPHANT, TEMPERANCE, and ALL THE FIVES.

SIX: Harmony is restored. The balance has been regained and progress and synergistic effects are incoming. Energy is being used effectively after disharmony. Number six cards are: THE LOVERS, THE DEVIL and ALL THE SIXES.

SEVEN: Personal success and the manifestation of the client's innermost desires. Reconstruction, achievement and control are the emphasis. Cards attributed to the number seven are: THE CHARIOT, THE TOWER, and ALL THE SEVENS.

EIGHT: Success in both the mundane and spiritual realms. Personal achievement that is well earned, release of restraint and individuality are indicated. The ability to assert oneself and make necessary changes. Cards associated with the number eight are: STRENGTH, THE STAR and ALL THE EIGHTS.

NINE: Energy is renewed and the end is in sight. Nine represents the second wind that is regained when the finish line is in sight. Wisdom, truths and karmic returns are also indicated. Look for these energies in: THE HERMIT, THE MOON and ALL THE NINES.

TEN: Following our formula of adding digits, 10 reduces to 1, which brings us back full circle to the beginning once again. As life works in cycles, we see ups and down while the Wheel continues to turn. Ten, therefore, represents the closing of a chapter in our lives, the ending of a situation or relationship. THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE and ALL THE TENS bring us back to the ones again, but we restart on a more advanced level than before. Change and flux brings a refining that makes us shine more with each day that passes. Tens indicate that the lesson is learned and it is time to move onward to the next. Release the past and embrace the future.

Playing with numbers can lend a new aspect to your work in Tarotology. There are many excellent books dealing specifically with Numerology if you wish to explore this area further.

The

Major

Arcana

The

Minor

Arcana

The

Court

Cards

The

Spreads

The

Wind