Sunday, November 18, 2007

Oracle Card Decks

Oracle card decks claim to provide insight and positive outlooks to people.

They are similar in form and use to Tarot cards, but do not have suits or negative connotations as Tarot may do. Common themes used in oracle card decks involve the power of positive thought and metaphysical beings such as angels, fairies, mermaids and unicorns.

There are many Oracle Card decks on the market by many authors, including Doreen Virtue, Steven Farmer, Wayne Dyer and Louise Hay. Hay House is a leading publisher of Oracle Card Decks.

Source: Wikipedia

Tarot Card Games Tarot And Tarock

Tarot Card Games
Tarocchi (Italian, plural form of Tarocco), also known as Tarock (German-Austrian name), Tarot (French name) and similar names in other languages, is a specific form of playing card deck, which in its history was used for different trick-taking games and later for cartomantic interests and divination (concrete forms appear at least since the article of Court de Gebelin in the year 1781), also as a field for artists to display specific iconographical forms often connected to an ideological system in the background.

It is recorded as one of the oldest types of playing card decks known.

The game is nowadays known in many variations, first basic rules appear in the manuscript of Martiano da Tortona (before 1425; translated text), the next are known from the year 1637. In Italy the game has become less popular, one version named Tarocco Bolognese: Ottocento has still survived and there are still others played in Piedmont, but the number of games outside of Italy is much higher, there connected to the words Tarot and Tarock.

It is played with a tarot deck of playing cards. The so-called "esoteric" decks used for divination are usually ill-suited for playing, for example the corner symbols are missing; thus there are regular playing decks in the countries where tarocchi is popular.

The 78-card deck contains:

Four suits: depending on the region, either the Anglo-French hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs or the original Latin suits of swords, batons, cups, and coins; numbered one through ten, plus four court cards — a jack, a knight, a queen, and a king;

the twenty-one tarots, known in divination as the Major Arcana, which function in the game as a permanent suit of trumps;

the Fool, also known as the Excuse, an un-numbered card that in some variations
excuses the player from following suit or playing a trump, and in others acts as the strongest trump.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Tarot Cards 78 Major Arcana And Minor Arcana Tarot Cards

Major 78 Tarot Cards

The modern, 78-card tarot deck has two distinct parts:

The Major Arcana ("greater secrets"), or trump cards, consists of 21 cards without suits, plus a 22nd card, The Fool, which is often given the value of zero: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, and The World.

The Minor Arcana ("lesser secrets") consists of 56 cards (sometimes referred to as pips), divided into four suits of 14 cards each: ten numbered cards and four court cards. The court cards are the page, knight, queen and king in each of the four tarot suits.


The traditional Italian tarot suits are swords, batons, coins and cups; in modern tarot decks, however, the batons suit is often called wands, rods or staves, while the coins suit is often called pentacles or disks.

The terms major arcana and minor arcana are only used in esoteric practice.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Blasts At Hyderabad - Tarot suggests Peace & Standing United

Five people died and 15 were injured when a blast shook a crowded mosque in Hyderabad near the historic Char Minar on Friday afternoon. At least a thousand people were at prayer in the Mecca Masjid, the city’s largest mosque, when a blast shook the place at around 13:25 hours.

How should Hyderabadi react to this blast? What is needed most? Here are the answers by Tarot.

Hyderabad gets "Three of Swards". With respect to current situation; card identifies wounding, disbelief or rejection as impacts.

Hyderabadis are really feeling hurt inside. ICT & Bio-Tech has put Hyderabad on world's map. It has been able to maintain peace since long. And this blast distresses all. People of city may feel let down on being cheated on security aspects.

This card also indicates need of standing together and be united. All victims should not be felt lonely. Learning from past experiences; good old logic and reason would save us. All these fearful experiences have something in common.

Card also indicates that people should not believe in rumors and thus being cheated or hurt further.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Should Microsoft acquire Yahoo? - Tarot Answers

While "Microsoft acquirs Yahoo!" is talk of the town; i tried to analyze few possible scenarios via Tarot.

Would Microsoft be able to acquire Yahoo successfully?

Card: Queen of Wands

Interpretation: This acquisition brings success to doorstep for Microsoft. Microsoft seems to be dedicated to cause, optimistic and enthusiastic for this change. Microsoft would be able to make powerful impact on web search & advertising business.

Neither party should worry about what others think about this acquisition and carry business forward optimistically.

In short this acquisition seems to be friendly and easy going. If occurred; would bring enigmatic and creative changes to Microsoft.

What problems may arise during this acquisition?

Card: Ten of Wands

There is always price to pay. Analysts feel this huge takeover unlikely. Microsoft needs to pay nearly $50 billion – huge amount to takeover Yahoo for which Microsoft should be answerable to its investors. Further this acquisition may draw antitrust issues in picture.

Microsoft may struggle with overload and over-extension. This may bring a lot of responsibilities for Microsoft to make this acquisition fruitful at later stage. In short; this acquisition will put Microsoft under struggle, overload and heavy burden.

If acquisition is possible; would this venture be fruitful to both parties?

For Both

Card: Two of Wands

This acquisition would bring achievements, courage and power in business. This acquisition will make mark on world and would be inventive and different to past.

After acquisition; new venture will flourish new ideas and widen company’s perspectives. This card clearly shows that this is a time for initiative and invention.

Two number itself talks about M&A. Instead of doubling power; it would be wise decision to share power and make success of plans.


For Microsoft

Card: Six of Swards

This acquisition would help Microsoft to get over difficulties. Microsoft will head on better times. It is time for Microsoft to start new journey towards success overcoming all troubles.

For Yahoo

Card: Seven of Pentacles

It’s time for Yahoo to reap the crop of it’s till date efforts. Yahoo needs to be ready to make new move. It also indicates breaks from hard work. It is time to think of what have you achieved so far and how can you enjoy the fruits of your labor? However it is also important to evaluate where Yahoo is looking for to go and which road is better of it? There should be no fear in taking new path anyway.

What may be scenario for Google later due to this acquisition?

Card: Four of Cups

Irrespective Google holds nearly 60% market share in search; Google has to give away little or more to this acquisition. However in future; Google will be left with opportunities but Google may undergo doubts, hesitation and introspection. Or Google will feel lack of relationship. It also indicates that Google may need to think of getting into ventures with other players to be defensive against this acquisition. This card signifies that Google may be so defensive and self-absorbed right now that it cannot consider any offer or proposal. Some serious self-reflection or self-questioning is required.

Monday, May 7, 2007

4 Aspects Of Life - Elemental Tarot Spread



Our belief is - human is made of mainly four elements e.g. Air, Fire, Water and Earth.





Tarot spread will help you to find out what may need work in these four aspects of your life.

In the shape of a five-pointed star, this reading analyzes any situation with respect to the influences of all four elements/suits and the fifth element of Spirit/trumps - each corresponding to one major area of your life.

Positions:


1 - You. This card represents you, or some important aspect of your life at this point in time.
2 - Air. Your intellectual or mental life.
3 - Fire. Your passionate or physical life.
4 - Water. Your emotional life.
5 - Earth. Your spritual life.

Few Known Tarot Spreads

Celtic Cross Spread
A classic spread of 10-cards. Very good for getting details on all aspects of a problem.Dark of the Moon Spread
A spread of 7 cards that will help you look within yourself and examine where your life is at.
Decisions Spread
Just 4 cards, but this spread can help you make decisions especially when you are stuck at a crossroads.
Elemental Spread
Take a look at the 4 aspects of your life, and where you may want to look deeper.
Horseshoe Spread
A 7-card spread that is geared to help you understand the basis and circumstances surrounding a particular issue.
Living Tree Tarot Spread
See how a project or event is going to grow and develop.
Past, Present, Future
A simple 3-card spread that shows how the past effects a situation, and where that situation is heading.
Triple Spiral Spread
A great 5-card spread that will help you determine what is effecting a particular situation, and how it will turn out.
Zodiac Spread
A large, 12-card spread that is based on the 12 houses of the zodiac. Good for a snapshot of your life.

Complete Book of Tarot Spreads - by Evelin Burger Johannes Fiebig



Here you'll find 122 different layouts with information on when and how to use them. Start with personal day and year cards, and learn how to relate Tarot to your own interests, in order to find specific blind spots and personal resistances, as well as how to look for new chances and unexpected directions. Then you progress to the larger and theme cards, and learn to interpret networks of cards and also "to view every card as a world by itself." You'll become acquainted with the Cycle of the Year (with 20 major layouts) and with the practice of Tarot and astrology, using the respected Golden Dawn System developed by Arthur A. Waite and Alistair Crowley. Soon you'll appreciate the variety and creativity inherent in Tarot, to see the cards as a mirror of yourself, and to discover what the authors mean when they say that "being lucky has nothing to do with luck." 192 pages, 114 b/w illus., 6 x 9.



Few Tarot Decks - Get Your One!!

While browsing Amazon - found few Tarot decks.


The Tarot Bible: The Definitive Guide to the Cards and Spreads




An another book on Tarot, i like most - Tarot Bible

Book Description

Starting with the basics—choosing the best pack, understanding the deck and its structure, asking the right questions—this comprehensive guide to working with Tarot provides all the information needed to do a full reading. On colorfully, sumptuously illustrated pages unfold the mysteries of each card’s symbolic meaning.

From the Magician to the Fool, the Lovers to the Hermit, every beautifully presented entry features a picture of the card, as well as keywords and phrases, astrological affinities, and a full interpretation.

In-depth advice on laying out spreads for every day, relationships, revelations, and destiny help unlock the secrets of the past, present, and future. With everything from historical background to smart tips for developing skills and knowledge, this truly is the Tarot bible newcomers can depend on!

Designing Your Own Tarot Spreads By Teresa Michelsen



The first step toward designing your own tarot spreads is to define the basic elements of a spread and be able to recognize and work with them.

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): tarot fair, own tarot spreads, predictive readings, upright cards, card positions, positional meanings, spread design, mirror spreads, outcome card, focusing reading, own spreads, reversed cards, position definitions, tarot readers, tarot reading, spread positions, card meanings, many spreads, question card, court cards, custom spreads

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): Celtic Cross, Tree of Life, Internet Card

Table of Contents:

Part I: Fundamentals of Spread Design
Chapter One: Elements of a Tarot Spread
Chapter Two: Defining the Question
Chapter Three: Layout Size
Chapter Four: Position Definitions
Chapter Five: Spatial Design
Chapter Six: Significators and Other Special Cards
Chapter Seven: Placing and Reading the Cards

Part II: Inspirations for Spread Design
Chapter Eight: Sources of Inspiration
Chapter Nine: Multipurpose Spreads
Chapter Ten: Love and Relationship Spreads
Chapter Eleven: Practical Spreads
Chapter Twelve: Alternatives and Decision Spreads
Chapter Thirteen: Predictive Spreads
Chapter Fourteen: Psychological and Interactive Spreads
Chapter Fifteen: Spiritual and Metaphysical Spreads
Chapter Sixteen : Special Occasion Spreads

Glossary


Book Description

After learning a few basic card spreads and becoming familiar with individual card meanings, one of the first things tarot readers discover is the critical importance of asking the right question.

But without using the right spread, you might not be getting the most out of your tarot readings. This groundbreaking book is a part of Llewellyn's Special Topics in Tarot series. This series was created in response to an increasing demand for more tarot books on advanced and specialized topics.

Designing Your Own Tarot Spreads is an invaluable resource for tarot readers of all levels of expertise.

Learn how to:
  • Pose the perfect question
  • Decide how many cards to use
  • Clarify the meaning of each card position
  • Work with reversals and dignities
  • Use special cards such as significators, karmic lesson cards, and clarification cards
  • Modify existing spreads to reflect your own reading style
  • Inspirations for spreads covering a diverse variety of topics including relationships, financial and career development, predictive readings, personal development, and special occasions.

Whether you're a professional tarot reader looking for ways to better serve your clientele or a beginner looking for a way to make your readings more accurate, this book will add new dimensions to your tarot practice.

About the Author

Teresa Michelsen is a tarot reader and instructor with more than 25 years of experience reading tarot. She is well-known on the tarot e-mail lists under her reading name of Thrysse, and has published many articles on tarot on the worldwide web and in ATA publications. Teresa teaches on-line tarot courses for beginning and intermediate readers, and has published her first book on Designing your Own Tarot Spreads in 2002.Teresa lives near Seattle, Washington, and in addition to her tarot work, has home-based businesses in environmental consulting and mediation.See Teresa's website below for more information on her online Tarot classes!

Excerpted from Designing Your Own Tarot Spreads (Special Topics in Tarot) by Teresa Michelsen. Copyright © 2003. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Elements of a Tarot Spread

The first step toward designing your own tarot spreads is to define the basic elements of a spread and be able to recognize and work with them.

In general, every spread you will design or use contains the following basic components:

  • A question or topic area
  • The number of cards to be dealt The spatial arrangement of the cards
  • The meanings of the card positions
  • The order in which they will be laid and read

Some spreads have additional elements, including:

Special constraints on how the cards will be placed or read Additional cards that are not part of the main spread but add to it in some way.

Even a one-card reading can be thought of as a spread, although it doesn't have all of the elements above.

For a one-card reading, the question you define is especially important, as even more than usual it will determine whether or not you receive a clear answer. For example, if the question is "Why can't I ever seem to meet my deadlines at work?", you could define the card you receive as "The main reason you can't meet your deadlines." Other choices are also possible. For example, you could choose "The one thing you can do to meet your deadlines more often."

An interesting design element of a one-card reading is that you can define upright cards to mean one thing and reversed cards to mean another. This provides added information and flexibility to the reading. In the example above, let's assume we defined the one card as the main reason you can't meet your deadlines. We could also say that if it is an upright card, it represents an external influence (such as constant interruptions at work), while a reversed card would represent an internal issue (such as really wanting a different job).

Now let's look at the larger, widely used Astrological or Horoscope spread shown in Figure 1 to see how all the basic elements of a tarot spread are incorporated into it.

The Question
The Astrological spread lends itself best to questions that are similar to those that might be answered using various kinds of astrological charts. For example, a spread could be laid out similar to a natal or birth chart to examine a client's life purpose and the strengths and challenges she faces in this life.* Another approach, similar to a solar-return chart, would be to look at the coming year starting on the querent's birthday.

A third choice would be to look at the compatibility of a relationship by laying out two cards in each house-one for each person.

Number of Cards
In this spread, there are twelve cards, one for each house in an astrological chart. Twenty-four cards may be used if you wish to place two cards in each house, or if looking at a relationship as described above.

Spatial Design - Spatial design refers to the arrangement of cards in space, or the geometric layout of the spread. In this case, the cards are arranged in a circle, starting just below the nine o'clock position and proceeding counterclockwise around the circle. This is based on the arrangement of an astrological chart, in which the first house falls just below the nine o'clock line.

Position Meanings - In this spread, each of the twelve cards falls within one of the astrological houses, which govern a particular area of life or the personality. Some keywords for the houses and positional meanings are shown in Figure 1.

Order of Laying and Reading - This spread is normally laid in the order of the houses, starting with the first house and proceeding to the twelfth. The cards may be read in the same order, however, there are often patterns among opposite houses and houses with the same elemental affinity that are worth noting and may affect the order in which the cards should be read or discussed.

Special Constraints - , one example of a more specialized approach would be to use the client's actual astrological birth chart. You could place the major arcana cards associated with each planet into their actual houses at the time of birth, and reverse any cards associated with retrograde planets. Then conduct the reading, perhaps filling in empty houses with minor arcana cards dealt from the shuffled deck to represent less significant influences.

Additional Cards - As with most spreads, additional cards can be added to an astrological layout. One example might be to place a card in the center of the layout. With a life reading, this card might represent one's life purpose. With a solar or birthday reading, this card might represent the general outlook or main theme of the coming year.

Mom!! So Colorful Cards!!

Defining Tarot is not really necessary here. But i would like to summarize various definitions on Tarot.

What is Tarot?

A set of 78 cards with pictures and symbols that are used for divination by connecting the reader to the subconscious mind. The origin of the cards is unknown. Some guesses on the origin are from the Romany (Gypsy) people, but that is unsupported so far.

Divination by interpreting a set of 78 cards which carry pictures and symbols used to connect the diviner with the collective unconscious. The cards can be used to determine the past, present and future of an event or person and can become powerful tools in magical workings and rituals. ...

A set of 78 cards used in divination or to explore the unconscious. The 56 cards in the “minor arcana” are divided into four suits: wands (symbolizing action); cups (emotions); swords (intellect); and pentacles (material concerns). The 22 cards of the “major arcana” depict archetypes and elemental forces.

A form of divination using a set of cards, usually 76 cards.

A form of Divination, using a deck of 78 Cards: 22 Trumps or Major Arcana, and 56 Minor Arcana. The first Tarot deck seems to have appeared in Mediaeval times, though there is one legend that it goes back to Ancient Egypt. Aside from its divinatory uses, the Tarot is used Occult orders such as the Golden Dawn where the cards are closely mapped onto the various concepts of the Qabalah, especially the Tree of Life, and even the Golden Dawn conceptions of Astrology and the Cosmos.

(Tair-oh) - Divination using a set of 78 tarot cards which are laid out in such a fashion that the diviner interprets them to answer the question at hand.

Founded in the mid-1700's by a cabal of mystically inclined European noblemen, Tarot is the
largest criminal syndicate in the history of the world. The organization has a hand in nearly every criminal enterprise imaginable, from drug trafficking to white slavery. Tarot also engages in legitimate business (mostly as a cover for its criminal activity), and it could be argued that its legitimate businesses out-profit its criminal businesses.

A specific deck of cards that are used for divination or reading future events. It comes in many designs and forms.thecronescorner.com/Definitions.html

Cards used by fortune tellers, which esoterics of the Grail Quest believe to tell the alternative history of Jesus Christ.

a set of playing cards bearing allegorical representations, used for fortune-telling.towerwebproductions.com/alt-lib/occult/definitions.shtml

tarot card: any of a set of (usually 72) cards that include 22 cards representing virtues and vices and death and fortune etc.; used by fortunetellers wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Tarot (Tar-oh) is a system of symbolic images on cards. Whatever their original significance, the cards have been used since they first surfaced as much for divinatory purposes as for trick-taking card games. Tarot is currently also used as tool for reflection on one's personal life, as well as an aid to meditation. Tarot is usually embodied in a deck of 78 cards, similar to a set of playing cards. In the English speaking world, tarot is widely regarded as a form of cartomancy. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot

Tarot is a heavy metal band from Finland. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot_(band)

Tarot is a trick-taking card game played throughout France, which uses a traditional 78-card
Tarot deck instead of the standard poker deck. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot_(game)

First Post

Hurrray!! This is my first post on my experiments with Tarot. I would like to continue adding posts with my learning with Tarot.

In addition i would like to add few relevant sources important for everyone of us.

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