The suit of cups corresponds to the element of water, so the court of cups consists of watery personalities who concern themselves with the undercurrents of emotional life. The Page of Cups usually bears messages of an emotional nature; in his role as a student, he might also offer a lesson about understanding and controlling one's emotions. The Knight of Cups suggests an emotional adventure or rescue. The Queen of Cups nurtures and protects the world of emotions, and the King of Cups provides leadership and defense in the realm of emotions.
The suit of swords corresponds to the element of air, so the court of swords consists of heady personalities who rule the airy realm of intellect, thought, and communication. The Page of Swords usually broadcasts messages of a thoughtful nature; in his role as a student, he might also offer a lesson in logic or communication. The Knight of Swords suggests an intellectual adventure or rescue. The Queen of Swords nurtures and protects the world of ideas, and the King of Swords provides intellectual leadership and defense.
The suit of pentacles corresponds to the element of earth, so the court of pentacles consists of grounded personalities who rule the physical world. The Page of Cups usually carries messages of a physical nature; in his role as a student, he might also offer a lesson about material reality. The Knight of Cups suggests a physical adventure or rescue. The Queen of Cups nurtures and protects the physical realm, and the King of Cups provides physical leadership and defense.
By the Numbers: Beginnings, Middles, and Ends
The numbers on each card are important, too. In the Major Arcana, the numbered cards represent stations on the journey through life. That expedition begins when the Fool takes a leap of faith from the cliff, and ends when he's experienced everything the World has to offer.
The numbered cards of the Minor Arcana cards also symbolize a progression of events, laid out from one through ten: aces represent beginnings, and tens represent conclusions. The suits indicate which events are unfolding: wands symbolize spiritual experiences, cups represent emotional affairs, swords depict intellectual issues, and pentacles suggest physical realities. The Ace of Wands, for example, often symbolizes the beginning of a spiritual quest. The Five of Cups suggests the halfway point of an emotional experience, and the Ten of Swords would typically signify the conclusion of an intellectual journey.
If you can remember the significance of each suit, as well as the fact that each numbered card represents a separate step on the journey of life, you'll be able to interpret the cards without memorizing the individual meanings of all seventy-eight cards in the deck.
Now that you know how a tarot deck is constructed, you're ready for the real deal. You're ready to lay all your cards on the table and start reading ... the next chapter.
"As the magician raised one hand over his head, lightning flashed. The tools on his table seemed to shimmer, and then they disappeared. Four tiny creatures stood in their place: a gnome, a fairy, a mermaid, and a salamander with the face of a wise old man. They were the elemental rulers of earth, air, water, and fire, and they had answered his call."
-WRITING SAMPLE BASED ON THE MAGICIAN CARD
'he tarot speaks the secret language of symbols, just as writers do. Ironically, it's a language that's mostly nonverbal. Symbols, after all, are visceral. They're immediate. Most communicate at lightning speed, at a subconscious level. In fact, for most beginning tarot enthusiasts, the hardest part of reading the cards is putting symbolic images into words.
Symbolic Language
As a writer, you have a definite advantage when it comes to reading tarot cards. For one thing, you already know how to put your ideas into words. What's more, you're probably a voracious fiction reader, too, so you're well acquainted with the symbols, metaphors, and allegories that permeate the world of the cards.
Because tarot cards originated in Italy and France, most tarot symbolism is rooted in classical Western ideals, philosophy, and history. Most tarot symbolism can be traced back to Greek and Roman philosophy, Biblical principles, and democratic values and beliefs. Even so, there's plenty of room for your own understanding of the cards. After all, a symbol is simply a familiar object, gesture, or sign that suggests more than a literal meaning. An apple, for example, might represent health-or the temptation of forbidden fruit. A wild beast could symbolize someone's untamed animal nature. A hat, which covers the head, is a subtle allusion to intellect and thought.
When you use tarot cards for creative writing, you can interpret symbols on many levels. Tarot cards and symbols can represent people-protagonists, antagonists, or supporting characters. They can depict locations-rolling meadows, wooded glens, or sunny seashores. Tarot cards can inspire conflicts, plot twists, and scenes. Tarot cards can even suggest snippets of dialogues or entire conversations.
You'll find a basic guide to tarot symbolism in the back of this book. Use it as a starting point for your own interpretations, and before long, you'll also develop your own meanings for tarot symbols and images. It's all part of the fun. There's no right or wrong way to interpret tarot cards-and the creative leaps they inspire can be breathtaking.
A Room of Your Own
You've probably heard Virginia Woolf's recommendation, loosely put, that every writer needs a "room of her own." The idea is familiar to tarot readers, too, who typically establish a sacred space for their work with the cards.
You can read tarot cards anywhere you would like. A quiet room is ideal, but you can also read at a kitchen table, in a bedroom, or in your back yard. You should find a place where it's easy for you to concentrate, and where you'll be free from interruptions.
Before you begin, clear your work area of trash and any distractions that aren't related to your writing. Many tarot readers also like to clear the air in their sacred space, dispelling stale or negative energy with candles, incense, or sage. Next, delineate your reading space by laying out a spread cloth. While black silk is traditional, you might want to use fabric that matches your cards. Solid colors are best, because busy prints can distract from the images and symbols on your cards. Light a candle as a gesture of focus and attention, and picture your sacred space filled with an energizing white glow.
Prepare to Read-and Write
Most tarot readers move quickly through a series of steps designed to help them concentrate on the cards. You can use the same techniques to help clear your mind and get ready to write.
1. Cleanse. Cleansing is the process of shedding outside energy and contaminantsnot only physically, but also spiritually and psychologically. Cleansing helps wash away any outside influences that could hamper your work with the cards. Start with the practical step of washing your hands with soap and water. As you do so, visualize any cosmic and psychological "dirt" running down the drain. If you aren't near a sink, you can simply imagine yourself being bathed by waves of pure white light.
2. Center. Too often, most of us spend our days scattered in a dozen different directions. We all have a long list of responsibilities, errands, and chores to complete. Those concerns, however, can interfere with your concentration; centering can help you regain control of your thoughts and emotions. The easiest way to center is through deep breathing. Sit with your feet firmly on the floor and your back straight. Take several deep breaths, consciously relaxing your body from your head to your toes. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you exhale, consciously release any tension along with your breath. You might want to picture each one of your worries and concerns as a helium-filled balloon-then release them, one by one, and watch them float off into the sky.
3. Ground. Grounding is the process of creating a firm connection between yourself and the material world. In the physical world, an electrical current will flow through any available conductor until it reaches the ground. If you happen to be unfortunate enough to get in the way, electricity will use your body as a conductor. When you read tarot cards, you run a similar risk of getting in the way of free-flowing emotional and spiritual energy. A good grounding, h
owever, will help energy flow through you, so you can remain relatively unaffected by other people's problems, issues, and concerns. One easy way to ground is to sit with your feet firmly on the floor. You might even want to get out of your chair and sit on the floor. Place your hands in your lap, close your eyes, and imagine that you're a tree. Send your roots down through the floor, down through layers of bedrock, and into the center of the earth. Then raise your branches up into the sky-and spend a few minutes in that alternate reality, firmly planted, with your limbs swaying gently in the breeze.
4. Shield. In today's modern world, the air is filled with electrical energy. Some of that energy is naturally occurring. Some is emitted by electrical devices and appliances. And some is transmitted, like radio waves. Each type of energy in the physical world has a counterpart in the spiritual world. If you're in the same room or the same building as other people, you will find yourself in their energy field. Some people emit their worries and concerns unconsciously, while others consciously transmit their issues to anyone within range-sometimes by shouting and slamming doors. Shielding can help you set boundaries and ensure that random outbursts from other people don't interfere with your work. One way to shield is to visualize yourself surrounded by pure, white light. Imagine that the white light works like a force field, protecting you from the distraction of other people's thoughts and emotions.
Once you've cleansed, centered, grounded, and shielded yourself, you'll be ready to write. Simply think of yourself as a clear channel for information, and be open to any thoughts or visions you get from the cards.
Question Authority
Solomon Ibn Gabirol, the Jewish philosopher, once remarked, "A wise man's question contains half the answer." Whether you're surveying the cards for a real person or a fictional character, you'll get the best answers by asking the right questions. Here are some tips for phrasing effective questions for a reading:
Be open. Try to avoid yes-or-no questions, which can be difficult to answer with tarot cards. Go for more open-ended inquiries, like "Why is my antagonist so paranoid?" or "How does `Emily' dress?"
Be focused. Concentrate on just one issue at a time.
Be precise. Zero in on specifics, such as who, what, when, where, why, and how.
Be clear. Put your question in writing, so you can make sure it's clear. If your question is vague, the answer will probably be vague, too.
Take notes. Keep a record of the questions you ask, the cards you get in response, and your interpretations.
The Step-by-Step Reading Routine
This is where the fun really starts, with the time-honored ritual of tarot reading. Here's a step-by-step guide to the process of consulting the cards.
1. Shuffle well. You can riffle your cards poker style, drop them hand over hand, or swish them around in a slush pile. Shuffle until you think the cards are thoroughly mixed.
2. Let's deal. Pull a single card off the top of the deck, or deal several cards facedown in the spread of your choice. Alternately, you can fan the deck out, facedown, and pull cards at random for your readings.
3. Read out loud. Turn the cards face up from right to left, just as you would turn the pages in a book. As you turn over each card, say its name aloud and describe the image on the card. Note any symbolism that seems significant. If the card you're reading is from the Major Arcana, relate it to a literary archetype, recall the stories and myths associated with it, or summarize the powerful life lessons that it represents. If the card is from the Minor Arcana, summarize what you know about the suit. Wands, for example, usually relate to spiritual issues, while cups are emotional, swords are intellectual, and pentacles are physical cards. If you don't remember anything about a card, look it up in the back of this book.
4. Do the math. Look at the numbers assigned to each card. Numbers usually suggest a progression of events, so they can indicate whether an issue is in its beginning, middle, or end stage.
5. Use the power of description. Describe the characters in each card, along with their clothing, posture, expressions, and attitudes. Imagine what the characters might say if you could hear them speak. Look beyond the characters in the card, and describe the scenery that surrounds them. Look at the earth, the sky, the background, and the foreground.
6. Engage your senses. Don't stop at a visual description: use all of your senses, and describe the sounds and smells you associate with each card. Really imagine yourself inside the card.
7. Listen to the language of color. Pay attention to the color schemes in the card. What moods do the colors convey? What information does color add to a card's meaning?
8. Notice key symbols. As you study each card, you'll probably be drawn to a single image or symbol. That image might remind you of a word, a phrase, or an expression. It might trigger a related image or scene in your mind's eye. It might make you feel hot or cold, or inspire an emotional reaction. In fact, the card might activate any one of your senses: sight, sound, touch, scent, and even taste. Simply put your reaction into words. Don't worry about being right or wrong; just describe all of the impressions you get from the card.
9. Speak freely. Once you start describing the images and symbols, don't censor yourself. Go with the flow. Random words and phrases might pop into your head. Use them, even if they don't seem to make sense. That's because the cards sometimes communicate through puns and wordplay. The word "sun," for example, could sound like "son," and once you hear it or see it, the message will make perfect sense. At any rate, verbalizing your impressions will help you assess each card.
10. Clarify. If any card seems confusing or unclear, lay a clarification card over it. When you're using tarot cards to create characters and stories, you can use as many cards as you like.
Reversals of Fortune
While you can try to make sure all of your cards are pointed in the same direction when you shuffle, some cards inevitably seem to position themselves upside down when you deal-and those reversed cards can put their own spin on a reading.
Occasionally, a reversal stands the meaning of a card on its head. When the Sun card is upright, for example, it can indicate energy, warmth, renewal, and optimism. Reversed, the same card could symbolize a loss of energy. While it seems counterintuitive, however, reversals don't reverse the usual meaning of the cards; rather, most reversals simply indicate that the card's usual significance has taken a turn-for better or for worse.
When you find reversed cards in your readings, consider these possibilities:
. A reversed card could indicate a message that's blocked, either consciously or unconsciously.
. A reversed card might symbolize situations that are developing, delayed, postponed, or cancelled.
. Reversals occasionally depict a past event that's over and done, but not yet accepted or understood.
. Psychologically, reversed cards sometimes depict attitudes that are unevolved or immature, thought or energy that is either absent or excessive, or time and energy that's being wasted or misapplied.
. A reversed card could represent the shadow side of an issue-the unspoken, unacknowledged thought or observation.
• Reversals might symbolize strengths, weaknesses, gifts, or talents that are being misunderstood, misused, or misdirected.
• Reversed cards can also suggest the concept of psychological projection, an unconscious defense mechanism that propels us to attribute our own negative thoughts and feelings to other people.
• Occasionally, a reversed card simply represents a playful spirit or attitude about an issue-or a deeply private or secret activity.
. Reversed cards can even be literal. They can depict a sudden, unexpected change in direction, a surprising change in position or a new perspective, or an assumption, a concern, or a fear that's completely groundless.
Start spreading the news: now that you've experienced the reading process as a whole, you can learn some popular spreads and layouts that will streamline your search for the perfect story.
"T
he juggler had to work fast. He didn't have a permit, and the police in this town were relentless about moving guys like him along. Still, a crowd was gathering, and he could sense that they would throw a few coins his way. All he had to do was play his cards right ... and keep his hands moving. He was working on borrowed time."
-WRPPING SAMPLE BASED ON THE Two OF PENTACLES CARD
ost tarot-card spreads-the layouts or patterns used to arrange the cards for a reading-are designed with a definite purpose in mind. Some spreads are intended to answer specific questions. Others are designed to answer general inquiries; they offer an overview of commonplace scenarios.
Spreads and layouts can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Some layouts consist of a single card, while others incorporate ten or fifteen cards. You can even invent your own spreads, if you like.
Here are some classic spreads and layouts that can serve as a foundation for your tarot-writing practice.
One-Card Readings
Just as a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, your next novel can start with a single card. A single card can:
inspire a scene or a story
• depict a location
. hint at a character's background and past
. provide a physical description
. suggest a personality trait
. offer valuable insight into a character's personality, goals, and motivation
. stimulate a dialogue
. suggest a complication, a subplot, a plot twist, or an element of surprise
Sometimes, just looking at a card can generate a rush of ideas for your work. Every now and then, however, you'll have to work a little harder for that reward. Jack London explained the process. "You can't wait for inspiration," he said. "You have to go after it with a club." The process, however, is simple. Just pick up your pen, deal a card, and start writing.
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