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Tarot Reflections

  October 15, 2003

Sandra Thomson's specialty within tarot is that of an author and teacher. She is the co-author of three books (The Lovers' Tarot, Spiritual Tarot, and The Heart of The Tarot), the author of Cloud Nine: A Dreamer's Dictionary, and the author of a dictionary of tarot, Pictures from the Heart, published by St. Martin's Press.

She teaches tarot classes at the Philosophical Research Society (PRS) in Los Angeles, where she resides. Although she learned to read with the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, she is very fond of the Ancestral Path and the Shining Tribe decks, and uses them for comparative or special readings. She reads online for the ATA reading networks, and privately.

Most of us have learned a lot about which myths or mythological characters are associated with which Tarot cards, and sometimes we consider how that fits into our lives, but mostly we don't.

Jungian analysts are very interested in the idea of living mythically, of learning to understand how the way we behave and the things that happen to us help construct or expand our own personal mythology.  C. G. Jung believed that one of his tasks as a person was to find, as he put it, the myth that is living me.

In their book The Mythic Path, psychologists David Feinstein and Stanley Krippner define personal mythology as a "constellation of beliefs, feelings, images, and rules—operating largely outside of conscious awareness—that interprets sensations, constructs new explanation, and directs behavior."^[i]

Krippner and Feinstein believe that not only is it important for us to discover our active personal mythologies and identify their components, but also to change outdated myths so that we have new and better choices.  Isn't this also the purpose of Tarot readings?  To help us identify what is happening so that we have new and better choices?

With that in mind, I redefined the positions of the Celtic Cross so that we could look at the mythological perspectives of our lives, the Myth that Is Living Me Spread.  I lay out my Celtic Cross so that positions 1 and 2 are in the center crossing each other (the mini-cross), Position 3 is below the mini-cross and Positions 4, 5, and 6 continue clockwise around the mini-cross.  Cards 7-10 form the usual staff.

Position 1 (Past Insights) and Position 2 (Problem) enable you to consider what these two cards say about who you are at this time in your life and the victories and baggage you bring into the situation from your last journey, i.e., the successes or insights (Position 1) and the problems (Position 2) remaining.  Or, what are the inner (Position 1) and outer (Position 2) focuses of your new journey?

Position 3, Motivation, addresses some aspect of the woundedness, vulnerability, or inadequacy that underlies and motivates the journey.  Card 3 also can show how the outer world relates to or reflects or symbolizes your inner world.

Position 4, the Call to Adventure, is the call to liberation.  This can be a card that succinctly summarizes the first three positions or that helps identify or define an old script, viewpoint, or belief that needs to be reworked.

Position 5, Mentor Advice.  Cards drawn for this position are similar to information you would receive from a wise person or mentor (if a Major Arcana card), or from an insightful or meaningful experience (if a Minor Arcana card).

Position 6, Crossing the Threshold represents the mythical "crossing of the threshold," the beginning of the initiation.  New rules or advice, aspects of self-searching become more apparent with this card.

Position 7, Test.  The card in this position represents an experience or test that will bring about a significant change in perception; therefore, a symbolic death-rebirth card.  It will help test insights and reinforce an envisioned intention.

Position 8, Assistance.  This card suggests the technique, or assistance available, for integrating or assimilating the experience of the journey.  the card defines what it will take to accomplish such integration.

Position 9, Lesson.  The card drawn for this position suggests the next situation, experience, or concept that will direct your focus toward the lesson(s) still needing to be learned in the process of this particular journey.

Position 10, Steppingstone.  Back in the everyday world to await the next journey in your exploration of the myths of your life.  How are you expressing yourself.  Depending on the card drawn, it can reflect a healing quality or blessing bestowed by the quest, a practical quest, a new freedom, or a hint/steppingstone to the next journey or challenge.

Quintessential card.  To determine the quintessential card, total the value of the cards in the reading (Pages = 11, Knights = 12, Queens = 13, Kings = 14).  If the total is more than 22, add the digits together to reduce the total to the highest number below 22. This card is the final or quintessential mythological message of the reading.  It is a major message about your personal myth.  What does this card tell you about your resistance to change?  What does it tell you about new choices open to you?  Can this card act as an inner guide or shaman as you continue your journey?  If so, use it to develop a self-affirming mantra that will guide you in your myth-making activities or awarenesses.

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