From occult-owner@hollyfeld.org Mon Mar 16 13:35:37 1998 Return-Path: Received: from ns2.accesscom.com (ns2.accesscom.com [205.226.156.3]) by shell.accesscom.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id NAA09946 for ; Mon, 16 Mar 1998 13:35:37 -0800 Received: from mailnfs0.tiac.net (mailnfs0.tiac.net [199.0.65.17]) by ns2.accesscom.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id NAA25310 for ; Mon, 16 Mar 1998 13:35:35 -0800 Received: from www.hollyfeld.org (majordom@dns.hollyfeld.org [204.130.199.1]) by mailnfs0.tiac.net (8.8.7/8.8) with ESMTP id QAA32717; Mon, 16 Mar 1998 16:32:25 -0500 (EST) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by www.hollyfeld.org (8.8.4/8.8.4) id QAA10511 for occult-outgoing; Mon, 16 Mar 1998 16:33:24 -0500 X-Authentication-Warning: www.hollyfeld.org: majordom set sender to owner-occult@hollyfeld.org using -f Received: from ns2.accesscom.com (ns2.accesscom.com [205.226.156.3]) by www.hollyfeld.org (8.8.4/8.8.4) with ESMTP id QAA10479 for ; Mon, 16 Mar 1998 16:29:51 -0500 Received: from shell.accesscom.com (tyagi@shell.accesscom.com [205.226.156.10]) by ns2.accesscom.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id NAA24959 for ; Mon, 16 Mar 1998 13:28:46 -0800 Received: (from tyagi@localhost) by shell.accesscom.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) id NAA09486 for occult@hollyfeld.org; Mon, 16 Mar 1998 13:28:47 -0800 Message-Id: <199803162128.NAA09486@shell.accesscom.com> Subject: (O) Tarot Metaphysics/Efficiency To: occult@hollyfeld.org (Occult Elist) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 13:28:47 -0800 (PST) From: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (nagasiva) Orientation: House of Kaos, St. Joseph, Kali Fornika, US -- Kali Yuga X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4ME+ PL31 (25)] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: owner-occult@hollyfeld.org Precedence: bulk Reply-To: occult@hollyfeld.org Status: RO Orig-To: TAROT-L@techunix.technion.ac.il 49980315 aa2 Hail Satan! re explanations for how tarot 'works' (e.g. due to cards, reader, querent, their expectations, the world, or illusion): 'reading tarot' is an ambiguous activity, people do it in differing ways. as a divinatory device cards are usually either assigned general meanings according to the reader's or some authority's scheme and then the cards and the way they are laid out are interpreted with respect to the issues presented by the querent and by the style of the reader. the essential question, therefore, is what 'works' means, and issues such as reliability, consistency of result, overall interpretation or internal structure have been mentioned as possible criteria to measure this functionality. mirror as a purely reflective device, tarot 'works' when it continues to function as a backdrop for important projections of our deep mind, irrespective of which cards come up in readings. tarot 'works' in this way because it is sufficiently vague or complex that we may discern through strict projection or grasping at key imagery a pattern or configuration of significant symbols which are indicative of our present state and the elements of it. attunement to a deck and familiarity with psycho-spiritual conditions of trance, as can be effective for any divinatory method, therefore become paramount. deck design and content are much less important as compared to oracular or instructional usage. oracle as a prophetic device, tarot 'works' when it can be used to divulge synchronistic expressions reflecting the condition of the future. the prophetic efficacy of tarot may depend on many variables, inclusive of the reader's psycho-spiritual state, hir skill at connecting with and perceiving expressions of the collective unconscious, and the querent's openness to connecting with the reading as a whole. essentially the reader (and/or the querent) venture into the realms underlying all of consciousness, wherein reside the preliminary or seedling precursors to future unfoldment. extending this through careful projection along lines of energetic potential, the cards become windows into possible and likely futures, interpreted according to the direction of continued persistence in personal affairs. the design of the deck has a role but is less important in oracular as compared to instructional usage. instructor as a meditative focus or guide to assimilation of the mysteries, tarot 'works' when it is used to communicate a coherent set of symbolic and esoteric secrets to the aspirant, presumably from or through the consciousness of those who designed the deck and possibly originating in some mystical source or mythical past. a deck's design, therefore, is here an essential factor, since the designors and artists must have a connection to the cache of wisdom and insight that is presumably communicated. it is for this reason that some designers will affiliate with gods or agents of wizardry (such as Thoth, Odhinn or Myrddin) in order to facilitate the proper channel. as instructor, every element of the deck must be carefully arranged in concordance with the aspirant, combining through ritual or meditative sequencing and trance to effect deep and lasting changes in their consciousness. the integrity of the communication and the conditions under which its assimilation takes place may be either described in formula by the organized body making it known or intuited by the student in a solitary and unique approach to the source. general as with the thousand-petalled lotus, the ways in which tarot may be effectively employed are endless, though specific paths or usages may require conformity to strict formulae and a pre-designated approach. in the methods described above the commonality is that the cards must facilitate the activity chosen, this being of a different nature depending on the intent of the individuals involved. the design of the deck becomes a more important factor in reflective and instructive usage (esp. in the latter). in comparison, efficiency of oracular and instructional usage is more acutely affected by the condition of the people involved (something important to all three methods and a reason why tarot may or may not be recommended for beginning divinatory or magical practice). blessed beast! tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com nagasiva ____________...oooOOO---occult@hollyfeld.org---OOOooo..._____________ To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe" to occult-request@hollyfeld.org To unsubscribe your@email.com send "unsubscribe your@email.com" http://www.hollyfeld.org/heaven/elists/occult.phtml