Entrance Cards--anyone try this?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 Sep 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

HudsonGray	07 Sep 2002
I came across a rather unusual description for cards in a book I borrowed from the library. It's in The Complete Book of Tarot Spreads by Evelin Burger & Johannes Fiebig. On page 28 they talk about Entrance Cards that they heard about from one of Rachel Pollack's books. These are cards that you yourself would NOT take two different points of view on. The card(s) would be either all good or all bad to the reader. To find them you're supposed to go through the entire deck & whenever you find a card you regard as absolutely positive or absolutely negative, you pull them out for further study or meditation. They're cards you find it hard to recognize as having a double meaning. They point to a blind spot you may have and act as personal 'entrance' cards. They'd be different for each person, of course, and you're supposed to meditate on them as to why you only see one aspect in them. I look at the Star this way, or the Sun. Hmm.

RedWood	07 Sep 2002
Interesting....hmmmI will have to think on that one..

Kaz	08 Sep 2002
these are the cards that are called "gateways" i believe in the 78 DW book by rachel pollack. i know the suit of coins has most of them, if you want i can look it up which cards these are, and prolly why as well. kaz

HudsonGray	08 Sep 2002
They didn't specify that a particular suit was involved. This was cards that the reader themselves had a preconceived block on, so it could be ANY card in the deck. The card choices, as such, would be different for each reader.

Strega	09 Sep 2002
Interesting indeed... something to ponder on.

Jenny-Li	09 Sep 2002
Hm, I'm not sure what you're describing is the same thing as Ms Pollack in the 78 Degrees of Wisdom, because as I have understood it her "Gate-cards" are fixed and will help and guide you to reach spiritual growth through the everyday events that the Minor arcana portraits. Those are the ones that sort of connect the Minor Arcana with the Major. I still find your "Entrance cards"-idea interesting, and I am very sure those exist too, and that they may have a lot to teach each of us about ourselves! Thanks for sharing! Light and love, Jenny :)

catlin	09 Sep 2002
Yes, I have read this (b/W Mr Bürger used to have regular tarot lectures at the same book store I do mine now), but I still haven't tried it out as I do not feel all positive/negative about tarot cards. I see them neutral or as a kind of yin/yang, one cannot exist without the other.

Jewel	09 Sep 2002
Hi HudsonGray, What you are describing is different than Rachel Pollack's Gate Cards. In her book they are fixed as Kaz mentioned, and their significance is different than what you described as "Entrance-Cards." The "Entrance -Cards" do sound very interesting. Have you worked with this yet? If so, which Entrance cards have you identified?

HudsonGray	09 Sep 2002
Haven't tried it yet, I just read about it the other day & quoted from the book on where they got the original connection on these. It makes sense, though. Gateway cards would be different than entrance cards, they refer to different things actually. I know I have a block on the Star and maybe on Temperance, and the Sun seems to be all positive with few negatives. I haven't had the time yet for quiet reflection on any of the three though, life's too hectic right now. But I thought I'd throw the idea up here on the list, as it seems to have some valid points. If we get too blind to one thing, what are we missing out on in the readings when that card comes up?

Teal	11 Sep 2002
I changed my name to one I like better. I used one of my favorite colors but I kind of like it for a name, too. I was medidinemama and I have a trade posted in the trading section, for those who have answered me there. I couldn't post under that name last night, so I'm glad I can today. Teal

WillieHewes	12 Sep 2002
If you pick these entrance cards, is the object to find out their 'other' side, or to do soul-searching? I'm interested in the double-sided-ness of cards, as I don't use reversals, but instead use positions to represent positive/negative aspects, ie: 'card 1 represents you, card 2 is your lover, card 3 and 4 are the ideals you and he/she (respectively) look after, and card 5 and 6 are influences keeping you from that ideal.' I must admit I get into trouble if I get 10 of swords (or 2 of pentacles, which, somehow, I cannot get to love) in a 'ideal' or 'positive side' position. *ponders*

HudsonGray	12 Sep 2002
Hmm, 2 of Pentacles? Sure that doesn't indicate paying for sex? Just a thought... I think the entrance cards are to be what they want to be to each person--whether it's seeing the other side or soul searching. With me it's probably soul searching, to see WHY I can't see the other meaning they contain. But it seems pretty unspecific, so the reader can get the most benefit they can out of the exercise.

napaea	14 Sep 2002
with the Osho Zen deck, i'd have to say the 7 of swords is one for me. it's called "politics" and has a horribly green colored ugly looking grinning guy on it. when i first look at it, it is so negative and ugly. but at times it has yielded positive aspects, just depends on the reading. personally, i never want to look at a card as "always good" or "always negative". for me, it totally depends on the client, the day, the mood, the reading. what might normally be a bad card can turn into a really positive motivating card in the right reading.

Kazz	15 Sep 2002
Hudsongrey, I have just bought this book myself and like you, haven't a moment to myself to do this exercise, but I am very interested in this and I will let you know how I go. Another section in this book is focused on looking into the actual "picture" of the card, as there is more to it etc.. and it acts like a mirror for you, (how it reflects back at you I guess, when you first glance at it) What was interesting to me that in the rider waite deck, the six of cups for example has 2 sides. the small women excepting the flowers has 2 faces (I never saw that before ) one face is looking away (unexcepting) and the other is looking at the figure (excepting), so I found this very interesting also and have been doing daily cards and writing down the initial feeling I get from it rather than looking and thinking about what the meaning is. That had given me more depth to the cards and am eager to find out about the "entrance" cards (when I get a moment peace..LOL) BTW Hudsongrey..Do you like this book? I have found it very intersting and I am glad that I purchased it, (as I was just looking for a book on spreads) I got more that I bargained for. Cheers Kazz :TQC

HudsonGray	15 Sep 2002
I read through the whole book & took notes on some of the spreads. But time came up on it & I had to return it to the library. I just got one called 78 Degrees of Wisdom from Barnes & Noble & am reading that at the moment--there's been so much written on this site about this book that I did purchase it for myself. Otherwise I make a point of taking out any tarot book I can find at the various libraries. I've done meditations on each card in the major arcana--the one where you look at the card beforehand, then meditate & walk INTO the card and start looking around & asking questions of the people & animals in the card. Got some extremely interesting things out of those! The Strength reversed (I also looked at the reversal meanings) had me, the lady & the lion on the top of the Sound of Music hillside, as 3 low flying German bomber planes came by pretty much shaking the ground with the rumbling & tiny little men parachuted out. They were 12" tall & all came running up, formed a chorus line & started yelling and doing the Heil Hitler sign (they were all little Adolph Hitlers actually). It certainly instilled the 'mini despot' image for me that the reversal had! I told the lion he didn't have to 'be sick' because i knew that was part of the reversal but I didn't need to see it. He and the lady just kept to the background on the reversals. Another part of the meaning was a fear of being alone, so the chorus line started doing the can can & yelling 'Ve vant to be alone! Ve Vant To Be Alone!' (reversal of a reversal--the message got across). The Heirophant and Death were interesting too....... extremely! A mind can do some weird stuff when you let it.

The Entrance Cards--anyone try this? thread was originally posted on 07 Sep 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.