Silicon Valley tarot deck ????

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Karenwhe	08 Jan 2003
I read an article where the Silicon Valley deck was used to solve a problem (see link at the end of message). And I got very intrigued by this. I work in technology and I was thinking of buying the deck. But I don’t feel attracted to it the least and also I have a fundamental problem with mixing my hobbies with my profession. I have hobbies just to switch my brain off from work……… anyway after this article I am trying to see the benefit and/or points of view on this Deck. How do you use it and when? Can you ever get used to such ugly imagery? (don’t answer that !!!) The deck has only 70 cards from my understanding… how does this work? And anyway does it have any connection to the tarot all together? (I guess it has I just seem to fail the overall connection). If anyone knows anything about this deck or has any experience with it I would appreciate comments, experience, opinions, anything about this deck just rant away…. as much as you like positive or negative opinions……anything….. The Article: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/2282/tarotref/hitech.htm The Deck: http://www.svtarot.com/net/ (scroll down the page and you will find all the cards and see the images).

rota	08 Jan 2003
For me personally -- I like the CONCEPT of the deck (Tarot for Techies seems like a great idea on the face of it... no reason the binary thinkers of the world shouldn't have their own deck. Maybe the High Priestess would be their totem.), but the EXECUTION of it leaves a lot to be desired. Like you, I sorta cringe at the crudely-drawn imagery. I'd love to see this re-imagined by some qualified Tarot artist, using appropriate tools (Maya, Lightwave, Photoshop, Illustrator...?) to create the card images. There's a fun element to this deck that comes across in those clumsy drawings; I would hope that could also come across in more elegant card images.

tarotbear	08 Jan 2003
How does this work? Does it have any connection to tarot all together? It works the same way any divination works. Whether a deck has 22 or 50 or 321 cards they all work the same way - an image is revealed and it is interpreted. Why is this (yes, crudely designed but still interesting deck) any different from tossing some coins, chicken bones, bottle caps, toothpicks, or condom packages? You divine what you see in the tool. You work with what resonates with you. Remember, people divine with a regular deck of cards! Personally, I saw this deck when it first came out and thought it was great! Silly, stretching a few points, but I could probably still give a reading with it. Maybe you should try a gander at the POMO tarot which uses ( read 'trashes') some great art works to make an image. The late Brian Williams created a very odd, but still usable deck. If you understand the symbology behind the Four of Pentacles, does it matter if they have been transformed into CDROMs, sewer tops, shields, or garbage can lids? No. Just adapt the image.

Kaz	08 Jan 2003
karenwhe, i have the deck, i havent used it to solve techie probs, but we can try this ofcourse. if you give a techie question and the spread you would like to be used, i will do the draw for you, scan the cards, post them on a website so you can see it and interpret it. we maybe can both interpret it and see what comes out of that. my techie field was IT related, networks, databases, soime website development, that kinda stuff. how about it? ~kaz

Karenwhe	08 Jan 2003
Kaz, Good idea, but first I want to get the deck at least I must study it - I think??????? And also.......... what spreads? Got to think about what would be appropriate for what type of question, and I also don't know what type of questions there may can I even ask....... am I starting to think out loud… probably. This is why I opened this thread, as I don't know, and I am trying to get my head around this concept. On a different note I am pretty much in the same field as you IT/C, but in R&D (Research and Development) environments mostly... So, this intrigues me even more.....what kind of spreads can I do for software development (I am not even talking about hardware R&D because that is giving me a headache :) to big a mission). Type of questions would be !?!?: “Bugs” in the release,? (That would be going down to code level) Where is the biggest bug mostly likely to be; the one that will crash the entire system while installed at the customers site? Are the testing procedures efficient? Will the customer like the new features? Cost/Benefit analysis (probable outcome)? - now that is hilarious. What about questions or Architectural Design? Questions on Technology Life Cycle Adoption? (that would be interesting), Crossing the Chasm ? (that would be even more interesting), how about competitors questions? I would like to see how tarot can solve real technology problems that are been overseen by professionals........ me still thinking ?!?!?!?!?!?. The reason I am thinking so hard on this is because R&D is all about Future Probable Outcome in the first place (just not with Tarot). You research and develop a product that you think will make it in the market. So, Kaz, what would you ask this deck? By the way, you don't have to scan the cards, I can get them of the net, if we make a spread (first we have to invent a spread) post it here with your interpretation then I will put it in Visio with card illustrations. If you are up to the task of figuring out how this deck can help technology companies/problems and stuff.....I will be happy to cooperate with all I can. I am laughing so hard while writing this my kids think I have gone nuts.

The Silicon Valley tarot deck ???? thread was originally posted on 08 Jan 2003 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.