Last Winter's Experiment

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Umbrae	11 Aug 2003
Last winter, I evaluated two new decks. Neither were what I would define as ‘straight tarot’ decks. They were “The Enochian Tarot” and the “Sacred Geometry Oracle”. To evaluate the decks, I did a series of readings for individuals over the Internet, where little to no personal information gathered, which could cause a bias in the reading. Each reading contained two segments; one with the trial deck, and one as a standard Tarot reading. Feedback was sought on an immediate, 2-week, and 4-week basis. Since I was unfamiliar with both The Enochian and the Sacred Geometry Oracle, I was forced to rely upon meanings provided in the material accompanying the decks. (I wanted to review the DECK, and not how well I related with the deck, or how intuitive I could be with the deck). I my normal approach to reading Tarot, I use a using a combination of intuitive insight and fluid meanings. My Tarot meanings have developed over time, are non-standard, and mutable. I performed four readings with Tarot alone. Ten readings using both standard Tarot and the Enochian Tarot; and thirteen readings with both standard Tarot and the Sacred Geometry Oracle. With both decks, when shuffling, the deck was split in two and the upper portion was rotated 180° to assure of reversals. There were no reversals used in the Tarot readings. [/size] I was looked forward to evaluating The Enochian Tarot, amongst readers who had used it, there appeared to be three factions; one third loved it, one third hated it (some even referring to it as evil), and the last group just wanted to discuss if the Enochian system itself was valid. This diversity of opinion intrigued me. I purposefully did not develop an intuitive connection with the deck. I wanted to use it in a detached, unbiased manner. I relied upon the key words provided in the accompanying booklet. Each card has four to five key words for both upright and reversed meanings. These key words were then strung together into paragraphs to create a reading. Frankly, on a personal level I was very surprised with the results. In virtually all of the readings, there was significant correspondence and overlap with the readings provided by the standard Tarot. There is little correspondence between The Enochian Tarot system and standard Tarot…they acted as two dissimilar systems telling the same story. It is my opinion, that this deck, in the hands of an adequate reader – will produce amazing results. How? Why? Don’t mess with success. A truly wonderful deck. [/size] A very cool system that I will be strongly recommending to anyone who wants to take charge, and change their lives… The meditations are phenomenal. …and so many folks are lost in this highly technological world, they are looking towards the “Old Ways” to find their path…the Sacred Geometry Oracle bridges the gap between the old, and the new…wonderful stuff… A perfect conduit between, the old Mythos – and the modern technological world we live in. This is not a Tarot deck, but an Oracle deck consisting of thirty three cards and a wonderful book. The cards, being oracles do not produce readings as a Tarot deck might. Instead it provides counsel and insight towards causalities and resolutions with life issues. I did not want to develop an intuitive connection with this deck either. I wanted to apply it in a disassociated and dispassionate method. I relied upon the key words and concepts provided in the accompanying, and well written book, producing the readings )based strictly upon the book). Each reading with the Sacred Geometry Oracle meshed perfect with the standard Tarot reading. Too perfect…in fact each reading worked so well together, that they blended. Quite frankly…I love this deck. As I said – the meditations are beyond wonderful…If you truly want to take charge and change your life – bridge the old and the new…get this deck. Use it. :smoker:

faunabay	11 Aug 2003
What a great experiment Umbrae!! I have (and LOVE) the Sacred Geometry Oracle. ** truthsayer gave it to me for my birthday last year!!! :* ** The artwork is gorgegous on certain cards. The other line drawing cards don't seem to fit in with the "art" cards, but I get such great meditative, personal knowledge from this deck that the different artwork doesn't bother me at all. I don't use it in the traditional sense (as in spreads) but I will draw a card to put by my bed at night with the thought of having something to concentrate/focus on during sleep. This deck is amazing!! I had the Enochian at one time. I really did like it - felt none of those "evil" vibes. LOL I used it for a couple of months, enjoyed it, and then it languished on my shelf for a while before I traded it. I found I wasn't able to really connect with it and had to keep referring to the book. Just my impressions of both decks you used! :) I haven't tried using the Sacred Geometry in conjunction with straight tarot readings though. Sounds very interesting - I'm going to have to try that!!!

Alissa	11 Aug 2003
I'd love to hear you talk more about the process of "not intuiting." How do you toggle that switch off and on so easily? Do you make an attempt at stoping it, while shuffling before the reading? Tell yourself, "Ok, don't go in... just write down the keywords," before laying them down? For me, I don't know that I could shut it off at will in a situation when I'm still "reading" (cards or whatever). When I'm not reading, keeping it off is no big deal. It *usually* doesn't come on (kick in) unless I'm trying (by breathing, prayer, conscious effort in other words). Heck, when I *am* reading, getting it to come on at all, some days, is reason enough to celebrate. :)

Umbrae	12 Aug 2003
I don’t know if I can explain the process of ‘shutting down’ or ‘not plugging in’. It is for me, easy to do and I have no idea how I do it. It’s like both halves of my brain (mind – uber-mind? Or left-brain right-brain? Or Heart - Mind I have no idea) have their own volume controls. So I don’t turn one off. I turn it down and the other gets turned up. But it’s still there, in the background. I know it makes no sense, but there you go.

Mimers	12 Aug 2003
I remember those readings. You did two for me concerning my daughter. They were both very accurate and more importantly gave me great advise. You should do more of these experiments! :D Mimers

Alissa	12 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae So I don’t turn one off. I turn it down and the other gets turned up. But it’s still there, in the background. I know it makes no sense, but there you go. That makes perfect sense, even if I can't (yet) figure out how to do it ;).

The Last Winter's Experiment thread was originally posted on 11 Aug 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.