Reading the R and D way

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

gloria	30 Sep 2003
Wands are ‘dissonant’ to Cups and vice versa Swords are ‘dissonant’ to Coins and vice versa Wands are ‘resonant’ to Swords and Coins Swords are ‘resonant’ to Cups and Wands Let me get this right, This means that a Wand card surrounded by Swords or Coins would be strengthened, while the same Wand card surrounded by Cups would be weakened. I really don’t think I’d have the patience for this. I prefer to go along with ‘gut feeling’ and ’intuition’ when doing a reading. Does anyone here read in the R and D fashion? Yes or no, I’d appreciate your views.

Dark_angel	30 Sep 2003
I'd never heard of that approach; it makes sense to me though. The fire and passion of Wands can be muted by the emotions of Cups, the pursuit of matters of the mind (Swords) must sometimes be put aside in favour of financial reward (Coins), action (Wands) can bring knowledge and reward, etc. Don't know why I didn't think of this before! I suppose I did in a way, but I never thought of it in terms of a theory. Where could I read more? I'm not sure if it would be a good approach for intuitive readings; I'd probably go mad trying to remember all the 'rules'. xxx

Umbrae	30 Sep 2003
Never heard of it. Now this does not mean it's not valid - in my world, there are not black and whites - no 'rules' that the cards adhere to. Reading the cards is not a matter of remembering meanings - it's more of an exercise from the heart, an emanation from spirit to spirit. ...but that's just me.

zorya	30 Sep 2003
i've heard of something like this. if i remember correctly, it was primarily based on how the elements react with each other. (but i could be forgetting things) i would find this much too narrow and simplistic. for example, we could say that wands oppose cups because wands represent fire and cups water. each can put out the other. so the reader is to assume that the wands and cups weaken each other. but if you think about it, fire and water and the right proportions can create steam! they can boil! and there are many, many other aspects of the suits to consider. aspects that are not resonant or dissonant with each other. how the elements react with each other can be something to be considered. the balance of particular suits in a spread is very important. i would find this r. and d. method of reading to be much too narrow. imo, the same cards in one spread might be 'resonant' with each other, and be 'dissonant' in another.

KelarSkye	30 Sep 2003
I don't use this, however I can see its applications. While the "rule" system would be confining to me, I can see how a rule of thumb to glance at the interactions of the suits properties is necessary (I am lapse at this many times) and this is just one way to have a simple rule of thumb to start from. Of course, I agree with posters above that it would depend on the reading and should remain flexible. Kelar

Aoife	30 Sep 2003
This sounds very much like elemental dignities - intrinsic to the Thoth system. Paul Hughes Barlow at supertarot.co.uk goes into detail and the last I heard, will be publishing a book later this year. I think he's also a member here, posting as phb?

gloria	30 Sep 2003
Mary Peach in her book Tarot for Tomorrow writes an interesting chapter on the R and D’s of suits and so forth. I understand the importance of looking for Majority and Second Majorities of suits in a spread. That Wands and Coins are objective whilst Swords and Cups are subjective, yes I can go with that. But is it really essential that we have to base a reading on the interaction of the elements? Gloria

Umbrae	30 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by gloria But is it really essential that we have to base a reading on the interaction of the elements? Gloria Nope

gloria	30 Sep 2003
Oh Umbrae, You always say what it is I want to hear! Thanks.

lawguy51	30 Sep 2003
I mainly use the Thoth deck and the Elemental aspect may be in the back of my mind but I tend to look at the colours, do they compliment or do they clash with each other. Is the reading 'dark' (see 7, 8 of Cups) or bright (see Princess of Wands). Like Umbrae said, it doesn't matter. What matters is 'your' relationship to your cards. Lawguy51

gloria	01 Oct 2003
Lawguy funny you should mention the colourings of cards having a say in a reading. This idea suddenly dawned on me only this week. Six out of Eight cards I drew for someone who had been rushed into hospital were dark, both in colour and meaning. Turns out the guy was, and still is, very very ill. But then okay this was a Majority of dark as opposed to light, so not too difficult to interpret in an overall way. But what happens when there is equal measure. Dark versus Light. Who is the stronger? Just a thought. Or maybe it will be down to that first impression we get when turning over the cards. Whatever, it is an aspect of reading I shall definitely be taking on. Gloria. PS Just read your post again Lawguy. I guess when there is equal measure this could mean clashing?

Macavity	01 Oct 2003
But, if it is a Crowley-Thoth (or clone) you are using, then could it not be, that in these very colours, based on element and number, you are already using (shock horror) a system know as... elemental dignities? }) Of course the phrase "Contempt prior to investigation" could not apply to us... :P Macavity

firemaiden	01 Oct 2003
Yes, I was going to say ... but that talking cat beat me to it, :D that what you mention, Gloria, I am used to seeing referred to as "elemental dignities". What or who are R and D? It is a way of doing reversals without reversals (ill-dignified = reversed), but I use (most of the time) reversals instead. :D

gloria	01 Oct 2003
Macavity, Just to say I don't base the colours on elements or numbers, and Firemaiden will reply later, have to rush off. G.

Diana	01 Oct 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden What or who are R and D? Ah Paula! I suggest you go and read the first post and open your beady little eyes! And it's not "Revolutionary" or "Dissident"...., and has nothing to do with Research and Development either. gloria: I think sometimes it can be useful to read in and R&D way. At times, in some readings, it really stands out, I think. In others, it seems to have less importance. Again, I reckon it's a question of intuition and personal reading tastes.

gloria	02 Oct 2003
Thanks Diana..... and to all, G.

firemaiden	02 Oct 2003
harrumph...they're not beady, and they're not little... I get it now. Revenge and Destruction...

The Reading the R and D way thread was originally posted on 30 Sep 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.