is there a logical system?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 09 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Persha	09 May 2004
Hiya, I've been having trouble interpreting the cards recently (more than usual!): I'll deal, say, the page of swords, and think "well this indicates me...or maybe it just signifies quick thinking,...or maybe it signifies a message..." sigh. Anyhow, it got me thinking about analytical and intuitive methods of reading. I wonder if there could be a method of reading whereby 1. each card has a hierarchical list of meanings; no. 1, no 2. etc. 2. depending on the way you deal each card - number of shuffles, cuts, or some other way of sorting the deck - it will indicate that number meaning for the card. So for a very simple example, if you were just drawing a single card, you might shuffle the deck 7 times and therefore use the '7th' meaning of the card you draw. If on the next draw you shuffle 5 times, you would use the '5th' meaning of the card drawn. Of course there would have to be a more complex method for multiple cards. Has a system like this ever been put forward? What do people think of the idea? looking forward to comments, Persha

Astra	09 May 2004
Persha, there are literally thousands of "logical systems". One (or more) for every person who's tried to find the "right" way to read Tarot. I know, this doesn't help much. Possibly the best thing you can do during a reading is to sit back, look at the card, and say "All right, what do you mean THIS time?", and then wait for an answer. I tell querents to shuffle "until it feels right". Sometimes they shuffle once, sometimes a dozen times, and sometimes they just hand me back the cards and tell me to go ahead.

Mojo	09 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Persha So for a very simple example, if you were just drawing a single card, you might shuffle the deck 7 times and therefore use the '7th' meaning of the card you draw. If on the next draw you shuffle 5 times, you would use the '5th' meaning of the card drawn. Of course there would have to be a more complex method for multiple cards. This is your idea of simple?

Inana	10 May 2004
I cant see how a system like that could be useful for reading. I mean, when reading tarot cards one is trying to use intuition, creativity, inspiration, the non-logical side of the brain to make connections. There is no need to try to put order or logic on it. At least thats how i see it.

firemaiden	14 May 2004
LOL. Hajo Banzhaf wrote a manual on reading, Das Arbeitsbuch zum Tarot. I don't know if it has been translated into English. It gives 7 different meanings for each card, based on their positions in a seven card spread. The pages on the left give the main, position one meanings, and the pages on the right are divided into six squares, to define meanings for the six other positions. An approach like this, is what I like to call "tarot-bibliomancy" - tarot-book divination, because the tarot cards are shuffled and placed with no other goal than to identify which paragraph in this book gets read next. I suspect readings with this book would be very accurate. I can't really say, because I'm too lazy to make myself read the German. (brain goes creak creak creak) But I would never enjoy reading this way.

Khatruman	14 May 2004
I, quite frankly, do not want such a logical system, which would plug meanings in and take the human element out. The beauty of tarot is its ability to tap into the depths of human intuition, which is not a logical thing. Proposing such a system would make tarot something that could be read by a computer and spit out meanings both general and antiseptic. I understand the lure of wanting a "system" which would symplify the understanding of tarot and put it into a ready formula; however, anything dealing with humans cannot be coldly logical to be truly human.

Persha	14 May 2004
Has anyone read Phillip Pulman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy? When I wrote the first post I was also thinking of Lyra's aleithiometer (a compass type instrument with pictures all around the rim). There are 'books of readings' that list the thousands of meanings for all the pictures. When Lyra reads the aleithiometer she has to 'step down' in her mind to the correct meaning for each picture the indicator needle points to. ...although Lyra goes without the books and relies on intuition - but it can be done (in the book)... I think I read too much! (:-) -Persha

Khatruman	14 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Persha Has anyone read Phillip Pulman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy? When I wrote the first post I was also thinking of Lyra's aleithiometer (a compass type instrument with pictures all around the rim). There are 'books of readings' that list the thousands of meanings for all the pictures. When Lyra reads the aleithiometer she has to 'step down' in her mind to the correct meaning for each picture the indicator needle points to. ...although Lyra goes without the books and relies on intuition - but it can be done (in the book)... Perhaps you are just reading too literally. I am not familiar with the books (I am assuming they are fiction?), but perhaps there is a bit of subtle irony here, that attempts to make a logical system are pointless.

The is there a logical system? thread was originally posted on 09 May 2004 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.