nyx*
Being a Kemetic Reconstructionist, the symbols of ancient Egypt have more resonance for me than other symbols, so that's where I started and now here is what I came up with.
* Sesh Spread
This spread is based on the hieroglyph for "scribe" (an example: http://www.civilization.ca/civil/egypt/images/writ09c.jpg), which depicts a scribe's writing kit. I use this for questions related to writing or other creative projects, but you could probably use it for any question on a specific endeavor.
----4----------11-
--3----5----7-10-
-2--------6----9-
-1--------------8-
The two pots of ink on the palette
1. How you help yourself, what drives you, what you’re doing right
2. How you hinder yourself, how you get distracted
The cord connecting the palette to the water pot
3. How others can help, what to look for in your friends, family, peers
4. How others can hold you back, what to avoid in others
5. Where the best help can be found, who you can turn to who will help you the best
The water pot
6. The catalyst, the thing or event that is the key to getting going, finding inspiration
The cord connecting the water pot to the pen case
7. How to most effectively harness this creative spark
The pen case
8. The fist step (always the hardest!)
9. The second step, how to keep the momentum going
The body of the pen
10. An important factor to keep in mind throughout the project
The nib/point of the pen
11. What you write, outcome
* Udjat Eye Spread
This spread is based on the ubiquitous “Eye of Horus” or “Udjat Eye” symbol. The word “udjat” means “sound” or “whole” and comes from the myth where Horus’s eye was torn out in an altercation, then mended by another god (Djehuty/Thoth). I use this spread for help in resolving serious or complex situations that may be caused by deeper, unacknowledged issues. It’s a pretty big spread, not so much because of the number of cards, but because to make the pretty design one needs a fair amount of space. If you have a mini deck that you work well with, I would say this would be a good time to get it out. Or get a bigger table.
-----2------3------4----------
-1---------------------5------
----7-----9-----11-----------
-6----21-------------13--14-
----8----10----12-----------
---15----17------------------
---16-----18---20----------
--------------19--------------
Eyebrow
1. Past cause of problem
2. Where you are now (how you’re dealing)
3. What is working against you
4. What you can do about the problem
5. Where this will take you (but that’s not the end!)
Eye
6. What the main issue really is
7. A perspective you have that is helpful
8. A perspective you have that is an impediment
9. An outside perspective that is helpful, someone with useful advice
10. An outside perspective that is an impediment, someone with self-serving or just plain bad advice
11. What you need to do (what everyone needs to do, if the problem directly involves others)
12. What you need to stop doing (or what everyone needs to stop doing)
13. Overall advice, a lesson to keep in mind
14. How dealing with the core issue is beneficial to you and everyone involved.
Hangy-down thing (sorry, no idea what the technical term for this is)
15. A side issue that complicates the situation brought out in the Eye)
16. What can be done about this
Swirlie thing (another unscientific term)
17. Another side issue, trickier than the other
18. The root cause
19. How this has affected the main issue
20. What to do about this
Pupil & Iris
21. Outcome or final advice
I've used both these spreads on myself and a friend who is a professional tarot reader. She liked them so much that she asked me to write them down for her to use. I hope others find these helpful too. If you have any comments or questions on these, please share! These are my first home-made spreads and so I'm interested in any and all feedback I can get.
Feel free to pass these around, but please include "Copyright 2004, Cristina Rizen" on the spreads anywhere you repost them. Thanks.
* Sesh Spread
This spread is based on the hieroglyph for "scribe" (an example: http://www.civilization.ca/civil/egypt/images/writ09c.jpg), which depicts a scribe's writing kit. I use this for questions related to writing or other creative projects, but you could probably use it for any question on a specific endeavor.
----4----------11-
--3----5----7-10-
-2--------6----9-
-1--------------8-
The two pots of ink on the palette
1. How you help yourself, what drives you, what you’re doing right
2. How you hinder yourself, how you get distracted
The cord connecting the palette to the water pot
3. How others can help, what to look for in your friends, family, peers
4. How others can hold you back, what to avoid in others
5. Where the best help can be found, who you can turn to who will help you the best
The water pot
6. The catalyst, the thing or event that is the key to getting going, finding inspiration
The cord connecting the water pot to the pen case
7. How to most effectively harness this creative spark
The pen case
8. The fist step (always the hardest!)
9. The second step, how to keep the momentum going
The body of the pen
10. An important factor to keep in mind throughout the project
The nib/point of the pen
11. What you write, outcome
* Udjat Eye Spread
This spread is based on the ubiquitous “Eye of Horus” or “Udjat Eye” symbol. The word “udjat” means “sound” or “whole” and comes from the myth where Horus’s eye was torn out in an altercation, then mended by another god (Djehuty/Thoth). I use this spread for help in resolving serious or complex situations that may be caused by deeper, unacknowledged issues. It’s a pretty big spread, not so much because of the number of cards, but because to make the pretty design one needs a fair amount of space. If you have a mini deck that you work well with, I would say this would be a good time to get it out. Or get a bigger table.
-----2------3------4----------
-1---------------------5------
----7-----9-----11-----------
-6----21-------------13--14-
----8----10----12-----------
---15----17------------------
---16-----18---20----------
--------------19--------------
Eyebrow
1. Past cause of problem
2. Where you are now (how you’re dealing)
3. What is working against you
4. What you can do about the problem
5. Where this will take you (but that’s not the end!)
Eye
6. What the main issue really is
7. A perspective you have that is helpful
8. A perspective you have that is an impediment
9. An outside perspective that is helpful, someone with useful advice
10. An outside perspective that is an impediment, someone with self-serving or just plain bad advice
11. What you need to do (what everyone needs to do, if the problem directly involves others)
12. What you need to stop doing (or what everyone needs to stop doing)
13. Overall advice, a lesson to keep in mind
14. How dealing with the core issue is beneficial to you and everyone involved.
Hangy-down thing (sorry, no idea what the technical term for this is)
15. A side issue that complicates the situation brought out in the Eye)
16. What can be done about this
Swirlie thing (another unscientific term)
17. Another side issue, trickier than the other
18. The root cause
19. How this has affected the main issue
20. What to do about this
Pupil & Iris
21. Outcome or final advice
I've used both these spreads on myself and a friend who is a professional tarot reader. She liked them so much that she asked me to write them down for her to use. I hope others find these helpful too. If you have any comments or questions on these, please share! These are my first home-made spreads and so I'm interested in any and all feedback I can get.
Feel free to pass these around, but please include "Copyright 2004, Cristina Rizen" on the spreads anywhere you repost them. Thanks.
