Painting by Edvard Munch: The Scream, 1893.
“The Instant of Decision is Madness” Kierkegaard
Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to predict the future using Tarot cards?
I’m sure you all know the score: the reading is going well, you’ve identified key information from the client’s current and past circumstances, then…well, it’s decision time. What happens next, what prediction will you make?
About two weeks ago I started to notice a feeling of anxiety just before I made a prediction. When I started to reflect on this, I began to realise that this is something I’ve been experiencing in almost all Tarot readings I’ve ever done.
I then started thinking about Decisions; you know the kind – the ones that cause a lot of anxiety, the ones that you can never be sure of how favourable the outcome will be, the ones where the consequences will have lasting implications. In fact, the kind of decisions that you consult a Tarot reader over.
I realised that serious, life changing decisions often cause feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and confusion. Decisions of this type can be thought of as “authentic decisions”.
The person trying to make the Decision feels anxiety and the Tarot reader trying to answer the question feels anxiety.
I think there’s a clear connection between the concept of Decision and Prediction. By having an awareness of this connection, the connection between Decision and Prediction, it helps us keep a Tarot reading fluid and makes us all better Tarot readers.
This article will highlight some of the key ideas that have led me to make this connection, and how it can inform and improve, not only our Tarot readings, but our confidence in making predictions for our clients.
What do Tarot Readings provide?
People go to Tarot readers for all sorts of reasons, but one of the underlying assumptions implied with “divination” is its means of providing “reliable meaning”. It’s also possible that this reason, the search for “reliable meaning”, is why some people are motivated to become Tarot readers.
Many people are looking for certainty, are looking for absolute truth, are looking for “reliable meaning”, and are looking for ways to make “meaning” fully present to themselves. For some people, a Tarot reading provides an immediate access to meaning.
Is the assumption, the assumption that divination can provide certainty based on “absolute and timeless truths”, a useful assumption to have?
Perhaps not!
Although a Tarot reading can provide useful and “meaningful” discourse and insight, it cannot provide a truth that is fully present in-itself. There’s a big difference between meaningful and meaning.
If someone asks for a Tarot reading, wanting to know if their partner truly loves them, a Tarot reading can never provide a fully present truth as such. What it can provide is the possibility of truth – the possibility of something meaningful.
This is because Truth, or meaning, or beings, or anything in fact, can never be truly present; they are always, by implication partially “hidden”.
A truth cannot be present, but it cannot be fully absent either.
Certainty and The Metaphysics of Presence
Metaphysics is a branch of Western Philosophy that can loosely be defined as the study of being as being. In other words, the speculation of what is, of first causes, of rational knowledge of god and of those realities that go beyond us.
The entire history of Western philosophy and its language and traditions have emphasised this desire for “immediate access to meaning”, and thus built a metaphysics around the privileging of presence over absence. By this I mean the desire to guarantee any claims that are made as true by finding an ultimate foundation or source of meaning and truth.
Jacques Derrida
Stop! What do you mean by presence?
Okay, think about people you know. Think about your friends and family, think about your work colleges and your neighbours, and ask yourself, in any given moment, are they fully “present” in themselves?
What I mean is, can someone fully embody every single aspect of who they are, every single emotion, desire, thought and belief in one specific moment in time? The answer is no! There are times when someone will express anger, which means that that person’s happiness is hidden, that that person’s essence which cannot be expressed during anger is obscured. There are times when someone will express one ambition, while their other ambitions remain hidden. In other words, an individual is both present and hidden to themselves, and others. The “I” of their individuality remaining, in a sense, obscured.
It is an impossibility for someone, in the sense of that someone representing an “I“, to be fully present, uninfluenced by anything, remaining themselves, remaining as they are, uninfluenced, without outside factors having any effect – it’s impossible.
Outside factors will always have an affect which, unfortunately, means that that person will always be influenced in any given situation. Such influences will always privilege one aspect of the individual over the other. In other words, one aspect is present while the other is absent.
Why is this important?
It’s important to think about the distinction of “presence” and “absence” and how that can relate to things other than humans. For instance, how does this relate to a Tarot reading?
Language and Tarot readings
The concept of “presence” can be applied to things other than individuals. In fact, it can be applied to beings, words, and meaning.
As Tarot readers the most important area within the concept of “presence” is language.
In language we have speech and we have writing. In the Metaphysics of Presence, writing would be considered absent (the author is absent from their meaning) whereas Speech would be considered present, immediate, and in a sense, more representative of the author’s intended meaning. Hence, for example, it can cost more money to have a live Tarot reading rather than an email reading. The rationale being that a live Tarot reading provides “immediate access to meaning” whereas an email Tarot reading does not.
However, my thinking has been greatly influenced by Derrida, and as such I disagree with the above statement.
I do not think that writing can be considered an “absence” of the author’s intended meaning, nor can I completely agree with speech being the presence of the author’s meaning. In a sense meaning can never be fully present nor fully absent.
Consider language as a means of communication! Words are used to convey meaning, and perhaps to also convey “truths”. However, a word, as such, can never be fully present; or the full meaning of a word can never be made fully aware. Rather, meaning is always partially hidden. There’s always a level of ambiguity – and some words can be represented in either (or both) a good and/or a bad sense. There is always this level of undecidability within language.
Words themselves don’t simply have one fixed and unchanging meaning. Let’s take the example of the word pen. A pen can represent a writing instrument, a female swan, a small enclosure for animals and so on. The context usually gives us a sense of what aspect of the word ‘pen’ is indicated.
This is also true of a Tarot card. The 6 of Swords can represent a journey across water, a scientific discovery, leaving behind troubles and so on. Like language, Tarot cards also have a level of ambiguity in the context of communicating meaning.
Of course some words or Tarot cards can be used in a metaphorical as opposed to a literal sense, and, there are other examples I could use to show how the intended meaning becomes even more ambiguous.
Derrida stressed a basic undecidability about language, in the same way that I’ve stressed about Tarot cards. We can never reach a final meaning; Derrida highlights the quality of undecidability within which language, and therefore Tarot readings, operates.
How does this relate to Tarot?
Language is a means of communication – the communication of “truth”, “meaning” ….or, anything really.
The ability for meaning to be understood through language is just as possible as the ability for meaning to be misunderstood. This is a very important point. How many times has someone said something that you’ve misunderstood? To take this example further, imagine the person only used one word to convey information. Would the possibility for misunderstanding, ambiguity and confusion be higher? I would say the possibility for misunderstanding is very high. Likewise, if we only used one Tarot card to covey information would the possibility for misunderstanding, ambiguity and confusion be higher?
- A single word can be ambiguous
- A single Tarot card can be ambiguous
- Language has a greater chance of communicating accurately the more words are used!
- A Tarot reading has a greater chance of communicating accurately the more Tarot cards are used!
- Language is relational – meaningful use of words occurs in relation to other words
- The Tarot is relational – meaningful use of Tarot cards occurs in relation to other Tarot cards
To convey a truth through a single word…well, it’s just not possible. Far too much ambiguity would exist. In order to ensure an increased possibility for understanding, more words are used: words are then built into sentences and sentences are then built into complex patterns of meaning. In many ways, language is relational.
Just like language, it’s impossible for one Tarot card to accurately describe truth, rather, like language, it depends on the relationship between all the cards. A Tarot reading is relational.
The Decision
Science is the perfect example of the Metaphysics of Presence. It uses “timeless”, “universal” and “unchanging” truths, such as the concept of “Gravity”, in which to develop its theories.
Science itself has a long history, but if we go back to Ancient Greece, we can see the concept of “reason” and “rational understanding” develop.
Rational understanding implies that through the use of reason, we can come to know “timeless” and “universal” truths. In other words, reason itself becomes a “presence”. Reason destroys myths, banishes superstition and takes us closer to an understanding of the Universe.
If you think about it, most people say that if you apply reason to any given situation you will most likely make the most logical decision. By implication, by using reason you avoid “irrational” and therefore “bad” decisions.
A person gathers up all the facts, weighs up all the evidence, and through the timeless and universally true laws of cause and effect, is able to come to an appreciation of the most logical choice or action to take.
This, to me, has many problems associated with it. However, this framework is what influences almost everything on Earth today – even Tarot.
In the Tarot community, people think that rationally, the 78 Tarot cards all have fixed meanings and if those meanings are fully learned, they can be made “fully present” in a Tarot reading and…future predictions can be made with “certainty”.
The use of “reason” dictates that the most important feature of a Tarot reading is the Tarot cards themselves, and therefore, the most important thing to learn in order to do accurate Tarot readings are the Tarot cards. This is based on reason, on rationality, and the belief that the Tarot cards themselves have “fixed” meanings which are able to provide, with certainty, accurate Tarot readings.
This isn’t the case.
As you know, a decision is far from a logical, rational process.
A decision is always a risk, an irrational process, “a leap of faith” which by its very definition is a leap into madness. We have a tradition in the West – of Presence, of rational truths, of decisions being made rationally. But decisions can never be rational, because truth is always partially obscured, always partially hidden.
Likewise, a prediction, which is nothing more than a decision, is always a risk, an irrational process, “a leap of faith” which by its very definition is a leap into madness.
Why a Tarot reader must make a decision
Why do we feel anxiety before a major decision? Why do we feel anxiety before making a prediction? Because the possibility for certainty, for an absolute knowledge of the truth isn’t possible.
Although we would all love to believe that with the proper use of reason, the proper use of rational thought, a decision could be made that is based on all the “present” facts; but this isn’t possible. Meaning is always partially obscured because of how language, and therefore thought, operates. Likewise, a prediction can never be made with complete certainty because “meaning” is always partially hidden.
This uncertainty of meaning is the cause of most anxiety prior to making a major decision or prior to making a major prediction. The undecidability of meaning means that nothing can ever be considered completely “certain”. With nothing certain, with nothing absolute or completely reliable, what then are we actually basing our decisions on?
If there’s nothing certain to base our decisions on then every decision made is a type of madness. We make every decision based on pure faith.
This is the same for a Tarot reader making a prediction. Every prediction made as a Tarot reader is always a leap of faith; is always an uneasy relationship with madness.
Tarot cards will never provide the certainty you’re looking for. Tarot readings are always a leap of faith.
For anyone worried about their ability to make predictions try not to be so hard on yourself. There is absolutely no way of knowing for certain what the “outcome” of your predictions will be, just as there is absolutely no way of knowing what the outcome of a decision will be. It’s very easy to let this affect your confidence – you will think that, rationally, “I should be able to work this out”; “I should know what this means”. But you can never know what it fully means.
Next time you’re sat with a client, faced with making a prediction, don’t try and do the impossible – you will never make the “meaning” fully present. Take a leap of faith and smile while you look madness in the eye.
Do you think making predictions is a type of madness? Did you disagree with what I had to say? I’d love to hear your opinions on this. I’ll see you in the comments 
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17 comments… Let's discuss
I think I got what this post is saying, correct me if I’m wrong
This one was pretty deep!
Your case here is essentially a way to relieve ALL decisions of their rationality, since no matter how much information we have there is only lessening (or totally removing) the fear of an ‘incorrect’ prediction?
Its a cool concept, and I think I get it, but I’m not sure! I definitely agree and enjoy the concept that all the faces of each card can’t all be present at all times, and that the relation between cards helps draw out certain elements and de-emphasize others – and that in cards and people both, all of those elements can’t be expressed simultaneously. ‘presence’ is interesting nomenclature for that.
Hi Lionel,
Thank you for asking an important question
I wouldn’t say that I’m trying to relieve “all” decisions of rationality.
I’m asking us to think about the concept of reason.
When we think about reason we’re thinking about a concept that has a long history to it.
It now involves whole cultures of people using “reason” over the irrational as a way to make truth “present”.
We have cultures of people who make all their important decisions based on reason, rationality and logic. If someone was extremely irrational, and acted completely illogically, we might feel they are unable to look after themselves – perhaps they even pose a threat to society. As such, we tend to give those people “help”; such as relocating them to mental institutes.
This is necessary, and my post isn’t trying to advocate a lack of rationality. Rather, the post is asking us to consider how much “reason” is possible when it comes to making a decision. For instance, people who use their reason to make a decision are trying to logically understand the “truth” of a thing, or a situation in order to make “correct” and “logical” decisions based on their rational inquiry.
Why do I question how much reason is possible?
This has to do with the connection that language has with thought. It’s like the chicken or the egg paradox.
Does thought shape language or does language shape thought?
I put forward the view that language shapes thought and as such, it can never open us up to the full “presence” of truth. This is because words, and therefore the meanings that those words represent, can never be fully present – they are always partially obscured. In this sense, our thinking (which is linked to language) can never fully know truth.
If we can never know the full truth of a situation, we can never base our decisions on truth – which means, when we make a decision, we aren’t making the decision based on rationality but on a leap of faith!
I was also indicating that making predictions is much like making a decision – we can never know the full truth of the reading; our decisions will be based on a leap of faith, not a well thought out logical progression.
The fact that every decision or every prediction is a leap of faith indicates why some decisions can fill us with anxiety.
Awesome! I would certainty agree this!
Glad you liked the post
What a thoughtful reply, thank you! You certainly cleared up your post for me, and added plenty of additional gems in there.
Ultimately I find it a fun and philosophical encouragement for those who are afraid to actually predict during a reading – I know I sometimes don’t want to, since I know its a hard road! In the end though, its always a message of growth and evolution. See you in your next article!
Hi Lionel,
Thanks for asking for clarity and I’m really glad you found the comment useful
Awesome! I’ll see ya there
This post is such a gem! Love how you present the ideas with such accessible language and examples pertinent to tarot.
Wow! You read Derrida!
Jacques Derrida totally floored me!! …I don’t think I will give him another try in a few years, wait till I grow up a little bit more, perhaps
The expression ‘presence of mind’ always fascinates me as it implies that the mind is not always present although we all would like to think it does. Come to think of it, this is so High Priestess-like: something is there, you know something is there, feel it or perhaps even obscurely see it, but then ‘it’ constantly shapeshifts and the veil that prevents any access will always be there.
I couldn’t agree more when you said *The ability for meaning to be understood through language is just as possible as the ability for meaning to be misunderstood* I used to kid that “perhaps understanding is but the sum of misunderstanding”
Sometimes I do agree that ignorance is blessing, because the act of knowing amounts only to how much you don’t know…
I remember being called ‘the relativist’ by a church folk many years ago, when I still hold my catholic faith. But the more I mature the more I hold this stance as I come to realize nothing is absolute, except Death. Perhaps it suffices to say the only absolute is that nothing is absolute… Take the tarot reading for example. There was a long period of time when I got so frustrated by the ‘prediction’ or ‘outcome’, both in readings I did for myself and paid to be read. Somehow the ‘prediction’ always turned out differently and ‘likely outcomes’ remain forever ‘likely’. I don’t think the readings are inauthentic or misinterpreted though. Its just that the prediction made are pertinent only to that specific instance, but the next instance any unforeseen whirl of action may enter the picture and derail the course of event completely. Its precisely because of this I try to avoid doing predicting reading as much as possible. It seems more inspiring to ask the cards what are in your control or how should you better perform in relations to a certain events then to ask about a Yes/No outcome.
Was it Nietzsche or someone-I-couldn’t-recall who said “there is no Truth, only interpretations”? To me that fit perfectly into the art of Tarot reading!
Great post! Thought provoking as always!
Hi Paul,
Thank you for your kind words
LOL like most philosophical stuff, it takes a while before you start flowing with the ideas – I say, give it another go Paul
I couldn’t agree more. I like the way you connected this with the High Priestess and the concept of the veil.
In many ways, language and thought are the veil that separates the Priestess and us.
Great point. This reminds me of Socrates: the oracle of Delphi said that, “Of all men living Socrates most wise.”
Check out what Socrates said at his trial:
I also really like your point about predictions -
It’s always a good idea, to get the most out of a reading, is know what you want to find out from the cards.
I also really like this quote from Nietzsche
Doug,
You are opening out an important and very necessary area of reseearch and understanding of the tarot. We need to understand better the philosophical basis of language and communication, for what is a tarot reading? Simply an interpretation that is communicated to a client to hopefully, bring clarity to their life. In doing so, the reader is also enriched.
Bring it on.
Paul
Hi Paul,
Thank you for your kind words and I’m glad you enjoyed the post
Affect in absence implies contemplation, presence less inclined.
Opinions often sold and bought. Through action we’re defined.
To me, it would seem that the least common denominator in any instance of ambiguity can be found in action. The land meets the sea where the waves crash to the shore. As we stand in its midst, the delineation of earth and sky is most often pointed to where the sun chases the night .
If we pause to consider, relevance of truth may well be obscured, but could also be enhanced, by our hesitation. The confidence of our claim is perceived in action. To be sure, confidence is one of the most recognizable qualities we can see in another. More often than not, our own confidence will be based on another’s. Herd mentality, fight or flight, lead and follow; all of these are great examples of how our confidence, or lack thereof, affects our relationships. The relationship between reader and client is not exempt.
As well, the ambiguity of the tarot’s language can be better understood when observing the action inherent in the various card meanings that present themselves during a reading. We often speak of energy when considering how cards are paired. They conflict and they support. They can fall, ascend, gain and fade.
Conversely, while the essence of an individual card is present beyond context, it’s meaning can be lost to it’s base. Without context, the action that the card represents is dependant on our perspective. We know how the energy will act, but our orientation to the querent defines the meaning. This is the part that intuition must play in our readings.
Your October 19th , post on how to develop intuition goes a long way in explaining how to circumvent decision making in lieu of epiphany. Though, I might add that finding the essence of an individual card’s action, or process, in different aspects of your daily life would be the next logical step toward helping your tarot learn a new language for the communication of such insights.
At any rate, I absolutely love the philosophically slanted posts. As Mr. Yeung stated, this one is certainly a gem. I hope to see many, many more like it in the future. Your writing is like chinese food for the mind. I could read till I’m full and still crave it just ten minutes later.
Hehe! My belly just growled …Keep up the great work! Until next time…
Love and Light,
Bulal
Hi Bulal,
Thanks for dropping by
Awesome! I really like this verse
I like how you talk about how truth can be enhanced through hesitation. This reminds me of that great metaphor of staring into the abyss – how hesitation on the one hand signals our grappling with truth, but on the other hand our uncertainty with truth; in the sense of not knowing how to understand it.
I also agree with you when you focus on the concept of confidence in the “other”.
I agree – this is a great point.
I’m not trying to deny the “essence” of truth or the “essence” of being, or even the “essence” of a Tarot card. Rather, I’m trying to show how meaning can be obscured when we try and think about it, or when we try to articulate it in language. In many ways, thinking about the essence obscures the essence – as does communicating about the essence.
Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate it and I’m glad you enjoyed the post
Schrodinger’s cat purrs…
Wow…this one is rather deep as someone else mentioned….there are several things that spring to mind while reading it.
1. Predictions….while divination is about guidance and prediction, I personally think it goes beyond that. I think it is about seeking not “absolute truth” but about defining the “search.” In other words it is not about the “answer” but about the question or the quest.
2. Predictions are really impossible as you point out…not only for the reasons that you mention but also because the VERY ACT of doing or having a reading alters or changes the seeker’s future….I believe that any small thing, every word spoken, every step taken, every mistake or success, every thought etc…has the ability to and does change outcomes…so just as a client coming to a therapist (the very act of that) changes the client’s path….so does getting a reading…or “asking a question.”
3. Multiple Meanings: I believe that everything in life has multiple meanings and as such it complicates the possibility of predicting…Take for example: ‘eating dinner out with friends”…for some the meaning is about food, for some the meaning is about companionship, for some the meaning of the excursion is about distraction, for some it is about looking for other relationships, for some it is about tradition, for some it is about conversation, etc. I’m not sure that’s a very good example but the whole idea is that there are multiple meanings to every thing in life….to carry it even further….multiple realities so to speak.
4. Words: the very meaning of words are altered or influenced by life experiences and as such, even in a reading it is difficult to paint a clear picture because we can never really know the experiences of the seeker and as such can not be certain that the meaning we are conveying is the one they are “hearing”…even something as simple as the word “solitude”. For one peson this may have a very peaceful and relaxing meaning….peace, quiet, time to renew the spirit etc….for someone else it can mean lonliness, isolation, depression, etc….BASED on that person’s personal experiences with the word or concept.
5. Because of my “outlook” on things I rarely use the word prediction or even outcome….unless I say “possible outcome”. I usually say there is the possibility of multiple outcomes based on decisions and choices you make along the way. Then we look at the cards and ponder …if you go this direction this may be the outcome OR you can go this route and then it is possible that (blank) will happen. There are NO absolute truths…people need to and CAN alter outcomes…thats the whole purpose of a reading…to examining different choices, outcomes, possible hazards or problems..
VERY thought provoking post Doug!!!
Hi Ginger,
Thank you the great comment
I liked your example of the multiple meanings that are possible in any or all contexts. The whole concept of ambiguity has always fascinated me and I’m really glad that you also liked and enjoyed this post.
Thank you for sharing such great insights
I appreciate your thoughtful and provocative article, exploring the art and philosophy of Tarot work. In reading your article, I found myself moving in and out of resonance with your statements and conclusions. To keep this from becoming an equally long treatise, I’m limiting myself to reflecting on the bulleted points you made. Big concepts to explore (in future posts), philosophically, is what is Truth and whose Truth.
> A single word can be ambiguous
Yes, a single word, especially when written and not spoken, can have an ambiguous meaning between two people. Some words are not ambiguous, especially when spoken congruently. Example: “No!” if said with the same tone of voice, feeling, body language, etc. The single word really doesn’t stand on it’s own and, as you touched upon, exists in a context or environment. I would say that all elements of the environment are aspects of each other and communicate something greater than the one word. Which leads to the next point…
> A single Tarot card can be ambiguous
Only if one is limited to one level of reality, such as physical-material reality. I have a completely different opinion about and experience with one-card readings. One card is not ambiguous as long as one does not have a one-dimensional relationship to Tarot cards, communication and life. A more knowledgeable and experienced Tarot person (a qualification not meant to demean anyone) understands the many levels and applications of a particular card and is skilled in drawing on the aspects that will be more specific to the querent’s need (see Mary Greer’s “21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card”). In addition, a reader with training and experience with non-verbal, intuitive, and counseling awareness taps into many levels of communication and meaning with the client. Communication transcends words. Ultimately, the Truth of the meaning of the card resides with the querent, not the reader. From my perspective, a truly skilled reader knows how to support the querent to find his/her Truth, without making predictions and resorting to what I would consider to be an unethical use of one’s power. No wonder readers get nervous … making predictions holds too much responsibility.
> Language has a greater chance of communicating accurately the more words are used!
I’ll be brief. Communication is not limited to words, and certainly does not rest with the words of the reader. In fact, I have found the most effective readings are when the querent received a message of her/his own, beyond words. That being said, I agree that limiting one’s communication to a single word concept of a card has a diminished outcome.
> A Tarot reading has a greater chance of communicating accurately the more Tarot cards are used!
Most Tarot clients are expecting a reading with a multitude cards and this can be helpful for illustrating the story of the reading. But, more cards do not give the reading more accuracy. That may represent the limitations of the reader, not the cards. In the reverse, too many cards can be confusing and tends to reduce the individual cards to a simplistic one-dimensional statement.
> Language is relational – meaningful use of words occurs in relation to other words
Yes, everything is relational, especially those elements beyond worlds. Meaning is between as well as in the words.
> The Tarot is relational – meaningful use of Tarot cards occurs in relation to other Tarot cards
Again, this is true, but not exclusive. Tarot relates to the card or cards, their meaning, their energy, the energy of the querent, the reader, the environment, the world, the universe….I could go on.
Thank you for the inspiration and opportunity to write this comment. I hope it is helpful as it represents an alternative point of view. Personally, I find words to be very limiting and as such I prefer not to write. I never do written readings. I was going way over my edge to share these words, knowing their meaning could be misunderstood, no matter how many of them I used to explain a point.
Love and Light,
Katrina
Hi Katrina,
Thanks for stopping by, I’m really glad this post inspired you
I do however have some reservation with some of the points you made in your comment.
The position that my article took on the concept of “truth” was a “universally” applicable concept. In other words, something that is true regardless of circumstances; something that is true regardless of time; in other words “timeless”. A truth transcends human and historical experience. In this sense, there is a clear distinction between what is “meaningful” and what is truth.
“Meaningfulness” can be, and is, an individual experience built on the historical attributes that make up those unique circumstances. For example, if we take a psychological approach to the Tarot, we must enter into an “historical” dialogue; if we enter into a “prediction” we must take an historical approach. This is in contrast to “truth” as such; truth doesn’t depend on the “historical” but rather the “timeless” and the “universal”.
With this in mind, it’s more appropriate to ask what is “meaningful” rather than
It is important to remember that my article doesn’t deny a universal essence, archetype or truth, just our ability to know it.
I have some problems with this example because it specifies a context for the word “No”! By specifying a context in which a word operates, you’re implying an ambiguity to its meaning. It implies that it is no longer a universally self-evident statement; but rather, one that can only become “meaningful” once a context, tone of voice and body language is brought into play. In this sense, the word “no” is still ambiguous because its meaning depends on the circumstances and is therefore not universal or timeless.
If I enter into this discussion based on only this statement, then it implies that divination and predictions should be easy because the physical-material world is not ambiguous. Yet, later on you state, The problem with the position you have outlined is the contradiction you introduce later on. By implication you’re stating that a single card can be ambiguous.
Let me explain more of what I mean by this. You state:
The problem with this statement is that it actually says that a Tarot card is ambiguous. It states that there are many ways to read just one card and that “sometimes a more knowledgeable and experienced Tarot person (a qualification not meant to demean anyone) understands the many levels and applications of a particular card and is skilled in drawing on the aspects that will be more specific to the querent’s needs”. In other words, a Tarot card can obscure “truth” and shouldn’t be thought of as one-dimensional.
I understand what you mean by this statement. In the article I wrote, I mentioned the link between thoughts and language. If you
“think something” you have already used language to think it. If we take the other points I mentioned in this article, then we can see that “thinking” or “reflecting” on the communication that has occurred “beyond words” actually places them back into words and obscures them.
I certainly don’t deny that communication can exist beyond language; what I’m saying is that our ability to fully make that communication “present” will result in some of it becoming obscure and hidden.
I disagree with this for several reasons, but the main one is from a practical point of view. The more cards a Tarot reader uses the more accurate it is; it’s also much more skillful than you’re giving it credit.
However, it is probable that our approach to reading the Tarot is different. Perhaps the use of more cards would make a “psychological” and “spiritual” Tarot reading more difficult. I do predictive Tarot readings as well as “psychological” and “spiritual” – in fact, I usually do all three in the same reading. It’s probable that our differing approaches and uses of the Tarot will produce future disagreement on certain points made. In my opinion this is a great opportunity for both of us to learn alternative systems – perhaps inspiring both of us to experiment with different techniques.
I want to thank you for leaving this comment. I really do appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and ideas. I know I disagreed with them, in the same way you disagreed with some of mine; yet, I did enjoy reading this and look forward to your future comments.
All the best,
Doug
Hi Doug,
My apologies for the delayed reply.
It is clear to me that we have many things that we agree upon and some unique perspectives that are based on personal experience and expertise.
The main thing I was responding to in my comment was what appeared to be definitive narrow statements about Tarot and reading to which I attempted to present an alternative point of view, based on my experience. Profound one-card readings are my forte, and a skill I teach my Tarot students. Also, as a professional counselor and teacher, I know that not everyone, including myself, perceive information primarily as words. If this were the case, Tarot cards would not represent a VISUAL symbolic language…we’d just use flash cards with words on them.
> it’s more appropriate to ask what is “meaningful” rather than “what is truth?”
I completely align with this statement. For me, beyond the universal truths that you mentioned, truth is relative. What I disagree with is whether a reader can tell a client what is true for the client. Even if the reader’s prediction was “right”, it does not have the same importance for the client, is not as meaningful, as when the client discovers this truth for his/her self. This is my counseling perspective, which is diametrically opposed to a predictive/prescriptive style of reading.
“Ambiguousness” is an interesting concept and may be a pivotal point between our points of view. In counseling, we often use a technique called “Blank Access,” being purposefully vague and without any content in order to inspire the client to fill in the blank, to find her/his own answer. So, I’m comfortable with vagueness as the reader for I have the skills to support the client in finding meaning, or personal truth.
I agree … it would be very interesting to exchange readings and experience each of our styles. Since we probably live very far apart, I did the next best thing…looked up a psychic reader-friend and exchanged readings. We compared her “predictive” style to my “Tarot Counseling” style with some telling results.
This “experiment” led to my finally writing an article I have been wanting to post for some time, recently inspired by this very dialogue. Please visit my weblog to view the Page titled “Tarot Counseling vs Predictive Readings”.
I’ve linked back to your weblog from the page on my weblog. I thought my readers would also enjoy your point of view along with those of your readers.
Happy Solstice and have a wonderful, meaningful, and successful New Year!
Katrina
http://MySacredJourney.org
http://TarotCounseling.org
Hi Katrina,
I read the article and liked some of the information you presented. It was a well presented and thoughtful article
In terms of your comment, I found the concept of “Blank Access” fascinating. This is something I’ll definitely be looking at. Thank you
For those of you who would like to read this article, you can find it at Tarot Counseling vs Predictive readings.
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