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Home > Article Library > Divination > Tarot Layouts Search

Reference Guide about Tarot Layouts

Version 4.0.0 - 07/01/1996
Compiled by David C. Jones (djones@ponder.csci.unt.edu)

 

Copyright, 1996, David Clark Jones. Please see the table of contents for the location of the full listing of the copyright notice.

"When we lay out the Tarot in the Spirit of Wisdom, we objectify the subjective, make the invisible visible and provide form for the formless. The Tarot exteriorizes the interior life, it reveals the inner life like disclosing fluid."
-- Naomi Ozaneic, The Element Tarot Handbook



For More Information on Tarot Reading

Power Tarot Reviewed
Power Tarot

Mastering the Tarot

Pictorial Key to the Tarot

Tarot for Yourself

Tarot: A New Handbook for the Apprentice

Tarot: The Handbook for the Journeyman

More Books at Amazon.com
More Books on Tarot


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Table of Contents
=================
1) The Layouts
      1.1) Action Spread (#5, C2)
     *1.2) Eliphas Levi Wheel Spread (#5, C3, X) 
      1.3) The Line Spread (#5, C1, L)
      1.4) Spread of the Elements (#5, C2) 
     *1.5) Chakra Spread (#7, C3, X) 
      1.6) Magic Seven Spread (#7, C4) 
      1.7) Soul Dreamers Spread (#7, C4, SX) 
      1.8) Spirits of the Circle Spread (#7, C4) 
      1.9) Split Hexagram Spread (#7, C4) 
      1.10) Four Seasons Spread (#8, C5, S)
      1.11) Hearth Spread (#8, C2) 
      1.12) Planetary Spread (#8, C3, A) 
      1.13) Amanda's Fan (#9, C3) 
      1.14) Arianrhod Spread (#9, C4, 1year)
      1.15) Awen Spread (#9, C2, L) 
     *1.16) Mandala/Alchemical Spread (#9/13, C3/4)
      1.17) Spiral Layout (#10, C1) 
      1.18) Tree of Life Spread
          1.18.1) Davis' Tree of Life (#10, C5, X)
          1.18.2) Doane's Tree of Life (#10, C6, X)
          1.18.3) Peach's Tree of Life (#78, C7, X)
          1.18.4) Comments and Variations
     *1.19) Trinity Spread (#10, C3, L) 
      1.20) Yes or No Spread (#10, C2, Y)
      1.21) The Celtic Cross
          1.21.1) Waite's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
          1.21.2) Danburg's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
          1.21.3) Peach's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
          1.21.4) Lines within the Reading (C7)
          1.21.5) Variations and Comments.
     *1.22) Cup of Relationships Spread (#11, C4, S) 
      1.23) Key Spread (#11, C4) 
      1.24) Four Trines Spread (#12, C5, A) 
     +1.25) Twelve Houses Spread (#12, C5, A)
     +1.26) Astrological Spread (#13V, C4, A)
      1.27) Magic Cross Spread (#13, C3) 
          aka Christian Cross Spread
      1.28) Planetary Spread (#14, C4, A)
      1.29) Qabalistic Cross (#14, C3) 
      1.30) Daily Spread (#15, C4, 1day)
      1.31) Fortune Teller's Spread (#15, C3)
      1.32) Thoth Spread 
          1.32.1) Original Thoth Spread (#15, C4)
          1.32.2) Peach's Thoth Spread (#16, C4)
      1.33) Wish Spread (#16, C4, S) 
      1.34) Grand Source Spread (#21, C6)
      1.35) Playing Deck Spread (#21, C3, L) 
      1.36) Pyramid Spread (#21, C4) 
      1.37) Romany Spread (#21, C2, L)
      1.38) Twenty-One Card Spread (21, C6)
      1.39) Sephiroth Spread (#26, C9, A) 
     *1.40) Triangular Spread (#28, C8) 
      1.41) Magic Mirror Spread (#29, C5, S)
      1.42) Spread of Thirty-Six (#36, C4, L)
     *1.43) Story Spread (#45, C7) 
      1.44) Solar Spread (#49, C5, LA)
      1.45) Life Spread (#50, C9) 
      1.46) Three Fans (#54/78, C9)
      1.47) Ladder Spread (#78, C9)
      1.48) The Waite Spreads (#43/78, C9, L)
          1.48.1) The Forty-Three Card Layout (#43, C9, L)
          1.48.2) The Thirty-Five Card Layout (#35, C5, L)
     *1.49) Geomancy Spread. (#V, C9, AX)
      1.50) Name Layout (#V, C3, L) 
      1.51) Tetragrammaton Spread (#V, C7, LX)
      1.52) Timing Spread (#V, C2, Y) 
2) Layout Modifiers
      2.1) Additional Card Modifiers
      2.2) Extending the Path
      2.3) Rotating the Layout
      2.4) Yes/No Answer 
      2.5) Querent Cards
          2.5.1) Personality Traits
          2.5.2) Astrology
          2.5.3) Physical Traits
          2.5.4) Open Deck
          2.5.5) Random Selection
          2.5.6) No Querent
     *2.6) Ateration of the Elements
     *2.7) Multi-line Associations
3) Useful Information
      3.1) Astrological Houses 
      3.2) Planetary Symbols
      3.3) Astrological Symbols
      3.4) Divination w/ normal deck of playing cards 
      3.5) Timing Information 
     *3.6) Astrological House Numbering
     *3.7) The Four Elements and the Tarot
               A Lesson in Relationships between Cards
          3.7.1) Stage One: Traditional Method
          3.7.2) Stage Two: Elemental Rules
          3.7.3) Stage Three: Positions
4) Rituals of Meditation
      4.1) Mandalas 
          4.1.1) Daily Focus Point 
          4.1.2) Contemplation Ritual
          4.1.3) Opening the Door 
      4.2) Qabalistic Cross of the Tarot Ritual (4) 
      4.3) Suit and Function Meditation (14) 
      4.4) Figure of Eight (22) 
      4.5) Square-Triangle Layout (78)
5) Useless Information
      5.1) Copyright Notice
      5.2) Where to find this document
      5.3) Administrativia
      5.4) Who am I and how this list got started
      5.5) Really Useless Information
     *5.6) How to Use this Document.
           5.6.1) If you are new to tarot....
           5.6.2) If you are new to this document....
           5.6.3) Supplements and version numbers
           5.6.4) Paradigm Spread
           5.6.5) Maps and Legends
6) References and Thanks
7) History of this document 

A - Astrological Spreads.
L - Line Spreads.
S - Specific Question Spreads.
X - Cross Subjects.
Y - Yes/No Spreads.

+ indicates new information was added to this section since v3.0.1
* indicates a totally new section in this FAQ since v3.0.1
- indicates that part or all of this section was removed and/or 
     incorporated elsewhere

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

1) The Layouts

1.1) Action Spread (#5, C2) (Morison)
Layout:  
1                5
    2       4
        3

Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading: 
Card 1: The question itself, important aspects of the question.
Card 2: Past Events.
Card 3: How the querent has reacted to the matter or character 
     strength which are more relevant to the matter.
Card 4: Environment
Card 5: Solution to problem.

1.2) Eliphas Levi Wheel Spread (#5, C3, X) (Guiley)
Layout:     1
            |
         4--5--2
            |
            3

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
Card 1 - Present situation
Card 2 - Waning influences.  Obstacles already overcome.  Changes
          which have occured in the past.
Card 3 - Hidden or unconscious influences
Card 4 - Emerging influences.
Card 5 - Synthesis.  Draws together the other four influences.

Comments:  The layout is so named because it is based upon the
Eliphas Levi Wheel, a version of which is seen on Trump 10 in the
Rider-Waite deck; Levi did not invent this layout.  Levi's Wheel
assigned letters of the Tetragramaton (Yod, He, Vau, He,
respectively) to each of the four positions shown above.  Levi's
wheel also offers some additional interpretations of the four tarot
suits, the four ranks of court cards, and the meaning of the
letters T, O, R, and A.  For further information, consult some of
his works on the subject.

1.3) The Line Spread (#5, C1, L)

Layout:
  5  4  3  2  1

Deal:  Right to Left

Reading:
Cards 4 and 5 represent the future
Card 3 represents the prenysent
Cards 1 and 2 represent the past

Variation: A simple, and very commonly used, variation of the Five
Card Spread works as follows:  instead of placing two cards on each
side of the present card, place three our four, yielding a seven or
nine card spread (or go higher if you wish).  The further you get
from the center card, the further into the past/future you are
looking.

1.4) Spread of the Elements (#5, C2) (Carr-Gomm)
Layout:   N
       W  Q  E 
          S

Deal: Querent, East, South, West, North

Reading: Use to gain insight into aspects of the self which need
          balancing or development.
Card Q: Querent
  East: Intellectual or Mental Life
 South: Sensual and/or Instinctual Life
  West: Emotional Life
 North: Intuitive and/or Spiritual Life

1.5) Chakra Spread (#7, C3, X) (Guiley)
Layout/Deal:  Using only the major arcana, deal seven cards upward
forming a single vertical line.

Reading:  Each card corresponds to one of the seven chakras of the
body.  Proper study of the subject would be advised when using this
layout and the list below is intended only as a reference guide
extracted from Guiley's book.  Interpretations of each position may
vary depending upon your learnings.

Card 1 - Root Chakra.  Self-preservation and instincts.
Card 2 - Sacral Chakra.  Sexuality.
Card 3 - Solar Plexus.  Emotions.
Card 4 - Heart Chakra.  Higher consciousness, unconditional love.
Card 5 - Throat Chakra.  Creativity and self expression
Card 6 - Brow Chakra.  Psychic abilities, spiritual enlightenment.
Card 7 - Crown Chakra.  Individual level of conscious evoluion.

1.6) Magic Seven Spread (#7, C4) (Doane)
Layout:
                1
              /   \
         5---/-----\---6
          \ /       \ /
           X    7    X
          / \       / \
         3---\-----/---2
              \   /
                4

Deal: Numerically as shown above.

Reading:
Card 1: Past event leading up to the present state
Card 2: The present state
Card 3: Immediate future
Card 4: Suggested Solution, what the querent should do to obtain
        more control over the current situation
Card 5: The current environment and/or its affect on the matter
Card 6: Opposition
Card 7: Result

Variation 1:  Change the following cards (Davis)
Card 4: Issue to be dealt with
Card 5 and 6:  Opportunity and limitation (these positions flip,
use your intuition as to which is which in a given reading)

1.7) Soul Dreamers Spread (#7, C4, SX) (Silbury)
Layout: X X X X X X X X X X
        X   5             X
        X         2       X
        X       1       6 X
        X 4               X
        X         3       X
        X                 X
        X        7        X
        X X X X X X X X X X

X's are used merely to show relative position of the cards.  The
cards should be placed such that they create an outward clockwise
spiral and should be more circular that the above diagram appears.

Deal: Select card 1 as you would a querent card.  Shuffle the deck
          and deal numerically as shown

Reading:  This reading is intended to help one understand a dream's
     message or meaning.
Card 1 - Key.  Choose a card the represents the dream situation or
          your feelings about the dream.
Card 2 - Dream Situation.  Tells something about the dream's 
          events, such as when where, how, and why.
Card 3 - Energy Within.  Primary energy of the dream.
Card 4 - Conscious Meaning.  What the dream means to you in 
          'walking life.'
Card 5 - Subconscious Meaning.  What the dream means to you on an
          inner psychic level.
Card 6 - Serpent Energy.  When energy is needed to cause the dream
          to manifest physically, if you desire, or to solve the
          dream's dilemma.
Card 7 - Outcome.  How the dream will manifest and its effects.


1.8) Spirits of the Circle Spread (#7, C4) (Carr-Gomm)
Layout:  2  7  4
            1
         5  6  3

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading: 
Card 1: Querent
Card 2: Spirit of the Ancestors - influence of family elders 
Card 3: Spirit of the Tribe - influence of culture
Card 4: Spirit of Time
Card 5: Spirit of Place - influence of birthplace and residence
Card 6: Spirit of the Journey - influence of previous lives
card 7: Awen - gifts/blessings/graces of the gods or nature

1.9) Split Hexagram Spread (#7, C4) (Kraig)
Layout:   1---2
           \ /
            3
            7
            6
           / \
          4---5

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading: 
Cards 1 & 2: Unknown spiritual influences.  Card 1 will have a 
               stronger affect than Card 2
Card 3: Spiritual advice for the matter
Card 4: Unconscious desires
Card 5: Conscious desires
Card 6: Practical advice
Card 7: Final outcome if you proceed with matter at this time.

1.10) Four Seasons Spread (#8, C5, S) (Cortese/Reed)
Layout:
               3
             4     6

          1         5

             2     8
               7

Deal: Numerically as shown.

Reading:
Card 1: Dominant for Spring, symbolizing the conception or
     initiation of an action or ambition, the planting of the seed,
     so to speak.  The modifier for spring is card 8.
Card 2: Modifier for Card 3.
Card 3: Dominant for Summer, symbolizing the progression of a
     plan, the way in which an idea will flower.  The modifier for
     summer is card 2.
Card 4: Modifier for Card 5.
Card 5: Dominant for Autumn, symbolizing the resolution of the 
     plan, how events will "wind themselves up."  The modifier for
     autumn is card 4.
Card 6: Modifier for Card 7.
Card 7: Dominant for Winter, symbolizing the period of reflection
     after an action or plan has been completed, or what the
     querent may wish to learn from the progression of events.  The
     modifier for winter is card 6.
Card 8: Modifier for Card 1.

Comment 1: "This spread is used to examine motivations for plans or
ambitions. The cards are arranged so as to call to mind the
progression of the seasons and also the progression of any action
or plan through the four stages of conception, progression,
resolution, and reflection." - Cortese

Comment 2: Cortese obtained this spread from Ellen Cannon Reed's
_The Witches Tarot_.

1.11) Hearth Spread (#8, C2) (Carr-Gomm)
Layout:   8
          7  1  2
       6  5  3
             4

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
Cards 1 & 2: East - Perceived - way querent perceives the issue
Cards 3 & 4: South - Observed - way others perceive the issue
Cards 5 & 6: West - Desired - way querent wishes issue to be
Cards 7 & 8: North - Potential - way issue could be

Variation: Meanings may vary with individual interpretations of the
     four directions.

1.12) Planetary Spread (#8, C3, A) (Peach)
Layout:
             04
         03      05
     02       Q      06
         01      07

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
Card 1: Moon        Card 2: Mercury
Card 3: Venus       Card 4: Sun
Card 5: Mars - Also may represent the solution or answer to the 
          matter which is why it is called the reconciler.
Card 6: Jupiter     Card 7: Saturn

Comment: "Cards of this spread can and ought to be paired and read
     in juxtaposition, i.e., the card in the position of the Moon
     should be paired with that in the position of the Sun; the
     card in the position of Venus with that in the position of
     Mars, and so on." - Peach

1.13) Amanda's Fan (#9, C3) (Davis)
Layout:
    4   3   5
  6           7
8       1       9

Card 2 is laid across Card 1 as in a Celtic Cross
Cards 3-7 are an arch above the line of cards shown; it should
     look like a fan

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
1. Questioner
2. Crossing
3. Foundation
4. Past
5. Present
6. Future
7. Outcome
8. Inner Influences
9. Outer Influences

Comment 1:  Named after the person Davis was talking to when
developed.

Comment 2:  "This is obviously based on the Celtic Cross and Sword;
it was developed because we were both dissatisfied with the Celtic
Cross--it just didn't *flow* logically.  So I reworked it." (Davis)

1.14) Arianrhod Spread (#9, C4, 1year) (Carr-Gomm)
Layout:      3
          2     4
       9     1     5
          8     6
             7
Cards 2 - 9 should be arranged in a circular pattern with card 1 in
the center.  Card 2 represents the NW, Card 3 N, etc.

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading: Position two represents the beginning of the Druid New
Year, also known as Samhuinn, a traditional time when this spread
is used.  The sequence of eight cards is generally viewed as a one-
year cycle, but may be used for other time cycles as well.  Lines
between cards are seen as if a web connects each card to the center
and a circle connects the outside ring.  Thus card 3 is related to
cards 2 and 4 while cards 3, 1, and 7 will form a line.

1.15) Awen Spread (#9, C2, L) (Carr-Gomm)
Layout:  1  4  7  - Row 1
         2  5  8  - Row 2
         3  6  9  - Row 3
        C1 C2 C3

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading: 
The three columns (C1 - C3) represent the past, present, and
future, respectively.  In each row, cards are interpreted as
follows:

Row 1: Cause, dynamic, impulse, guiding idea, or motive being a 
          situation or event.
Row 2: Effect of first card at the emotional, social, or
          relationship level.
Row 3: Effect of first card at the physical level of manifestation.

1.16) Mandala/Alchemical Spread (#9/13, C3/4) (Guiley) 
Layout:
  10                11
           09
        08    02
     07    01    03
        06    04
           05
  13                12

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
Card 1 - The Self.   
Card 2 - Desires.
Card 3 - Dreams.  What we want to achieve.
Card 4 - Pursuits.  What we actively try to achieve.
Card 5 - Attachements.  Pursuits which hold us back from achieving
     our dreams.  For example, many people dream of happiness but
     pursuit money thinking it will make them happy.  However, it
     is the worry about money, not the lack of it, which actually
     prevents happiness.
Card 6 - Qualities.  Good aspects about the querent.
Card 7 - Sorrows.  Faults of the querent which need improving.
Card 8 - Self-Image.  How the querent views him/herself.
Card 9 - Soul's Urge.  One's true purpose and desitiny.

Card 10 - Earth.  Darkness, mystery, and the unknown.
Card 11 - Air.  Spiritual illumination and enlightenment.
Card 12 - Fire.  Intellect, rational thought, will.
Card 13 - Water.  Creativity and emotions.

Variations:  Doing the reading with only the first nine cards is
called the Mandala Spread.  Adding the four elemental cards is the
Alchemical spread.

1.17) Spiral Layout (#10, C1) (Biggs)
Layout:
       7
      6 8
1    Q5  9
 2  4
   3

  5 overlaps Q in the center

Deal: Lay out the cards with Q first and then numerically.

Reading:
Q: The Querent
1: Foundation:  What the querent's current situation is built on.
2: Past Actions:  Actions that the querent has taken in the past
     that have contributed to the current situation.
3: Past Emotions:  The querent's emotional status in the past
4: Past Outside Influences:  Other peoples actions/emotions that
     have affected the querent's situation.
5: Current Position:  Where the querent stands now in relationship
     to the situation.
6: Future Outside Influences:  Others actions/emotions that will
     affect the querent.
7: Future Emotions:  Emotions the querent should watch out for in
     the future.
8: Future Actions:  Actions that the querent may take in the 
     future.
9: Outcome:  The foreseen outcome of the situation.

1.18) Tree of Life Spread
Layout:
           / 1 \
         /   |   \
        3----+----2
        | \  |  / |
        5--\-+-/--4
        |\  \|/  /|
        |  \ 6 /  |
        | /  |  \ |
        7----+----8
         \   |   /
           \ 9 /
             |
            10

Deal: Numerically as shown

Readings:

1.18.1) Davis' Tree of Life (#10, C5, X)
10) Present
9)  Inner guidance, intuition
8)  Masculine -- intellectual inspiration
7)  Feminine -- beauty of self, inspiration, passion
6)  Soul as it should be--mutation & learning experience
5)  Building the corner-stone of cosmocity within the self
4)  Testing ground -- things to let go of
3)  Unmanifest knowledge (fancy talk which means 'secrets')
2)  Bridge to higher cosmos
1)  Where your next stage of development will lead you.

1.18.2) Doane's Tree of Life (#10, C6, X)
Cards 3, 5, and 7 make up the Tree of Evil or the unfavorable tree
Cards 2, 4, and 8 make up the Tree of Good or the favorable tree
Remaining cards are outcome cards.

Card 1: Spiritual outcome
Card 2: Influence of Wisdom
Card 3: Influence of Intelligence
Card 4: Influence of Justice (and the quest of it)
Card 5: Influence of Mercy
Card 6: Love of Beauty, Love, and Life
Card 7: Desire for Victory
Card 8: Influence of Splendor
Card 9: Environment
Card 10: Physical Power or Material Outcome

1.18.3) Peach's Tree of Life (#78, C7, X)
After dealing, repeat the deal again and continue to do so until
all 78 cards are used.  Select a Querent card for the querent. 
Whichever pile the Querent card lies in will tell the main subject
of the reading.

Pile 1: Inner Spiritual Quest
Pile 2: Personal Initiative
Pile 3: Sorrows and Burdens
Pile 4: Financial Gains
Pile 5: Enemies and Discords
Pile 6: Glory and Fame
Pile 7: Love
Pile 8: Business and Communications
Pile 9: Mental and Physical Health
Pile 10: Home

1.18.4) Comments and Variations

Comment 1: It is interesting to note that in all three tarot
layouts I have seen that the numbers 4 and 5 are swapped although
the meanings for those positions do not change.  Conversely, in
most books I have seen about the Tree of Life the tree is numbered
as above.  I chose the numbering above because it is more
consistent with mt studies of the Tree of Life and also because the
sequence 2, 4, 8, that it forms on the right hand side of the tree
makes more sense from a numerological perspective.  Choose
whichever ordering suits you best.  I have had reports that this
can change either the dealing order or the meaning order or both.

Comment 2:  Those with a background in Qabalism and/or the Tree of
Life may find better meanings and/or other relationships between
the cards and will probably be able to use this layout better. 
Since each position in the tree of life may encompass several
meanings, it probably wouldn't hurt to consider all the meanings
given above for each position in the tree, for they are all valid
interpretations.  For those who do not have a great deal of
knowledge about the subject, I offer the following meanings for
each position on the tree that may help you further, but by no
means does this supplement proper study of the subject (Ozaniec):
1) Kether - The Crown         6) Tiphareth - Beauty
2) Chokmah - Wisdom           7) Hod - Splendor
3) Binah - Understanding      8) Netzach - Victory
4) Geburah - Severity         9) Yesod - The Foundation
5) Chesed - Mercy             10) Malkuth - The Kingdom

Comment 3: Davis attributes this layout to Ly Warren-Clark.

1.19) Trinity Spread (#10, C3, L) (Guiley)
Layout:     10
          7  8  9 - Future
          1  2  3 - Present
          4  5  6 - Past

Deal: Using only Major Arcana and Court cards only, shuffle and
deal numerically as shown.

Reading:  Just as each row represents a different time period, each
column represents a different force which shapes our life.
Left: Emotions, impluses, inspiration, intuition.
Center: Thoughts.  Rational and logical processes.
Right: Actions.  Tangible manifestations of thoughts and emotions.
Card 10: Integration - forces which may affect the picture revealed
     by the other nine cards

Variations: Guiley states that only court and major arcana should
be used.  A full pack could be used at the readers discretion.

1.20) Yes or No Spread (#10, C2, Y) (Peach)
Layout:             +-----+
5        9          |Q    |
  4    8            |  +-----+
    Q               |  |     |
     1              +--|  1  |
  7    3               |     |
6        2             +-----+

Card 1 partially overlaps, but does not cross, the Querent as shown

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
Card 1 - Called the 'answering card'.  If upright, the answer to
          the question was yes; if reversed, no.  Also the outcome
          card for the reading.
Cards 2 & 3 - 'Helpful' Influences.  Reasons the outcome will
               occur.
Cards 4 & 5 - Querent's thoughts regarding the matter
Cards 6 & 7 - 'Adverse' Influence.  Things that are working against
               the outcome
Card 8 & 9 - Querent's feelings regarding the matter

Comment 1: Peach suggests the cards be read in the following order:
               1, 2&3, 6&7, 4&5, 8&9

Comment 2: Note that 'helpful' and 'adverse' influences are always
with respect to the outcome shown in card 1.  Thus if the answer
comes up no, cards 2 & 3 will be aiding that outcome and not
necessarily aiding the querent.

1.21) The Celtic Cross

Layout:                 +-----+ - Q
           10           |+-----+ - 1
     03    09         +----------+ - 2
  06 1Q2 05           |          |
     04    08         +----------+
           07            +-----+
Note that card 1 is placed directly on top of, and therefore
concealing, the Querent card.  Also note that card 2 is placed
across (or perpendicular) and on top of card 1, as the diagram on
the right not-so-vividly demonstrates.

All comments in the 'Reading' sections will refer to this diagram. 
Ignore alterations in the dealing pattern when cross referencing
with this diagram.

1.21.1) Waite's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
Deal:  Numerically as shown.

Reading:
Card 1 - Influences, atmosphere.
Card 2 - Obstacles
Card 3 - Often called the crowning card.  May have one or more of
         several meanings:
  3a - Highest state the querent can achieve in the matter
  3b - Highest perception the querent has in the matter
  3c - What the querent wishes to achieve
Card 4 - Often called the base card.  It represents foundations or
     possessions of the querent.  Events that have already passed.
Card 5 - Past
Card 6 - Future Influences
Card 7 - Attitude or position in the matter
Card 8 - House, Environment
Card 9 - Hopes or Fears
Card 10 - Future Events

1.21.2) Danburg's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
Deal: Reverse Cards 3 and 4.  Reverse Cards 5 and 6.

Reading: 
(These are all lifted from the alt.tarot FAQ)

1. Where the querent is at the time of the reading.
2. What holds the querent where they are.
3. How the querent has been thinking about the question.
4. Base of the question - why it is being asked.
5. Near future
6. Recent past
7. What the querent has to bring to the situation.
8. What the situation has to offer the querent.
9. Querent's innermost hopes and/or fears.
10. Final outcome of the situation, unless deliberately changed.
 
1.21.3) Peach's Celtic Cross (#11, C4)
Deal: Card 3 is in the top position.  Card 4, left.  Card 5, down. 
          Card 6, right.

Reading:
Card 1 - What is on the Querent's mind.
Card 2 - Obstacles
Card 3 - Past
Card 4 - Immediate future
Card 5 - Far future
Card 6 - Present
Cards 7-10 - Same as Waite.

1.21.4) Lines within the Reading (C7)

This section is taken from memory, out of a book.  Unfortunately,
I can't remember where I originally saw it (sorry).  If you use the
Waite method, there are four lines, or associations of cards, that
exist in this layout.  Similar lines may be constructed from the
other Celtic Cross layouts shown here.

Cards 5, 1, 2, 6; Time:  This sequence follows an obvious pattern
                    from past to present to future
Cards 10, 3, 6; Future:  These three cards all essentially project
                    into the future.  Sharing information between
                    these cards can yield more specific details
Cards 7, 8, 4, 6; Influences:  Cards 7, 8, and 4 all represent 
                    things which influence the querent with
                    respect to the question. It is through the
                    combination of these influences that the
                    outcome shown in card 6 may be achieved or
                    avoided.
Cards 4, Q, 2, 3:  I have not seen a good qualifier to describe the
                    relationship between these cards, but it
                    generally goes like this:  The querent would
                    like to achieve (or can achieve) what is
                    depicted in card 3, but certain influences
                    (card 2) prevent him/her from doing so. 
                    However, the querent does have the proper
                    resources (card 4) to overcome the obstacle. 
                    This line can vary depending upon which
                    interpretation you use for card 4.

1.21.5) Variations and Comments.

Variation 1:  Sometimes cards 7 thru 10 are placed on the other end
(the left side) of the cross.  Again, this could alter the
interpretations of the groupings stated in 1.21.4.

Variation 2:  I have seen the Celtic Cross done locally (& it seems
to be a local variant) with 3 cards allotted to each position in
the "pillar" to the side of the central cross (i.e. positions 7 -
10).  This means that there are 12 cards to work with, as opposed
to the usual 4; it can be quite useful.  (Smith)

Comment:  I have seen a few different (and occasionally
contradicting) methods of determining whether the obstacle card
(card 2) is upright or reversed.  Use your own discretion.

1.22) Cup of Relationships Spread (#11, C4, S) (Sagie)
Layout:
           09
  07                08
     05          06
           03 (04)
           02
        Q1 01 Q2
Card 4 cross card three as in a celtic cross

Deal: S1, S2, then numerically.

Reading:  Read cards in order, as above.

Q1  Significator 1
Q2  Significator 2
1.  The Foundation of the Relationship
2.  Recent Past
3.  Current State of the Relationship
4.  Obstacles they both face
5.  Views of #1 regarding the relationship
6.  Views of #2 regarding the relationship
7.  Expectations of #1 regarding the rel.
8.  Expectations of #2 regarding the rel.
9.  Best Outcome

Variations: Sagie reccomends using additional modifiers on card 9
if the outcome is unclear.  (See section 2.1).

1.23) Key Spread (#11, C4) (Efran)
Layout:
  2 4 6
1       8 9 10
  3 5 7     11

Row 2-4-6 and Row 3-5-7 should touch creating a stagger.

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
Card 1: Querent & position in relation to your question/situation.

Cards 2 - 7: These cards are arranged into 3 pairs (2 & 3, 4 & 5,
     6 & 7).  Each pair represents a conflict between two opposing
     influences, factors, people, opinions, etc.  The
     interpretation will depend on the question, but the conflicts
     tend to be problems or obstacles the querent faces.  You may
     want to choose one option in a pair over the other, or attempt
     to reconcile the two, or simply recognize that a conflict
     exists.
Card 8: Past
Card 9: Present
Card 10: Future -- where things are headed.  This could be the 
     future if no action is taken, or the desired future, or the
     future if some specific action is taken.  You could try adding
     a card between 9 and 10 to represent the action or decision
     that will lead to card 10's future, or have several 'future'
     cards for various possible outcomes (two would be reasonable). 
     If you are comfortable with a single card 'prediction' of the
     future, the layout is probably ok as is.
Card 11 (Optional): A summary of the reading, or a final comment on
     the situation, or advice, or a clarification of cards 8-10 if
     they are unclear.  I don't always use this card -- I have
     found that it generally doesn't clarify things much.  (See
     card 10 for other things to put here instead.)  I feel that
     there should be a card here, because then the layout is shaped
     roughly like a key (hence the name), which in my opinion looks
     cool.  I suspect the layout would look unbalanced without a
     card here. [ed. note: 'I' refers to Efran who made the layout]

Comment 1:  "Here's the Tarot layout I use, one I invented (as far
     as I know).  I developed the basics of the layout very soon
     after I became interested in the Tarot (I didn't think much of
     the standard ones), but I'm still working on it.  It's not
     meant to be primarily predictive.  Instead, it's intended to
     help the querent examine their question in a new light.  (For
     this reason, it's a reasonable layout for self-readings, if
     you do them.)  There are predictive elements, but I tend to
     use them rather broadly." - Efran

Comment 2:  Since this is an ad hoc layout made by a beginner (at
     least a beginner at the time) there is obviously a lot of
     flexibility and room to play with.  With a good interpretation
     for card 11 and maybe by extending the line (section 2.2) this
     could become interesting.

1.24) Four Trines Spread (#12, C5, A) (Doane)
Layout: Twelve cards are displayed in a CIRCLE.  In clockwise
order, starting at the left (nine o'clock) this is the numbering of
the cards: 1, 5, 9, 2, 6, 10, 3, 7, 11, 4, 8, 12.

             09 02 06
           05        10
           01        03
           12        07
             08 04 11

Deal: Numerically as shown.

Reading:  As the name suggests, there are four sets of three cards
(trines) that work in conjunction with another.

Trine of Life (1, 6, 11):
  Card 1: Personal life: health
  Card 6: Mental life: travel
  Card 11: Life of Posterity: children, love affairs, pleasure,
           speculation
Trine of Power (2, 7, 12):
  Card 2: Honor and authority: business, reputation
  Card 7: Environment: illness, work
  Card 12: Wealth
Social Trine (3, 8, 9):
  Card 3: Partners: marital, enemies
  Card 8: Kin and thought: siblings, intellectual matters
  Card 9: Associates: friends
Trine of Secrets:
  Card 4: Things concealed in the environment
  Card 10: Money: debts, taxes, inheritance
  Card 5: Afflictions: enemies, failures, obstacles

Variation 1: I have seen a variation with a querent card placed in
the center of the layout. (Jones)

Comment 1:  Doane indicated that this layout was influenced by
astrology, although its relation to astrology is not immediately
apparent.
 
Comment 2:  For card numbering information, see section 3.6.

1.25) Twelve Houses Spread (#12, C4, A) (Doane)
Layout:  Numbering is the same as the Four Trines Spread but uses
a diamond formation instead of a circle

       02 06
     09     10
   05         03
   01         07
     12     11
       08 04

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:  Even though the deal uses the awkward scheme shown above,
the cards are read by what house they are in astrologically.  House
one is in the same position as card 1, but house numbers increment
by one going in a counter-clockwise direction.  Thus, House two is
in position 12, house three in position 8, and so on.

Variation: I have seen a varation with a querent card placed in the
center of the layout.  (Jones)

Comment:  For card numbering information, see section 3.6.

1.26) Astrological Spread (#13V, C4, A) (Peach)
Layout:
Cards are arranged in a circle and point outward from the Querent

           11    09
         12   10   08
        01     Q    07
         02   04   06
           03    05

Deal: Numerically as shown.  The reader may, before the reading,
     continue to redeal the deck in the same order (minus the
     Querent position) and thus putting two cards into each slot
     and providing more information regarding that aspect of the
     persons life.  Peach suggests dealing up to four or more into
     each slot.  Also, cards may be dealt in blocks of four (or
     five or whatever) into each position instead of repeating the
     deal four times.

Reading:
Card 1: Aries            Card 2: Taurus
Card 3: Gemini           Card 4: Cancer
Card 5: Leo              Card 6: Virgo
Card 7: Libra            Card 8: Scorpio
Card 9: Sagittarius      Card 10: Capricorn
Card 11: Aquarius        Card 12: Pisces 

1.27) Magic Cross Spread (#13, C3) (Doane)
      aka Christian Cross Spread
Layout:
          06
          07
    01 02 03 04 05
          08
          09
          10
          11
          12
          13

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
Left Branch: The past
Card 3: The present
Lower Branch: The future
Right Branch: Obstacles
Upper Branch: Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams.

1.28) Planetary Spread (#14, C4, A) (Davis)

         14
   12          13
      10 09 11
08                07
      05 04 06
   02          03
         01

Each row shown has the height of half a card length, thus the cards
look staggered.

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
1. Earth            2. Moon
3. Sun              4. Mercury
5. Venus            6. Mars
7. Jupiter          8. Saturn
9. Uranus           10. Neptune
11. Pluto           12 & 13. Environment
14. Divine Light...advice from Higher Power

1.29) Qabalistic Cross (#14, C3) (Peach)
Layout:
                08
                09
                10
       01 02 03 Q4 05 06 07
                11
                12
                13

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
It is suggested that the cards in this spread be read in the order
     shown below
Card 4 - Querent's state of mind
Cards 13, 12, 11 - Past, with 13 being the farthest back in time
Cards 1, 2, 3 - Present
Cards 10, 9, 8 - Future, with 8 being farthest in time
Cards 5, 6, 7 - Feelings of others involved in the matter

1.30) Daily Spread (#15, C4, 1day) (Peach)
Layout
 M        8        D
          9
         10
 1  2  3  4  5  6  7
         11
         12
         13
M - Month Card   D - Day Card

Deal: First, remove the month and day card indicated in the table
     below and place them in the positions shown above.  Shuffle
     and cut as normal, then deal numerically as shown.
     Month          Card           Day            Card
     Aries          Emperor        Sunday         Sun
     Taurus         Hierophant     Monday         High Priestess
     Gemini         Lovers         Tuesday        Tower
     Cancer         Chariot        Wednesday      Magician
     Leo            Strength       Thursday       Wheel
     Virgo          Hermit         Friday         Empress
     Scorpio        Death          Saturday       World
     Sagittarius    Temperance
     Capricorn      Devil
     Aquarius       Star
     Pisces         Moon

Reading:
It is suggested that cards be read in the order presented below.
Cards 11-13: Events leading up to the day in question.  Start with
               card 13 and work toward 11.
Cards 1 - 3: Morning Events, start with card 1
Cards 5 - 7: Afternoon Events, start with 7
Cards 8 -10: Evening Events, start with 8
Card 4: Outcome of any special projects of the day and/or how the
          day will go overall.

Comment: "This spread is particularly useful for answering specific
     questions about settled future events -- like parties, for
     instance, or job interviews.  It is _not_ particularly useful
     as a daily device to be used everyday before leaving the
     house, and it should _not_ be used in that way" - Peach

1.31) Fortune Teller's Spread (#15, C3) (Morison)
Layout:
          05 04 06
14 13 15  02 01 03  11 10 12
          08 07 09
Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Cards  1- 3) To You: Outcome
Cards  4- 6) At head: Querent's Thoughts
Cards  7- 9) At feet: Things you control, possible choices
Cards 10-12) By side: Things which give you strength
Cards 13-15) Surprise: Things not known to querent or overlooked

1.32) Thoth Spread 
Layout:
13  09  05  04  08  12
      02  01  03
14  10  06  07  11  15

Deal: Numerically as shown

1.32.1) Original Thoth Spread (#15, C4)
Reading:
Cards 2,1,3: Nature of querent and question
Cards 13,9,5: First Possible outcome
Cards 4,8,12: Second Possible outcome
Cards 14,10,6: "Psychological commentary" on the whole spread 
Cards 7,11,15: Factors beyond the control of the querent.

Comment: This is called the Thoth Spread as it is the spread that
     comes with the Thoth deck.

1.32.2) Peach's Thoth Spread (#16, C4)

Deal: Use the same deal, but add a Querent card underneath card 1.

Reading:
It is suggested that the cards be read order described below
Card 1: Querent's primary concern
Cards 2, 3: Further depth into problem and/or Querent's character
Cards 14,10,6: Background, how the querent came into the situation
Cards 7,11,15: Activities of other people in the situation
Cards 4,8,12: How the problem will progress, harmonize w. 7,11,15.
Cards 13,9,5: Possible alternative actions

If two cards in set 7,11,15 are Major Arcana then the progression
given in set 4,8,12 cannot be changed, otherwise the querent has
the power to alter the situation via events in set 13,9,5.  If two
Major Arcana appear, set 13,9,5 indicate either how a bad outcome
can be lessened or how a good outcome may be assisted.

1.33) Wish Spread (#16, C4, S) (Doane)
Layout:
        6  5  4
 3  2  1   Q   9  8  7
       15 14 13
       12 11 10

Q - Querent card

Deal:  Select a card to represent the querent.
Shuffle and cut deck.  Deal numerically as shown.

Reading:
It is suggested that this reading be used if the querent has a
specific wish that s/he would like to happen, hence the name.

Each group of three cards has its own significance

Group  1: Environment
Group  4: Description of querent's wish
Group  7: Opposition
Group 10: Factors that will enter into this matter
Group 13: Realizations of the querent (usually in the future)

The nine of cups is often called the wish card.  If this card
should turn up anywhere in the reading, except in group 7, this
would be a strong indication that some part or all of the querent's
wish will come true.  The closer it appears in the above numeric
sequence, the sooner the wish will be realized.  If the nine of
cups appears in group 7, this is an indication that the wish will
probably not come true; the other two cards in the group will yield
the cause.  If the nine of cups does not appear, this should not be
taken as an indication of either fate, although other cards in the
reading may confirm or deny the wish.

Alternate Reading (Morison):
The following alternate reading was sent to me, but this
interpretation does not necessarily need to be associated with a
wish as above.

Group  1: Present, General Situation
Group  4: Resent Past
Group  7: Actions that can be taken by Querent.  Personality traits
     which my be used to querent's advantage.
Group 10: Uncontrollable aspects of the situation.  May be
     aspects/opinions of others.  May describe a new situation.
Group 13: Final Outcome
Card 16 (Querent in original): Optional Card, add it if the reading
     is confusing.

1.34) Grand Source Spread (#21, C6) (Cortese)
Layout:
       01  02  03  08  10  12  15  16  17

     Q       07          14

       04  05  06  09  11  13  18  19  20

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
Card Q: Querent
Cards 1, 2, 3: Inner influences at work, the motivations of the 
     querent, or what the querent wishes to learn.
Cards 4, 5, 6: Outer influences, or the influences from people or
     things outside of the querent that may have caused the querent
     to ask their question.
Card 7: Initiation of the action, the seed that will grow, or the
     question that will be answered.
Cards 8, 10, 12: Three stages of the action or answering of the 
     question under examination, and they are modified respectively
     by cards 9, 11, and 13.
     Card 8: beginnings.  The initial stages of the actions.
     Card 9: modifies card 8.  It may give a hazy picture of the
          outcome that the querent has in mind, or it may simply be
          a further examination of the beginnings of the action
          under consideration.
     Card 10: Progress.  The way that the outcome is achieved.
     Card 11: modifies 10 in the same way card 9 does card 8.
     Card 12: possible changes in plan, or resolution.  This card
          may serve to examine any ways that the querent will have
          to change course in midstream.
     Card 13: modifies 12 like card 9 does card 8.
Card 14: Outcome of the process outlined in cards 8 - 13.
Cards 15, 16, 17: Possible effects of the resolution on the querent
Cards 18, 19, 20: Possible effects of the resolution on things 
     other than the querent or on the querent's relationship to the
     world around him/her.

Comment:  "This is a good general-use spread for giving an overall
picture of the resolution to a problem in the past or future.  It
affords an opportunity to examine inner and outer influences before
an action is taken, the inception or motivation of the action, the
progression of the action, the resolution, and what inner and outer
effects this will have.  It may also act to highlight the process
by which a question uppermost in the querent's mind may be
answered, though it may not give the answer." - Cortese

1.35) Playing Deck Spread (#21, C3, L) (Vienneau)
Layout:
     01 02 03
     04 05 06
     07 08 09
     10 11 12
     13 14 15
     16 17 18
     19 20 21

Deal: Shuffle the pack choose a Querent card.  Cut the pack into
three decks, one each to signify the past (left), present (middle),
and future (right). Have the Querent pick one pack.  Indicate which
deck is which please! 

Reading:
Row 1: Situation, State of mind
Row 2: Family, Relationships
Row 3: Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams
Row 4: Long-term expectations
Row 5: Unexpected events
Row 6: Immediate Developments
Row 7: Long-term results

Comment 1: Although it suggested to choose a Querent card, there is
no mention of its location in the layout.  Also, no directions are
given if the chosen deck is cut too short. Use your own discretion.

Comment 2: This is called the 'Playing Deck' spread because this is
the layout which Vienneau included in his post about fortune
telling with a regular deck of playing cards.  (See Section 7.1)

1.36) Pyramid Spread (#21, C4) (Doane)
Layout:
              21
            20  19
        18  17  16  15
    14  13  12  11  10  09
08  07  06  05  04  03  02  01

Deal:  Face Down, Right to Left, Bottom upward

Reading:
Cards 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21 are referred to as key cards
Cards are divided into five sequences as follows:
Sequence 1 - cards  1 - 5
Sequence 2 - cards  5 - 9
Sequence 3 - cards  9 - 13
Sequence 4 - cards 13 - 17
Sequence 5 - cards 17 - 21

It is important to note that each key card is not only the final
card in a sequence of five, but also the first card in the next
series of five.  Thus 9 ends the second sequences and also starts
the third.  The four cards to the right of a key card represent the
events previous to the time or event that the key card signifies. 
Key cards always represent significant events; if a card of the
Major Arcana appears in a key location, it may mean that event is
of great significance.  This is a list of the suggested time
intervals each key card represents.
Key 1 - Present
Key 2 - Immediate Future
Key 3 - Intermediate Turn of Events
Key 4 - Distant Future
Key 5 - End of the Matter

Comment 1:  The design of the layout lends itself to being read
from the apex down the sides, i.e. 21, 19, 15, 9 and 1.  Ditto on
the left.  It may sometimes be split down the middle IF the two
halves conveniently fall into 2 distinct "stories" or messages -
this happens surprisingly often.  I think this spread is quite 
sophisticated, and can be used for in-depth readings.  (Smith)

Comment 2:  Note that the time intervals given here are a
guideline.  First, in the example reading given to me for this
layout and due to the nature of the question, key 4 was more
appropriately labeled the present and keys 1, 2, and 3 were in the
past.  Secondly, if the matter is to be resolved in a short period
of time, the term 'Distant Future' would only be distant with
respect to the matter, but not necessarily distant with respect to
this persons life or our time frame.

1.37) Romany Spread (#21, C2, L) (Doane/Peach)
Layout:
  21  20  19  18  17  16  15  - Future
  14  13  12  11  10  09  08  - Present
  07  06  05  04  03  02  01  - Past

Deal:  Right to Left, Bottom upwards as numbered above.  Another
deal proceeds left to right, top down, opposite as above and also
changing the order of past/present/future.

Reading:  Each row represents events or influences for the time
period indicated.  Adjacent card in the same row modify one
another.  Ordering of cards in a row are not necessarily
significant.

Variation:  One variation of this reading is that the middle card
of each row (18, 11, and 04) should represent the most significant
event of the time period shown.  This makes cards farther out on
the edges of the row (21, 15, 14, etc.) less significant. (Doane)

1.38) Twenty-One Card Spread (21, C6) (Morison)
Layout:
               19
      18  11       12   20
                4
      10   3        5   13
                1
       9   2        6   14
                7
      17   8       15   21
               16

Deal: Numerically as shown
Reading:
Card  1: The Significator
Card  2: The immediate past
Card  3: An important factor in the present.  Inobvious.
Card  4: Seeker state of mind
Card  5: Most likely immediate future
Card  6: An important factor in the present. Very obvious
Card  7: Seeker gut feelings.
Card  8 &  9: Influences in the past that affected #2
Card 10 & 11: Current influences affecting #3.  Inobvious.
Card 12 & 13: Possible future influences, affecting #5
Card 14 & 15: Obvious current influences, affecting #6
Card 16: Seeker physical situation.  Possible health or life status
Card 17: The root of the matter in the past
Card 18: A current matter. It may be hidden or unknown and
          overlooked, or it may represent assumptions, possibly
          incorrect.
Card 19: Seeker spiritual will. This may conflict with or
     illuminate the Seeker's conscious desires.
Card 20: A likely future event. 
Card 21: What the Seeker must think about

1.39) Sephiroth Spread (#26, C9, A) (Doane)

To do this spread, remove all 22 major arcana and the Ace of each
suit.  These are the only 26 cards used in the reading.

Layout:
Row 1:              03 18     04 17
Row 2:                    M C
Row 3:        02 19        |        05 16
Row 4:     20              |              06
Row 5:               ASC --+-- DES               22 21
Row 6:     01              |              15
Row 7:        11 10        |        14 07
Row 8:                    N C
Row 9:              12 09     13 08

Row 2 begins at the same height where row 1 ends.
Row 3 begins at the midpoint of Row 2
Row 5 begins where Row 3 ends
Row 7 begins where Row 5 ends
Rows 4 and 6 lie at the midpoints of Rows 3, 5, and 7
Rows 8 and 9 are symmetrical to rows 1 and 2
Cards are paired if their sum equals 21 (i.e. 3 and 18 are paired)
Paired cards should be adjacent to each other.
Pair 3/18 should meet at the same vertical line which divides the
     card ASC in half.  Follow symmetry.  Each pair is called a
     'throne'.  The throne number is the same as the lowest number
     of the pair.  (i.e. 3/18 make up the third throne)
Pair 22/21 is called the Staff
Note that ASC, DES, NC, and MC each denote only one card.

Deal:
The four Aces must go in the ASC, DES, NC, and MC position. 
Shuffle the four aces.  Place the first Ace in the position marked
ASC and continue in a clockwise direction.  (Humorous note: the
Doane/Keyes book says to shuffle and three-cut these cards as you
would the regular deck.  Is there actually anybody out there who
has ever bothered three-cutting a four card deck?)

The Major Arcana go in the remaining 22 locations.  Shuffle the
Arcana and deal as shown numerically in the above diagram.

Reading:
The four aces represent the Astral Kingdoms and relate to the four
angles of the horoscope.  Astrologically ASC represents ascendence
or first house and pertains to life.  MC stand for Midheaven or
tenth house and pertains to honor or business.  DES stands for
descendence or seventh house and pertains to love or war.  NC
stands for Nadir or fourth house and relates to secrets or
outcomes.  You should start your reading based on which kingdom
most closely relates to the question your querent has asked.  (ie
if the querent asks about marriage, start the reading in the
descending house)

The following is a suggested list of how to interpret each Ace in
each location:

   Ace | Ascendence     | Midheaven | Descendence | Nadir
==============================================================
Pent   | Strength       | Favorable | Great      | unfortunate
  acle | Vigor          | but req.  | Strength   | outcome
       | Vitality       | effort    |            |
--------------------------------------------------------------
Wands  | Favorable      | Great     | Difficulty | struggle
       | Work or        | Power     | caused by  | or small
       | Responsibility |           | Difference | return
--------------------------------------------------------------
Cups   | Pleasures may  | Pleasure  | Joy and    | pleasant
       | deplete        | may ruin  | Happiness  | result
       | vitality       | honor     |            |
--------------------------------------------------------------
Swords | sickness/death | failure   | disputes   | favorable
       |                |           |            | outcome
--------------------------------------------------------------

Note that Asc and Des have three thrones while Mid and Nadir have
only two.  When reading the Asc or Des thrones, the center throne
(1 or 6) will indicate the most important factor of that throne.

Determine which kingdom is most appropriate to the Question.  Cards
in the thrones of this kingdom indicate what conditions caused the
outcome suggested by whichever Ace appearing in that kingdom. The
kingdom opposite the Question is the opposition.  It thrones detail
what opposes the querent. The kingdom immediately clockwise the
Question represent the events which will lead to the conclusion.
The kingdom counterclockwise to the Question yields the outcome of
the matter.  Its thrones give more specific detail of that end.

If the whole reading or any part of it seem contradicting, the
staff will reveal why the answer was unclear.

1.40) Triangular Spread (#28, C8) (Blackburn)
Layout:          01
               02  03
             04  05  06
           07  08  09  10
         11  12  13  14  15
       17  18  19  20  21  22
     23  24  25  26  27  28  29

Cards are dealt in pyriamd shape touching each other.

Deal:  No dealing order is specified.  Some type of top down scheme
would be consistent with the interpretation given below.

Reading: The layout shows the possible progresses into the future
from the present situation (card 01) to the final out come (row 7). 
It is most often used to plot a genreal fortune form derived from
one element of the present specified by card 01 to the end of life. 
Each level goes a little farther down the path of life, and splits
into greater complexity and/or diversity of possibilities.  

1.41) Magic Mirror Spread (#29, C5, S) (Davis)
Layout:
                          09 04 14
          23 19 27         Earth          20 16 24
      Transformation                    Inspiration


  08 03 13                10 05 15                06 01 11
   Water                  Essence                   Air


          22 18 26                         21 17 25
         Sacrifice                       Integration
                          07 02 12
                            Fire
28 and 29 are Magic Cards

Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
In each group of three cards, the middle card is the key card.  The
other two cards are used for additional insight.  Suggested order
of reading is Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Essence, and then "the four
gates which are linked to the four Wiccan Sabbats".

Comment 1:  "This reading's only purpose is to examine oneself.  I
only do this at Samhain because of the intensity.  One could do
this reading with another person, but the process would have to be
one of giving the person ideas as to what the cards might mean and
letting her figure out how this fits into his/her life.  This would
probably take even longer than usual. :-)" (Davis)

1.42) Spread of Thirty-Six (#36, C4, L) (Doane)
Layout: six rows of six
        36 35 34 33 32 31
        30 29 28 27 26 25
        24 23 22 21 20 19
        18 17 16 15 14 13 - Future
        12 11 10 09 08 07 - Present
        06 05 04 03 02 01 - Past

Deal:  Left to Right, Bottom up

Reading:
The first three rows should be read from right to left, bottom up. 
Each of these rows are associated with their own time interval as
shown above.  Cards whose sum total 37 are related.  Card 36 should
be used to either modify, clarify, or gain more information about
the details of card 1.  Similarly, card 35 modifies card 2, etc..

1.43) Story Spread (#45, C7) (Aldridge)
Layout:
   01          04
02    03    05    06

   07          10
08    09    11    12
           
         13
      14    15

Deal: No dealing order is specified.

Reading:
Cards are grouped together in triples as indicated above.  The
middle card of each group, called the prime card, is the most
significant and should be read first.  The other two cards are
story cards and should elaborate further upon the prime card.  Each
triple deals with a different subject as follows:

01 - 03: Home and Family Life
04 - 06: Job and Purpose in Life
07 - 09: Finances and Physical Security
10 - 12: Health
13 - 15: Relationships and Emotions.

The layout should be done three times, once each for past, present,
and future.  Shuffle and redeal for each time period.

Comments/Variations:  Aldridge reccomends that in the past spread,
the first number card should indicate how many years distant the
reading will go.  The future spread should be interpreted as being
two years forward in time.  The reader can change this to their
personal preference.

1.44) Solar Spread (#49, C5, LA) (Doane)
Layout:  Seven rows of seven
49 48 47 46 45 44 43 -- Saturn
42 41 40 39 38 37 36 -- Jupiter
35 34 33 32 31 30 29 -- Mars
28 27 26 25 24 23 22 -- Sun
21 20 19 18 17 16 15 -- Venus
14 13 12 11 10 09 08 -- Mercury
07 06 05 04 03 02 01 -- Moon

Deal:  Right to Left, Bottom up.

Reading:
In each row, the middle card (4, 11, 18, 25, etc) represents
present conditions or influences.  The three cards to the right
represent the past; the three to the left, the future.  Each row
will relate to either a certain aspect of life or certain people
(or perhaps both)

1.45) Life Spread (#50, C9) (Doane)
Layout:

15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22
14            37            23
13         36    38         24
12          /----\          25
11     35  |  50  |  39     26
10  34      \-41-/      40  27
09  33  32    31    30  29  28
08  07  06  05  04  03  02  01

The book which I am getting this out of shows one diagram for the
layout but then shows an actual layout with cards in a different
order.  I will attempt to describe both.

Diagram:  Cards 34 - 40 form a pyramid starting at the at the
places shown by cards 34 and 40 and peak at card 37.  Cards 41-49
are placed in a circle surrounding card 50.  Card 41 is in the
correct position; others follow clockwise.

Layout: Cards 34, 43, 42, 41, 49, 48, and 40 are all placed in a
row.  Card 41 is the lowest and the cards to the side are raised
very slightly, each card going up the further out you proceed
forming a very broad V shape.  Cards 35, 44, 50, 47, and 39 follow
a similar pattern but are not packed in as closely together and
raise up making a steeper V.  Cards 45 and 46 lie above cards 44,
50, and 47 and about halfway up cards 35 and 39; they are centered
in their row.  Cards 36 and 38 lie to the sides of cards 35 and 39
but are one row up.  Essentially it looks more like a series of
cascading arches more than it does a pyramid and a circle. 
Experiment with both of these for awhile and try to find something
that works.  It would be difficult to show this with only text
graphics.

Suggested Deal: Numerically as shown

Reading:
As the name suggests, this should be used for a general life
reading; a specific question is not required or suggested but may
be used to focus on one area of the querent's life.

Cards 1 - 28, the material square:  These cards represent
activities on the physical plane.  These cards reflect only
physical events and conditions; spiritual interpretations should
rarely be considered.  Interpretations should be directed toward
the physical body, possessions, people, and the like.

Cards 29 - 40, the mental trine:  These cards represent events in
the mental plane.  Consider those interpretations dealing with
intellectual pursuits and attainment of knowledge.

Cards 41 - 49, the spiritual circle:  These cards represent
activities on a spiritual level.  Consider interpretations that
relate to spiritual changes and goals.

Card 50, dominant life factor:  This card represents the most
important event that occurs and affects all three planes.  This
card will show the most dominant influence shaping the life of the
querent.

1.46) Three Fans (#54/78, C9) (Peach)
Layout:
                     15 14  13 12
                17 16            11 10
           19 18                       09 08
         20                                 07
       21          11 10 09 08 07             06
     22          12              06             05
   23          13                  05             04
  24         14       07 06 05       04            03
 25         15      08        04      03            02
26         16     09            03     02            01
          17     10              02     01              A
                11                01       B
                                     C

This should look more like 3 fans than it does the above layout.
Also, cards should all point outward from a central point.

Deal:  Shuffle the deck and deal into three piles.  Take the middle
pile and set it aside as Pile A.  Take the remaining two piles and
shuffle them.  Again, deal into three piles.  You should have one
extra card, set it aside.  Take out the middle pile and set it
aside as Pile B.  Take the remaining two piles and extra card,
shuffle and deal into three piles again.  You should have two extra
cards, set them aside.  Pull out the middle pile as Pile C.  Take
the extra cards and extra piles and set them aside as Pile D.  Deal
Piles A, B, and C into the three arches shown above.

Reading:
Pile A - Querent psychological condition in present & near future.
Pile B - Querent's work or occupation and his/her thoughts of it.
Pile C - Q's material condition regarding home, health, & finance.

If the Querent's significator card is not in the above three fans,
take Pile D and deal it out in a similar fan as the other three. 
This fan may answer a specific question not answered by the fans.

Comment: Peach recommends this as a six month reading to use when
the querent has no specific question to ask.

1.47) Ladder Spread (#78, C9) (Peach)
Layout:
                      77
                    75  76
                  74  73  72
                68  69  70  71
              67  66  65  64  63
            57  58  59  60  61  62
          56  55  54  53  52  51  50 *
        42  43  44  45  46  47  48  49
      41  40  39  38  37  36  35  34  33
    23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32
  22  21  20  19  18  17  16  15  14  13  12
 Q  01  02  03  04  05  06  07  08  09  10  11 

* - see variation below

Deal:  Choosing a Querent card; note which direction s/he faces. 
If the card faces to the right, place it in the lower left corner
and deal as shown.  If the card faces left, place it in the lower
right corner and deal each row in the opposite direction shown.

Reading: Five timing cards should appear somewhere in the spread. 
These will be the only method by which the reader can judge past,
present, and future.  Clear your mind and try not focus on a 'story
line', the main idea with this spread is to look at the overall
picture.  Ask the Querent not to interrupt you during the reading;
provide him/her with a pencil and paper to write down questions if
any come to mind, and ask them after the reading is over.  Because
you are trying to grasp a large picture by means of a spontaneous
approach, you don't want to interrupt the flow of the reading.
Begin the reading; no order of reading the cards is specified. 
Once the reading is over, the querent may ask any question, but do
not refer back to the layout for the answers; since you have seen
the overall picture (even if it lies only in your subconscious)
your answers should come out naturally.  Peach puts a strong
emphasis on not thinking while analyzing the layout or while
answering questions; again the idea is to let the pattern work into
your subconscious and allow thoughts to form there.

Variation: In the layout shown in the book, the layout stops at
card 50 and an arrow is drawn to indicate to continue the deal. 
There is no indication as to whether this means to finish only that
row or whether to lay out the whole deck as shown above.

Comment: Having not finished reading this book, I am uncertain as
to what it meant by the 'five timing cards'.  Each of the four aces
is assigned a season of the year as follows:  Wands - Spring, Cups
- Summer, Swords - Fall, Pentacles - Winter.  You can also refer to
section 7.2 for further assistance.  Other than that, use your own
discretion.

1.48) The Waite Spreads (#43/78, C9, L)

The following two layouts come from the Waite book and are meant to
be used in conjunction with one another.  The forty-three card
spread is offered as a regular method of divination while the
thirty-five card spread is meant to be used only if part of the
first spread is unclear or left in doubt.  In keeping with the
flexibility of this document, I see no reason why the thirty-five
card spread could not be used on its own nor why it could not be
used in conjunction with other layouts to resolve similar
ambiguities, but these are merely my assertions and not those of
Waite himself.

1.48.1) The Forty-Three Card Layout (#43, C9, L)
Layout:
07 06 05 04 03 02 01   Q  - 1st line
14 13 12 11 10 09 08      - 2nd line
21 20 19 18 17 16 15      - 3rd line
28 27 26 25 24 23 22      - 4th line
35 34 33 32 31 30 29      - 5th line
42 41 40 39 38 37 36      - 6th line

Deal: I include this method of dealing only for those who are
interested in ritual.  I, personally, see no point in it.  This
passage is lifted directly from the Waite book:

Shuffle the entire pack and turn some of the cards round, so as to
invert their tops.  Let them be cut by the Querent with his left
hand.  Deal out the first forty-two cards in six packets of seven
cards each, face upwards, so that the first seven cards form the
first packet, the following seven the second, and so on-as in the
following diagram: --

[6th packet] [5th packet] [4th packet] [3rd pack] [2nd] [1st]

Take up the first packet; lay out the cards on the table in a row,
from right to left; place the cards of the second packet upon them
and then the packets which remain.  You will thus have seven new
packets of six cards each, arranged as follows --

[7th packet] [6th pack] [5th] [4th] [3rd] [2nd] [1st]

Take the top card of each packet, shuffle them and lay out from
right to left, making a line of seven cards.  Then, take up the two
next cards from each packet, shuffle and lay them out in tow lines
under the first.  Take up the remaining twenty-one cards of the
packets, shuffle and lay them out in three lines below the others.

You will thus have six horizontal lines of seven cards each,
arranged after the following manner.  
[Same as above layout w/out card Q]

Reading:  The Querent card (Q in the diagram) is always the
Magician (Trump 1) if male or the High Priestess (Trump 2) if
female.  This card is to be pulled out of the layout and placed in
position Q; Then, pull a random card out of the remainder deck to
replace the card.  If this card in not in the layout, pull it from
the remainder deck.  Cards are read numerically as shown

Comment 1: No explanation is given as to how to interpret any of
the cards other than all the cards should be harmonized (really, as
should be done for any reading).  In short, use your own intuition.

Comment 2: Waite suggest that this method be used when "no definite
question is asked".  In other words, this is a spread that is good
for just a general reading but, Waite goes on to note that the
reading can be used even the querent specifies a time span for the
reading.

Comment 3: This layout does not have a known name.  Waite merely
titled the section "An Alternative Method of Reading the Tarot
Cards."

1.48.2) The Thirty-Five Card Layout (#35, C5, L))
Layout:
07 06 05 04 03 02 01              - line 1
13 12 11 10 09 08                 - line 2
18 17 16 15 14                    - line 3
22 21 20 19                       - line 4
24 23                             - line 5
35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25  - line 6

Waite does not specify any pattern in which the layout must be
setup, other than each packet (see below) be dealt in a line.
Therefore, you need not follow the above diagram; an aesthetically
pleasing variant might be center each row about a vertical axis
causing lines one thru five to form an upside-down pyramid and line
six to be a very broad base.  No method of line ordering is given
either, so these may be swapped around so long as each line retains
its meaning once moved, although the above line ordering would
probably be best to use to maintain consistency with the previous
layout.

Deal: Take up the 42 cards from the previous spread an put them in
one pile to the side.  Place the querent card on top and upright. 
Take the 35 cards constituting the remainder pile.  Shuffle and cut
as before.  Divide into six packets as follows:  Packet 1
containing the first seven cards, Packet 2 containing the next six
cards, Packet 3 containing the next five cards, Packet 4 having
four cards, Packet 5 having two cards, and Packet 6 having the last
eleven cards.  As before, packet one should be on the right and
continuing numerically leftward.  Take each packet in turn and deal
each one into its own line.

Reading:
Line 1 - House, Environment
Line 2 - Querent, Subject of the divination
Line 3 - Events and Persons passing on the outside
Line 4 - Surprises, the unexpected
Line 5 - Consolidation.  May also moderate the unfavorable cards of
          previous lines.
Line 6 - "...that which must be consulted to elucidate the
          enigmatic oracles of the others; apart from them it has
          no importance." - Waite (gobbledeegook at its finest)

Each line should be read from right to left.

Comment: Waite does not specifically state that cards from each
packet should be dealt from right to left.  I have assumed that he
meant as such since this would be consistent with everything else
in the previous layout.

1.49) Geomantic Spread (#V, C9, AX) (Blackburn)

[ Editors note:  This is a layout/system designed by Mr. Blackburn. 
The explination listed below was taken from a newsgroup posting. 
Minor omissions not important to explanation have been made for
spatial purposes; other alterations include a few minor spelling
and grammatical corrections.  However, in all fundamental respects,
this is his discription of the layout.  There are few places which,
to me, seem either ambiguous or confusing.  I may try to contact
the author to help clear these up, but otherwise just fill in any
gaps you find as you see fit.  Also, due to the complexity of the
explination, the standard format for layout entries has been
removed for this layout. -- DJ ]


The first thing you must realize is that this is not a simple
"spread" of tarot cards, but a multi-disiplinary approach to
divination.  It should also be understood that this can be a rather
involved system to work with.

GEOMANCY
Geomancy (earth magic) is a type of divination which the diviner
strikes the ground repeatedly with a stick (thus making holes)
while channeling the "spirits of the earth."  The number of holes
is countered and recorded as even or odd.  This is done sixteen
times to get the full reading.  I have studied, but not actually
practice this technique.  The even and odd numbers are then used as
the basis of of a pseudo-astrological reading.  What I did was come
up with a system of making the reading using tarot cards (any type
that can be numbered will do).

MY USE OF "GEOMANCY"
Instead of using a stick to poke holes in the ground, I developed
a system of using cards.  The diviner shuffles and cuts the deck,
and then begins to deal out the cards FACE DOWN, in to sixteen
piles.  The diviner focuses meditatively and place as many cards in
each pile as feels right, and then move on to the next pile.  (This
eliminate the problem of seeing the holes being made.)  The cards
are then fliped and counted to get sixteen numbers as so (see
example below).  These are then read into eight columns of dots,
into sets of one for odd or two for even:

(read from RIGHT TO LEFT or BOTTOM TO TOP)
        
3    7    13   12   <-IV
4    23   2    17   <-III
1    15   7    18   <-II
5    10   3    9    <-I
^    ^    ^    ^
VIII VII  VI   V    

To get dots such as:

 I
___
 *
 *
* * 
 *

which is the figure for Puer ("boy").

All eight sets should be on one row.  Each two sets (first+second,
third+fourth, fifth+sixth, and seventh+eighth) are combined to get
to four more signs, numbered IX through XII.  They are combined by
adding the dots in each row to determine even and odd dot fo the
new figure, as so:

II       I       IX
___  +  ___  =  ___
 *       *      * *
* *      *       *
 *      * *      *
* *     * *     * *

After this, the four new figures are combined (IX+X and XI+XII) to
get two more figures, which are then combined to get the final
figure which sums up the whole reading.

WHAT YOU DO WITH THE FIGURES
Each figure has it's own name and meaning.  There are books on
geomancy if you are interested in an indepth discussion of each
signs interpretation.  Here is a table of there meanings, given
with the number of dots from the top down being listed (from left
to right) as ones and twos:

1111 Via: way, journey; water, LUNA, leo
2222 Populous: People, Congregation; water, LUNA, capricorn
2112 Conjuctio: conjuction, assembling; air, MERCURY, virgo
1221 Carcer: bound, prison; earth, SATURN, pices
2211 Fortuna Major: greater good fortune; earth, SOL, aquarius
1122 Fortuna Minor: lesser good fortune; fire, SOL, taurus
2121 Aquistio: aquistion, obtaining; air, JUPITER, taurus
1212 Amissio: Loss; fire, VENUS, libra
1222 Laetitia: joy, laughing; air, JUPITER, taurus
2221 Tristitia: sorrow, damned; earth, SATURN, scorpio
1211 Puella: girl, beautiful; water, VENUS, libra
1121 Puer: boy, yellow, beardless; fire, MARS, aries
2212 Albus: white, pure, fair; water, MERCURY, cancer
2122 Rubeus: red, reddish; fire, MARS, gimini
2111 Caput Draconis:dragon head, beginning;earth, NORTH NODE, virgo
1112 Cauda Draconis:dragon tail, end; fire, SOUTH NODE, Sagitarius

In traditional geomancy, the first twelve figures are placed in the
twelve astrological houses (some ignore duplicates of the same
planet, others do not).  Varius methods are used to determine which
astrological sign is in the first house with the other signs
following in their natural order.  I, however, use a different
method.  I apply the geomantic figures in the context of an
astrological tarot reading.

TAROT GEOMANCY
Now that you now how to do the geomantic portion of the reading, I
will go back over my method.  First I deal out twelve cards in a
circle (I usually angle them so that the bottom is toward the
center of the circle, most do not and it doesn't mater as long as
you can read them and tell if they are reversed or not).  This is
the astrological spread.  I then take the rest of the deck and deal
them into sixteen piles, as expained above.  These cards are taken
for their numerical value only (page=11, knight=12, queen=13,
king=14, numbered cards and major arcana = number written on them). 
The the geomantic figures are read in the context of the tarot
cards, and both are read in the context of the houses.  (For
explinations of astrological houses, see section 3.1)

I have found this technique very useful for long term questions
that deal with the final outcome of event or issues over mounths or
years.  It is not worth it for short term divination and of limited
usefulness in terms of hows and why question or for determining
courses of event leading up to the conclusion.  It is very
involved, but for issues appropriate to it, very accurate and
detailed - well worth the effort.

1.50) Name Layout (#V, C3, L) (Cabezas)
Layout:
Layout consists of three rows, one row for each for the querent's
first, middle, and last name.  In each row, deal the same number of
cards as there are in that part of the person's name.  In the
example below, I use Robin Edwin Southworth.

 R     O     B     E    R     T
 1     2     3     4    5     6   -  Past
| Remote | Transition | Recent |

 E       D      W     I      N
 7       8      9     10     11 - Present
| Influence |  Key |  Influence |
| on others |      |  of others |

  S     O    U    T    H     W     O     R     T    H
  12    13   14   15   16    17    18    19    20   21 - Future
| feelings |  goals  |  future  | influences | outcome |

Deal:  Deal as described above.  If the querent doesn't not have
middle name, repeat the first name on the second row.  The first
and second rows must have at least three cards.  If the person's
name does not have at least three letters, deal three cards anyway. 
Similarly, the last name must contain five cards.  For example:  If
you did a reading on Harry S Truman, you would have 5, 3, & 6 in
each of the three rows.  If you did a reading on William Howard
Taft, you would have 7, 6, & 5.

Reading:
     Each row is divided into sections.  The first two rows have
three sections while the last has five.  The middle card(s) in each
row is the key card(s).
     The first row represents the influences and past experiences
of the Querent.  To the left of the key card there are the remote
past influences cards, which represent the substrate of the
Querent's life.  To the right of the key card there are the recent
influences cards, which represent influences from last months,
weeks or even days ago.  The key card represents very near
influences that may not have ended their action yet.
     The middle row refers to the actual influences.  To the left
of the key card there are the influences the Querent exercises on
the people near him.  The cards may also show impressions or
opinion of others on the Querent.  To the right of the key card
there are the influences or pressures that others exercise on the
Querent.  The key card shows the structure and environment in which
the Querent lives and works right now.
     The last row refers to the future and the final answer.  To
the left there are the inner emotions and specific goals of the
Querent.  To the right, the future influences or the spheres of
influence that may appear in a near future.  To the rightmost part
there's the final result of the influences shown on the rest of the
cards.  The key card shows the future the Querent is just entering
in.  This card may show obstacles to pass or the moments, good luck
or the progress towards a goal the Querent is trying to reach.
     This layout also contains a very interesting aspect:  the Age
card.  This card is obtained with the Querent's age and it's very
important.  For example, if our Querent is 18 year-old, you will
count from card number 1 until you reach the 18th card (in this
example, the 2nd "O" in Southworth).  If the Querent is 29, the Age
card would be the "D" in Edwin.  This Age card is very strong and
of great influence.  Its meaning is a very important key for the
understanding of the past, present and future of the Querent.

Comment 1:  Although the reading stated that each line is divided
into sections, no specific method is given, although from the
example it can be implied that each section should be as equal in
length as possible.

Comment 2:  No mention is made about what to do for people with
multiple middle names.  As always, use your own discretion.

Comment 3: Cabezas obtained this layout from a Stuart Kaplan book.

1.51) Tetragrammaton Spread (#V, C7, LX) (Peach) 
Layout:
Heh  Vau  Heh  Yod
    etc. 15 14 13
12 11 10 09 08 07
06 05 04 03 02 01

Deal and Reading:
Shuffle.  Have the Querent cut the deck once to the left.  Have the
querent take the deck on his left and cut it again, once to the
left.  Have the querent take the deck on his right and cut it
again, once to the right.  Turn over the top card of each deck. 
Each of the four cards will represent one of the letters of the
Tetragrammaton shown above.  Read them accordingly.

Next search each pack until you find the Querent card.  Do not take
the Querent card out of nor change its position in that deck. 
Discard the remaining three decks.  Begin dealing the cards of the
selected deck from right to left, bottom up, into rows of six,
until the deck is depleted.  If the Querent card is not surrounded
on all four sides, have the reader choose one card randomly from
the discarded piles and place it such that it properly covers the
Querent card.  Begin by reading the cards which surround the
Querent card.

Next, each card in the deck is assigned a numerical value (more
commonly called its 'rank').  The Querent card is assigned the
value of four.  Proceed by reading the card four cards away from
the querent.  If you run out of cards, wrap around to the first
card dealt.  After reading that card, skip the number of cards away
that the value of the current card indicates (i.e. if the current
card is the seven of wands, the next card will be the one seven
spaces away).  Continue to read cards and skip in this manner until
you come upon a card you have already read.
Skip values for court cards are:  Page - 7, All others - 4.
Skip values for Major Arcana are:
 3 - Fool, Hanged Man, Judgement
 9 - Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Wheel of Fortune, Tower, 
     Sun, World
12 - Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot, Strength, Hermit, 
     Justice, Death, Temperance, Devil, Star, Moon

Finally, the entire layout is read as follows.  The first two
columns on the right represent past events.  The middle two columns
represent events of the present.  The last two columns, the future.

Comment: Peach's book does an extremely poor job of explaining what
the Tetragrammaton is and really doesn't seem to understand its
significance.  Rather than use her convoluted explanation (which
would take up a couple of pages anyway), I include two excerpts
below from Naomi Ozaniec's book for the benefit of those who have
not studied the subject.

Yod - Signifies the open hand of man.  It implies power, direction,
     skill, and dexterity.  The open hand symbolizes beneficence,
     a sign of the Supreme Spirit.
Heh - Signifies a window which permits light and two way vision.
Vau - Signifies a nail which joins things together creating union. 
     Grammitcally it is used like _and_ to join phrases together. 
     It is very close in concept to the sanskrit 'yoga' which means
     union.
Heh - Represents the end result of the process.

Yod       Element of Fire          Primal Emanation
Heh       Element of Water         Transmission
Vau       Element of Air           Stabilization
Heh       Element of Earth         Consolidation

1.52) Timing Spread (#V, C2, Y) (Peach)
Layout: Three Piles of cards
03 02 01

Deal: Start dealing cards into the first pile, face up, one at a
time.  Stop dealing when either an ace appears or when you reach
the thirteenth card for that pile.  Repeat for piles two and three.

Reading:
Pile 1 - Top card indicates reasons why the Querent may be hesitant
          toward the matter.
Pile 2 - All cards in the pile reveal why the matter is stagnant.
Pile 3 - The top card will indicate a yes/no answer for the 
          question.  All cards indicate information about the
          events that will resolve the matter and when the matter
          will be resolved. 

Comment 1: This spread is intended to be used when the Querent has
     a 'clearly formed' yes/no question and one which will have an
     indication as to when the matter can be resolved.

Comment 2: Peach claims that the spread will reveal a definite time
     period telling when the matter will be resolved, but fails to
     explain how to derive it.  (See Section 3.5)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
2) Layout Modifiers
This is a list of variations which can apply to many or all of the
layouts listed above.

2.1) Additional Card Modifiers
Sometimes one card in a reading may be ambiguous in meaning.  Some
tarot readers will often throw another card on top of an ambiguous
card in order to gain more insight into the matter.  For example,
in one reading of mine, the querent was engaged and also a college
student.  The Seven of Pentacles came up in the environment card,
an indication that money may be a problem.  Since the querent had
to worry about both tuition money and trying to adjust to moving
out from under his parents support, it was unclear where the root
of this monetary concern was coming from.  I turned the next card
in the deck over on top of the Seven of Pentacles; the card was the
Two of Cups, indicating that the marriage and moving out his own
would be the main cause of his monetary problems.  I have
occasionally seen tarot readers put up to three modifier cards in
one position, so there is not a one card limit.  Remember, however,
that putting too many modifiers on the board can also create more
haziness than it does clarity, so don't saturate the board either. 
In short, this is something that, generally, is only used when it
is either absolutely necessary or when the reader has an instinct
that such a card will be helpful.

2.2) Extending the Path
This is a modification that can be used whenever there is some sort
of sequential path or line in the reading.  It is, however, very
infrequently used on non-temporal lines.  Sometimes the querent (or
the reader) may wish to more information about what is to happen in
the future than what is currently displayed in the layout.  To gain
more information, the temporal line may be further stretched into
the future by simply adding another card onto the layout and the
end of the current line.  More than one card may be added if
desired.  On the opposite end, sometimes events of the present or
future may not have obvious precursors.  The temporal path may also
be extended farther into the past to help gain some insight as to
the causes of the present and/or future states.

2.3) Rotating the Layout
Usually only used for unclear readings.  If a particular layout is
symmetrical (like a line spread) or at least partially symmetrical
(like the Celtic Cross) you may turn the layout upside-down and
re-do the reading with the same cards.  Interpretations of this
variation differ.  Some readers will say that occasionally the
reader forgets to rotate the deck toward him and that reversing the
layout adjusts for this mistake.  (One reader I know tends to make
a big deal about the rotation of the deck before and after the
shuffle and whether a reading is done from the perspective of the
querent or the reader since they usually sit opposite one another.) 
Another account says that if you turn the layout upside-down that
you are reading the opposite outcome, so such a reading should be
negated to get the results one is actually looking for.  Use your
own discretion and stick with whatever fits in with your schema.

2.4) Yes/No Answer (Doane)
This is an additional variation generally only used on the line
spread.  If you allow the querent to ask a yes or no question,
count each card turned upright as a vote for yes and each card
reversed count as a vote for no.  The middle (or present) card's
vote gets counted twice.  Interpret tie votes as you see fit.

This variation can actually be applied to any of these layouts,
although I doubt anybody would want to do so for some of the larger
readings like the Solar Spread.  Even if a yes or no question is
not asked by the querent, some readers may do such a tally to
indicate a favorable or unfavorable outcome for the querent.  It
should also be noted that many books on tarot strongly discourage
the use of tarot decks for yes/no type questions.

2.5) Querent Cards
In layouts that use a Querent card, there are several ways in which
such a card may be chosen.  

2.5.1) Personality Traits
One method derives from the descriptions of the court cards
themselves.  All of the court cards can be used to describe a
person's personality or character.  Some readers will show the
querent a list of these descriptions and allow the querent to
choose the one which s/he feels is most like him/herself.  If the
reader knows the querent fairly well or personally, s/he may choose
the card for the querent. 

2.5.2) Astrology
One second method is to use Astrological symbolism.  There are
several different and varying methods that will map the twelve
symbols of the zodiac into the sixteen royalty cards.  These
mappings, however, can vary from book to book and, therefore, from
person to person.  If you wish to use this method, it would
probably be best to find a couple of such lists to use as a guide
and then compose your own correspondences from there.  

Actually, this method is the same as the one described above
(2.5.1).  Authors will simply take the traits of the cards and the
traits of each astrological sign and pair up the ones which match
the most.  Unfortunately, these matches aren't always perfect which
is why you may find different lists.

2.5.3) Physical Traits
A third method used is eye/hair color.  Some authors associate each
of the sixteen court cards with an eye color, a hair color, and a
gender.  Simply choose the card whose attributes match those of the
querent.

2.5.4) Open Deck
A similar method to the one described above works in the exact same
way, only it allows the reader to choose any card in the deck, not
just from the sixteen court cards.  For example, if the querent has
a question related to his/her employment, the Eight of Pentacles
would be an appropriate Querent card.  However, unless the querent
is very knowledgeable about Tarot, it is strongly discouraged to
allow him/her to choose his/her own card with this method.

2.5.5) Random Selection
In the same spirit as the method described above, sometimes a
reader will simply take the top card off of the deck after the
shuffle and cut and use that as the querent card.  This method may
give the reader more information about either the question that has
been put forth or the character and personality of the querent.

2.5.6) No Querent
Finally, and most boring, the Querent card can simply be taken out
of the reading.  Some readers feel that this actually allows for
more clarity in the reading.  For example, I know a teacher and a
student both of whom I associate with the Queen of Cups.  If I do
a reading for the student and pull that card out of the deck as the
Querent, it is more difficult to tell when her teacher will have an
influence on the matter in question, since her (the teacher's) card
can't come up anywhere in the reading.  Conversely, if I simply
don't use a querent card (or use Random Selection) and the Queen of
Cups comes up somewhere in the reading, it is a strong indication
that her teacher will be giving her guidance in the matter.

2.6) Ateration of the Elements
At one point on alt.magick there was a discussion about the
elements and their compass positions.  Not surprisingly, many
people had different associations.  In each of the layouts above
where such associations were used, I used the compass points which
the author specified.  You may find that a certain mapping between
these two groups works better for you personally.

2.7) Multi-line Associations
A few layouts are composed of many lines placed above one another
forming a rectangle.  One additional interpretation which may be
helpful is to look for relationships between cards in parallel
directions.  In other words, if you are normally viewing each line
in a horizontal fashion, try to look at the way the card relate
vertically.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

3) Useful Information
The following entries are useful bits of information which may be
useful for specific layouts.  Other entries may just be tarot
related information which I though might be useful.

3.1) Astrological Houses (Doane, Blackburn)

1st House: Physical Body, personality, interests, the self
2nd House: Personal possessions
3rd House: Siblings, private studies, acquaintances, communications
4th House: Environment, family
5th House: Pleasures, love affairs, speculation, children
6th House: Work, health, pets
7th House: Marriage, partnerships, enemies, legal matters
8th House: Death, debts, gifts, possessions of others
9th House: Teaching, philosophy, travel
10th House: Honor, business, social status
11th House: Friends, hopes, wishes, and dreams
12th House: Self-ruin, enemies, obstacles, secrets

Northern Houses: 1,2,3 - deal with private matters
Eastern Houses: 4,5,6 - deal with private activities
Southern Houses: 7,8,9 - deal with self-starting activities
Western Houses: 10,11,12 - dependent upon energies of others

Fire Houses: 1,5,9 - vital, achieving, emotional
Earth Houses: 2,6,10 - material needs
Air Houses: 3,7,11 - social interactions, intellectual
Water Houses: 4,8,12 - emotional, spiritual

Cardinal Houses: 1,4,7,10 - starting, immediate
Fixed Houses: 2,5,8,11 - controlling, managing
Mutable Houses: 3,6,9,12 - change, aquisition, improvement  

3.2) Planetary Symbols (Doane/Peach/Davis)

Sun: Outer expression.  Honor.  Health.  Superiors.  Men. 
     Achievement.
Mercury: Communication.  Intellectual Concerns.  Siblings.  
          Business.
Venus: Relationships.  Love.  Friendship.  Money.  Art.
Earth: present situation
Moon: Inner needs.  Domestic or social concerns.  Women.
Mars: Creation.  Sex.  Struggle.  Misfortune.  Enemies.
Jupiter:  Opportunities for growth.  Business.  Religion. 
          Acquisitions.
Saturn: Lessons & limitations.  Illness.  Loss.  Secrets.  Elders. 
          Intellectual deliberation.
Uranus: Individuality, Differences
Neptune: Ecstasy/illusion
Pluto: Power for Transformation

3.3) Astrological Symbols
Aries - Querent, disposition and matter
Taurus - Financial situation
Gemini - Travel and communication
Cancer - Home life, family
Leo - Querent's pleasures
Virgo - Querent's health
Libra - Partnerships, marriage
Scorpio - Represents inheritances and deaths
Sagittarius - Philosophy, religion, education
Capricorn - Career
Aquarius - Friends
Pisces - Burdens, restrictions, fears, obstacles

3.4) Divination with a normal deck of playing cards (Vienneau)

The following is a near verbatim copy (spell check changes only) of
Viennau's post to alt.divination describing the meaning of each of
the cards in a regular playing deck when used for fortune-telling. 
I would also note that I have seen a couple of books at my local
Bookstop with these listings.  I have not compared them.

     Hearts:
Aces- Happiness, love, friendship
King- a fair-haired man, affectionate and generous but impetuous
Queen- a fair-haired woman, trustworthy
Jack- a fair-haired young person, a good friend
10- good fortune, happiness
9- the "wish" card; desires come true
8- invitations, but also partings
7- someone is unreliable
6- unexpected good fortune; generosity
5- jealousy, indecision
4- changes, possibly travel or postponements
3- need for caution
2- success, friendship

     Spades:
Ace- conflicts, a difficult love affair
King- dark-haired man, ambitious, usually successful
Queen- dark-haired woman, can be seductive or unscrupulous
Jack- dark-haired young person, a well-meaning person
10- worry
9- bad luck, can mean delays or quarrels
8- disappointments and opposition
7- a warning against possible loss of friendship
6- an improvement in the person's life
5- anxiety, setbacks, interferences
4- jealousy, business troubles
3- partings, possible due to faithlessness
2- scandal, gossip, danger of deceit

     Diamonds:
Ace- a money, ring
King- fair-haired man, stubborn and powerful
Queen- fair-haired woman, flirtatious, sophisticated, witty
Jack- a relative, someone not quite reliable
10- journey, changes, usually bringing wealth
9- opportunities and surprises, usually financial
8- late marriage or new relationship; unexpected money
7- a gift
6- a reconciliation; a warning against a possible second marriage
5- successful meetings, particularly in business
4- an inheritance, a change for the better
3- legal or domestic battles
2- a love affair becomes more important than hitherto

     Clubs:
Ace- Harmony, property, achievements, love
King- a dark-haired man, honest, open
Queen- a dark-haired woman, string-minded, helpful, attractive
Jack- a reliable friend
10- money from an unexpected source, good luck or gift
9- a new romance
8- opposition, danger or recklessness
7- prosperity, though a danger of romantic interference
6- business success
5- help from a friend or spouse
4- bad changes or alliance
3- good marriage or alliance
2- disappointment and opposition

          Significators:
1. fair or grey-haired man over 40....... King of Diamonds
2. fair or grey haired woman over 40..... Queen of Diamonds
3. fair-haired young man ................ King of Hearts
4. fair-haired young woman .............. Queen of Hearts
5. dark-haired man over 40............... King of Spades
6. dark-haired woman over 40............. Queen of Spades
7. dark-haired young man................. King of Clubs
8. dark-haired young woman............... Queen of Clubs

3.5) Timing Information (Morison)
Some readers associate certain cards with specific time events. 
The following is a list of such information.

Suits:
       Wands, Spring
        Cups, Summer
      Swords, Fall
   Pentacles, Winter
Personal interpretations of this relationship may vary individually

Ranks: 
     Aces - Week at the beginning of the season.
    Kings - The matter was completed last year at this time.
   Queens - The matter was completed last season.

e.g. - Ace of Wands would be the first week of the Spring Equinox

Stages Method:
Aces - The beginning of a situation.
Twos - Direction the matter will take. May be a 1st meeting point.
Threes - The point at which details grow and the matter solidifies.
Fours - Foundation has begun. Roots are put down in order to build.
Fives - The first challenge or glitch in the situation.
Sixes - Issue changes & grows;If it stagnates, it will not continue
Sevens - Variety added, Scope of the idea/project may be expanded.
Eights - Evaluation period. People & ideas may be put to the test.
Nines - Moving forward. The issue is nearly completed.
Tens - Completion of the cycle, project, or issue.
Pages - Signify risks and messages.
Knights - Indicate movement and direction.

3.6) Astrological House Numbering (Blackburn)

A few layouts contain an unusual ordering for the twelve
astrological houses.  So far, the only information I have of why
such an ordering has been chosen was provided by Mr. Blackburn as
follows:

I choose the ordering based on a conseptualization of geomantic
figure placement I found in Agrippa's "Three Books of Occolt
Philosophy."  I modified it by placing the cards in this order,
then simple assigning the figure around the circle, rather then the
(traditional) reverse.  It is essencially a matter of crossing
bottom->top then right->left, (then staring over with the second
card in the circle) thus filling cardinal, fixed and mutable
together.  I don't know how others would do it, though I have been
suggested that just be going around the circle, starting at the
top, might be easier and just as effective.

3.7)  The Four Elements and the Tarot (Nickells)
[ Editors note:  All of section 3.7 is a near verbatim copy of a
lesson which Mr. Nickells posted to alt.tarot and was also kind
enough to e-mail to me.  Changes made were mostly grammatical, but
also include minor deletions for spatial purposes. - DJ ]

This essay is an attempt to describe a method of analysing a Tarot
reading using the Four Elements as a basis, to determine quickly
and simply the most important cards, their strength and weaknesses,
and how they interact with each other to gain information that may
have been apparent only thru intuition.

Tarot Readers may well have experienced the phenomenon of getting
'bad' vibes from apparently 'good' cards, and vice versa.  After a
few rocky starts, I found that the querents confirmed these
contradictory feelings.  I decided to research the hows and whys of
this, and eventually I came up with the ideas presented below.

These are the Main Points:
     * There are no 'good or bad' cards.
     * The cards are essentially neutral.
     * Reversed cards are included, but do not have much weight.
     * The basis of interaction is the Four Elements.
     * The cards interact with the positions in spreads.
     * Cards should never be read singly.  Preferably, this means
          that at least 3 cards should be read at a time.
     * Elemental rules are simple and logical
     * Works for all standard 78 decks
     * No need to modify one's personal interpretation of
          individual cards.

How many people's lives are that black and white?  Remember, a
reversed card does not necessary mean bad news.  Using sequential
spreads rather than positional spreads (the Celtic Cross is a
positional spread) gives one the opportunity to be more
sophisticated in the use of reversed cards. 

The basis of what follows is to simply read and interpret Three
Cards at a time, gradually building up in sophistication as our
understanding grows.  Practice is vital, so that the rules become
second nature, and eventually almost sub-conscious.

3.7.1) Stage One: Traditional Method
We will start with a traditional reading of three cards.  Deal out
any 3 cards right way up, and interpret them.  Consider the Central
card to be the Principal, with the ones either side as 'Modifiers'.

        M       P       M
        1       2       3

These cards can be transposed two more times by moving the Left
Modifier to the right hand side:

        M       P       M
        2       3       1
        3       1       2

As a general rule: 
Minor cards are within the control of the Querent
Major cards are out of the querent's control
Court cards personify an action or actually represent a person. 

Next, transpose the cards as shown above, and see if you feel
different about them.  Repeat the process.  Then reverse one of the
cards, and reinterpret.  There are far more combinations of
reversal than transpositions.  Hopefully you should experience
slightly different feelings each time.  It is usually easier to
avoid Court cards to begin with, but persevere.

This stage is essentially how most people would read the cards.
Most people's experiences are that there is some difference with
each transposition, but it is hard to quantify exactly.

3.7.2) Stage Two: Elemental Rules
If you want to be more adventurous, remember that all of the Tarot
cards can be categorised as either Fire, Water, Air or Earth.  The
rulership of the Major cards is determined by astrological rules
(See Jess Karlin's 'Elemental Dignities' for more details).

These elements interact with each other using rigid rules:
     Fire and Water are enemies, therefore weaken each other.
     Air and Earth are enemies, therefore weaken each other.
     All other combinations are friendly, therefore strengthen
          each other.
     Fire and Air are active.
     Water and Earth are passive.

Interpretation then becomes a fairly mechanical exercise: 
        * Which card is strongest? 
        * Which weakest?
        * Is the strong card active or passive? 
        * Is it Major/Minor/Court?
        * Dignity?

Once you have done this, actually apply and combine the meanings of
each card with appropriate weighting. I suggest you follow the
order given here, but do experiment.

EXERCISE 1
==========
Now we will interpret the 3 Card Spread purely on elemental
principles.  It may help to make up some Flash Cards with only the
elemental symbols on them if you wish to practise yourself.
As an example,

        1       2       3
        F       A       W

Card 2 is the Principal. It is friendly with Fire and Water, so is
strengthened. It is active, therefore likely to happen.  Note that
1 and 3 are enemies, so that the Principal card is even stronger,
and can rise over any problems caused by the modifiers.

        1       2       3
        A       F       W

Fire is friendly with Air, but weakened by Water, so 2 and 3
neutralise themselves.  However, the Modifiers are friendly to each
other.  As Fire is active, and Air supports, the event is likely to
happen, but not without some emotional turmoil.

        1       2       3
        A       W       F

The Principal is passive, while the modifiers are active.  Fire is
inimical to the Principal and weakens it, while Air strengthens. 
Fire and Air are friendly.  The conclusion is that we have an
unsatisfactory situation that is unlikely to change quickly.  The
Principal is likely to be pulled in different directions.

(Earth has been omitted only for reasons of space.)

SUMMARY
So far, the above has been an exercise rather than an actual
spread.  I have avoided mention of any individual card or meaning
deliberately.  Anyone using a standard Tarot deck of 78 cards
should be able to follow this system.  There is another advantage
in that one's own interpretation of each card does not have to
change, however idiosyncratic they may be.

Interpretation of the Court Cards also becomes much easier, as all
one has to do is see what the two modifiers are hinting at, using
the rules delineated above.

If anyone would like to use this spread, it could be when the
querent needs to achieve something at almost any cost, and so it
would define the action necessary to achieve it.  Obviously morals
may not have much to do with this, so careful thought is necessary
before acting.

3.7.3) Stage Three: Positions
This brings us to the problems associated with this 3 card spread: 
although an action is defined, there is no context, no background,
it appears to be happening in a vacuum.  The cards are not
interacting with the environment, and as we are trying to interpret
Tarot in terms of the Querent, who is part and parcel of the
environment, after all, we have to do something about it.

Logically we have to place the 3 cards in an environment. Following
our theme of the four elements we will put the Triplets in an
elemental position, rather than naming them as 'Love', 'Past',
'Work' etc.

We then use the same rules to reinterpret the cards.  As an
example, we will follow the First Example in Exercise 1,
interpreting it beginning with the Fire position, then Water, Air
and finally Earth:

FIRE POSITION:
Fire deals with actions.

        1       2       3
        F       A       W

With these 3 cards in the Fire position, we see immediately that
the original interpretation will stand, but we have more detail. 
3 is now very weak.  The emotional content is all but eliminated. 
The Querent will definitely act on his/her idea, with little
compassion, possibly brutally.  There is no financial incentive,
nothing to ground the situation, as there is no balancing, passive
Earth.  Sudden actions, a situation that does not last.

WATER POSITION:
Water indicates emotions, feelings, and is passive.

        1       2       3
        F       A       W

Using the same order of cards as for the Fire position, we have a
completely different situation.  Modifier 3 is now the strongest
card.  Modifier 1, an enemy of Water, is very weak.  Air is
friendly to both cards and the Water Position, however Water is
passive.  The Querent is dreaming about a situation: it may never
happen.  The lack of Earth indicates little practicality.  One
could interpret this as an effeminate or ineffectual man, or a
woman who is able to put her ideas into practice, but she may lack
confidence in her abilities, depending of course on what the actual
cards are.

AIR POSITION:
Air is traditionally an indication of trouble and problems.

        1       2       3
        F       A       W

The Principal card is in its own place, very strong, and the
Modifiers are both friendly to Air.  So far, so good.  The problem
comes from the Modifiers being enemies to each other, weakening
themselves. We may have a situation where the Querent is trying to
rise above conflicting emotional experiences that is paralyzing
him/her.  Of course s/he may just be intellectualising about the
situation, avoiding the conflict around, hoping it will go away. 
This is a good example of how even when an element is in its own
position, it may not have a good prognosis.

EARTH POSITION
Earth is practical, dealing with money, security and work.

        1       2       3
        F       A       W

At last we have the opportunity to see what Earth can do, even
though it does not appear in the cards.  The Principal, Air, is
very, very weak; in the enemy camp, so to speak.  Fire and Water
are friends of Earth.  The Querent is within a maelstrom of
conflicting actions and emotions, possibly at work.  Office
politics is rampant.  The Modifiers support the environment, rather
than the Principal, or at least, they are not in a position to aid
Air.  There may be a total lack of forethought in any action. 
Actions may be motivated by power and greed.  This may also
indicate a situation where someone is not being as practical about
their career or work choice.

The above is a good example of the influence a missing element may
have in a situation, and can be a good indicator of how the Reader
can advise the Querent based on _what is missing_ rather than what
is there in order to create some balance.

SUMMARY

Hopefully, I have been able to show a simple method that can be
applied to many situations.  The amount of information that can be
gleaned just using elemental principles can be quite remarkable. 
Also, any omitted elements can give clues to the Reader as to what
is missing.  An ideal situation would be where all four elements
are present; actions involving the missing elements may be used to
create balance.

I have deliberately kept the above simple to give you the idea. You
do not have to build things up in the order I suggest.  Approach
with an open mind, and you may be surprised with the results.

Graham Nickells




=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

4) Rituals of Meditation
This section contains Tarot layouts which are not expressly
intended for divinatory purposes, but rather, are intended for
personal introspection and meditation.  DISCLAIMER:  Be forewarned
that I make no claims as to the usefulness or safety of these
layouts.  Many of them require some sort of knowledge of the
magickal arts and I would definitely recommend that, unless you are
already proficient with such practices, you discuss these
techniques with your teacher or path-shower before using them.

4.1) Mandalas (Danburg-Wyld)

>From the alt.tarot FAQ: 
     One simple technique [for tarot meditations] is to select a
card and use it as a miniature mandala.  Alternatively, put out an
array of cards and do the same.  Some people pick a card in the
morning and use it as a 'focus point' for the day - looking for
aspects of that cards meaning in the events that occur to them.  

4.1.1) Daily Focus Point (Buckland)
     With respect to a daily 'focus point', Llewellyn's Magickal
Almanac notes an old Romany tradition of starting the New Year with
The Lovers and proceeding numerically.  After finishing the Major
Arcana, the next day would start with the Ace of Swords, then the
two, three, etc. up through King.  Repeat with the Wands, then
Cups, and finally Pentacles.  The next day would stars with the
first card of Trumps and proceed numerically.  It should be noted
that there are a few differing opinions as to where the Fool (or
trump 0) should be placed when ordering the Arcana.  The following
timetable would be used if placing the Fool anywhere _after_ the
Lovers on a non-leap year.

Jan  1 - The Lovers (Trump 6)

    Ace of Swords: 01/18  04/06  06/23  09/09  11/18
     Ace of Wands: 02/01  04/19  07/07  09/23  12/10
      Ace of Cups: 02/15  05/04  07/21  10/07  12/24
 Ace of Pentacles: 03/01  05/18  08/04  10/21  
Magician, Trump 1: 03/15  06/01  08/18  11/04

Dec 31 - Eight of Cups

If the year is a leap year, The Ace of Pentacles will start of
February 29th instead of March 1st.  Subtract one day from each
date thereafter and Dec 31 will end with the Nine of Cups.

If you choose to order your trump numerically (i.e., placing the
Fool before the magician) or in any position before the 6th Trump,
then you must subtract a day from each date starting with the Ace
of Swords on 01/18.

Finally, I have seen people use different orderings for Trump
ranking.  Feel free to adjust this schedule to suit your personal
ordering schema.

4.1.2) Contemplation Ritual (Kraig)

Another simple one-card meditation works as follows:

1) Remove the 22 Major Arcana cards.
2) Perform a relaxation ritual.  This is done mainly to help you
     focus and such rituals are standard in any book on Golden Dawn
     magick.  Shuffle the deck as you feel necessary.
3) Select any one card and look at the picture on it for a length
     of time.  When finished contemplating the image, take a few
     breaths to remain focused and relaxed.
4) Record the card name and number in a diary.  Also record any 
     feelings, sensations, or ideas you received while focusing the
     card.
 
4.1.3) Opening the Door (Ozaniec)

Naomi Ozaniec's book contains a number of exercises which allow one
to gain more insight into each of the Trump cards, but very few of
them would actually qualify as meditations or rituals.  Here is one
of the few exceptions described, verbatim, while explaining how to
use tarot cards as doorways.

1) Select the Trump you wish to work with.  Have the relevant Trump
     in front of you.
2) Enter a meditative state.  Visualize the Tarot Trump clearly in
     your mind.
3) Allow the image to grow so that the frame of the Trump becomes
a    doorway.
4) Step into the image.  Deepen your meditative state.  What can
     you learn from this Tarot Trump?  When the meditation is
     finished, step back through the image, reduce it to a proper
     size and return all images to a passive state.
5) Record your experience straightaway.
6) Do not attempt to encounter more than one image during a single
     session.

4.2) Qabalistic Cross of the Tarot Ritual (4) (Buckland)
Layout:   02        |
          08        -
          14        |
          21        |
Trumps 2, 14, and 21 are laid upright while Trump 8 is laid on its
side (see diagram on right).

Ritual:
     1) Prepare the temple.  From a consecrated pack of Tarot card
containing the traditional Qabalistic symbolism, remove the
following:  THE HIGH PRIESTESS, TEMPERANCE, THE UNIVERSE, STRENGTH. 
Place the four trump cards upon the altar as indicated in the
diagram.
     2) Take a Ritual Bath.
     3) Place your right index finger above the crown of your head. 
Bring your hand down as if drawing the Divine Light into your body. 
Touch your forehead and intone the word, "ATAH" (ah-tah).  This
means "I Am."  Visualize a Bright light centered at the crown of
your head.
     4) Bring your finger down to the middle of your chest and
vibrate the name, "MALKUTH" (Mahl-kooth) which means "The Kingdom." 
After touching your chest, draw the hand down to the level of the
groin and point toward the floor.  Imagine a shaft of white light
extending from the top of your hand down to your feet and ankles. 
Concentrate for a minute on the white pillar of light stretching
from Kether to Malkuth.
     5) Touch your right shoulder and intone the name, "VE-GEBURAH"
(V'-geh-boo-rah) which means "And the Power."  See another point of
white light beginning at your shoulder.
     6) Bring your index finger directly across your body to the
left shoulder.  Vibrate the name, "VE-GEDULAH" (V'-geh-doo-lah),
which means, "And the Glory."  See a brilliant white shaft of light
perpendicular to the first one which connects both shoulders.
     7) Put both hands out in front of you and clasp them together
as if praying.  Then bring the clasped hands close to your body and
position them straight up, just in front of your heart.  Intone
"LE-OLAHM, AMEN" (lay-oh-lahm, Ah-men), which means "Forever, Unto
the Ages."  Visualize a complete cross of light formed within
yourself, which consecrates the temple of the body through the
power of the Divine Names.
     Once you have established the Qabalistic Cross you may
initiate the Cross of the Tarot.  However the image of the Cross of
Light must remain firmly fixed in your mind.  With your index
finger tough the four points on your body a second time, and repeat
the names from ATAH through VE-GEDULAH, but add the following
visualizations:
     8) At the crown of your head, imagine a brilliant spiral shape
contained within the point of light at KETHER.  This is the symbol
of the First Whirlings. [ed - there is a small picture of a spiral
making nearly two full rotations.]
     9) At the bottom of the first shaft of light, visualize the
symbol of the cross within a circle.  See this sigil at your feet
in black.  This represents MALKUTH, the manifested kingdom. [ed -
picture of an 'X' circumscribed in a circle.]
     10) At your right shoulder, see the red symbol of Mars flaming
within the white shaft of Light.  This symbol alludes to GEBURAH,
the Sphere of Severity. [ed - picture of Mars, more commonly known
as the symbol for male, or a circle with an arrow pointing to the
NW.]
     11) At your left shoulder, picture within the point of light,
the blue sigil of Jupiter.  This suggests CHESED, the Sephirah of
Mercy. [ed - picture of Jupiter.  Looks like the number 2 with a
line going through and perpendicular to the line at the bottom of
the 2.]
     12) Now return to the complete image of the Cross within your
body.  Vibrate the name of the Hebrew letter "GIMEL" (Gee-mahl). 
See the first shaft of it from Kether begin to change to the color
blue.  The blue light descends from your head to the area of your
heart and stops there.  Concentrate your thoughts on the image of
THE HIGH PRIESTESS from the second Key of the Tarot.  The High
Priestess controls the flow of Divine Power from its eternal Source
in Kether to the rest of the temple (you -- as a reflection of the
Tree of life).  Through her you experience all spiritual events. 
She controls and regulates all life, and she connects that which is
above to that which is below.  Contemplate her image for a few
moments.
     13) Intone the name of the Hebrew letter "SAMEKH" (Sahm-ehk). 
The shaft of light turns brilliant blue from your heat down to your
groin area.  Visualize the figure of TEMPERANCE from the 14th Key
of the Tarot.  The feminine, angelic form of TEMPERANCE blends the
opposing elements of Fire and Water, Sun and Moon, Intellect and
Emotion, Force and Form.  She harmonizes these contradictory
elements of your personality into a mixture of perfect balance,
clearing the way for real spiritual growth to take place.  Meditate
upon this image for a short period of time.
     14) Vibrate the name of the Hebrew letter "TAU" (Taw).  The
shaft of light leading from your groin to your feet turns indigo or
violet-blue in color.  Imagine the female figure from THE UNIVERSE,
the 21st Key of the Tarot.  The form of the Dancing Goddess gives
final form to the Manifest Universe.  She is the womb of Heaven,
giving birth to the signs of the Zodiac, the Planets and the
Elements.  She is the completion of the Grand Design in the Mind of
the Eternal.  Take time to mediate upon this image.
     15) Vibrate the name of the Hebrew letter "TETH" (Tayth). 
Envision the second shaft of white light which connects the two
shoulders begin to turn bright yellow, starting at Geburah. 
Imagine the woman from STRENGTH, the eighth Key of the Tarot.  She
holds the fierce and mighty lion under perfect control through the
power of her Will.  She has tamed the raw, fiery energy of the
beast and transformed it by discipline.  The strength generated
from passion and intellect working together under will is
tremendous.  Feel the sense of inner strength given off by this
image.
     16) Repeat once more the words "LE-OLAHM, AMEN" while making
the appropriate gestures.  Visualize the complete Cross for the
final time in glowing white light.
     Thus ends the ritual.

4.3) Suit and Function Meditation (14) (Ozaniec)
Layout:          10 01
              09      02
            08  K Q N P 03
              07      04
                06 05
Cards 1 - 10 are arranged in a circle, each cards top pointing
outward from the circle.  In the center are the King, Queen,
Knight, and Page of the suit.  Note that Ozaniec calls them the
King, Queen, Price, and Princess respectively.

Deal: Each of the four minor suits is ascribed with a function:
          Swords    - Function of Thinking
          Cups      - Function of Feeling
          Wands     - Function of Intuition
          Pentacles - Function of Sensation
     Choose a function which you personally want to develop and
     deal the fourteen cards of that suit as shown above and enter
     a meditative state

Ritual: (verbatim)
     Find yourself standing in an antechamber within a castle.  You
wait.  Ahead of you a pair of great double doors are closed. 
Beside the doorway you see a bell.  You move forward and ring the
bell.  A deep note rings out.  You stand back.  The doors swing
open slowly.  You enter and find that you stand in a Great Hall. 
At the far end seated on a long low dais you see four crowned
figures.  Here are the King, Queen, the Prince and the Princess. 
An unseen voice rings out, 'Welcome to the Elemental Court'.  You
move forward further into the hall.  A fanfare rings out.  'Let the
Elemental Powers step forward.'  Now from behind the dais a
character dressed plainly comes to meet you.  The character carries
the Ace of the elemental suit and shows it to you.  You meditate on
it.  The character returns.  A new figure appears bearing the Two
of the suit.  In this way each character appears before you,
bearing the appropriate Tarot card.  The characters appear from the
direction that you have prepared in your spread.  When the bearer
of the tenth card has returned, spend a few moments in the quiet
meditation before moving on to the next phase.
     When you are ready, approach the dais where the Elemental
Court sit.
     Face the King and pose the question, 'What must I do to awaken
the function of ...?'
     Face the Queen and pose the question, 'What must I do to
develop the function of ...?'
     Face the Prince and pose the question, 'What must I do to
sustain the function of ...?'
     Face the Princess and pose the question, 'What must I do to
express the function of ...?'
     Each question presents an opportunity for personal
realization.  Meditate on all that has transpired.  Offer thanks
for what has taken place.  Close the meditation.

     Write your experiences up straightaway.

     The work does not finish when the meditation closes.  The
impetus is transformed from the private interior experience into
daily life and ordinary interaction.  Become aware of the
repercussions and effects of your work, recording the perceived
results in your diary.  These results may in turn become the
subject for further reflection.  The process becomes self-
perpetuating.  Initiation is a cycle.
     [paragraph deleted]
     Each of the Tarot suits may be used in the same way.  We may
safely explore and enrich these basic functions within ourselves. 
Do not hurry such work.  It is important to allow all effects to be
integrated into life.  The four elemental initiations could be
spread through the space of a year.

4.4) Figure of Eight (22) (Cannon)
Layout:          04 05 
               03     06
             02         07
               01     08
                 00 09
                  XXX   - Cards 10 and 21 should cross  
                 11 20    each other on the XXX
               12     19
             13         18
               14     17
                 15 16

Deal: Deal the 22 Major Arcana cards into the positions shown

Ritual: This is lifted directly from Mr. Cannon's e-mail.

Keep the orientations consistent [when dealing] and you should find
that the first loop of 10 cards (Fool-Hermit) are all facing
outwards from the loop, yet by an Escheresque twist of orientation,
the second 10 cards (Strength - Judgement) are all facing inwards.
Significant, huh?

Meditation is a high-falootin' glorification of what I do which is
better described as "make a cup of tea and ponder a bit" but you
should see the whole story of the trumps click into place before
you. Light candles, etc., if that's what you like.

Then you can go on to look at opposites.

The first loop, pretty obviously, is the worldly or "materialistic"
phase of the Fool's progress and similarly the second loop the
"spiritual" phase. If there was ever a more graphic illustration of
the continuity of existence I'd like to see it. Now, if you have
laid out your cards carefully and evenly, you should be able to
ponder the relationships between the opposite pairs of cards in the
two loops, e.g the Pope (5) vs. The Devil(15), or the Chariot (7)
vs. Death (13).

I hope I've got these opposites correct from memory, I haven't got
a pack in front of me right now to test the layout!

The above technique is from Alfred Douglas' book.

4.5) Square-Triangle Layout (78) (Cannon)
Layout:  +------+
         |  /\  |
         | /  \ | 
         |======|
         +------+

Deal:  Set out the 21 numbered trumps in an equilateral triangle,
     7 cards per side, with the Fool in the middle.  Outside this,
     lay out the minor cards in a square, four sides each of 14
     cards. You can also put the square inside the triangle,
     whichever you prefer. 

Ritual: [or more appropriately, ponder this.  Again, directly
     lifted from Andrew's e-mail]

Ponder the fact that the Fool can "see" either the secular, worldly
domain of the minors, or the spiritual progression domain of the
majors. He can't experience both, because he is constrained within
the two-dimensional world of the cards he inhabits and one of the
domains is always obscured from him by the other.

Clearly to experience both aspects of existence the Fool must
somehow rise along a dimension or degree of freedom supplemental to
those in which he normally operates. Alternatively, he must
displace himself from the center of his universe by some kind of
leap.

This is a heavy-duty meditation, if you're into that kind of thing,
the square and triangle can be considered as "philosophical
machines" and it can all get a bit serious.

>From Fred Getting's book.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
5) Useless Information

5.1) Copyright Notice

This document, in its entirety, is Copyrighted by David Clark
Jones.  It may be freely redistributed, in part or in whole,
provided that this and the copyright notice at the beginning of the
document are not removed.  It may not be sold for profit or
incorporated into any commercial product(s) without the written
permission of the copyright holder.  Permission is expressly
granted for this document to be made available for file transfer
from installations offering unrestricted anonymous file transfer on
the Internet or at any Bulletin Board System which does not require
a user registration fee for downloading purposes (this excludes
trial membership periods).  Permission has been given to the
following companies to carry a copy of this document among their
online services: Compuserve, America Online, Prodigy, and the
Microsoft Network.  Permission is also granted for this document to
be made available at any publicly accessible World Wide Web page. 
Printed paper copies of this document may be sold without my
permission PROVIDED THAT THE SALE PRICE OF THE DOCUMENT DOES NOT
EXCEED THE COST REQUIRED TO PRINT/COPY THE DOCUMENT.  (Essentially,
I don't care what you do with this, as long as you're not directly
making money off of the document itself.)

5.2) Where to find this document

This document will be posted directly to the following newsgroups
     on the fifth day, or whenever possible, of odd numbered
     months:
          alt.divination
          alt.tarot
          alt.magick
          alt.magick.tyagi

If you feel that there is any newsgroup not listed above which
would be appropriate for, and benefit from, a regular posting of
this document, please inform me via e-mail and I will include it.

The most current version of this FAQ may be obtained at the
     following locations:
          djones@ponder.csci.unt.edu
          http://www.io.com/user/cortese/
          http://tarot.readers.com  (dtking)
          http://web.egr.msu.edu/~philpott/Tarot/tarot.html
          http://www.ionet.net/~graham/sarena.shtml
          http://www.infi.net/~jackson
          http://www.neta.com/~kottinge
          http://www.icanect.net/wolf/wtarot.htm
          Astro Net-1 BBS  (414)481-9976

Permission has been granted for any person to upload this document
to an appropriate area at the following online services: 
Compuserve, America Online, Prodigy, and The Microsoft Network. 
Personally, I do not have access to any of these services. 
Updating this document to those servers is dependent upon their
clients.

If you would like to
     1) Include this document in your WWW page, FTP site, or any
          other publicly accessible location
     2) Receive updated versions of this FAQ as they are made
 and 3) Have your site included in this document,
please feel free to contact me at djones@ponder.csci.unt.edu.
Also, please feel free to contact me with any corrections,
submissions, comments, thanks, flames, book offers, free food, etc.
at the same address.

It has come to my attention that several people not on the internet
have been receiving copies of this document through friends.  If
you are one such person (or perhaps not) and would like to receive
updated copies via regular mail, or you would just like to drop me
a line, my snail address is listed below.  Mailed copies of the FAQ 
will cost $5/ea. ($6 if you want binding) to cover the cost of
copying and mailing; there may be additional mailing charges for
persons living outside the 48 states.  People who mail
contributions to the FAQ will receive two updates, free of charge,
if their submission is used.

David C. Jones
1805 Sena
Denton, TX  76201

5.3) Administrativia
A mailing list for new versions will not be maintained for the time
being.  It is very difficult for me to do multiple e-mails on my
system and it requires over an hour for me upload the REF for e-
mail (my server does not have an option to attach files).  Also,
since the new REF is always sent to the above web sites on odd
months, keeping a mailing list is redundant.  Until this situation
changes, the ONLY people who will receive new copies on a regular
basis via e-mail are the web site maintainers and people who made
new contributions to that version of the REF.  You may still send
requests to have the REF e-mailed, but they will only be honored
for one mailing.  In regard to this new policy, I have received a
few notes from people stating that some of the web sites are not
posting the new FAQ's; I will be having a discussion with the
people who run these sites and the problem will be rectified in
future versions.

5.4) Who am I and how this list got started
I am David Clark Jones, a recent graduate in the field of
mathematics from the University of Northern Texas, Denton.  I am
also a beginning student of the Tarot.  (I find it interesting that
I say 'beginning' student.  I have been studying for almost one
year now, and, through this document, I have met several people who
have studied tarot for 10, 15, and 20+ years.  They too call
themselves beginners.)  Many moons ago, a friend of mine gave me a
standard Rider-Waite deck as an Easter present and I immediately
connected with it.  I have since begun studying the more spiritual
aspects of the tarot, although I do practice a little divination
with the deck.  As part of my studies, I found a book at my local
library called _How to Read Tarot Cards_ containing twelve
different layouts, which was originally the main source of
information for this document.  When a peer on the net and I became
involved in a discussion about layouts for a program he was
writing, I told him that I would type this list up and post it; I
didn't really mind since I wanted to have this list on file for
personal use in the future.  When I was done, I figured if I was
going to spend all this time typing all this information up and
give it away for free that I might as well keep the list running
and I always wanted to have the prestige of saying I was a FAQ
maintainer (even if I am the only person impressed by that), so I
decided to make it a FAQ.  I have been a student of the tarot for
one year since last April and would like to deeply thank all those
who contributed.  Its been a wonderful year of learning and I am
only sorry I did not make the time to learn more.  I hope the rest
of you all enjoy the FAQ and Blessd Be to all of you.

5.5) Really Useless Information
The very first thing that I learned about reading tarot cards after
talking to another reader about the subject is that no two people
really do it in quite the same way.  As such, I have tried to
re-write all of these layouts to be as flexible as possible, which
wasn't easy or even possible in some cases, and allow you to choose
which method will serve you best.

On a similar note, some of the things that I have learned and come
to believe about tarot cards go directly against some of the things
presented in this document.  It is my intention, however, to relate
information and not to pass judgement, especially since some things
I disagree with may work for others.  As such, I will attempt to
include any informational comments that I receive from anybody as
long as it doesn't seem redundant, so please send in anything that
you believe might be useful to others.  

Also, I would like to keep this document directed solely towards
layouts that can be used for a general deck.  Some decks, like a
healers deck, often will have their own layouts, but such a layout
would probably not have any significance when used with a general
deck.  However, I have included layouts which came from the Thoth
deck, Druid Animal deck, and the Witch's Tarot since their
divinatory interpretations are not restricted specifically to those
decks.  If your not sure, just send it to me anyway; it can't hurt. 
Finally, if you see this document in alt.tarot or alt.magick.tyagi,
please bear in mind that I don't have access to these newsgroup. 
If you see this document there, please do not post follow-up
articles to me in that newsgroup; I will never see them.  Please
send all comments/suggestion/etc. to djones@ponder.csci.unt.edu

5.6) How to Use this Document.

5.6.1) If you are new to tarot....
Somebody sent me a comment one day that this document is a real
'tour de force'.  Not to sound egotistical, but this comment may be
an understatement.  With 50+ layouts and a plethera of other tarot
related information, this document contains over 55 pages of text
which would have been enough to confuse me when I was just
starting.  So listed below is just my brief opinion on how you
should go about reading this thing.

First, read section 5.6.2 and then start with the line reading
(section 1.3).  It is the simplest layout in this cataloge and thus
makes a good place to start.  This should give you the basics of
how to read layouts.  Always try to tie all the cards in together
as you are reading them.  How the cards interract with each is
often as important as the cards themselves.  Help for learning how
to relate cards together can be found in section 3.7.

Second, find a layout which contains several lines.  These are easy
to find because they have an L next to them in the table of
contents.  These will be as easy to do as the line reading, but
should give you better practice relating cards together.

Third, do the Celtic Cross.  This is layout which EVERYONE has used
at least once in thier life.  Even if you never use it again, it
will at least give you some type of reference point about which you
can interact with other people about tarot layouts.  Also, since it
is probably the layout which your book will teach you, it can help
you learn how to relate this document to correspond with whatever
book you are learning out of.  If you ever get _really_ serious
about tarot divination, you will learn to hate the Celtic Cross,
but for now, it will be useful.

After this, just go through the layouts in the way they are listed,
which is by the number of cards they use.  In general, the more
cards that are used, the more complex the layout.  Progressing
through document in this manner will ease you into the big league
layouts which normally take a good couple of hours to do.

5.6.2) If you are new to this document....
This section will just briefly explain how things are structured
and why they are done that way.

Originally, layouts were organized into 'subjects', but not very
good ones.  In order to make more subjects, better subjects, and
avoid overlap, all the layouts are in one section and then flagged. 
Each flag represents a subject that a layout could belong to.  For
example, a layout with Astrological influences is tagged with the
letter 'A'.  This way, layouts that could belong to more than one
subject simply get more than one flag and avoids me having to
decide which group it should go it.

Personally, when I use this document during a reading, the first
thing I ask myself is, 'How much time and energy do I feel like
putting into this reading?'  In general, the more cards a layout
has, the more of both is required of the reader.  Thus, arranging
the layouts in order of the amount of cards required is the most
time efficient when I am trying to choose one to use.  Finally,
each layout is given a complexity rating which, along with the
grouping flags, can aid the decision process.

Reading over section 5.6.4 will help you understand how each layout
is listed in the REF.  Section 5.6.5 contains an in depth
description of the complexity rating and grouping flags.

5.6.3) Supplements and version numbers

Starting with version 4.0, all new versions of the REF will be
issued in two formats: The regular format (like this document) and
the supplement.  The supplement will contain ONLY the new
information that the previous version doesn't have.  The idea
behind the supplement is that if you print this document out,
instead of having to re-print everything when new versions are
released, one merely has to print out the supplement and add it to
the back of the old printout.  It saves you time, and it saves
humanity from having to kill more trees.  Each supplement that is
released will contain a header explaining which two versions that
supplement will be bridging.  IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO USE
SUPPLEMENTS, EACH VERSION WILL BE ALWAYS POSTED IN FULL.

This is a breif explination of how further version numbers of the
REF will be created.  You need not understand it, but may help you
paste together supplements in the future.  Each verstion will have
a primary, a secondary version number, and a third (or tertiary)
number.  For example, in version 6.3.1, 6 is the primary version
number, 3 is the secondary, and 1 is the tertiary.

The primary version number will increase by one only under the
following circumstances:  A) A major structural change occurs in
the layout of the REF or B) the secondary version number exceeds
nine.

The secondary version number will increase by one if a supplement
is issued.  This will occur whenever new information, such as a
layout, is added to the REF.  In the event that the secondary
number is a nine, instead of increasing to ten, it will revert to
zero and the primary number will increase by one (case B above). 
Reversion to zero will also occur if the primary version is
increased becasue of a structural change (case A above).

The tertiary version number will always be a zero if either the
primary or secondary version number should change.  Tertiary
numbers will only increase if minor changes occur in the FAQ, such
as a grammar correction, spell check, name correction, etc.. occur. 
If these changes warrant enough significance, they will be noted in
the next supplement that is issued.



5.6.4) Paradigm Spread (#0, C0, flags) (references)

Each spread will start with the title.  Next, is a set of
paranthesis which contain some useful information.  First is a '#'
sign and then a number; this indicates the number of cards
traditionally used in this reading.  Secondly, is the letter 'C'
which is also followed by a number; this indicates the complexity
rating of the layout.  Some layouts may also have one or more
letters (called flags) afterward.  These flags can be used to
quickly gain information about the subject matter or nature of the
layout without having to read the whole layout.  The detailed
legend for these flags is listed in section 5.6.4.  An abreviated
version is included in the table of contents for quick reference. 
Throughout a spread, you may also find names in parenthesis to
indicate the reference(s) used for that section.

Layout:  This section will show in text graphics, and perhaps
describe, how this particular layout looks.  Cards in the layout
themselves will be represented by numbers, except that the Querent
card (also known as the Significant and other similar names) may be
shown by the letter Q.  Single digit numbers may have a zero placed
in front of them for formatting purposes.  If room permits, cards
that are associated with one another will be connected with lines.

Deal:  This is the order in which the cards are traditionally dealt
for this layout.  I would like to emphasize the word traditional. 
In a few of these layouts the card ordering does not appear to make
any sense, so if something seems to work better for you I see no
reason why you shouldn't do it.  Also, sometimes readers will
intentionally alter the order of the deal if they have a
premonition to do so.

Reading:  This explains what each card in the layout represents.

Variations:  This will list any variations in the readings that
this particular spread may have.

Comments:  Miscellaneous information about this layout that doesn't
fit in any of the above categories.

5.6.5) Maps and Legends

Flags:

A - Astrological Spreads.  These layouts have been influenced by
astrological symbolism.  Essentially, they qualify as Cross
Subjects (see X below) but are large enough in number to merit
their own flag.

L - Line Spreads.  These layouts consist entirely of non-
intersecting lines.  These tend to be easier to read than most
other layouts and are flagged merely for their simplicity.

S - Specific Question Spreads.  These layouts were designed to
answer a specific question or type of question.  They are not
reccomended for general readings and should only be used when
appropriate to the querents inquiry.

X - Cross Subjects.  These layouts are based on another subject
related to the magickal arts.  For example, the Chakra Spread is
based on the seven shakras of the body, a subject not typically
related to the tarot.  Athough additional study of the
corresponding subject may not be necessary, it is reccomended.

Y - Yes/No Spreads.  These layouts were designed specifically to
answer yes or no questions.

time - Some layouts are designed with a specific time period in
mind.  The reader need not stick to this time limit, it is merely
the time suggested by the designer of the layout and given to the
reader as a courtesy.

Complexity:

This rating system is designed mainly to give the user a general
idea complex a layout is.  Complexity is based on how many lines
are in the layouts, how the lines relate to one another, the number
of cards, and how strongly cards relate to one another.  The system
used is, admittedly, purely subjective on my part but it should
hopefully give you a feel for how much effort is required of the
reader, and you can of course change this ratings in your copy if
you choose to do so.  Ratings range from one to nine.  Each odd
numbered rating has a description of a typical layout of such
complexity and even numbered ratings are reserved for layouts that
fall between.  Again, these ratings are purely subjective and the
list below was used only as a guide.

C1 - Simple Line Spread, under 10 cards.
C3 - Two lines intersecting, 20 cards.
C5 - 'Shared Knowledge' - cards in different and possibly non-
     intersecting lines share a relationship, 5 lines, 35 cards.
C7 - Multiple intersecting lines, 7 lines, 50 cards.
C9 - 'Complete Integration' - all cards are related to one another. 
     Lines or groups are holistically defined and can change
     depending upon the reading, over 50 cards.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
6) References and Thanks
     
Aldridge, David, e-mail 5/14/96.
     (101662.2527@Compuserve.com)

Baewer, Carl.
     (Carl.Baewer@Mixcom.com)
(Sysop of Astro Net-1 BBS, 414-481-9976)

Biggs, Catherine, e-mail 9/19/95.
     (c4winds@teleport.com, listed as Clan of the Four Winds)

Blackburn, Jared, e-mail 5/28/96.
Blackburn, Jared, newsgroup posting to alt.tarot, alt.divination,
     and alt.magick.  5/27/96.
     (blackjar@planetc.com)
(Jared provided me with some information on geomancy which related
     to a couple of layouts in previous versions of the REF.)

Buckland, Raymond (editor), _Llewellyn's 1992 Magickal Almanac_. 
     Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota.  1991.
(A loan from Monica Withee.)

Cabezas, Jose C. Soto, private E-mail.  1/24/1996.
     (josec@bipv02.bi.ehu.es)

Cannon, Andrew, private E-mail.  August 29, 1995.
     (a.cannon@bbcnc.org.uk)
(Andrew was kind enough to mail me two layouts that he had taken
off of alt.tarot.)

Carr-Gomm, Philip and Stehpanie, _The Druid Animal Oracle_.  Simon
     & Schuster Inc., New York.  1994.
(This books comes with the Druid Animal tarot deck, loaned to me by
a friend, Monica Withee.)

Cranmer, Steve, e-mail 06/07/1995. 
     (cranmer@brivs2.bartol.udel.edu)
(After posting Version 1.0, Steve was kind enough to send me his
personal collection of layouts that he has collected off the net
for a few years.  Although he is not credited anywhere above, I owe
a good portion of this FAQ to him.)

Cortese, Janis Maria C. C., newsgroup posting.  9/2/1993.
     (cortese@netcom.com)
(Originally forwarded to me by Cranmer.  Janis was kind enough to
return my e-mail to her and lend a bit more information to me.  She
is also the woman who very courteously offered to lend me part of
her web page as home for this document.)

Danburg-Wyld, Mark, Tarot.FAQ (v. 1.1).  10/22/1993.
     (danburg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu)

Davis-Howe, Bran A., newsgroup posting.  2/18/1992.
     (formerly at ba@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu)
(Forwarded to me by Cranmer)

Doane, Doris Chase and King Keyes, _How to Read Tarot Cards_.  
     Harper & Row Publishers, New York.  1971.
(Not a very good book, IMHO.  Somewhat strict about how things
should be done and interpreted, but it does contain twelve
different layouts.)

Douglas, Alfred, _Tarot, The_.  Arkana, 1991. (ISBN 0-14-019239-5)

Efran, Daniel S., newsgroup posting.  2/16/1992.
     (formerly at d30t+@andrew.cmu.edu)
(Forwarded to me by Cranmer)

Gettings, Fred, _Tarot - How to Read the Future_.  Chancellor Press
     Ltd., U.K.  1993.  (ISBN 1-85152-251-4)

Graham, Sarena.
     (graham@ionet.net)
(maintains web site containing this document)

Guiley, Rosemary Ellen.  _The Mystical Tarot_.  Penguin Books, New
     York, New York.  1991.

Jackson, Michele.
     (jacksn@norfolk.infi.net)
(maintains web site containing this document)

Kaplan, Stuart, _Tarot Classic_.  Proper cite forthcoming.

King, D. T.
     (dtking@iii.net)
(maintains web site containing this document)

Kraig, Donald Michael, _Modern Magick  Eleven Lessons in the High
     Magickal Arts_.  Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota. 
     1994.
(Another loan from Ms. Withee)

Lord, Paul, newsgroup posting.  2/18/1992.
     (formerly at plord@HUB.CS.JMU.EDU)
(Forwarded to me by Cranmer)

Morison, Helen, e-mail.  1/5/96.
     (last known at gmorison@ix.netcom.com)
(Helen sent me an e-mail which I just sort of glanced at and
blindly threw in with my to-be-sorted stuff.  After finally
_looking_ at it, there was a plethora of information it, including
some stuff I had been specifically looking for.  Major thanks to
you Helen.)

Nickells, Graham, e-mail.  8/25/96.
     (gnickells@cix.compulink.co.uk)

Ottinger, Kenneth.
     (kottinge@trojan.neta.com)
(web site maintainer)

Ozaniec, Naomi, _The Element Tarot Handbook.  Initiation Into the
     Key Elements of the Tarot_.  Element Books Limited,
     Shaftesbury, Dorset.  1994.
(Only a few mediational layouts in this book, but other than
astrology it contains EVERYTHING you could possibly need to know
about interpreting the tarot.  If your serious about learning tarot
outside the realms of divination, this is a GREAT book to get.)

Peach, Emily, _The Tarot Workbook_.  Sterling Publishing Co., 
     Inc., New York, New York.  1984
(A fair mixing divination and Qabalistic symbolism.)

Philpott, Tammie.
     (philpott@egr.msu.edu)
(maintains web site containing this document)

Reed, Ellen Cannon, _The Witches Tarot_.  Proper cite forthcoming.

Sagie, e-mail, 4/03/96
     (CrystalSage@aol.com)

Silbury, Tira, _Sacred Marriage, The_  Honoring the God and Goddess
          Within Each Other._  Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul,
          Minnesota.  1994.
(Another loan from Ms. Withee)

Smith, Alison, private E-mail sent by her son.  10/2/1995.
     (tsmith@ddjhb.didata.co.za)

Tyagi
     (tyagi@HouseOfKaos.Abyss.Com)
(Tyagi provided many suggestions and helpful hints which prompted
and guided the restructuring of version 4.0)

Vienneau, Wade Devin, newsgroup posting.  6/21/1992.
     (gmvsw@academic.stu.StThomasU.ca)

Waite, Arthur Edward, _The Pictorial Key to the Tarot_.  Citadel
     Press, New York, New York.  1993.
(If you own the Rider-Waite deck from U.S. Games, you already have
most of this, but there is still some useful information in here
and I definitely recommend it if you plan on using a Waite deck
regularly.)

Wolf, Randy.
     (wolfd@icanect.net)
(web site maintainer)

Withee, Monica, friend.
(Monica was kind enough to loan me a few books out of her library
on the magickal arts which contained tarot layouts in them.)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
7) History of this document 

6/06/95 - Version 1.0
     A very rough draft as a favor for a peer on alt.divination. 
Contained Five Card, Line, Yes or No, Magic Seven, Celtic Cross,
Tree of Life, Four Trines, Twelve Houses, Magic Cross, Wish,
Pyramid, Three Sevens, Sephiroth, Thirty-Six, Solar, and Life
Spreads.  Also contained Card Modifiers, Line Extensions, Layout
Rotation, and Yes/No general modifiers (Section 4, now Section 5).
     Released to the public domain.

 6/10/95 - Version 1.1
     Minor formatting changes, including a grammar check.
     Included cites with each entry.
     Addition of Four Seasons, Amanda's Fan, Key, Planetary 
          (Davis), Thoth, Grand Source, and Magic Mirror Spreads.
     Information added to Magic Seven and Tree of Life Spreads.
     Never publicly released.  Used mainly as a draft for v2.0

 7/01/95 - Version 2.0
     First version to state copyright.
     Division of groups into simple, complex, and astrological.
     Bibliography more 'thorough'.
     Size of document required changing from text to WP5.1 format
          (available from me upon request)
     Three-Sevens Spread changed to Romany Spread
     Addition of Astrological Information section.
     Addition of Playing Deck, Waite, Tetragrammaton, Yes or No,
          Qabalistic Cross, Sixteen Card, Timing, Three Fans,
          Ladder, Astrological, Planetary (Peach), and Daily
          Spreads. 
     Information added to Four Seasons, Celtic Cross, Romany, Tree
          of Life Spreads.
     Addition of Querent Card Variations added with Personality, 
          Astrological, Physical, Open Deck, Random, and No Querent
          variations.
     Addition of Miscellaneous Information with playing card 
          variation only.
     Addition of FAQ History.

 9/17/95 - Version 2.1
     Thoth and Sixteen Card Spreads combined into one section.
     Addition of Mediational Layout Section
     Addition of Awen Spread, Spread of the Elements, Spirits of 
          the Circle, Hearth, Arianrhod, Split Hexagram, and Soul
          Dreamers Spread.
     Addition of Madalas, Daily Focus Point, Contemplation Ritual,
          Open the Door, Qabalistic Cross Ritual, Suit/Function
          Meditation, Figure of Eight, and Square-Triangle Layout

 3/25/96 - Version 3.0
     FAQ split into parts due to size.
     Information added to preamble of FAQ including:  change in 
          copyright notice, snail mail address, information on
          obtaining hard copies.
     Information added to section 0.
     Information added to Wish Spread.
     Pyramid Spread removed from Simple Spreads and added to 
          Complex Spread.  Information was also added to layout.
     Addition of Name, Action, Spiral, Fortune Teller's and Twenty-
          One Card Spreads    

 5/05/96 - Version 3.0.1
     Minor changes in preamble and bibliography.
     Long overdue spell/grammar check.
     Correction of Jose Cabezas' name in credits.
     
10/05/96 - Version 4.0
     Title changed from Tarot Layouts FAQ to Tarot Layouts REF.
     Numerous structural changes to complicated to include.
     Addition of Eliphas Levi Wheel, Chakra, Mandala/Alchemical,
          Trinity, Story, Triangular, Geomantic, and Cup of
          Relationships Spreads.
     Addition of Astrological House Numbering.
     Addition of The Four Elements and the Tarot lesson.

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