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Thinking Magically™ | A Minimalist’s Guide to Choice
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure , the process is its own reward.
– Amelia Earhart
Happy New Year! As you move into a new cycle of accomplishment and making things happen, I thought it would be both fun and instructive to dig deeply into a powerful method – The Rubber Band Model – I use for coordinating my plans of action with my deeds. After all, merely thinking about your life without actually doing something to move in that direction really doesn’t take you very far. And . . . here’s an interesting thing to consider: perhaps the keys to your personal kingdom of prosperity are not as much about giving you an entrance to achievement as they are about giving you access to the fulfillment of having taken action to attain your elite goal.
I first learned of this Rubber Band concept in the book entitled The Decision Book by Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschappeler. Robert A. Brugelman of the Stanford Graduate School of Business has opined on a like-minded, more complex, but similarly named model.
Imagine that you are being pulled in four directions by rubber bands and you must hold equal pressure in all directions to maintain harmony (to stay centered between the the four forces). You are always being drawn to somewhere else and being held in place at the same time. The first direction is how you talk to yourself internally (how you are internally programming yourself). The second direction is what it will take for you to win (your plan of action). The third is your activity (what you actually do in furtherance of your plan of action). And the fourth is the environment in which you find yourself (your chosen reality). [NOTE: For those of you who would like to plot this theory into a medicine wheel or The Vitruvian Square, it would look like this: North = Your Chosen Reality, East = Internal Talk, South = Your Plan of Action, West = Your Actions]
When you make a decision, then, you are constantly considering these four elements and how you will keep them in balance (even if such contemplation is at the subconscious level initially). For purposes of today, however, let’s only explore the more simplistic model from Krogerus’ and Tschappeler’s book. For this elementary approach, we will be combining all of Brugelman’s components for a decision into two factors.
The next time you have a decision to make and the choice is demanding, ask yourself these two questions:
What is holding you in place? (This question seeks to uncover how your internal dialogue, your life strategy, your deeds, and your achievements all collude to keep you right where you are. This is your fear of change and the level of your satisfaction.)
What is pulling you from where you are? (This question seeks to uncover how your internal dialogue, your life strategy, your deeds, and your achievements all collude to change things up a bit. This is your need for new things and the level of your discontent with your present situation.)
Once you get the answers to these two questions, you can readily understand, see, feel, or be touched by which of the responses is more intense, enabling, and potent than the other. You will then move in the direction of the strongest force (whether it is to stay where you are or be moved to a new place).
EXTRA CREDIT – A Deck of Shadows Reading
For some added perspective and guidance, you might consider transforming the foregoing technique into a compelling and clarifying reading.
THE RUBBER BAND SPREAD
STEP 1: From The Deck of Shadows, choose a card that represents the situation in which you find yourself. Place it face-up in front of you.
STEP 2: Mix and cut the cards until you are content.
STEP 3: Deal one card face-up to the left of your original chosen card. This card represents the temptation to keep the status quo and stay where you are.
STEP 4: Deal one card face-up to the right of your original chosen card. This card represents the allure of moving in a new direction, take risks, and change.
The cards to the let and right of the middle card represent the two positive powers that are enticing you. Ask yourself how you feel about each one. Then determine which one will rock your world if you do in that direction.
If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!
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© 2013 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | The Fork in the Road Spread
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
– Yogi Berra
There comes a time, on the road through life, when we reach what is fondly known as a fork in the road; that point at which we stretch out and are gifted a pivotal moment – a major life choice is offered. This spread offers you the perfect opportunity to show and tell the personal story of your Sitter (and what brought them to their present place) and all the way up to the juncture when a course of action or purposeful selection will be needed. The inbuilt beauty of this layout is that the Sitter gets to choose the preferred path and make a selection that will fundamentally change the reading’s end. Yes, they have to make a choice and live with the consequences!
The Fork in the Road Spread was inspired when I watched a friend, Frank Padilla, Jr., do a storytelling and magical routine using Loteria cards (picture cards that were originally used for an Italian board game similar to Bingo and which is now a tradition in Mexico culture). Frank’s handling was, in turn, based on a magic effect by Tony Chris. While Frank was not giving a reading, his tale included a laying out of the Loteria cards in a kind of roadway that ended in a Y – hence, the allegorical fork in the road. It is easy to imagine how my interest was piqued and my own vision of Frank’s performance gave birth to what you are about to read.
THE FORK IN THE ROAD SPREAD
STEP ONE: From The Deck of Shadows, remove the REFUSAL (CHOICE/INTERDICTION/ WORTHY) card and place it face up in the reading area. (If you are using Tarot cards, then remove The Fool from the deck and use that. If you are using a Lenormand deck, you might prefer to use The Crossroad card.)
STEP TWO: Have The Deck of Shadows shuffled, cut, and reassembled.
STEP THREE: Deal out 9 cards face-up to the left of the REFUSAL card. The first card goes as far to the left as possible with the last (the ninth) card adjacent to the REFUSAL card. Explain that this is the path they are on and what is leading up to the major choice that will be faced.
STEP FOUR: Lay three cards angling up and to the right of the REFUSAL card.
STEP FIVE: Lay three cards angling down and to the right of the REFUSAL card.
STEP SIX: Direct the Sitter’s attention to two sets of angled cards. Then point to the REFUSAL card and indicate that this is the metaphorical fork in the road that your Sitter will be coming to. Explain that the two sets of angled cards are the two ultimate choices/paths from which the Sitter will have to choose. Now, have your Sitter close their eyes and contemplate on the spread for a moment. Tell them that a choice has to be made. Have the Sitter open their eyes and choose one of the angles (three cards angling up or three cards angling down). The one that is selected is the choice that will be made. The angled cards that are not chosen are what the Sitter will turn away from.
MEANINGS
THE PASSAGE (the 9 cards spread to the left of the REFUSAL card): This is the course and way through life your Sitter has been experiencing and the events that will bring them to a major life decision.
THE CHOICE (the chosen set of angled cards): The course of action that will be chosen in order to manage and take care of a situation. This is how your Sitter is going to behave and tackle their life course.
THE DENIAL (the rejected set of angled cards): The course of action that will not be chosen and the strategy that will be rebuffed. This is what your Sitter will turn their back on and find unwelcome.
The Fork in the Road Spread is a powerful layout to use when someone tells you they are stuck or that they know they are moving forward and that something is about to happen but they need some confirmation and direction.
If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!
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© 2012 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | Guest Post – Rob Lupine
Every now and then, I am contacted with someone’s personal experience with The Deck of Shadows. It is always exciting to hear how the cards have taken on a new significance for some. So . . . I share the following from Rob Lupine with you (and with his kind permission) -
INTRODUCING: THE DECK OF SHADOWS!
A few weeks ago I attended a meeting of mages, necromancers and other practitioners of the dark craft that I indulge so much of my passions in.
Such meetings are a great way to network, catch up with friends and share new ideas in the workings of the art, and I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.
I always set myself a rule not to buy anything that I will not use, (no matter how pretty or attractive it may seem, the last thing the wife needs is another “Unusual” conversation piece to explain away in the living room!)
So when I saw the deck of shadows on one of the stalls I barely gave it a second look. After all, it was just another deck of oracle cards and I have loads of them. It was in one of those nasty little net bags that I hate so much- they rip so easily in the pocket!
It wasn’t even a respectable size- no bigger than a deck of common or garden playing cards! However that is the only time I will use the word “common” in respect to them!*
A little while later I was talking to the man running the stall, a man who I have a lot of respect for in the field- Dr. Todd Landman. We spoke of various routines and techniques and tools, and the conversation turned to psychic readings.
A few years ago Todd produced some amazing cards based around the Rorschach ink blot tests of the late 19th century. I was complimenting him of these cards and telling him how I used them in my psychic readings. Dr. Todd smiled and asked me, “If you liked them, have you seen the deck of shadows?”
Well not wishing to appear rude, I smiled politely while he reached for a deck and proceeded to open them and show me the cards themselves. At first glance the black and white imagery does not leap out, it has to be said. But this little deck doesn’t need to brag.
Each card has one key word and three secondary words to have meanings in four directions if the user so wishes. The centre of the card displays a piece of classic art that reflects the words surrounding it, and at the top there is a playing card value. For those of us that know how to read playing cards, you will observe a lot of care has been taken to line up the right card value with the right image. To round everything off there is a different symbol at the bottom of each card.
There are 54 cards in all- the 52 standard cards, a “Yes” card and a “no” card. The latter two would be great on their own to work a pendulum reading!
One of the things I look for in a tool of divination is something that will “Speak” clearly to the reader, with a new meaning every time you look at them. This deck seems to achieve just that. I love the fact that I am still discovering new aspects and probably will continue to do so for some time yet.
The deck comes with a booklet that contains a description of each card and suggested spreads. It has to be said I seldom do more than flick through the book, preferring to get to know the cards in my own way and work in a style that seems right to me, however the book does make good reading.
The thing I love about these cards is that I was able to read with them right away- I was working with them on Psychic World TV the Monday after the meeting, and the answers practically leaped from the cards at me. A lot of the time I was able to do a full reading only using one card, however recently I have been using a three card spread.
The first card answers the question, “Where am I?” and looks at where you are at philosophically speaking, the situation before you at the moment.
The second card looks at what action is needed to improve and progress the situation forward.
The third card will show the person having the reading what is around them to help them achieve the action described in the second card.
I have found this spread will answer most questions effectively, but as always would urge the user to discover their own spreads and work in their own way!
The Deck of Shadows is an amazing deck and I am delighted that Todd introduced me to them. He was selling them on behalf of a gentleman named Scott Grossberg, who was kind enough to allow me to use them on television.
I will say that these cards, while not the most flamboyant in the world, have the ability to surprise, and impress. and being the size they are makes them easy to have on your person if you are put on the spot to do an impromptu reading!
If you are a reader and interested in getting your own deck of shadows they can be bought from this link (I’m not getting anything from Scott for doing this, I just believe in giving credit where it’s due.)
*Well- and also here, but that can’t be helped
SCOTT’S FINAL THOUGHT
Thank you again, Rob, for your kinds words. I look forward to hearing of your further adventures with the cards.
And thank you, Todd, for introducing Rob to his new friend!
If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!
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© 2012 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
Thinking Magically™ | How To Move On (with Deck of Shadows bonus)
Life is like riding a bicycle – in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.
– Albert Einstein
Each of us is on a natural journey to fulfill our many desires and sidestep our sundry torments. In the past, I have written about just getting out there and doing something – doing anything – to move in the direction of those aspirations, carvings, and passions. I have always believed that why you want to accomplish something or encounter someone is more significant than how you plan to do those things.
Still, some planning for your remarkable adventures is essential in order to bring you relaxation, peace-of-mind, and (yes, I’ll say it) self-indulgence along the way. So, today is about skillfully creating an actual blueprint or broad action-plan for your life. Today, let’s explore how you will move on (since, if you’ve read my prior articles, I know you’ve already explored why you’re taking action).
Bear in mind, this is not a how-to article with one-thing-at-a-time details that you must rigidly follow as a mandate for accomplishing one specific task. Rather, this is an exploration of the bigger concept of how things successfully come together in a way that is both willingly accessible and happily at your disposal all of the time.
Take the time to consider the following 5 items before taking your next big step forward. If you want to take your assessment to the next level, write out your thoughts, impressions, and belief as you make your way through the following.
YOUR JOURNEY ONWARD
In preparation for leaving where-you-are for where-you-want-to-be, you need to know the following:
1. What warning signs to look for
2. When to seek help from another person
3. What information, knowledge, or wisdom you are looking for
4. How much power to assert
5. What magical elixir to take and when
Warning Signs
Always be on the lookout for signs and symbols that speak to you and which indicate some circumstances that need your focused attention, potential threats to your success, obstacles in your path forward, and some form of control that someone else is attempting to exercise over you and your dream.
Action Exercise: Take a moment and write down all the signs and signals that, if you saw them, would be an indication to you that your path might have taken a wrong turn or you have not given enough attention to what you are doing and the choices you are making. Don’t worry about getting down every bad omen that might arise. There are always surprises – good and bad – along the road. You are just making note of the major ones that immediately come to mind. If you think about them now, you can avoid them or minimize their impact in the future.
Seeking Help
If you accomplish your goal all on your own, terrific! But, don’t disregard or disbelieve in the power of advisers, guides, and gurus. It is said that Dale Carnegie, then one of the most powerful men in the world, assembled 50 advisers and guides that he could rely upon to help build his empire. If that circle-of-kindred-spirits concept is good enough for some of the most successful people in the world, it’s good enough for you and me!
Action Exercise: Go back and re-read my articles about Finding Magic:
This time, however, rather than using imaginary heroes or people you really don’t know, see if you can fill your list with go-to mentors and guides; those you can genuinely call upon in any time of need.
Wisdom
Can you truly have success without wisdom? Wisdom is that ability to deeply grasp and understand a situation or a person. It is also the capacity for contemplation; the expertise and cleverness to examine why things are the way they are (gee, we’ve come full circle back to that why word again).
Action Exercise: Really mull over what achieving your chosen success will mean for you. Will it make you stronger? Fairer? More intelligent? More courageous? Why will it do those things? And, most importantly, what knowledge would you like to learn along the way that will help you see through the dimness you now face?
Determination
Think about this for a moment: Do you know anyone who is wildly successful and ineffective? I didn’t think so. For you to achieve the accomplishments of your visions, you need to be potent, powerful, and compelling in your ambitions, your goals, and your actions. I want you to have a single-mindedness that gives you the staying power to see yourself through to your chosen goal. That being said, I also want you to learn to pace yourself. In 2011, the world’s oldest marathon runner (Fauja Singh) was asked about his secrets. He said, simply, you have to keep your engine going. He also added: Why worry about these small, small things? I don’t stress. You never hear of anyone dying of happiness.
Learn to apply your willpower and backbone at the right times along your path. The way you pace yourself will be a determining factor of how fast and how enjoyable achieving your triumph will be.
Action Exercise: Write down a list of the various steps along your chosen journey. For each major sub-event, determine how much of your time and energy is going to be needed, taking into account that winning minor victories is not the point if you don’t achieve your overall goal in the end. Note the times and events when you might need to slow down or those times when you should pause and re-evaluate your progress. Note the times and events when you should speed up and bring all your strength of character to bear.
The Magic Elixir
This is something that most people don’t like to discuss in public. But, let’s face it, some of the most successful people are superstitious. Whether they wear hologram-embedded rubber bracelet, dress a certain way for a big meeting, cross their fingers, or believe that a particular ritual for success is going to work, human beings like to feel good. More importantly, we love to give meaning to the things we do and the actions we take. The fact is, it doesn’t matter whether a piece of rubber, twisted fingers, or fancy clothes, by themselves, hold magic – all that is important is that we perform better when we have that comfort level. Charming yourself with a magic elixir will increase your abilities and talents while, at the same time, reduce your stress level.
Action Exercise: Think about some lucky charms, blessed rituals, or magic-inducing pieces of clothing that bring you the feelings of tranquility, mastery, and promise. Then, narrow down these items or ceremonies to one particular object or custom that you will use for your chosen goal.
A DECK OF SHADOWS BONUS
For those of you who like to use The Deck of Shadows for readings, you can use The Journey Onward Spread to determine how your participant will be taking their next course of action:
Step 1: Shuffle and cut the cards using your preferred method.
Step 2: Select 5 cards from the deck and place them face-down in a row. Card #1 goes to your far left. Card #5 is placed to your far right. Cards #2 through #4 are placed sequentially to the left of Card #1.
Step 3: Turn Card #1 face-up and interpret it. Proceed with Card #2 only after Card #1 has been discussed. Proceed similarly with Cards #3 through #5.
Step 4: After all the cards have been turned face-up, look to see if, as a whole, they tell a further story and discuss that with your participant.
Interpretation Key for The Journey Onward Spread:
Card #1 – The warning signs that the person should be looking for; if this arises, it is an advance notice for the person to pause and reflect on their current course
Card #2 - When to seek help from another person and what type of assistance will be given
Card # 3 - The information, knowledge, or wisdom that will be gained along the way
Card #4 – How the person’s dominion and control over the situation will materialize during the journey
Card #5 – The type of magical aid that will come to the person during the journey
If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!
And make sure to sign up for my blog mailing list so you get all future postings delivered directly to your inbox.
© 2012 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | The Lost and Found Spread
I once was lost, but now am found. – Amazing Grace
Today I’m going to entrust to you a very special spread of mine – The Lost and Found Spread; something that is part of a much larger and arrant reading system. This method was purpose-built for use with The Deck of Shadows. What you are about to master is the basic handling. There are many, many layers to this one! Perhaps I will show you more of them in some later writings if there’s interest. Of course, like my other spreads, this will also certainly work with any other oracle system you might want to use.
AN INTRODUCTION
The Lost and Found Spread magically emerged from the core belief that you can manifest anything in your life with sufficient faith, sufficient dreams, sufficient desire, and a sufficient connection with life. Any suffering you experience is fundamentally caused by a forgetting of your intensity of at least one of those elements.
You only have to know these four essential components:
Faith – This is what you are convinced by, think of as true, and puzzle over. It is your complete belief and self-confidence in yourself, someone, or something. This is your courage, your bravery, and your optimism. When you lose faith, you no longer trust in yourself or others, and your hopefulness turns to hopelessness. KEYWORDS INCLUDE: faith, trust, believe, confidence, think, determine, judge, consider
Dreams – This is what burns inside you, lights you up, and sets your aspirations on fire. It is your ambition, your sense of purpose, and your fantasies. This is what you refuse to live without because it inspires you and helps you to plan for action in the real world. When you lose dreams, you become discouraged, demoralized, and you are prevented from experimenting with new ideas and plans. KEYWORDS INCLUDE: dream, expect, imagine, pretend, assume, presume, consume, roused
Desire – This is your gut feelings, your instincts, and your heartstrings. It is your passion, your love, and your impulses. This is what you want and wish for, and where you admit what you are attracted to. Lose desire, and you lose your wishes for people, things, and events; your want for more in life vanishes. KEYWORDS INCLUDE: desire, passion, love, wish, hope, want, lust, urge
Touch – This is when you grasp something, seize the day, and connect with or reach out to someone. It is your ability to handle anyone or anything. It is your capability for doing things well. It is being in command of your world. When you lose touch, you don’t feel that you are competent to apply yourself as you once did. KEYWORDS INCLUDE: touch, grasp, hold, seize, possess, embrace, connect, contain
Clearly, you can see how, if you lose any of these, you have plainly lost your way!
Likewise, your bliss easily happens and you experience true pleasure when all of these incredible ingredients are fluidly working in cooperation with each other. The quality of your delight is equal to the quality of how well all of these elements join forces and soar within you.
It is also vital for you to recognize that each of these elements has an association with the four directions (North, East, South, West) and the suits of the Minor Arcana (Pentacles, Swords, Wands, Cups), as follows:
FAITH = East = Swords
DREAMS = South = Wands
DESIRE = West = Cups
TOUCH = North = Pentacles
That’s all you really need to know for the basic spread. So, let’s get started . . .
THE LOST AND FOUND SPREAD
STEP ONE: Shuffle and cut The Deck of Shadows. Divide the deck into three piles. Have your participant assemble them back in any order they choose.
STEP TWO: Deal four cards off the top of the deck to form a compass rose. Card 1 (Meaning: Faith) goes to your right. Card 2 (Meaning: Dreams) goes closest to you. Card 3 (Meaning: Desire) goes to your left. And Card 4 (Meaning: Touch) is placed furthest away from you. The cards should look like this:
Now interpret the cards. These four represent what could vanish, be missing, or be misplaced. These are the things that could lead your participant off course. And these are the things that will leave them feeling disoriented. These are the things that should neither be neglected nor squandered.
A Fine Distinction: There may be times when a card appears at a specific location and its meaning, on first blush, seems inexact or mistaken. On closer examination, however, you will find an intuitive connection that does make sense and will appeal to you. For example, you see the Hate/Madness/Rage/Severity card in the picture above and in the Faith location. You might be tempted to superficially ask, How is the loss of hate a bad thing? This card is about strong and powerful emotions. It is about things that are loathed and despised. The more valuable analysis, then, is that the participant risks a loss of their trust and confidence (their faith) through their continued yielding to and wallowing in those things that are disliked and intolerable.
You can stop here if you want to provide a shorter reading. If you want to be a reading superstar, keep going with the following . . .
STEP THREE: Deal four more cards off the top of the deck. Card 5 (Meaning: Faith) goes to your right. Card 6 (Meaning: Dreams) goes closest to you. Card 7 (Meaning: Desire) goes to your left. And Card 8 (Meaning: Touch) is placed furthest away from you. The cards should now look like this:
This second group of four cards represents what will be discovered, acquired, and experienced. These are the things that will bring your participant pleasure, delight, and happiness. Make certain, however, that you are not placing too much emphasis on any one direction/card. These cards, together, provide balance, stability, and well-being.
Another Fine Distinction: In the picture, above, you will see the Death/Transition/Lies/Tears card in the Touch location and as part of the Found aspect of the reading. Again, you might be asking, How is the finding of death a good thing? The Death card appears in the Touch location. The stronger interpretation for this would be: You are going to find that a transition and transformation are coming. This massive shift is going to move you into a closer connection with all that is around you.
One More Fine Distinction: Don’t forget to read the Lost and the Found cards in reference to each other (if you are doing the expanded reading version). These cards twirl and flirt and twinkle with each other and are not to be read in ominous isolation. Have fun with the combinations that appear and let your storytelling abilities shine!
THE END
I trust that you have enjoyed this litter foray with The Lost and Found Spread. While this technique is part of a bigger reading system, it still provides you with a quite magical way and stand-alone method for interpreting what you will find to be the most essential parts of a person’s life. Let me know what you discover as you practice with this spread!
Just some thoughts. If you enjoyed this, please click below to share this with others.
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© 2012 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | Hands of Truth
Truth is what works. – William James
Here is a video tutorial for a fascinating and powerful technique that relies on the ideomotor responses of the person you are working with. (Hint: you can use this, yourself, for some spectacular changes and making new discoveries).
Just some thoughts. If you enjoyed this, please click below to share this with others.
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© 2012 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | The Start Over Spread – 7 Steps to Power
Well I know it wasn’t you who held me down
Heaven knows it wasn’t you who set me free
So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key
- The Eagles, Already Gone
Happy New Year! On this, the first day of January 2012, I want to share with you a terrific meditative technique and spread combination that can be effortlessly be used with The Deck of Shadows (or other oracle of your choice). The Start Over Spread can easily help you to clear away your negativity and give yourself a literal start over in the various areas of your life that are important. Whether you use this to strengthen your latest resolutions or simply to help carry your misery-making negativity away, The Start Over Spread is an unique way to wield your favorite see-ing tool in an intoxicating way.
Let’s begin with a quick understanding of what negativity accomplishes in the first place. For me, negativity is something that, in its counter-productive aspect, keeps us from doing what we know should be done or what we want to accomplish. It is an internal signaling that almost seems to plead with us to do nothing, change course, and even move backward from our chosen goals. Internally, it can be responsible for feelings of disappointment, annoyance, and anger. Externally, it can be accountable for making you disagreeable, gloomy, and unpleasant to the rest of the world.
So, let’s not waste any time and banish the negativity so that you can make amazing headway with your positive goals, instead . . .
THE START OVER SPREAD
STEP 1: Remove the following cards from The Deck of Shadows – War, Faith, Riddle, and Wretched Excess. If you look at the top of each of these cards you will see that these are the 9′s (9 of Spades, 9 of Clubs, 9 of Hearts, and 9 of Diamonds, respectively). The number 9 in The Vitruvian Square system represents endings, resolutions, and discontinuing what has been happening. These are the proper associations we want to bring to bear in order to scatter the negativity in our life.
STEP 2: Now, imagine there is a compass rose or medicine wheel in the casting space in front of you. Place War (9 of Spades) into the position on your right – this represents the East. Place Faith (9 of Clubs) in the position closest to you – this represents the South. Place Riddle (9 of Hearts) in the position on your left – this represents the West. And, finally, place Wretched Excess (9 of Diamonds) in the space furthest away from you – this represents the North. After you have laid these four cards down, you will have formed an equilateral cross. There are numerous associations you can use for these four fundamental points. For this technique, I recommend using the following connections:
EAST = Thinking, Ambition
SOUTH = Intuition, Health
WEST = Feeling, Love
NORTH = Sensation, Wealth
STEP 3: Now take as much time as you personally feel necessary to reflect upon each of these cards and bring to light all of the negative thoughts, negative things, and negative people that exist in your experience in each of these categories. Looking at the War card, you might start reviewing all the counterproductive conflicts, struggles, responsibilities you have taken on, and fatalistic thinking you experienced in the last year. In looking at the Faith card, you will likely begin your musing with a review of all those times when you have doubted yourself, lacked the courage to move forward with your dreams, failed to act, and allowed fear to rule you. In using the Riddle card, start assessing all those times when you have failed to follow your own heart because of self-imposed obstacles, a flawed belief that love – for you – is an unsolved mystery, and the notion that love just happens rather than you being at the helm of your passions and desires. Finally, for Wretched Excess, you can begin to consider all the literal baggage, unneeded extravagance, and temptations you have given into and which have not served you well. This is the most important stage of the technique, by the way; the time when you become brutally honest with yourself. After all, you cannot evict the bad stuff until you admit that it exists.
STEP 4: Turn over each of the four cardinal point cards. As you do so, imagine they are doors that you are closing on your prior negativity and less than fulfilling experiences. You are now ready to start over.
STEP 5: From a shuffled and cut Deck of Shadows, select three cards for each of the cardinal points. These cards, read together, represents a next step in your journey; what you might want to consider doing next in each of the four main areas of your life (thinking, feeling, intuition, and sensation) in order to exile your negatively forever. Be imaginative and truly visionary in your interpretations and make certain that you are putting a positive spin on what is revealed to you. These 12 cards (three in each of the four directions) will divulge the pivotal route you might consider in order to make your positive resolutions a reality.
[NOTE: The four cardinal point cards are shown face-up to orient you. These would normally be face-down.]
STEP 6: Resolve that you are now moving away from all the negativity and moving towards the solutions and insights that have been shown to you. Make these current intents a must!
STEP 7: Finally, thank yourself. That’s right, thank yourself for your own honesty and openness, and your strength of character to now take your life in a whole new and positive direction.
For those of you who might want to take The Start Over Spread to an even higher level, you can use The Vitruvian Square Casting Cloth (or project The Vitruvian Square matrix onto your casting space). Please remember that, in using The Vitruvian Square, Place of Power 6 is West and Place of Power 3 is East. This allows you to add another powerful level of associations to the cards you are using.
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© 2012 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | The Distressed Look
Now for a little something different. Here is a video tutorial on aging/distressing The Deck of Shadows.
Here is a group of aged/distressed cards.
And here’s a comparison of the same card before and after.
If you’re interested in finding out more about The Deck of Shadows, you can go to my website at the following link:
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | A Senisible Pendulum
The pendulum of the mind alternates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong. – Carl Jung
Many of you already know how to use a pendulum. For those times when you desire to convey the real power behind this divination, dowsing, and self-discovery tool or you wish to train someone else on how it can be used, The Deck of Shadows has a superb, built-in calibration and reading guide right on the back of each card! That’s right, the back design is a pendulum chart embedded in it that can be customized to meet the needs of any situation in which you find yourself. Obviously, there are many ways to use a pendulum with the cards. Here’s but one of those methods.
To begin, let’s see the back design for The Deck of Shadows:
To use this pattern, I suggest the following handling:
STEP 1: POSITION THE CARD
When you examine The Deck of Shadows‘ back design, you begin to notice there is a thin white that runs from the center of the card to the outer edge. Turn the card so that this line is now running from the center of the card towards the person who will be using the pendulum. The card back should look just like the diagram, above. The N (North) will be furthest away from you. The S (South) will be closest to you. E (East) will be on your right-hand side. W (West) will be on your left-hand side.
STEP 2: VISUALIZE A CONNECTION
Imagine what it would be like to have a distinctive and personal bond with the back design you are looking at. Imagine the white line that seems to flow from the center of the card now extending beyond the physical limits of the card. The line is actually gliding towards you and into your heart. There it has fastened a place for itself, and you can now see the line that exists between you and the back design growing brighter and easily carrying information back and forth between you and the card.
STEP 3: CALIBRATE THE PENDULUM (AND YOURSELF)
The use of a pendulum is idiosyncratic – it can speak to people in different ways. Whether you are reading for yourself or letting someone else use the device, it is best to check to see how your subconscious interacts with the pendulum. (As a side note, the pendulum works through ideomotor response – unconscious, reflexive motions.)
First, bring your attention to the concentric circles on the back of The Deck of Shadows‘ cards. Simply bring your pendulum over the back of the card and intend for the pendulum to start moving in a circular motion. When the pendulum circles – either clockwise or counter-clockwise – that is your ready position; the movement indicating that your subconscious is prepared and primed to give you an answer.
Now, if you look at the diagram, above, you will see the N and S points. When the pendulum moves up and down between those two cardinal places, that generally signifies a yes or positive response.
When the pendulum moves side to side between the E (East) and W (West) points, that generally represents a yes or negative response.
I use the NW/SE diagonal (upper left to lower right) to represent the subconscious’ message: I don’t know! (This can also arise when it’s simply not time for the answer to be brought to your conscious knowing.)
I use the NE/SW diagonal (upper right to lower left) to represent the subconscious’ message: Maybe.
Once you understand these settings, it’s time to test whether they are working for you (or the person how is using the pendulum). You do this by asking questions that you consciously know the answers to and watching how the pendulum responds. For example, if you’re a biological male and ask the question, Am I a biological female? the pendulum should swing side to side for a no response. If the pendulum swings up and down (back and forth), that is an indication that your subconscious wants to use that movement as its yes movement.
Ask a number of questions like this so that you can clarify and make certain the types of responses your subconscious wants to work with.
STEP 4: EXPLORE!
Once your card, pendulum, and you are in-sync, it’s time to play. Using the calibration we have just established, you want to use yes/no questions. Don’t use questions that contain the word or. For example, you can frame your question like this: Have I done enough at work to deserve a raise? You don’t want to frame it like this: Am I going to get a raise at work or are things going to just stay the same?
Here are some tips in forming questions:
1. Ask questions that you believe your subconscious has answers to.
2. Ask questions that help you to make a choice.
3. Ask questions that help illuminate how you really feel about things or people.
Finally, remember that the quality of your pendulum readings are equal to the quality of the questions you ask.
If you’d like to find out more about The Deck of Shadows you can click on the following link:
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | The Play of the Great Pumpkin
Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He’s gotta pick this one. He’s got to. I don’t see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there’s not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see. – Linus (Charles Schulz)
Charles Schulz first mentioned the Great Pumpkin in 1959. As the story goes, The Great Pumpkin finds a pumpkin patch he judges to be the most heartfelt and sincere. The Great Pumpkin then flies through the air and delivers toys to the all the good children. Anyone who knows the story can also attest to the fact that the Great Pumpkin has a fragile personality and so is easily offended. If displeased, the Great Pumpkin will bypass and deny his bounty to anyone who doubts his existence. As such, you quickly learn to say things like when the Great Pumpkin arrives, rather than if the Great Pumpkin arrives.
On a deeper level, the Great Pumpkin is the tale of Linus’ unshakeable belief in the unknown (and, perhaps, unknowable). Schulz has provided generations with a story of coming to grips with your core beliefs. What a perfect concept to use for a Deck of Shadows layout. So, here goes . . .
THE PLAY OF THE GREAT PUMPKIN
This spread uses 9 cards from a well-shuffled deck. This layout is designed to explore what you find to be profound and honest, and the rewards that will be yours from your choices.
CARDS 1, 2, and 3: THE PUMPKIN PATCH
MEANING: These cards represent your current situation, where you find yourself sitting – where you are located, so to speak – most of the time, and those things, events, or people that have a heartfelt and genuine meaning for you. Just as Linus has to discover the most sincere pumpkin patch in order to watch the Great Pumpkin arrive, you, too, are responsible for choosing how honest your situation is at any given moment.
CARD 4: LINUS VAN PELT
MEANING: The Linus card represents the theology or philosophy that is driving your actions at the moment. There are times when this belief can actually, but momentarily, convince others of your sincerity. In the end, however, it is what you hold to be true for yourself and yourself, alone.
CARD 5: THE SECURITY BLANKET
MEANING: This is what is providing you with intense emotional support and psychological support. This is a transitional object and represents something tangible (rather than an internal construct).
CARD 6: SALLY BROWN
MEANING: This card represents your sidekick in your present situation. You might be a mentor to him or her. This person also provides you with alternate points of view or philosophies. In fact, the Sally card also provides you with some of the traits you are missing and so serves as a balance.
CARD 7: THE GREAT PUMPKIN
MEANING: This card is not just about hope, it is about your staunch belief, and not giving up on what others tell you is the impossible. The Great Pumpkin card is what you know in your soul is going to happen. Others might consider you as mad as a hatter for regarding what this card represents as true, but your faith is unshakeable! Your job, of course, is to find the best place from which to view the fruits of your convictions.
CARD 8: THE GIFTS
MEANING: This is what you believe you will be given when - not if – the Great Pumpkin event (represented by Card 7) appears to you.
CARD 9: THE STUPID BEAGLE
MEANING: In the unlikely event that you do not put yourself in a place or position to view the arrival of your own personal Great Pumpkin, this is what is revealed to you, instead. This is the reality you will have to deal with or the actual gift you will receive in the end.
When the cards are spread out, this is what they should look like:
In giving this particular reading, remember that there is no unbiased or fair-minded way to determine what is sincere and what is disingenuous. As such, this layout can also be used to help someone to put aside their doubts and move forward with faith and confidence. In other words, there is no room for doubt when you are a believer in the Great Pumpkin.
If you’re interested in finding out more about The Deck of Shadows, you can go to my website at the following link:
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The Great Pumpkin, Linus, Snoopy, Sally, and other Peanuts characters are the creations and copyright of Charles M. Schulz and Peanuts Worldwide LLC.
© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
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