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The Deck of Shadows | A Deck of Shadows Talking Board
GLENDOWER: I can call spirits from the vasty deep!
HOTSPUR: Why so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them?
— William Shakespeare (Henry IV, Part I, act III)
In 1890, Elijah Bond introduced his Talking Board to the world. At the very top of the board, was the word, Ouija. In one marketing campaign, this is what was written about it:
What is it? “Ouija” prophesies, forewarns and advises, as well as prefigures one’s destiny. “Ouija’s” revelation of what was, what is, and what is to come, rival the Delphic Oracles. The curtain is lifted, revealing the secrets of that debatable land between matter and spirit, and nature’s laws have no control over this marvelous instrument. The Unknown Land seems almost within our grasp, and the scientific mind strives to comprehend just where this borderland lies. The “Ouija” is without a doubt the most interesting, remarkable and mysterious production of the 20th century. Its operations are always interesting and frequently invaluable, answering, as it does, questions concerning the past, present and future with marvelous accuracy. The English Journal, “Light,” says: “It certainly seems a readier method of communication than the planchette.”
While Talking Boards have been around for a relatively long time, Hasbro’s version of the William Fuld Ouija Board is what people know about today. Most of the time, carrying around a full-sized Talking Board is impractical (and, let’s admit it, looks a little strange). Here’s a method for using The Deck of Shadows as a standby or rough-and-ready (and very portable) Talking Board.
Most Talking Boards are marked with the letters of the alphabet, the numbers 0 through 9, and the words Yes, No, and Goodbye. You will be creating a similar layout using the cards from The Deck of Shadows.
STEP 1: Take out the cards and remove the following three cards:
1. Thummin (Start/Innocent/Yes)
2. Urim (Finish/Guilty/No)
3. The Void (Infinite/Nonattachment/Darknesss)
The Thummin and Urim cards represent yes and no, respectively. These are placed in the upper left (yes) and right (no) corners of your spread.
You will be using The Void card to represent the concept of goodbye. This is placed at the bottom, center of your layout.
STEP 2: Shuffle and cut the balance of the cards. Now deal out two curved rows of 13 face-up cards, each.
When you are finished, your layout should look like this:
STEP 3: Hold one of your hands out over the cards, palm-down. You are not touching the cards or the table. With some practice, you can determine how best to use one of your fingers as a pointer and which is more comfortable to use. Also, you will need to trust your intuition and start to know which card or cards to which your hand is being directed.
STEP 4: Have one or more of the people who are with you, lightly but firmly, place the fingers of both their hands on the back of your hand. In other words, you are becoming a human planchette.
STEP 5: Only one person, at a time, should ask a question. You might simply want to begin with, Is there a message for me?
STEP 6: After a short amount of time, you will feel your hand drawn in different directions and to different cards. Allow yourself to be the conduit – not the prime mover. If, for some reason, your hand does not feel drawn or moved anywhere, slowly move your hand around (with the other person keeping her fingers on the back of your hand) to get the juices and energy flowing. Remember, you’re an observer! Also, this isn’t an endurance test. If your hand becomes tired, rest for a few moments. (Oh, one more thing, pay attention to any patterns that your hand is making as it moves about – these patterns might also prove important to the message that is being received.)
STEP 7: The Deck of Shadows Talking Board provides you complete words and concepts to work with. Pay attention to the words, figures, images, and letters your hand is being drawn to. With practice, you will learn to interpret these easily and quickly. Don’t forget that each card from The Deck of Shadows has small images at the bottom of each card, a capital letter that stands out with each keyword, and numbers at the top of each card. Naturally, it’s easier if someone else is taking notes!
The beauty of using The Deck of Shadows as a Talking Board is the uniqueness of each sitting. There will be a different combination of 26 cards for each sitting . . . obviously leading to one-of-a-kind and personalized experiences.
OPENING AND CLOSING EACH SESSION: As a side note, feel free to add any opening and closing statements, rituals, or recitations you feel appropriate. There are no rules. It all depends on how you and the others wish to set the tone for the event.
ALTERNATIVE HANDLING: For those of you who prefer using a pendulum over your own hand, you can hand a pendulum to someone and use the pendulum as a modified planchette. Once the question is asked aloud, watch the movements of the pendulum. Take the person’s hand who is asking the questions and move it in the direction of the pendulum’s actions until the pendulum clearly indicates the appropriate cards to be read.
If you’re interested in finding out more about The Deck of Shadows, you can go to my website at the following link:
Just some thoughts. If you enjoyed this, please click below to share this with others.
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | The Frankenstein Spread (Guest Post)
Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of voice, but out of chaos. - Mary Shelley
Halloween is only about a month away. Certainly you will want to be prepared with your Deck of Shadows for some fashionable layouts to add to your bag of tricks! Recently, Kevin Winder contacted me with a sublime layout that centers around Mary Shelley’s tale. I’m posting this now so you can become familiar with this before the upcoming holiday.
As a bit of backstory, the first edition of Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus was published in London in 1818. Many people incorrectly call the monster in the tale, Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein is the man who created the monster we’ve all come to know. The monster was never given an actual name in the book.
GUEST POST FROM KEVIN WINDER
There are times in everyone’s life when they feel that certain issues and problems have been created by others. Still it is how we react to those situations that matters most. The whole purpose of The Frankenstein Spread is to show someone that it may be their personally darker side that they feel unable to control (as opposed to the situation, itself). As with all things, there is an opposite that may bring light to the situation and once this is recognized, controlling it may become easier.
The Frankenstein Monster’s Spread uses 6 cards in 6 positions. They are:
CARD 1. The Creator (Victor Frankenstein)
MEANING: This is what has created the monster that seems to be in control of your life at the current time, and what allows you to resign yourself to being controlled by something you feel is not of your own making.
CARD 2. The Monster
MEANING: This is your current personal situation; that which is destroying your real self and, as such, is controlling you and your life. It may even be shattering your hopes and dreams. This is something that you do not currently like about yourself. It may even be the direct opposite of the person you wish to be or the way you wish things to be.
CARD 3. The Monster’ Feelings
MEANING: This is how you view The Monster and how it is controlling your thoughts and actions. It may also explain why you have let it have such control.
CARD 4. The Villagers
MEANING: This is how your friends/family actually view The Monster and the way that it is acting and their efforts to try and appease it as opposed to letting it run amok.
CARD 5. The Downfall
MEANING: What the possible outcome may be if The Monster is allowed to continue unchecked or the problems that it may create are allowed to continue.
CARD 6. The Escape
MEANING: That which will awaken the real you and stir you from your current path. This ensures that you are far better prepared to deal with The Monster should it reappear.
[Scott's Notes: Obviously, the Boris Karloff images are what most people envision when they hear the name Frankesnstein. However, Bernie Wrightson of Marvel Comics illustrated a 1983 edition of Frankenstein based on the actual descriptions from the original Shelley book. I have used Wrightson's images for the card layout. More information on Wrightson's work can be found here: Frankenstein Illustrated.]
Here is what the spread looks like:
Images (c) Bernie Wrightson
SCOTT’S COMMENTS
Thank you, Kevin, for this very timely Deck of Shadows layout! I truly appreciate you taking the time to invent this, write it up, and then sharing it.
If you’re interested in finding out more about The Deck of Shadows, you can go to my website at the following link:
Just some thoughts (from Kevin Winder and me). If you enjoyed this, please click below to share this with others.
And make sure to sign up for my blog mailing list so you get all future postings delivered directly to your inbox.
© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Vitruvian Square | Principles of Reality
The I Ching insists upon self-knowledge throughout. The method by which this is to be achieved is open to every kind of misuse, and is therefore not for the frivolous-minded and immature; nor is it for intellectualists and rationalists. It is appropriate only for thoughtful and reflective people who like to think about what they do and what happens to them. – Carl Jung
The Vitruvian Square owes part of its origin to the Lo Shu Square. Naturally, I have been asked how The Vitruvian Square, the I Ching, and the Ba Gua correspond with each other. For those who might not already know, ancient Chinese legend tells of a great flood that occurred in pre-historic times. Following the deluge, a remarkable turtle came out of the water; the back of its shell containing a discernible arrangement of dots. These dots became know as the Lo Shu pattern and presupposed a three-by-three grid of numbers/meanings/associations.
Some claim that the three-by-three grid housed 8 meaningful trigrams; each trigram made up of broken and unbroken lines. The 8 trigrams constitute some fundamental principles of reality for the Taoist and are often called the Ba Gua. The Ba Gua is commonly associated with the Lo Shu square. It is only natural to show you how the 8 trigrams fit into The Vitruvian Square matrix, and to easily demonstrate how energy flows between the squares.
1 = ☵ = Water = Endless
2 = ☷ = Earth = Receptive
3 = ☳ = Thunder = Shaking
4 = ☴ = Wind = Grounding
5 = Yin Yang
6 = ☰ = Heaven = Forceful
7 = ☱ = Lake = Unlocked
8 = ☶ = Mountain = Bound
9 = ☲ = Fire = Radiant
An expanded version of this with some basic correspondences from Lo Shu, I Ching, and Ba Gua theories would look like this when superimposed upon The Vitruvian Square:
Position 5, you notice, does not host a trigram. Rather, it represents the wonderful Ying Yang concept; the Place of Power where perceived extremes and the trivial, opposing forces and those which are aligned, and differences and similarities all come together, and then give rise to each other all over again. This is where the ebb and flow of spirited reality takes place.
Extra credit – You can combine the individual Places of Power within The Vitruvian Square to create 64 of the same types of hexagram fusions as you find with the Ba Gua and I Ching systems of divination. For example, the hexagram for Youthful Folly is a combination of the inner trigram ☵ (Square 1) and outer trigram ☶ (Square 8). Can you see how the concept of Youthful Folly is epitomized by The (inner) Fool and betrayed by (outer lack of) Strength? Have fun exploring and meditating upon the 64 different combinations and discover the additional depth the exists within The Vitruvian Square.
Just some thoughts. If you enjoyed this, please click below to share this with others.
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | A Trusty Sidekick (Guest Post)
As you can imagine, it is always incredibly wonderful to receive messages from people who have The Deck of Shadows. It’s even more fun to read about their unique and personal ways of using the cards. Today, I’d like to share with you something that Bill Tarot wrote up and sent to me.
GUEST POST FROM BILL TAROT
Have you ever found yourself staring down at the Tarot cards you pulled and knew it could mean one of two things, but you weren’t sure which? Or how about the times when you look at one of the cards in the spread and think… “huh!?!”
My cure to this situation is The Deck of Shadows, and the deck has never failed me, yet. I’ll give you a recent example. A friend of mine had to give some bad news via a presentation to a group of executives where he worked. After struggling with how to shape the message, he turned to me for advice and I turned to Tarot. The 10 of Swords spoke to the ending of a bad financial period, and the 10 of Wands highlighted that they weren’t giving up even though it felt overwhelming. This was all true, and he had already incorporated those messages into his slide presentation. But I felt the 10 of Wands had more to say, and I just wasn’t picking it up.
So I turned to The Deck of Shadows and, naturally, received a laser sharp message that rounded out the advice. I pulled the card called Underdog. It pointed to an issue that my friend and some of his teammates sometimes forget. His company was battling competition that was well entrenched and my friend’s company was a relative newcomer. The burden of the 10 of Wands was due, in great part, to the fact that they were The Newcomer – The Underdog. When my friend framed his message against that little guy backdrop, the situation no longer looked as gloomy, and the presentation had the positive side effect of rallying the “everyone loves the underdog” energy.
As we study Tarot, we learn many different ways to interpret the cards – but during the reading, it might be only one aspect that our intuition instantly grabs hold of and passes to the conscious mind as the message. Similarly, The Deck of Shadows (at least for me) tends to have only one element that intuitively resonates in a reading. Each card has 4 words, and only one may stick out as the focused message. Yet other times, like a traditional Tarot deck, it’s the central image or even the small icon on the bottom that presents itself.
My current reading deck may change from time to time, but The Deck of Shadows is always the trusty sidekick. I don’t use them for every reading, but I make sure it’s always with me when I give one.
During Readers Studio 2011 in New York, Aaron Rathbun was showcasing his leather Tarot bags (which can be custom designed). I asked him to create one for me that would house a common-sized Tarot deck and The Deck of Shadows (with some side room for stones). Now, when I leave house with my Tarot bag, I know I have everything needed for a great reading with me.
SCOTT’S COMMENTS
Thank you, Bill, for letting me (and now others) know how you are using The Deck of Shadows and for taking the time to write this all up. Your case, by the way, looks phenomenal!
I just love how people continue to discover how easy it is to mix oracle tools rather than being stuck with only one reading device.
If you’re interested in finding out more about The Deck of Shadows, you can go to my website at:
http://thinkingmagically.com/deck_of_shadows.html
Just some thoughts (from Bill Tarot and me). If you enjoyed this, please click below to share this with others.
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | The “Taking Out the Trash” Spread
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, and Hamlet is taking out the trash. – Last Action Hero
We all collect clutter – those bits and pieces of energy wasters. In fact, we do this so much so that, at times, we are overwhelmed by the garbage we allow. And we lose sight of the treasures in our lives. Today, we will be exploring a Deck of Shadows spread that will help to lay bare those things we should keep and those things we can free ourselves of. It all begins, of course, with the ready self-confession that the nonsense we seek to put an end to, we have allowed to happen in the first place!
This three-card spread is easy, straightforward, and rather blunt in the solutions it provides. You don’t want to use this layout unless you are ready to come face-to-face with the cards’ indications.
TECHNIQUE
Step 1: Either shuffle and cut The Deck of Shadows, yourself, of have the person for whom you are reading mix the cards.
Step 2: With the cards face-down, have the person receiving the reading select three cards.
Step 3: With the three selected cards face-down, have the person receiving the reading mix them further.
Step 4: Have the person receiving the reading get rid of two of the cards. This leaves one card with the person who is being read.
Step 5: Have the card that was kept (The Treasure) turned over so that it is face-up. Interpret the card.
Step 6: Turn over the two cards that were discarded (The Trash) turned over so that they are face-up. Interpret the cards.
MEANINGS
The Three Cards: These are the things/people/events/emotions you have allowed into your life which need your attention at the moment. Naturally, these change once our awareness is drawn to them.
The Treasure: This is what you should hold dear, value, and tend to at the moment. It the thing/person/event/emotion that will give you succor and make you wealthy.
The Trash: These are the two dominant things/persons/events/emotions that you need to let go of and release.
Some Hints: There are many three card spreads available. The important part of this technique is the intentional selection of the three cards and the deliberate casting off of two of them. Don’t attempt to streamline this process.
There may be times when the cards in The Treasure and The Trash positions seem counter-intuitive. For example, you might find the card Obstacles as The Treasure and the cards Healing and Mentor as The Trash. Why, on earth, would someone be encouraged to keep barriers or throw away feeling better and obtaining training? The answer, of course, is to look a little deeper when this type of situation occurs. One way of interpreting this particular combination of cards is: the person being read would do well to embrace the challenges (Obstacles) in her life as they have important lessons of their own to impart, and she should stop wishing that the testing she is undergoing would cease to exist. This person also needs to abandon her current life strategy of looking for the elixir (Healing) that will instantly fix everything and make her feel better. Likewise, this person needs to do her own work for the moment and not rely on anyone else’s instructions or teachings. The pattern that emerges, then, is someone who needs to keep questioning what is going on around her and realize that there is no need – nor should there even be a desire – for the easy fix! This person is on a journey that requires some elbow grease and well intentioned direction.
ALTERNATE METHOD
Go through Steps 1 through 6, above, but have the cards all selected while face-up. This adds a deeper component to the reading because the person being read is making her selections, not from intuition, but from a conscious reading of the cards, themselves. This alternate method takes a bit longer than the original method, by the way, as you will find the person being read takes time to carefully select the cards.
Just some thoughts. Ifr you enjoyed this, please click below to share this with others.
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Vitruvian Square | The Rule of Thirds (Part 2)
If you choose to cross the line, you pretty much choose to do so at your own risk. So why is it that the bigger the line, the greater the temptation to cross it? – Dr. Meredith Grey (Grey’s Anatomy)
Last week I provided you with some robust breakthroughs for your continued and powerful use of The Vitruvian Square. I introducing you to the Points of Power and the Lines of Consequence contained within the matrix. You will want to read that prior article before tackling today’s method:
The Vitruvian Square | The Rule of Thirds (Part 1)
In last week’s article, I showed you how to deftly bring the four Points of Power to bear in any reading. Today – in this very advanced Vitruvian Square class - let’s have fun with the Lines of Consequence. (Don’t worry if this appears a bit heady, at first. You can always go back to last week’s article and then read this one at your leisure.)
Just as there were four Power Points, there are four of lines, as well; two vertical ones and two horizontal ones. You can readily see them in red in the following diagram:
The intersection of any two Lines of Consequence creates a Power Point (illustrated in blue)! Each Line of Consequence, on its own, can be thought of as either that which you are constantly drawing (e.g., your line in the sand) or that which is constantly being crossed. In other words, each Line of Consequence represents a repercussion, a ramification, or a principle. It is either that symbolic point where no further advance can or will be made by you, or it is that line that, once crossed, results in what you believe will be irrevocable changes. Our Lines of Consequence, then, are essentially the passionate parameters we use to box ourselves in and create boundaries.
If, in a reading, you believe a particular Line of Consequence is something that the person you are reading allows others to cross, it signifies how others are perceived as acting in a way that is not socially, emotionally, nor logically acceptable to the person being read.
So, you can now see that the various Lines of Consequence firmly signal the heartfelt divisions we create in our lives; an enthusiastic parceling out, if you will, of the way we allocate the various aspects of our being. It is no wonder, then, that these Lines of Consequence can so easily be used in a reading; either by themselves or as a complement to your use of the basic Vitruvian Square layout.
In order to fully understand how to skillfully blend the Lines of Consequence into a reading, you must first look at the matrix, itself, and start asking what each segment of a particular line means or represents. For example, there is a vertical segment running between Square 1 (Beginning) and Square 2 (Connecting). What line has to be crossed for someone to move between starting out with an idea and attaching something substantial to what, moments before, was only imaginary? If this segment of line is indicated in a reading (e.g., you have a card or cards in either Square 1 and/or Square 2), you can pull another card to decipher either what needs to happen to move this person from mere creativity to interdependence with the world around them (if they appear to be moving from Square 1 to Square 2) or what needs to happen to move this person from their bond with the world to more individuality (if they appear to be moving from Square 2 to Square 1). In using this segment of line, by the way, you will remember that it separates out the mental process that draws a distinction between the Future (The Plane of Outcomes) and the Present (The Plane of Values), and the difference between mentally focusing on outcomes and values (The Plane of Thought).
Another fun way to look at this segment is to ask yourself: What does The Magician have to do to become The High Priestess? Or, what does The High Priestess have to do to become The Magician? This type of exercise has been little used and certainly under-reported by others, and I want you to have this technique available to you now!
Let’s look at another example. What if you wanted to use the segment that separates Square 4 (Building) and Square 7 (Defeating)? What can that division mean? Well . . . if we are going to progress from Square 4 to Square 7, we have to find what line must be crossed that will pull us from erecting a foundation to conquering something else. If we are moving from Square 7 to Square 4, conversely, we must find what will occur that will inspire us to change from a vanquishing mindset to one of improvement. You will also notice that we will be moving either from the material world (The Plane of Action) to the emotional world (The Plane of Passion) and vice versa.
Once again, you can also ask yourself: What does The Emperor have to do to become The Chariot? Or, what does The Chariot have to do to become The Emperor?
Take the time to study each of the Lines of Consequence segment by segment and you will uncover many, many secrets about the way people approach their lives. Perhaps it is no coincidence at all that there are 12 different segments that comprise the Lines of Consequence, and the number 12 has such significance in the ancient world (for example, there were 12 principal gods of the Pantheon in Greece) and among the various religions (the 12 Tribes of Israel, and the 12 days before Christmas, among others). Most juries are comprised of 12 layperson judges of the outside world. There are 12 signs of the Zodiac. And, when I work with people individually, I show them how there are 12 main categories of their life to consider and improve upon.
Now, in addition to recognizing the Lines of Consequence that are implicated in a reading using the larger Vitruvian Square layout, you can also simply use the Lines of Consequence and the Power Points for a reading using only 16 cards (12 cards for the line segments, and 4 cards for the points). Simply lay out the cards on the individual segments and points, rather than using the squares. You would then read each segment and point and give your interpretation as to the energy and passion that needs to happen in order to move across the lines and from the points.
For a great meditation tool (and, yes, this too can be used for a reading), take any conjunction of four segments (e.g., the segment between Square 1 and Square 2, the segment between Square 2 and Sqaure 5, the segment between Square 5 and Square 4, and the segment between Square 5 and Square 1), and lay out one card for each segment and see what it tells you. After you consider this context, add a fifth card (the Power Point) to give a final lesson to be learned or energy to focus upon.
Enjoy this very rare and esoteric reading technique. I know it is a bit intricate. Be patient and work your way through the lines and points; you will pleasantly find some added significance and, indeed, vitality in your readings that were not present before.
Just some thoughts. If you enjoyed this, please click below to share this with others.
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Vitruvian Square | The Rule of Thirds (Part 1)
You can observe a lot just by looking around. – Yogi Berra
Have your readings stopped flowing as easily as they used to? Have you started to feel trapped in your interpretations or reading style? Are you bored with your oracle technique? Just want something new? Have I got something really worthwhile for you today!
Those of you who are familiar with photography may have heard of The Rule of Thirds; a kind of work-of-art, compositional and general rule of thumb. Simply, it involves the concept that you conjure up an image that is broken down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have nine equal parts that are made distinct by the use of two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. Further, as John Thomas Smith said in his Remarks on Rural Scenery, . . . And to give the utmost force and solidity to your work, some part of the picture should be as light, and some as dark as possible : These two extremes are then to be harmonized and reconciled to each other.
Sound familiar? It is no accident that The Vitruvian Square has the same dominant structure and visual impact. Today, let’s begin to explore why The Rule of Thirds used with The Vitruvian Square will yield you such solid and compelling results. Remember, this is just an introduction to this approach to The Vitruvian Square.
So, let’s get started . . .
With The Vitruvian Square, you have a power grid of sorts. Each of the four intersections (the four corners of the Number 5 square) that are created by the Lines of Consequence are situations of importance in a reading. Each of the four Lines of Consequence (remember, you have two vertical and two horizontal lines), in turn, serve as incredible and valuable distinctions, and ways to keep apart the various mental, emotional, and material worlds, as well as the several timings built into The Vitruvian Square (e.g, Past, Present, and Future).
Thus, when you look at The Vitruvian Square, below, you can clearly see that, in unity with The Rule of Thirds, the Vitruvian matrix is solidly comprised of nine squares (the Places of Power). There are also the four, primary intersecting Lines of Consequence I spoke about; two vertical lines and two horizontal lines.
The first power point is made up of the intersection of the following Places of Power: Square 1 (Beginning), Square 2 (Connecting), Square 4 (Building), and Square 5 (Changing). When this power point is involved in a reading (in other words, one of more of your cards or oracle tools is touching this point), there is an underlying indication – almost a subconscious guide – that new associations and interdependence are increasing, with a resulting change in a current situation. This is the power point of reshaping bonds by adding new friends and moving towards more structure to your life. As with all the power points, the more cards that are touching this location, the stronger that particular indication. Naturally, each indicator should be read in the context of its specific Place of Power.
The second power point is made up of the intersection of the following Places of Power: Square 2 (Connecting), Square 3 (Creating), Square 5 (Changing), and Square 6 (Uniting). When this power point is involved in a reading, there is an indication that new achievements and intellectual pursuits are coming, with a resulting change in a current situation. This is the power point of choosing to create change through binding and linking yourself with others and a move towards a desired outcome in the world around you. The more cards that direct you to this spot, the more you are joining forces – internally and externally – with others.
The third power point is made up of the intersection of the following Places of Power: Square 4 (Building), Square 5 (Changing), Square 7 (Defeating), and Square 8 (Moving). When this power point is involved in a reading, there is an indication that the person being read has an emotional need and want to move away from the current situation. These choices, by the way, result from a desire to conquer a fear or vanquish a current, unwanted situation.
The fourth and final power point is made up of the intersection of the following Places of Power: Square 5 (Changing), Square 6 (Uniting), Square 8 (Moving), and Square 9 (Completing). When this power point is involved in a reading, there is an indication that the person being read is, like the last power point, moving away from a current situation. This time, however, the choice for change is provoked by the transforming of relationships in one’s life at the moment. This is power point of either reacting to the ebb and flow of other people’s energies.
In using The Vitruvian Square, then, more excitement, vitality, and fascination can be created in a reading by including an interpretation of the patterns and intersections that are seen. As I have explained, in the past, you look for and interpret the dynamic tension involved in your reading (in addition to the other elements you are used to reading).
By the way, if you haven’t noticed, yet, applying the Rule of Thirds to The Vitruvian Square is less about where the cards or other oracle device actually land or are placed (although those are important), and more about where you aim your attention.
Naturally, I have just scratched the surface of what can be accomplished by starting to look at The Vitruvian Square in a Rule of Thirds context. For example, you can actually give a four-card reading by placing four cards (or other oracle device) on the four Situations of Importance. But . . . that’s for a later discussion!
To be continued . . .
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | The Listening Card
Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering. – Winne the Pooh (A.A. Milne)
There have been quite a few questions, recently, about my one card reading techniques. The Listening Card is something so simple that I hadn’t spent much time expanding on it. But, some of you have asked about it, lately, so let’s spend a little time learning this commanding method. You will find this so effortless, and something that truly lets you create as much wonder for you as for the person being read! This system is so uncomplicated, in fact, that you might be tempted to dismiss it as insignificant. I assure you that, if you put this procedure through its paces, you will be rewarded with a new reading tool, and a way to create deep connections and rapport with others.
Naturally, you can use this technique with The Deck of Shadows, your favorite Tarot cards, or any divination tool that can be held in the hand. While it is also something that can be done in your head – a kind of guided imagery tool – the placement of the oracle in a person’s hand permits you to add a deep-rooted, deep-speaking, and natural element to the reading.
THE LISTENING CARD TECHNIQUE
1. Take the deck and shuffle the cards until you feel the mixing is complete.
2. Have the person being read close their eyes and focus on an important question or situation. There are no questions asked out loud nor are they to tell you what they are thinking about. Do not rush this! In fact, the longer you take in moving to the next step, the better. Just wait . . . wait for the person being read to open their eyes or to give some other physical indication that they are finished with their thoughts. You might restless. You might feel eager to move on to the reading. Resist these impulses. The appreciable tension in waiting adds to the extraordinary thrust of what is about to happen.
3. At the appropriate time (just wait for it – you will know when that happens), have the person being read select one card from the mixed cards. The selected card is placed face-down in their left hand (if they are right-handed) or in their right hand (if they are left-handed). Using a person’s non-dominant hand usually leads to invoking their receptive and intuitive self. Remember the title for this spread – this is all about listening.
4. Now reach out for the one face-down card and touch it. DO NOT TURN IT OVER. The moment you come into contact with the card (and it appears to the person being read that you are about to reveal what is on the face of the card) . . . pause . . . and look into the eyes of the person being read. Then, very simply, ask . . .
When I turn this card over, what do you want it to say to you?
5. Now LISTEN to what is said. Let the person being read share with you their cherished hopes, their deepest desires, their special needs, and their treasured imaginings. This is what they are running towards. Also, pay attention to what is not being said in the context of what you are being told – these omissions will reflect their worries, their fears, and the things they are ignoring. This is what they are running away from.
6. Give a reading based solely on what you have been listening to.
7. Only after you are done with the initial reading, then you can choose to turn over the card and give a further reading based on incorporating the revealed card with what you have previously said. Many times, I don’t turn over the card, at all; choosing, instead, to take the face-down card and place it back in with its companion cards.
SOME NUANCES
Waiting for Them to Focus on Their Question or Situation
This can be the most challenging part of the entire reading. There will be times when someone just quickly responds that they’ve thought of something – giving their question or situation little regard or dismissing it as fast as their mind can go. Make certain that you encourage the person being read to think of something significant and weighty. A superficial and literally thoughtless focus is going to yield equivalent results.
Let’s face it – waiting is not something most people do elegantly and indulgently. Remind yourself that you want the person being read to go deeply into their own subconscious and feel their desires. This particular reading is less about divining a future than it is more about giving expression to their aspirations. From there, you proceed to give your reading about the path they are on.
Asking Them What They Want on Their Card
Periodically, you will hear someone respond, I don’t know, or some variation of that turndown. Sometimes, people will say that they don’t know what the cards are supposed to have on them and, thus, they have no idea what the cards should or could say. To this you can easily respond, For a moment, just pretend you know what’s on the other side. If you did know what’s there, what would it be?
Encourage people to give you as much detail as possible about what they imagine on the other side of the card. This includes colors, feelings, sensations of energy, adjectives, etc. How do they experience the card? What do they believe the card makes possible for them?
Essentially, the words and descriptions you are provided with become a living oracle from which to read. Only after you are provided with the initial explanation from the person being read, you can begin to ask questions that will broaden your living card and provide you with the details from which your reading will evolve.
Turning the Card Over
If you choose to turn the face-down card face-up, at least allow enough time for the person being read to digest what is now released on the palm of their hand. Give them the respect to make connections on their own between the card they see and the message they have previously revealed.
If you are using totems, fetishes, gems, bones, or other type of oracular device (something other than a two-sided card), you can have the person being read close their eyes and select the object. The object is then kept in their closed hand, or behind their back, or under a table; to be revealed at the end.
In some of my radio appearances, questions have been asked about combining The Vitruvian Square with a one-card reading. At the beginning of the book, I give some examples of how I use The Vitruvian Square matrix with card designs, themselves. Also, listen to my recent appearance at:
and you can gain some additional insight into this added technique.
Just some thoughts. If you enjoyed this, please click below to share this with others.
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Vitruvian Square | Sacred Music for Hallowed Doorways
Most of you know that my book, The Vitruvian Square: Discoveries in Divination, explains a very special way of looking at things, and people, and patterns. In this article I want to eagerly hand over to you a wonder-filled technique to easily intensify your use of The Vitruvian Square matrix, in general, and the distinct Places of Power that burn within that secure framework. So, today, we are going to create naturally irresistible and inherently seductive soundtracks for each of our Places of Power; music that, not only synchronizes with your understanding of each location within The Vitruvian Square, but that instantly calls forth for you all the elements of each Place of Power, each Plane of Existence, and each Axis of Influence.
I’ve written before about the obvious strength and ready vitality of music to summon up emotions, inner awakening, and memories. Music can seduce us, it can inspire us, and it can truly work magic – in other words, it can change the way we feel and see things in an instant! Imagine, then, how your experience with The Vitruvian Square will become even more unprecedented when you discover that there is a signature tune or song – for you – for each of The Vitruvian Square‘s Places of Power.
The whole idea behind finding your own, individual theme songs within The Vitruvian Square is to establish a congruent state of mind and an audible cue for each of the locations within our matrix. Your Vitruvian Square theme music can be used to underscore and even stimulate your current condition and state of development. Above all else, you want to establish theme songs that are significant to the importance of each of The Vitruvian Square’s 10 Places of Power.
So, how do you do this? It’s easy!
1. Look at each of the 10 Places of Power that comprise The Vitruvian Square. This includes the “0″ location.
2. Find a particular Place of Power that seems to call out to you, or just go in numerical order. Be haphazard, or be systematic. It doesn’t matter the order in which you complete this.
3. Once you have a starting place, ask yourself a variety of questions, like:
- How do the attributes or correspondences of this particular Place of Power make me feel?
- What is the true nature of this Place of Power for me?
- What is the rhythm I sense from this Place of Power? Is it upbeat or slow? Is it dramatic or whimsical? Is it serious or lighthearted?
4. Now, expanding on my prior discussion of Ancient Magic | Modern Tools™, look through your iPod songs and find just the right tune to link with the Place of Power you are working with. Which songs have just the right mixture of lyrics and melody that, when you hear them, instantly will link with the Place of Power you are focusing on?
5. Complete this exercise so that all 10 of The Vitruvian Square’s Places of Power now have a unique theme song.
6. Change your theme songs as new tunes make themselves known to you and if they seem more appropriate. It’s perfectly alright to refine your Vitruvian Square playlist from time to time!
If there is a particular musician or artist who inspires you, feel free to take his or her entire catalog of music and focus only on that for creating your Vitruvian Square playlist. The fact that you are using one performer can further intensify the overall meaning of the songs you use – kind of like a higher intention to the whole pattern.
There is, of course, another way to reach your final goal; make a list of your 10 favorite songs and then spend some time meditating on which one best fits in each of The Vitruvian Square’s 10 Places of Power.
So you have an example of what you can ultimately accomplish with this, here is what I am personally using at the moment:
PLACE OF POWER “0″ : Being/Remembering
SONG: Highwayman (Jimmy Webb)
The Highwaymen Performance
PLACE OF POWER “1″ : Beginning/Renewing
SONG: The Quest (Bryn Christopher)
Bryn Christopher Performance
PLACE OF POWER “2″ : Connecting/Reconnecting
SONG: Glitter in the Air (Pink)
Pink Performance
PLACE OF POWER “3″ : Creating/Re-Creating
SONG: The Prayer (Tony Renis/David Foster/Alberto Testa/Carole Bayer Sager)
PLACE OF POWER “4″ : Building/Rebuilding
SONG: Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
K.D. Lang Performance
PLACE OF POWER “5″ : Changing/Replacing
SONG: Show Me the Way (Dennis De Young)
Styx Performance
PLACE OF POWER “6″ : Uniting/Reuniting
SONG: Unchained Melody (Alex North/Hy Zaret)
Elvis Presley Performance
PLACE OF POWER “7″ : Defeating/Retaking
SONG: I Want it All (Queen)
Queen Performance
PLACE OF POWER “8″ : Moving/Removing
SONG: I’m Movin’ On (Phillip White/Vincent Williams)
Rascall Flatts Performance
PLACE OF POWER “9″ : Completing/Refinshing
SONG: I’ve Been This Way Before (Neil Diamond)
Neil Diamond Performance
Whether my song choices speak to you or not is not the issue. Rather, you can now see how readily each of the Places of Power takes on a new fierceness, importance, and intention by adding your own, intimate soundtrack to the mix. Relish the adventure you are about to embark upon!
Oh, one more thing – if you know the Tarot or Deck of Shadows attributes for The Vitruvian Square, not only will my song choices have more vibrant expression, but your own choices will be effortless.
Just some thoughts. If you enjoyed this, please click below to share this with others.
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Deck of Shadows | The “Show White” Spread
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is one of those masterful stories that holds profound meaning for most people. Who hasn’t been enthralled by the retelling of the evil step-mother queen, the magic mirror, and the seven dwarfs? The official story, traced back as far as 1857, has all the elements of a classic mythological tale. It is no wonder, then, that this fairytale can serve as an outstanding backdrop of a divination layout/spread for use with The Deck of Shadows.
For me, the Snow White tale is, itself, a mirror that reflects what many people are feeling today; that sensation of being stuck in place and not knowing where to turn for help. It is a story of knowing you deserve better, but watching others take what you believe to be rightfully yours. It is a testimony of the path our own uneasy innocence takes as it is tested and matures until our happily ever after is achieved.
The following spread, then, can be used to help someone discover how to overcome feelings of being trapped, and what to look for to find the exhilaration and triumph of finally living their dreams.
You will be using 12 cards (7 of those, of course, are for the Dwarves).
Shuffle and cut the deck. Select 12 cards and lay them out, as follows:
The images for this spread, by the way, are from the wonderful illustrator, Charles Santore.
These 12 cards now represent:
POSITION 1. Snow White
MEANING: Where you are right now. This is the submissive part of yourself that has taken over, thus resigning yourself to the rut in which you find yourself. This is also that part of you that believes if you are too successful, you won’t be liked.
POSITION 2. The Evil Step-Mother Queen
MEANING: This is your adversary; that which is jealous of you and, as such, seeks to control you, disrupt your plans, and even shatter your dreams. This is someone or something that is unfamiliar, and in conflict with you; it is your opposition and is usually spurred on by the element of envy.
POSITION 3. The Seven Dwarves
MEANING: These 7 cards represent your helpers; these are the people, things, and energies that are there to aid you and rescue you from your current situation. These are the people who will dig deep to find what is precious and valuable in you, and keep you safe from harm. These are the people, things, and energies that will also warn you of approaching danger. Each of the 7 cards is read one-at-a-time, initially, and then interpreted in conjunction with each other (look for the story line these cards all tell). (NOTE: If you want a more expanded reading, you can also interpret how the Snow White card brings aid to these; offering harmony and bringing them into balance.)
POSITION 4. The Handsome Prince
MEANING: That which will revive, awaken, and stir you from your current situation, and inspire you to live your life fully. This is the Kiss of True Love that ignites your passion to be more than you are now. It is also the enthusiasm you need to re-discover and the appetite for living a life that needs to be refueled.
POSITION 5. The Apple
MEANING: That which will entice and tempt you, but which should be avoided. This seduction will only lead to you being taken advantage of.
POSITION 6. The Magic Mirror
MEANING: This represents the principles of both creative power and truth telling. This is what you need to learn. It is already being employed by The Evil Step-Mother Queen and, eventually, provides the information that provokes the assault upon Snow White. This is the honesty that The Evil Step-Mother Queen cannot bear and which Snow White must learn to embrace without guilt or fear.
The whole purpose of The Snow White spread is to show someone that, as Walt Disney is supposed to have said, people ought to know that there’s light after the darkness.
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
SNOW WHITE ILLUSTRATIONS by Charles Santore
You’ll Find Me Listed Under the Topic “Inspiration”
