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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
The Vitruvian Square | The Labyrinth (Part 2)
For my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom as great. You have no power over me.
- Jim Henson’s Labyrinth
Last week, we started a wondrous odyssey into another powerful feature of The Vitruvian Square – something I call The Vitruvian Labyrinth. If you missed the first part, make sure you read the following before going further:
Let’s venture on, shall we . . .
Vitruvian Square Overlay for Vitruvian Labyrinth
SOME ADVANCED VITRUVIAN LABYRINTH ATTRIBUTES
10 Life Paths
The 10 paths (9 concentric tracks and the center circle) that make up The Vitruvian Labyrinth represent the inevitable spiritual/mental/psychological journey from life to death and then rebirth; the dynamics that arise from a mixing of both the spiritual and living worlds.
The 10 Paths of The Vitruvian Labyrinth
These 10 passageways are also reflections of the 10 Sephirot of Nothingness that make up the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. These paths, then, are to be viewed as the 10 different ways that Life manifests itself to you. (You will recall that there are also the 22 hairpin curves/switchbacks that relate to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and, in turn, to the 22 connectors of The Tree of Life.) When you combine the 10 paths with the 22 hairpin turns you have the 32 Paths of Wisdom or acts of creation.
The number 10 stands for harmony, and of the creator entering their creation. It embodies the concept of something being made out of chaos. And it has been called the full course of life. Here then you have the 10 stages of your becoming.
9 Mystical Spheres
The center of The Virtuvian Labyrinth is composed of 9 mystical spheres or stations (8 external and the 1 around which the 8 others revolve); these 9 also representing the 9 Places of Power of The Vitruvian Square. In fact, if you look at the center of the labyrinth, you will see the 9 spheres are actually arranged in a 3×3 grid and so the attributes of The Vitruvian Square’s Place of Power are easily applied.
The 9 Spheres of The Vitruvian Labyrinth
The number 9 is not only the symbol of inspiration, it is a representation of your humanness, itself. After all, the average pregnancy is 9 months. When you reach the center of The Vitruvian Labyrinth, you have reached the place of peace where you are born again.
8 Labryses
There are 8 double-headed axes (Labryses) within The Vitruvian Labyrinth:
The 8 Labryses of The Vitruvian Labyrinth
These symbols can be interpreted as both male and female energies; depending on what you are seeking to find within the labyrinth. As symbol of male energy, the double-headed axe it can be the equivalent of a thunderbolt; a very sudden and very effective transfer of energy from the sky to the ground. As a symbol of female energy, the double-headed axe is one of ceremony and rebirth.
The number 8 is all about resolution, strong-mindedness, and willpower; an ideal number to represent the Labryses.
7 Fleurs-di-lis
The center of The Vitruvian Labyrinth, on first glance, looks like a circle of thorns; the thorn being a symbol of both obstacles and protection.On closer inspection of the center of the labyrinth, you will see that the center design is actually made up of 7 fleurs-di-lis; a symbol of The Ideal, life, and light.
The 7 Fleurs-di-lis of The Vitruvian Labyrinth
The number 7, of course, has a magical and spiritual significance – standing for completion, perfection, and the heavens manifested on earth. The 7 fleurs-di-lis are a mystery when not understood by the initiated.
First to the Left
When traveling into The Vitruvian Labyrinth, you find yourself entering the network of paths just left of center. You then travel all of the inner circuits on the left before completing the inner circuits on the right. From there you are taken to the left outer circuits before being taken to the right outer circuits.
When you are traveling left of center, you are going against the grain, being a rebel, and you are a freethinker. You are innovative and certainly not content with things the way they are.
STILL MORE TO COME . . . STAY TUNED FOR NEXT WEEK’S ARTICLE
Before next week, if you would like to learn more, information about The Vitruvian Square can be found here:
The Vitruvian Square Casting Cloth
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 Vitruvian Square | The Labyrinth (Part 1)
The maze of strange passages, chambers, and unlocked exits in the cellar recalls the old Egyptian representation of the underworld, which is a well-known symbol of the unconscious with its abilities. It also shows how one is “open” to other influences in one’s unconscious shadow side and how uncanny and alien elements can break in. – Carl Jung
In my book, The Vitruvian Square – A Handbook of Divination Discoveries, I included a compact discussion on pathworking and guided imagery that are possible with The Vitruvian Square matrix. This entails using your imagination and walking through each of the Places of Power (rooms, so to speak) that make up what I called The Vitruvian Palace. Today, we’re going to amp this up and I am truly excited to share with you the next generation in guided imagery that is available with The Vitruvian Square – The Vitruvian Labyrinth!
Vitruvian Square Overlay for Vitruvian Labyrinth
The diagram we are looking at today is only the basic version of The Vitruvian Labyrinth. (There is a much more intricate one that I will show you at a later time.) This basic version is all you need, however, to take yourself on an incredible inner journey. At the end of these articles, I will gift you with your own finger-board version; a spectacularly versatile tool that will allow you to actually walk and use The Vitruvian Labyrinth every day.
A BEGINNING
Many times the term labyrinth is used interchangeably and confused with the term maze. A labyrinth is a specific single, non-branching pattern that only leads in to the center and back out again. A maze, on the other hand, can be a very complex construction that is a puzzle with choices to be made about the directions to go and the paths to take. There are dead-ends and false starts to a maze, while those don’t exist within a true labyrinth.
There are many possible reasons that labyrinths have been created over the ages. Your Vitruvian Labyrinth is about self-discovery, reawakening, and a personal renaissance. The labyrinth, then, should be thought of as filled to the brim with symbolism and a classical way to walk between the worlds. It is something that is, at once, both your sacred place of power and an inviolate place of reflection. But be warned and excited: what you take into The Vitruvian Labyrinth, you will find.
VITRUVIAN LABYRINTH CONSTRUCTION
The Vitruvian Labyrinth gets its inspiration from one of the most famous labyrinths in the world – The 13th century Chartres Labyrinth at the Chartres Cathedral in France. However, The Vitruvian Labyrinth was designed specifically for use with The Vitruvian Square and so has some special characteristics and symbolism. Here is the basic Vitruvian Labyrinth -
Basic Vitruvian Labyrinth
While The Vitruvian Labyrinth certainly has a power on its own, its real energy is experienced when it is used in conjunction with The Vitruvian Square. Our next diagram is the basic 3×3 magic square pattern of The Vitruvian Square overlayed onto The Vitruvian Labyrinth so you can see the interplay between the Places of Power, the associated numbers 0-9, and the grids.
Vitruvian Labyrinth with Vitruvian matrix outline
At the heart of The Vitruvian Labyrinth (literally and figuratively), our pathway takes us from the heavens into a twisting and turning journey of realization and change (starting in Place of Power “0″ and then making its way ultimately to the center at Place of Power “5″), only to return again – transformed – to the starting point. The Vitruvian Labyrinth leads you through a true Hero’s Journey when you contemplate the various Vitruvian Square associations that the labyrinth takes you through as you walk it.
SOME BASIC VITRUVIAN LABYRINTH ATTRIBUTES
The Vitruvian Labyrinth is another way of expressing the marriage of heaven and earth (the square and circle geometry found within Leonardo’s The Vitruvian Man). The circle is, at once, a representation of the heavens and the cycle of time, while also being associated with the concepts of initiation, the universe, everything, and completion. The square is a symbol of the earth and our foundation. It is order, structure, building, and manifestation.
Our labyrinth contains ten circuits (nine outer tracks and the center circle) with only one way in and only one way out. The ten circuits each represent a Place of Power within The Vitruvian Square. Each of these ten circuits represents a different realm (and, indeed, may even be associated with a similar spiritual concept from Buddhism, if you’d like).
As you will see in the following diagram, The Vitruvian Labyrinth can also be divided into four quarters.
Vitruvian Labyrinth Cardinal Points
I have discussed many times the various associations for the four cardinal points in various cultures. Among others, you might consider the following in using the labyrinth:
NORTH = Pentacles = Earth = Winter = Sensation
WEST = Cups = Water = Fall = Feeling
SOUTH = Wands = Fire = Summer = Intuition
EAST = Swords = Air = Spring = Thinking
You will also note that, in the diagram, West is on your right as you look down on the diagram, while East is on your left. Please remember that, in working with The Vitruvian Square, you are putting yourself into the structure. In other words, pretend you are the Vitruvian Man looking out from matrix and back at yourself. From this position, East is on your right and West is on your left. What might look like an inadvertent reversal, on first blush, is really a deeper layer to working with both the matrix and the labyrinth. You are inside both of them – not merely an observer! (By the way, this also explains why Place of Power “6″ is on right as you look down on the matrix and Place of Power “4″ is on the left.)
The Vitruvian Labyrinth contains 22 switchbacks/hairpin curves.
Vitruvian Labyrinth Hairpin Twists
The 22 switchbacks/hairpin curves were included in the labyrinth’s design to absorb the 22 Major Arcana (and permit some amazing pathworking), among other things. When you think of what a curve such as this does – it makes you seem to reverse course and go back in the direction you just came while, at the same time, leading you closer to your ultimate goal – it is obvious how contemplation on each of the 22 Major Arcana can lead to some insightful revelations in this context.
Additionally, there are 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet for those who might be inclined to associate those attributes, as well.
Finally, as you may already know, 22 is considered a Master Number in numerology.
The Vitruvian Labyrinth also contains 6 turns.
Vitruvian Labyrinth Turns
In numerology, the number 6 can mean enlightenment – a lighting of our way – and the expressive nature of the soul. This is the number of truth, love, and balance. It should come as no surprise, then, that the turns were built at the very beginning and very end of our journey into and out of the labyrinth.
MORE TO COME . . . STAY TUNED FOR NEXT WEEK’S ARTICLE
Before next week, if you would like to learn more, information about The Vitruvian Square can be found here:
The Vitruvian Square Casting Cloth
Just some thoughts. 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.
© 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!
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© 2012 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Masks of Tarot | Faceless
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth. – Oscar Wilde
STEP TWO: With your mask still on, step outside the costume shop. Notice what it is like to look out from the mask’s eye openings. Be acutely aware that you are looking out from a disguise. You can feel the texture of your outer concealment against your face. Write down the details of the mask that you are wearing. Who do you appear to be? Then, write out three adjectives to describe your mask.
STEP FOUR: Before the beast is able to take itself from the pit, something happens to weaken and discourage it. It almost appears to you that the beast has been blinded or has seen something that has disheartened it and stopped it in its tracks. Write out what has brought this beast to a standstill. Then, write out three adjectives to describe what you have seen.
STEP FIVE: With renewed conviction, you return to the costume shop and reverently place the mask that you have been wearing back on its place on the wall. You do so with gratitude and a sense that you have been left with some significant message to remember. You step back from the wall and almost start to leave. But . . . your eyes catch sight of one more mask – it is one that you would never want to wear. In fact, it is one that almost makes you want to shrink back in disgust at it – it is that disturbing. Write out the details of this mask that you detest so much. As before, you next write down three adjectives to describe it.
STEP SIX: Now, turn your attention back to the mask that you originally chose. Be content in your decision to have chosen this mask and thankful that you don’t have to wear any other mask, ever again, if you don’t choose to do so.
STEP SEVEN: Finally, you remember that there was a message you were given while you were wearing your mask. What is it your mask revealed to you? Write it down.
INTERPRETATION
The Mask – This is how you view yourself, what you are attracted to, what makes you who you are, or perhaps the quality that you take for granted in yourself.
The Beast – This represents what you resort to under stress, what you excuse in yourself, how others view you (as opposed to how you view yourself), or your instinctive motives.
The Light (what repelled the Beat) – The Light (as I call it) it what you need to gain balance in your life, what others wish you had more of, what you look at with wonder when other people demonstrate this trait, or what you desire to accomplish.
The Shadow (the mask you did not want to wear) – This represents what you see in others that you do not want to acknowledge in yourself, what you must still learn to control, what you become when all else fails, or what you just thought you had left behind (but still need to address).
You can use this technique for some grand self-exploration. You can also use this method for giving some truly inspiring and deeply stirring readings.
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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).
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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 Vitruvian Square | A Slice of Life (Part 2)
In chess, as in life, a man is his own most dangerous opponent. – Vasily Smyslov
Happy holidays, everyone! In the spirit of gift-giving, last week I showed you the basic technique for the Slice of Life reading. If you missed Part 1, you can easily find it here:
Now that you’ve had a chance to see the strength of this method and learn how powerful it really is, I’d like to give you some additional meanings and symbolism to consider when doing your interpretations.
THE VITRUVIAN SQUARE MATRIX
This 9 square board (with the “0″ resting above it all) embodies the world in which your spectator/querent plays their game of life. Here you find your spectator’s domain (as it is currently recognized by your spectator). The Vitruvian Square is a very visual representation of the game of life in which we all find ourselves. Here you find all of the competitions, trials, journeys, excitements, and wonders that combine into our heavenly and earthly concerns. In other words, The Vitruvian Square replicates a person’s life journey.
As I explained in last week’s video, once my participant sees The Vitruvian Square Casting Cloth, I then move on to the use of the chess pieces. I do not explain the Casting Cloth nor what any of the positions mean until after all the pieces have been moved to their respective positions by the spectator and I have laid down any Deck of Shadows cards I wish to use.
Perhaps this doesn’t need repeating, but I will do so, anyway: The Slice of Life reading technique’s underlying potency rests in the fact that the spectator is intentionally placing the chess pieces (or other oracle device you might choose to use) on the board.
THE KING
The King and The Queen are the central figures in the symbolism we will be interpreting. They represent your spectator (or yourself if you are reading for yourself). The King is generally used to represent a male spectator/querent and to show the response to the question, “Where are you now?” I believe you can readily see how, with such a question, the placement of The King or The Queen is vital and something to be cherished. This is the Present.
THE QUEEN
This is generally used to represent a female spectator/querent and to show the response to the question, “Where are you now?” As with The King, the placement of this piece undeniably shows you a person’s here and now.
THE KNIGHT
This chess piece is used to represent the Past and to show the response to the question, “Where have you just come from?” The Knight’s placement shows what someone did or experienced that launched them into their present place in life (the latter represented by the positioning of The King or The Queen). The Knight’s deployment embodies the very action that its placement foretells. Here you will find a complete story of your spectator’s determination, impulses, and passion. The landing point for The Knight can also represent your spectator’s world view; their comprehensive or overall perspective of the way things work or the way things are supposed to be.
THE CASTLE/ROOK
The Castle (Rook) is the token used to represent the Future and to show the response to the question, “Where are you going?” In its original form, this chess piece was actually a mobile tower or battlement; fitting for this technique as the Future is not fixed but continues to to be pliable and receptive to many things. The Castle personifies where your spectator wants to or believes they are going. This is their oasis, haven, or goal in the temporal world. From The Castle’s position, your spectator is able to have an objective and wide-ranging view of the way things are – as opposed to the way things are supposed to be (as indicated by The Knight).
SUMMARY
A Slice of Life allows your spectator to use their imagination and make-believe abilities to give a superb voice and visual depiction to life themes that they might not otherwise have been able to do. Essentially, you are helping them paint a literal picture of things that, in any other way, are unspeakable or unknowable to them.
To recap, the steps of the Slice of Life technique are:
1. Lay out The Vitruvian Square Casting Cloth or use some other physical representation of The Vitruvian Square that you and your spectator can interact with. As I noted in the video, you can also lay out 9 cards from The Deck of Shadows or 9 Tarot cards to form your 3×3 matrix.
2. Hand The King (if you are using a male spectator) or The Queen (if you are using a female spectator) to the person you are working with. Ask them to place the piece on the matrix with the question: Where are you now?
3. Hand The Knight to the person you are working with. Ask them to place the piece on the matrix with the question: Where have you just come from?
4. Hand The Castle to the person you are working with. Ask them to place the piece on the matrix with the question: Where are you going?
One more thing: there will be times when your spectator places more than one piece in the same Place of Power. That is perfectly fine. Such a sharing of the same space can represent the lack of forward movement (if The King/Queen and The Castle are used), a plateau that was reached before a major shift occurred (if The King/Queen and The Knight are used), and a return to where one first began or a coming home (if The Knight and The Castle are used). In those rare times when all three chess pieces are placed together in one square, you are likely dealing with some procrastination and obstructions.
Remember, your spectator, in placing their pieces, has unfolded a story that is waiting for you to give it a voice. Be a spellbinder and do their story proud!
If you would like to learn more, information about The Vitruvian Square and The Deck of Shadows can be found here:
The Vitruvian Square Casting Cloth
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
The Vitruvian Square | A Slice of Life (Part 1)
Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the poor.
- Sholom Aleichem
Here is a video I put together for you that easily explains one of my favorite and most powerful ways to use The Vitruvian Square Casting Cloth! The really beautiful feature of this technique is that it is insanely hands-on and downright fun. Further, the person you are working with (even if you’re doing a reading for yourself) is providing the structure of the reading by the placement of specific items in specific locations on the Vitruvian matrix.
The person who is getting the reading, then, is actually the one who projects the design that your analysis will travel and sets in motion what will ultimately be said. I believe you will find that this is a truly effective projective technique that can be used with just about anything your own imagination contrives.
Enjoy the video. Next week, I will be posting specific meanings and associations to consider in using this technique, together with some nuances to take your reading skills to the next level.
If you don’t know about it already, more information about The Vitruvian Square can be found here:
The Vitruvian Square Casting Cloth
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© 2011 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com
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