Tarot Flip Read online

  Marcus Katz & Tali Goodwin

  Cover: ‘Queen of Cups’, Tyldwick Tarot © by Neil Lovell

  http://www.malpertuis.co.uk/tyldwick/

  Published by Forge Press (2010)

  1 Wood Cottage, Old Windebrowe, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4NT

  This Tarosophy® Kickstart Reference Book is dedicated to those who provided original material for this work, in particular:

  TaliTarot, Mary, LionTamer76, Mystickal Skyies, Tinkerbell, Kevin, Deborah, Liz, Polgara, Rootweaver, Mercurian, Sweet Stacey Rose, Taldaanja, Spike, SandigoMandi, Aurora Wiseheart, Dee, Isabel, TrueTarot, Andraxas, Pearl, Donnaleigh, Lua Astrology, Kimmie, Peaceful Panther, Heavenly7073, Shannon, Karebear … and all the Citizens & Patrons of Tarot Town.

  Find us in discussion with more than 3,000 Tarot Students, Readers and Teacher for the best in innovative Tarot at www.tarot-town.com and www.tarotprofessionals.com.

  INDEX

  1. Introduction 4

  2. Layout 5

  3. Reference Tables 7

  4. Pentacles 9

  5. Swords 16

  6. Cups 23

  7. Wands 30

  8. Further Notes on the Minors 37

  9. Making a Card Fit 38

  10. Majors 39

  11. Example 3-Card Reading 47

  12. Example 5-Card Reading 48

  13. Conclusion 50

  14. Further Reading & Resources 51

  TAROT FLIP: A TAROSOPHY® KICKSTART BOOK

  The Essential Workbook inspired by Tarot Readers for Tarot Readers!

  Introduction

  In this exclusive and innovative Tarosophy® teaching, you will discover the actual meanings of the Tarot cards as they have come to be seen by a range of experienced Tarot Readers. These meanings have been gathered from hundreds of Tarot Readers throughout our Tarot Town and then collated and reviewed to provide an essential quick-start reference guide for new and experienced readers alike.

  These are not just the keywords and themes that a book will tell you, but the actual unconscious ideas that an experienced Tarot reader is accessing when they look at these cards in readings. You may be surprised by how obvious or surprising some of these concepts are when comparing them to book meanings. Over time a Tarot card reader comes to see the cards in many contexts and therefore deepens their experience of each card.

  These meanings have been generated by using NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and language patterns to ask questions of experienced Tarot card readers in such a way as to be able to generate the unconscious processes and field of thought that underpin the responses. Combined with the experience of reading for over 10,000 people and books such as the Definitive Tarot by Bill Butler (called The Tarot Bible in some countries) we have collated this list as an essential reference, particularly for beginners looking for a ‘simple answer’ for each card in their first few readings.

  These meanings have also been derived from many different decks; both classic and contemporary, ensuring a wide range of interpretations have been applied.

  You can now short-cut years of book learning to start with the experience of hundreds of readers!

  The Layout of this Kickstart Book

  We have organized this reference book into the four suits of Pentacles, Cups, Swords and Wands. We have then provided an entry for each of the cards running through that suit, from Ace to Ten and then the Court Cards of Page, Knight, Queen and King. We have given a reference guide to the 22 Major Cards at the end of this book.

  For each suit and card we have assigned a new title, drawn from the summary of all the entries we received for the cards. It became apparent, for example, that experienced readers see the Pentacles as “being about” resource – in all its forms, whether material, physical, health, career, etc.

  When asked what the cards were NOT, most readers – when we compiled the answers – saw the Aces as not being ‘endings’ (and therefore we refer to them upright as ‘seeds’) and the Twos of every suit as being disorganized – hence we give them the upright title of Organization.

  In some cases, we “flipped” between synonyms and antonyms, exploring the various descriptions offered by readers until we settled on a final single keyword. This is why this title is called Tarot Flip!

  This then allows us to title each card, such as the TWO of PENTACLES being titled “The Organization of Resources”. These general yet innovative and contemporary titles may also provide you insight into applying the card in any position in any spread in response to any question. They have been generated through the experience of hundreds of Tarot readers, distilled from their original learning in books via long-term application and experience.

  For each card we have provided a keyword or concept, for both the upright and flipped meaning. We have then also suggested – and these are merely suggestions – what you might actually say to phrase these words in delivering an interpretation of the card. This will always depend on the position and context of the card, although the phrases here are a kickstart.

  We have provided as many different ways of talking about the cards as possible – in fact, 78 different ways – to give you a flavor of how experienced Tarot card readers might phrase their interpretation. However, it is most important that you use this as a kickstart only, and learn to discover your own unique voice through the Tarot!

  To further assist your readings, we have given a “thematic attractor” for each card, or “frame”. This is the basic unconscious building-block of the card – the main field or value in which the meanings of the card are generated.

  So for example, one card may be all about “possession” whilst its keywords all fall into that general idea, such as ‘donating’, ‘giving’, ’saving’ etc. By contemplating this frame you will discover many ways of applying the card to the variety of questions you will be asked. The second Tarosophy® KickStart Book – TAROT TWIST - will provide you many innovative Spreads for responding to peoples questions as you gain more experience. You can start straight out of the box with the two example spreads we have given at the end of this present book.

  We have concluded each card with an “Oracular Title”. These are the titles of the cards that have arisen from readers suggestions, when they have linked the card to some other concept or metaphor – such as a child on a Carousel (6 of Wands). These titles provide slightly enigmatic yet obvious examples of the cards theme in action and are invaluable for understanding the cards deeper meanings and application in a reading. We have also given an oracular title for the card if it is flipped (reversed).

  These keywords and themes have arisen by asking experienced readers themselves to derive meaning from the scenes on the cards themselves, hence these are intuited meanings based on the readers own knowledge and experience. You may compare these “in the field” meanings with the various Kabbalistic, Numerological, Esoteric and Book/Individual meanings to see how they compare and contrast – and in doing so, distil further your own personal interpretation of each card.

  Of course, there is no singular meaning of any card, yet each one is different to another – so in a sense the “meaning” of a card becomes a strange attractor, something to which every interpretation approaches, but never attains. This is part of the power of Tarot as a tool – the symbols on each card are multivalent, having many meanings, which gives rise to a complex constellation of possible interpretations. This makes it possible to apply it to any context, and position, any spread and any question.

  We have demonstrated the application of the keywords and phrases in this Tarosophy® Kickstart Reference Book in two sample readings/spreads at the conclusion of the book.

  Reference Tables

  The Suits

  Pentacles: Resources

  Swor
ds: Expectations

  Cups: Imagination

  Wands: Ambition

  The Minors

  Ace: Seed

  Two: Organization

  Three: Activation

  Four: Application

  Five: Boundary

  Six: Utilization

  Seven: Reorganization

  Eight: Direction

  Nine: Rest

  Ten: Return

  The Court Cards

  Page: Channeling

  Knight: Responding

  Queen: Connecting

  King: Demonstrating

  Using the Reference Tables to Generate Meanings

  Putting the Unconscious Keywords together produces, for example:

  Four of Swords: The Application of Expectations.

  The keyword generated for this card by readers was “Hiding”. We see this, in the light of the standard meanings of the card, as applying thoughts and ideas either in an obvious way or a cunning fashion. Thus, the oracular titles of A Museum where the Labels are Misleading and the Flip Title, Children Playing Hide and Seek.

  The Theme/Framework that supports these concepts is that of Reality. This provides a meta-frame for the card and its interpretation in any context.

  When you look at a card such as found in the Waite-Smith Tarot, which shows a Knight in Armor in repose in a Chapel, you can read this as a “reality check” in contemporary terms instead of a “retreat” or “rest from strife” as given in many books. In this “reality check” it is a time to apply what you expected to what has happened so far. Perhaps the labels you have given things is not what they actually are – just like in the oracular title.

  The use of these keywords and concepts gives the new Reader a much more contemporary and applicable set of ideas with which to interpret the cards. It also gives experienced readers a fresh set of ideas to compare to their own existing concepts.

  Pentacles

  Key Theme for Pentacles: RESOURCES

  Ace of Pentacles: The Seed of Resource

  Upright: Wealth

  What you say: “This card promises resources and wealth ahead from this seed”

  Reversed: Ruin

  What you say: “This card reversed indicates a collapse of everything being built”

  Theme/Framework: Resources

  Oracular Title: A Wealthy Man In His Garden

  Flip Title: A Man Unable to Pay His Debts

  2 of Pentacles: The Organisation of Resource

  Upright: Organization

  What you say: “With this card you must organize yourself and your resources”

  Reversed: Disorganization

  What you say: “This card symbolizes a lack of balance”

  Theme/Framework: Order

  Oracular Title: A Ship Cresting the Waves of the Sea

  Flip Title: A Sailing Crew who are Unfamiliar to Each Other

  3 of Pentacles: The Activating of Resource

  Upright: Loyalty

  What you say: “This card shows someone who is committed”

  Reversed: Resigning

  What you say: “This card flipped indicates someone who gives up”

  Theme/Framework: Planning

  Oracular Title: A Woman Working at Her Desk

  Flip Title: A Woman Handing in Her Notice

  4 of Pentacles: The Application of Resource

  Upright: Selfishness

  What you say: “In the appearance of this card, we see a selfish nature”

  Reversed: Generosity

  What you say: “This card upside down shows a time to be generous”

  Theme/Framework: Attachment

  Oracular Title: Four Coins Thrown Into A Well

  Flip Title: A Party Which Has Got Out of Hand

  5 of Pentacles: The Boundary of Resource

  Upright: Loss

  What you say: “The appearance of this card shows a loss”

  Reversed: Fulfilled Expectations

  What you say: “In this card reversed your expectations will be met”

  Theme/Framework: Competition

  Oracular Title: A Lost Lottery Ticket

  Flip Title: A Child Wins on a Sideshow Competition

  6 of Pentacles: The Use of Resource

  Upright: Resources

  What you say: “This card indicates you gain the resources you require”

  Reversed: Lack of Resource

  What you say: “When this card is upside-down it shows that you will not have the resources you require”

  Theme/Framework: Environment

  Oracular Title: A Landscape Garden which is Well-Maintained

  Flip Title: Six People Lost in an Overgrown Garden

  7 of Pentacles: The Reorganisation of Resource

  Upright: Cultivation

  What you say: “This card demonstrates that what you reap, you sow”

  Reversed: Barrenness

  What you say: “When this card appears reversed, there will be no fruit to your labors”

  Theme/Framework: Response

  Oracular Title: A Flowering Bush Which has been Well-Tended

  Flip Title: A Boy Waiting in an Empty Space

  8 of Pentacles: The Direction of Resource

  Upright: Self-Confidence

  What you say: “When this card turns up it shows you should have the confidence in your own abilities”

  Reversed: Self-Doubt

  What you say: “This card, when reversed, suggests self-doubt”

  Theme/Framework: Assessment

  Oracular Title: A Market Place full of Jewels

  Flip Title: A Man Working in an Empty Shop

  9 of Pentacles: The Resting of Resource

  Upright: Selfishness

  What you say: “This card signifies holding on to things”

  Reversed: Sharing

  What you say: “This card (reversed) signifies letting go of things”

  Theme/Framework: Possession

  Oracular Title: A bird of prey fastened to the wrist

  Flip Title: A bird flying free to return

  10 of Pentacles: The Return of Resource

  Upright: Good Returns

  What you say: “This card shows that all will be well with the matter”

  Reversed: Lack of Return

  What you say: “When this card is flipped, it shows a lack of return for the work you have put in”

  Theme/Framework: Return

  Oracular Title: A Rich Man in His Family Manor

  Flip Title: A Family in Hard Times

  Page of Pentacles: Resource Channelling

  Upright: Starting Work

  What you say: “This card shows a channeling to your resources”

  Reversed: Waste

  What you say: “When reversed, this card indicates you may have lost a grip on your resources”

  Theme/Framework: Control

  Oracular Title: A Young Person Holding a Ball

  Flip Title: Children Looking for a Lost Penny

  Knight of Pentacles: Resource Responding

  Upright: Capability

  What you say: “This figure shows that you are capable and able to meet your goal so long as you maintain focus”

  Reversed: Incapability

  What you say: “When upside-down, this figure shows that you are easily distracted from your goals”

  Theme/Framework: Ability

  Oracular Title: A Knight in Armor Arrives at the Tournament.

  Flip Title: A Broken Shell Lies on a Vast Beach