A Tarot Grand Tableau: Cross-Cutting Heresy
AUTHOR’S NOTE: When Lenormand experts are confronted with the question of whether tarot cards can be paired with traditional Lenormand spreads, they sound the alarm and man the battlements. But in keeping with my current action-and-event-based approach to tarot, I can see how the Minor Arcana might be used in a manner similar to the Lenormand cards with their strongly pragmatic focus, particularly in a customized Grand Tableau.
What I decided to do was remove the Aces from the population of forty “pip” cards since they represent potential rather than kinetic energy and only stimulate but don’t initiate action. This left me with 36 cards, Two through Ten in four suits, that fit neatly into the footprint of a 9×4 Grand Tableau. I created a “house system” with them that can serve the same purpose as Lenormand houses, but with a more organized structure.
But how to use them in a reading is the dilemma. Here I’m bringing in the idea of “clusters” as the primary technique. In Lenormand there are certain cards that have an affinity for one another according to their shared involvement in a specific “life-topic,” and their close interaction in a layout is described as a “cluster.” In a GT, particularly when they are concentrated in a tight group, they are read as highly significant to the area of life they represent. Tarot clusters are primarily defined by suit, although other forms of attunement (known as “dignity”) may also occur.
I’m proposing that, after shuffling the “prepared” deck and laying the 36 randomized cards on top of the house template, we look for “clusters” of the same suit such that three of the four spots in any four-card square are populated with that suit. These would be read in a manner similar to Lenormand clusters, but the area of interest would be the one represented by the nature of the suit, not by specific “topic” cards as in Lenormand. If a cluster is formed around the row of houses of the same suit, this would further highlight that life-area as important to the querent at that moment in time. Roughly speaking, Wands would point to the importance of action, ambition, initiative, enthusiasm and enterprise; Cups would convey emotional priorities; Swords would stimulate the cognitive functions of decision-making, analysis and innovation; and Pentacles would favor all practical matters like money and property.
After a cluster is identified, the twelve cards (or any part thereof) surrounding the four-card “hub” would be examined to see if there are other cards of that suit in the population. If there are, these cards would be read as a potential “way forward” (or “way out”) for the original cards of their suit that they touch in the central group. This is similar to the Lenormand “Method of Distance” that works outward from the topic card, but in this case there is a maximum of three or four possible avenues for progress. If there are more cards outside the second group of twelve, the “same-suit” provisions would be extended. In this manner, a scenario approaching the full engagement of the highlighted suit can be brought to bear on the reading in a variety of ways.
Finally, if a row in the house template has been emphasized by commonality of suit with the cards of a cluster, the Ten at the end could be interpreted as the environment in which the energy of the cluster would develop and ultimately work itself out. If there is no such external link, the outcome of the cluster would be self-referential and self-contained.
Another way to approach clusters would be according to similarity by number. It would be rare for three cards of the same number out of a total population of four in the whole deck to be grouped in this manner, so a more useful way would be to look for a preponderance of odd-numbered or even-numbered cards in any square of four. Odd-numbered predominance would indicate that an active, assertive stance should be taken in whatever narrative has been delivered by the cards involved, while even-numbered predominance would suggest taking more of a “wait-and-see” attitude.
Here is an example reading. I’m treating this as a “general life-reading,” and I’m looking for any high-focus areas that jump out at me for the period in question. It turned out to be a fascinating exercise.
Among the three-card clusters, there are four “suit clusters,” eight “odd-numbered” clusters and seven “even-numbered” clusters in this reading, the last two showing a relative stalemate in active and passive “response bias,” but there were two even-numbered “four-carders” to one odd-numbered “four-carder,” giving a slight nod to a wait-and-see” posture. There are no “three-identical-number” clusters, but several “two-identical-number” sets. There are two Wands suit clusters and two Disks suit clusters, indicating that “pragmatic ambition” is a keynote for the duration of the forecast. However, the nature of the cards involved does not bode well for unmitigated success.
The first Wands cluster includes the 4 of Wands, the 9 of Wands and the 10 of Wands, which doesn’t seem all that bad, but the 10 of Wands and the 9 of Wands sit on the “houses” of the 6 of Wands and 7 of Wands in the template, respectively, suggesting stiff challenges to success. (“Oppression” overrides “Victory” and “Strength” escalates the desperation of “Valour.”) Furthermore, the 10 of Wands echoes the closing card in the Wands row, doubling-down on the oppressive atmosphere.
The second Wands cluster includes the 3 of Wands, the 5 of Wands and the 7 of Wands, implying more push-back against the complacency of the status quo. (There is no Wands “house” convergence.) In addition, these three cards are all odd-numbered, indicating an unbalanced situation actively seeking equilibrium.
The first Disks cluster includes the 2 of Disks (“Change”), the 5 of Disks (“Worry”) and the 9 of Disks (“Gain”), giving the impression of worrying about changes in economic viability for no good reason since growth is assured. However, three of the cards in this set are odd-numbered, implying that it will be hard to let well enough alone. The elemental outlier is the 9 of Wands (“Strength”), which as a “neutral and supportive” card exaggerates the dimensions of the situation.
The second Disks cluster includes the 3 of Disks, the 7 of Disks and the 10 of Disks; although it appears that an interlude of misfortune could shake things up, staying the course should leave circumstances in good financial shape. Although the 10 of Disks (“Wealth”) sits on the house of the 7 of Disks (“Failure”), intensifying the impression of loss and constraining opportunity, the 3 of Disks (“Work”) on the house of the 8 of Disk (“Prudence”) testifies to the virtue of sticking to the plan and exercising due diligence. Both the 10 of Disks and the 3 of Disks align with the 10 of Disks at the end of the Disks row in the template, offering strong evidence that, with a little prudent exertion, all will be well
There are no further Wands among the cards surrounding the two Wands clusters, so each series ends there. The implication is of abortive effort. There is one adjoining disk in the cards surrounding the first Disks cluster, but it is the dismal 7 of Disks touching the discouraging 5 of Disks, so the advice would be that it is best to “stand pat” and conserve one’s resources since any pragmatic initiative will probably go nowhere. The cards surrounding the second Disks cluster have only the 5 of Disks adjoining, and once again it touches the 7 of Disks, denoting that failure and defeat go hand-in-hand, so lying low on the financial front is encouraged. However, the 5 of Disks contacts the 9 of Disks in the next series out, so there may be redemption in the gloom after all (perhaps an infusion of cash).
The slightly greater presence of even-numbered four-card clusters reinforces the idea of not acting precipitously. The eight cards are predominantly Swords (4 each) and Disks (2 each) with only one Wand and one Cup among them, suggesting that a cold-eyed detachment from any enthusiastic sentimentality should be strictly maintained. Both of the outliers are Eights (Wands and Cups), and in my system Eights impart anxiety due to their connection with Mercury, and here their unproductive volatility and hand-wringing need suppressing by the internal “thought police” represented by the two Swords in each cluster.
The bottom line appears to be that the financial ship (Disks) will remain afloat without the need for histrionics involving hyperactive overreacting and overreaching (Wands).
Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on December 13, 2023.
