The “Mandala of the Moment”
In The Way of Tarot, Alejandro Jodorowsky envisions arranging all 78 cards of the Tarot de Marseille in a single emblematic pattern, a geometric “mandala” that can be visually absorbed at a glance, instantly embraced by the mind and easily understood in its entirely once the cards’ basic meanings have been internalized. While pondering this idea in a less ambitious (and less improbable) way, I realized that any well-designed tarot spread can be considered a truncated version of this master layout, flawless in its portrayal of a segment of objective reality. As a devotee of the 10-card Celtic Cross spread, I’ve long applied what I call a “gestalt” view to the array of cards during which I attempt to quickly grasp the overall story encoded in the display as a coherent whole, although certain cards will almost always stand out as more prominent than the rest and demand closer scrutiny. Other dominant features may emerge in the form of “dignities,” such as a preponderance or deficiency of any suit, element, number or rank. The card-by-card analysis proceeds only after this high-level overview is conducted, and at that time I pay more attention to conspicuous cards that will usually convey the main message and become the “keynote” of the narrative.
This brought to mind another stray thought: the observation by tarot author and entrepreneur Marcus Katz that the instant in time during which a card is pulled for a reading should be considered “sacred,” in that no other card will serve to perfectly capture its purpose. Thus a completed layout forms a unique signature or mandala of that moment in time at that particular place. I consider the location of a reading to be significant in the same way the longitude and latitude of an astrological map are crucial to individualizing the perspective. The act of placing allegorical tokens into a logical matrix acknowledges the importance of a purposeful structure to any form of divination that isn’t purely psychic. In much the same way that geomancy works, locally “grounding” the reading in an organized spread binds it even more closely to the utilitarian precepts of Earth as the vessel of Spirit. At its best, a formal spread provides intellectual handholds for hauling ourselves up the ladder of thought to a more rarefied appreciation of the metaphysical Cosmos. (Those who don’t use such spreads are pretty much disregarding that meaningful cross-connection in favor of an entirely fluid, intuitive “free-for-all.”) This is another valid reason for preferring face-to-face sessions over remote reading scenarios; the person shuffling the cards should ideally be present in the flesh for this solemn event. Despite theories that we are all just one big “hive-mind” and distance doesn’t matter, I can see no reason why the Universe would fail to take note of the seeker’s absence since the opportunity for subconscious communion between querent and cards is lost.
Along these lines, I will begin including a “gestalt précis” in my new-spread guidance, in which I will describe ways to perform an initial rehearsal of the forthcoming reading according to the cards appearing in its general arrangement: line, triangle, square, circle, etc. Each of these iconic figures offers an internal symmetry (“conceptual web”) by which it might be analyzed to find a “whole within the parts.” I would first look for an overall plot-line, and then for transitional scenes that move the story along, one of which should ideally be a “turning-point” (and sometimes an actual crisis) leading to a definitive climax and conclusion. At this point I would only broad-brush the outlook, leaving specific details up to the card-by-card breakdown. I would not necessarily describe all of these deliberations to the querent beyond giving general impressions about the focus of the reading. This is a storytelling gambit that can bring even the most disjointed series of cards into alignment, and I consider it the best way to initiate any reading of more than a couple of cards.
For example, the framework of the Celtic Cross already plots a course for the narrative and it needs little steering. The six-card “cross” section (the circular part with its central hub) delivers a developmental scenario and a timeline for advancement of the matter from its earliest intimations to its interim prognosis (with Position #6 as a kind of “reality check” that pauses the action, thereby allowing review and realignment before embarking on the final leg of the journey). This initial mini-series culminates in the likely near-term outcome independent of any redirection by the querent. The last card of the cross is the “jumping-off place” for the rest of the story, beyond which the querent’s reactions can change the trajectory and progress of forthcoming events. The first three cards of the vertical “staff” project the querent’s orientation to the evolution of affairs as they continue to their ultimate destination. (This is where I believe all of the psychological import of the reading lies; the earlier positions are wholly circumstantial.) These include grappling with one’s personal limitations (Position #7), redefining one’s place within the environmental and interpersonal sphere (Position #8), and aspiring to one’s noblest ambitions in the matter (Position #9). The tenth (“end of the matter”) card conveys the results of this interaction, with each intermediary “fork in the road” providing a milestone at which a mid-course correction can be made. Both the 12-card astrological spread and the 10-card Tree of Life spread offer a similar predefined architecture for establishing this kind of overarching theme.
Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on October 31, 2022.
