The “Philosopher’s Scorecard” Problem-Solving Spread

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Any armchair philosopher and cerebral cartomancer who has ever encountered a complex problem-solving scenario has most likely waffled between the various ways to tackle the solution: emotionally, intellectually or intuitively. Rather than just throwing down a series of cards and reading them, the diviner tries to finesse the situation by “what-iffing” it to death before laying a card on the table. I’m offering this spread as a public service to those who want a little rational structure behind all the flailing-about. More than one path may stand out as identifying a reasonable approach, offering the opportunity for a coordinated, multi-faceted response.

The idea is that every situation exhibits a developmental arc, from inception through growth and maturity, and on to a tapering-off (that may involve retrenching) and ultimate closure. Depending on the circumstances, it could respond better to one mode of resolution than another even though on first encounter it may have seemed like a monolithic challenge. The path that exhibits the most encouraging and cooperative set of cards is intended to show the best way to proceed. On the other hand, it may just describe the “least of three evils” with the objective of avoiding the other two.

The quintessence card, which rolls up the numerical values of the five cards that precede it into a single trump-card expression, provides final commentary on the likely long-range consequences of taking that path. It should be viewed as an auspicious or inhospitable climate rather than as a physical state of being. For example, Death rarely means “dead,” just indisposed in some way by changing conditions that demand attention.

Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on October 29, 2023.