The Wall and the Keyhole: A Way Through
AUTHOR’S NOTE: While studying the text for Hexagram 20 (Guan; Observation) in Benebell Wen’s book I Ching the Oracle: A Practical Guide to the Book of Changes, I encountered a description of the lower trigram (Kun, or Earth) with its three yin lines forming a “keyhole” (suggestive of an unobstructed line-of-sight) through which a glimpse of the unfolding future might be obtained. This inspired me to come up with a tarot spread with the same structure and objective. It is considerably more ambitious than my usual three-to-five-card fare.
It consists of a horizontal line of five randomly-drawn cards that acts as a “wall” that the querent must penetrate if progress is to be made. In this wall I’m proposing that there is a “keyhole” indicating access to a doorway that will provide a “way through” to the other side. To open this passage, I will identify the card in the line that embodies the most upwardly mobile energy, typically a Fire or Air card in that order of precedence; it represents a symbolic “opening of the way.” If there are two or more of either type, I will go with the highest-ranking card as the “access point” through which entry can be made: a Fire trump if there is one, or an Air trump if there isn’t; the King (Thoth Knight) of Wands or Swords if there are no positive-and-active trumps, working down to the Page (Thoth Princess) if there are no superior court cards; or the Ace of Wands or Swords if none of the above appear, descending to the Ten of either suit as required. (Passive Water and Earth cards tend to move downward, seeking the lowest point, so they are not involved in this determination.) If there are no Fire or Air cards among the five, I will shuffle and draw again. Following are detailed instruction:
Once the “keyhole” card has been established, deal 25 cards, face-down from bottom-to-top above the 5-card “wall.” (If that card is at one end of the line, the first card at the opposite end should be considered a “continuation” of the run for the purpose of this layout and relocated accordingly before the rest of the cards are placed.
After dealing the 25 additional cards, turn over the five three-card sets that are above and centered on the “keyhole card (a total of 15 cards). The center column represents the querent’s path to closure and the two adjacent columns modify its progress “for good or ill.” (Note that the five horizontal “wall” cards, including the “keyhole” card, only set the stage and create the opportunity, they are not a part of the actual reading.
First analyze the “action” column as a single-card progression from bottom to top, then read the three-card sets that cross the main stem as “scenes” or “vignettes” that portray evolution of the matter from its inception to its conclusion. (Think of them as “rungs on a ladder” that are either reliable, enabling a safe climb to the top, or unsound, possibly presaging a fall.) Elemental Dignities may be used to determine whether the center card in each set is strong or weak in its statement of purpose.
The middle column describes the “action” and the two side columns adjust its testimony by endorsing or countermanding its agenda (either individually or jointly) at each of the five junctures. (They won’t halt its advancement if they are contrary but they might very well make progress slow and difficult.) Once this narrative is completed, a useful last step is to calculate a “quintessence” card from the cards of the middle column and treat it as the “capstone “ of the action, showing long-range consequences of its pursuit. (This will always be a trump card.)
It’s not as complicated to read as it might seem, basically a five-card line (plus quintessence) with five advisory “cross-ties” that intersect it in triplets. The middle “action” column is the main focus and the rest of the cards add inflection. Here is an example reading to illustrate the process:
The “keyhole” card is the Magus reversed (corresponding to Mercury); my first impression is that it conveys “opportunity writ large,” but the reversal blunts its “cutting edge” and curtails its range and depth of influence. With its hands thus tied, it fulfills the role of an advisor rather than a facilitator; it will observe but not try to direct the action.
The 8 of Wands (Swiftness; Mercury in Sagittarius) in the Emergence position suggests an accelerating initiative that carries the agenda of the Magus forward at a rapid pace despite the “false start.”
The Empress (corresponding to Venus) in the Progress position shows harmonious development of the matter, with favorable auspices for success.
The Queen of Wands in the Ripening/Faltering position furthers the mandate of the Empress because it signifies tremendous self-assurance. Consequently, the state of affairs thus far envisioned ripens rather than falters and fades.
With the 5 of Cups reversed (Disappointment; Mars in Scorpio) in the Flourishing/Decaying position it all falls apart, with disheartening intimations of emotional duress presaging a decline into failure.
The 7 of Cups (Debauch; Venus in Scorpio) descends into a quagmire of despair as the implications of disappointment sink in. Talk about encouraging prospects evaporating in the blink of an eye!
The Emergence triplet has elementally hostile Earth and Air placing a drag on the speedy advancement of the 8 of Wands. A clandestine purpose (Ace of Swords reversed) is at odds with the status quo (4 of Disks, Power; Sun in Capricorn), creating friction and dissension.
The Progress triplet features three cooperative Earth cards that augment the prowess of the Empress. However, reversal of the 5 of Disks (Worry; Mercury in Taurus) and the Ace of Disks imparts a nagging suspicion that the realization of Mercury’s goals will be set back even further.
The Ripening/Faltering triplet fields a pair of elementally neutral modifiers, the 8 of Swords (Interference; Jupiter in Gemini) and the 2 of Cups (Love; Venus in Cancer), both reversed. The Queen of Wands is not emboldened by these flanking cards (as if she needs to be), but she is also not hindered in her purpose. Unfortunately, the nature of the adjacent cards is not encouraging: according to Aleister Crowley, the 8 of Swords portends thwarting of the Will through accidental interference with the reversal further aggravating its impact, while the 2 of Cups reversed reveals erosion of emotional gratification. It looks like the over-confident Queen will be flying on pure instinct with no fortifying “wing-men” to assist her. The question is how long she can keep it up.
The Flourishing/Decaying triplet presents as modifiers the Lovers (corresponding to Gemini) and the 7 of Wands (Valour; Mars in Leo), an elementally friendly conflation of Air and Fire that riles the Water of the 5 of Cups; if that Five is on a “slippery slope,” this pair of modifiers will “grease the skids.” Here, watery Mars in Scorpio and fiery Mars in Leo are at loggerheads, neither one giving an inch, and their astrological signs are also dynamically stressed by the relationship. What at first glance might have come across as an optimistic but demanding liaison is hollowed out by the weak card at its core.
The Settling/Resolving triplet has the watery 7 of Cups bracketed by two Fire cards, the Ace of Wands reversed and the 4 of Wands reversed (Completion; Venus in Aries). The modifiers comprise an elementally forceful combination that will serve to drive the 7 of Cups even deeper into the swamp, while they are both unstintingly hostile toward the objectives of Water. It looks like the situation will settle out in an unpleasant place.
The long-term Consequences card (Adjustment, corresponding to Libra as the “quintessence”) is basically saying “Let the matter remain as it is; you made your own bed and now you must lie in it.” In short, it offers no sympathy for the trials and tribulation brought on by the two debilitating Cups.
As a side project, I transformed these six triplets (including the “wall” cards) into a hexagram by treating the positive Fire and Air cards as yang and the negative Water and Earth cards as yin. This gave me five “younger yang” lines with an “elder yin” line at Line 3, producing Hexagram 43, Break-through (Resoluteness): “As a result of resolute action, a change in conditions occurs, a break-through.” However, using Benebell Wen’s technique, the “elder yin” line becomes a moving line, making it yang in a new hexagram. This creates Hexagram 1, The Creative: “The Creative works sublime success, furthering through perseverance.” The testimony here seems to be that by remaining steadfast and avoiding erratic behavior that might provoke resistance, I can expect success in the long run even though prospects look bleak right now. It suggests “what happens next” after the sobering verdict of Adjustment: I’m hearing “Wait for it . . . !”
Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on July 27, 2024.
