Writing Practice
Try to extract as much information as you can from a single card pulled at random from your tarot deck. Describe the card completely, or simply list the images and symbols. Here's an example of a written description of the Six of Swords:
A ferryman steers an open boat across a small body of water, from one shore to the other. The boatman is dressed in bright colors-the sunny yellow and cerulean blue of a summer day. He stands in sharp contrast to his robed and hooded passenger, who is seated and cloaked in a muted shade of earthy brown. The ferryman is young and strong; his passenger seems old, tired, and overweight. Both the sky and the water are dark; a storm is brewing. The water they've crossed is choppy, but the water in front of the ship is calm. The bottom of the boat is pierced by six long swords, which stand upright like ghostly passengers.
Even at this stage, you might find that a single card starts to trigger story ideas. It's not too early to try your hand at creative writing with the cards. Here's the start of a short story based on the same Six of Swords card:
No matter how far he traveled, David could never get away from his father. The dead man insisted on coming along for the ride. He shadowed him through Mexican villages and the mountains of Peru. He followed him on safari through Africa. He popped up at the Great Wall of China, and haunted him through castle ruins in Ireland. When he materialized on a gondola in Venice, David knew that the time had finally come to confront the old ghost.
Two-Card Spreads
While one-card readings are enlightening and informational, most tarot readersand writers-find that it's more fun to work with pairs and combinations of cards. A simple two-card spread can offer balance and contrast. Try pulling two cards when you'd like to compare any two people, places, or things. You can think of a two-card spread as a show of good and bad, pros and cons, do's and don'ts, light and shadow, highs and lows, positives and negatives, or any type of conflict-even an epic battle between good and evil.
Writing Practice
Shuffle your tarot deck and draw two cards at random to depict the best and worst qualities of a fictional character. Here's a "Best and Worst" reading for a fictional character we'll call "Craig."
Best Quality
Worst Quality
Best Quality-The Judgement card implies forgiveness and a fresh start. Craig is probably a forgiving soul; he readily excuses bad behavior, and he gives his friends and associates a second, third, or fourth chance to redeem themselves.
Worst Quality-The Three of Swords seems to indicate that Craig isn't nearly so forgiving with himself. He is plagued by paralyzing guilt and regret about his own past mistakes.
The Power of Three
Three-card spreads are the foundation of many tarot card readings. Typically, the three cards represent the past, present, and future of a situation. Other variations include "body, mind, and spirit," or "yes, no, and maybe."
The "past, present, and future" spread is ideal when you want quick answers or a flash of insight. Simply shuffle and cut the deck into three separate piles or deal the top three cards from the deck. Read them from left to right, just as you would read words on a page: the first card represents the past, the second card depicts the present, and the third card illustrates the most likely outcome.
Writing Practice
Lay out three cards for a "past, present, and future" spread, and read them like a story. Try to find a unifying theme or pattern that connects the three cards in a single narrative thread. Here's a short three-card reading that lends itself to a simple storyline:
Past
Present
Future
Past-Ten of Cups. Once upon a time, a young couple lived in a cozy cottage with their two children.
Present-Nine of Wands. One day, a mysterious traveler arrived at their door.
Future-Ten of Pentacles. He promised them great wealth-but first, he said, they would have to leave their home and follow him to a distant land.
The Horseshoe Spread
The horseshoe spread is a dramatic way to explore the details of any question or situation-all in a mystical seven-card reading.
1. Past. The circumstances and events that led to the present situation.
2. Present. The current situation.
3. Future. The near future.
4. Self. The subject's attitudes, thoughts, and feelings about the situation.
5. Friends and Family. How other people see and affect the situation.
6. Obstacles. The obstacles that must be overcome.
7. Outcome. The most likely outcome of the current situation.
Writing Practice
When you're first learning to read tarot cards, you can practice by pulling issues and events from the news. Here's a fictional example based on a real-life news report, about a man who was found dead just five hours after his wife came home from jail. Oddly enough, the woman had actually been imprisoned for trying to kill him months earlier. When the case went to court, the man declared that he had forgiven his wife, and the judge released her on probation. Did she go home to finish the job, or was the man's death simply a bizarre twist of fate?
1. Past-Ace of Pentacles. The woman in question, whom we'll call Josephine, tried to kill her husband by replacing his prescription medications with place bos. The couple was struggling financially, and the husband was in poor health. The Ace of Pentacles represents new beginnings in financial and physical matters; perhaps she thought she was doing him a favor. (Oddly enough, the images does look like a hand holding a pill.)
2. Present-Hanged Man. At the time of the news report, Josephine's probationary status was hanging on the result of an autopsy. If her husband died of natural causes, she would be off the hook.
3. Future-Four of Cups. When she pled guilty to attempted murder, Josephine explained that her actions stemmed in part from depression. As part of her probationary release, she was ordered to seek ongoing treatment. Now that her husband had died, she'd really need it.
4. Self-The Chariot. This card corresponds to the astrological sign of Cancer-a sign associated with protection and nurturing. Josephine truly does see herself as a loving, caring person.
5. Friends and Family-Five of Wands. This can be a card of martyrdom and self-imprisonment. No matter what the medical examiner decided, Josephine's friends and family would never agree on her role in her husband's death.
6. Obstacles-Eight of Swords. Believe it or not, Josephine had lived in a prison of her own making for years-and there was no release on the horizon.
7. Outcome-The Tower. This is the penultimate "Get out of jail free" card. Josephine was formally released from jail, and it doesn't appear that she'll be headed back there anytime soon.
Weeks after this reading was concluded, a coroner determined that Josephine's husband died of natural causes. She was not charged with any crime or violation.
The Celtic Cross
When Arthur Edward Waite helped design the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot more than a century ago, he also introduced a corresponding spread. Since then, the Celtic Crosspronounced "Keltic," by the way-has become a perennial favorite. Here is one popular version of the spread you can use.
1. Significator. The person or subject of the reading.
2. Covering Card. The situation surrounding the person or issue at hand.
3. Crossing Card. The energy of the moment and current influences.
4. Foundation Card. The foundation of the situation.
5. Recent Past. The last six months to a year.
6. Crowning Card. The most ideal outcome of the current situation.
7. Near Future. The next six months to a year.
8. Self Image. How the issue looks from the inside.
9. Public Image. How others see the issue.
10. Hopes and Fears. Hopes and fears related to the issue.
11. Most Likely Outcome. The most likely outcome of the current situation.
Writing Practice
Lay out a Celtic
Cross spread for a fictional character and diagram the reading on paper. Let your imagination run free, and record your insights. Here's a summary of a Celtic Cross reading for a fictional character we'll call "Stan."
1. Significator/the Person-Two of Pentacles. Stan is a multitasker.
2. Covering Card/the Situation-Ace of Swords. He's also a recent law-school graduate.
3. Crossing Card/Current Influences-Eight of Wands. Stan has been receiving a lot of strange, psychic messages lately-a fact that doesn't jibe with his scholarly and reasoned world view. The messages are urging him to pursue a new, creative path in life-but Stan thinks he might be going crazy.
4. Foundation Card-King of Swords. Stan's father is a lawyer, too. He expects Stan to join his practice and take over when he retires.
5. Recent Past-Four of Swords. Stan had been seriously ill recently. He managed to finish law school despite a year-long struggle with bone cancer.
6. Crowning Card/Highest Ideals-The World. Stan dreams of a long, happy life during which he'll be able to experience everything the world has to offer. He knows that a career in law promises to make him a wealthy and respected man.
7. Near Future-Three of Pentacles. Even so, Stan can't deny that he's being called to a career as a sculptor, not a lawyer.
8. Self Image-Wheel of Fortune. Despite his current doubts, Stan feels blessed and lucky to be alive.
9. Public Image-Seven of Cups. When Stan starts to talk of going to art school, his friends and family members think he's a little crazy. They urge him to get his head out of the clouds, take the bar exam, and follow in his father's footsteps.
10. Hopes and Fears-Five of Pentacles. Stan simply can't bring himself to abandon his dream, but he wonders if he's making the right decision. He fears life as a stereotypical starving artist. He also fears losing his leg-which could happen if his cancer returns.
11. Most Likely Outcome-Eight of Pentacles. Stan will support himself by specializing in artist's representation-part-time. And, because he's a born multitasker, he'll also apprentice himself to a professional sculptor.
Wild Cards
There will be times when you'll want more information than the cards on the table can provide. Don't panic: just add cards as you need them, at any point during a reading. Try these add-ons to any standard spread:
Wild Cards. Add a wild card to any standard spread, for information that might not have had a clear-cut place in the rest of the layout.
Clarification Cards. If you need more information to interpret an individual card, cover it with a clarification card.
Advice Cards. If you'd like to know what to do with the information in a card or a spread, deal another card for advice.
Future Cards. You don't need to conclude a reading with just one outcome card. You can add more cards, timeline-style, to see how the situation will continue to develop.
Alternate Outcomes. Deal two or three cards to see how a change in course now could change the future, too.
Hidden Cards. On occasion, you might want to peek at the "secret" cards in a tarot spread-the cards that never make it out of the deck, but stay hidden underneath. Simply pick the deck up and look at the bottom card. That's where you'll often find information that's been kept hidden or repressed.
Get Creative
Spreads are fun to invent on the fly, too. Simply pose a question and develop a custom-designed spread to help you divine the answer. Use geometric shapes that reflect the nature of your inquiry: lines, squares, circles, triangles, and stars are all popular among tarot readers.
You might be able to picture the possibilities more clearly after the next chapter, which focuses on character creation.
"Nick moved slowly and methodically, gathering information with all five senses. He held his hands in front of him to get a feel for the room. He paused frequently, as he registered every sight, every sound, and every smell. Nothing escaped his practiced eye. Watching him work, Sully knew he had found the right detective for the job."
-WRITING SAMPLE BASED ON THE KNIGHT OE PENTACLES CARD
ome writers will tell you that the best stories are character-driven. Others will tell you that plot is the most important element of a story, and that a solidly constructed storyline will keep readers hooked.
That's theory. In practice, it's almost impossible to separate well-written characters from their adventures-so we'll start with characters, because they're the easiest figures to find in a deck of tarot cards.
While tarot cards are printed on paper, the characters you'll find in the deck are more than paper dolls. They're powerful personalities that embody archetypes and symbols-and in your hands, they'll come to life with very little effort.
Cast of Characters
When you're ready to start assembling the cast of your next story, deal yourself a starting hand. Begin with one card for every character you'll need. Typically, you'll want to include:
A Protagonist. The protagonist is the hero of the story. He sees the most actionand the most conflict. The word "protagonist" is Greek; it used to mean the first actor to speak on stage in a drama. Since the protagonist is the star of the show, you'll want to develop a detailed character profile to use as a reference while you write.
An Antagonist. Every hero has an opponent-the anti-hero, or antagonist. Even though the antagonist isn't the main attraction, he or she should be just as interesting as the protagonist.
Foils. Because everyone needs a friend, many literary characters have foils-sidekicks who illustrate their strengths and weaknesses. Don Quixote's foil was Sancho Panza; Sherlock Holmes had Dr. Watson. Fred had Barney, and Lucy had Ethel. Even bad guys have henchmen, minions, and lackeys: Captain Hook had Mr. Smee, for example, and Dr. Evil had Mini-Me.
Supporting Characters. Figures who pop up throughout the course of a story without taking lead roles themselves are supporting characters. They usually have names and at least some explicatory background; you can develop character sketches for them, too.
Stock Characters. Almost every story includes stock characters, such as bartenders, taxi drivers, and mail carriers. They're usually nameless, but they step in as needed to keep the story moving.
You might be tempted to develop a proverbial cast of thousands-especially when they come so readily through tarot cards. Don't succumb. Remember to keep your minor characters locked into minor roles. Consolidate their parts when you can, and make sure that their presence adds to the story without detracting from the major players.
Writing Practice
Take a moment to pull cards for five sample characters-a protagonist, antagonist, two foils, and a supporting character. Record your impressions of each one.
A quickly shuffled deck produced these sample characters:
Protagonist
Antagonist
Protagonist's Foil
Antagonist's Foil
Supporting Character
Protagonist-The Sun, a heroic personality on a metaphoric white horse.
Antagonist-Knight of Cups, an insecure young man who wants to prove himself by conquering the hero.
Protagonist's Foil-King of Swords, the hero's aging father, unwilling to relinquish his throne. At some point, the hero will have to claim the kingdom for his own.
Antagonist's Foil-Two of Swords, a young woman blinded by her love for the Knight of Cups.
Supporting Character-The Star, the chatty waitress who serves up hot gossip along with hot coffee.
Personality Plus
While supporting characters may be flat, or notable for a single quality, the most memorable characters in fiction are well-rounded. They're detailed, multifaceted, and multidimensional. At the same time, flat characters tend to remain static and unchanged, but well-rounded characters are dynamic. As a story unfolds, they undergo a dramatic transformation.
Obviously, you'll want to make your characters as rounded and dynamic as you canand the process is as simple as drawing cards from your tarot deck. As you pull new cards, y
ou'll also pull your characters out of the two-dimensional world of cardstock and into a fictional reality that feels as real as your own. You can turn to the cards to determine almost anything about a character: physical appearance, motivation, hopes, fears, partner, family, friends, education, work experience, and hobbies. Simply shuffle your deck and start dealing.
Writing Practice
Try using the cards to answer any of the following questions. You can pull as many cards as you like to determine the answers.
. Is your character a man or a woman?
. How old is your character?
. What does your character look like?
. What does your character do for a living?
. How does your character spend his or her free time?
. Does your character have a spouse, children, or a pet?
. What are your character's hopes and dreams?
. What does your character fear most?
Here's a random draw of the cards for a fictional character we'll call "Katherine."
. Is your character a man or a woman? Queen of Pentacles-She's a woman.
. How old is your character? Four of Swords-She's 44.
. What does your character look like? The World-She's tall, athletic, and uninhibited.
. What does your character do for a living? Death-She's a medical examiner.
. How does your character spend his or her free time? Knight of Wands-She's a horse enthusiast.
. Does your character have a spouse, children, or a pet? Two of Wands-She has a husband who travels internationally on business.
. What are your character's hopes and dreams? The Sun-She's a crusader who pursues justice on behalf of abused children. Unfortunately, she sees too many of them in her work as a medical examiner.
• What does your character fear most? Ace of Swords-The flaws of the legal system haunt her.
Character Building
Fiction writers often create elaborate histories and profiles of the characters in their stories. Here are some factors you might like to consider as you transform your characters from two-dimensional concepts into full-figured fiction. Pull as many cards as you like to complete a profile for your main characters.
Tarot for Writers Page 4
