Cult of Tarot Forum

It's difficult to do good readings for world events I've found. I'm a bit of a world events addict - a news junkie. So I often do readings for world events.

But they are of a different nature to other readings. It's odd, but we can be often led down the garden path with the cards. Or rather, we lead ourselves down garden paths.

Sometimes we can be so sure of our interpretation... and boom crash boom. Nothing like that at all. Sometimes I've even wondered if tossing a coin wouldn't be simpler. But somehow I don't think so. I've done some readings that have knocked me off my chair. 

So what I've found to be the best way for me is this.

1) To use a deck obviously that is no-nonsense. Definitely no pandas or zombies or fairies (there is really a panda deck.. I saw some pictures earlier today ). The TdM is great for this. But I think a deck that is even starker and even harsher could be of added value depending on the issue at hand. I don't know the modern decks well, but an older deck would be the Lasenic for example. I've also had good results with the Oswald Wirth.

2) Only use the Majors. The Minors are more of a hindrance than a benefit. Too much information it seems. World events are very intricate and complicated. One gets lost easily in the minors. The Majors only give very fine readings and I've never found them wanting. 

3) Not draw too many cards. I find 3 to be a maximum, perhaps one could push up to five but not more.

4) Of course be very precise with the question and the positioning - but this goes without saying.

5) And this is something that has helped me immensely to get confirmation for my interpretation. I do it systematically. I never use clarifiers. I really don't like them. They're like ants crawling all over my picnic table. So I draw one more card and it's the last card in the spread. It's "How will I feel about the result". As I usually have an opinion and often even a desire for an outcome, it gives me that extra little hint that I'm on the right track.

Reading for world events is really good practice.

We have a "Game" here called "Ripped From the Headlines" that's meant for that. It's fun because everybody can join in on the predictions.

You can find it in our fun but sorely neglected Games area.

We had an interesting go at predicting the royal baby's gender. We failed but then it turned into a pretty interesting discussion.

I've been reading on news event for a couple of years now as a way to practice tarot and it's been very helpful, because I can go back and review the reading. I would agree thought that you can lead yourself down the garden path - I've learnt to be cautious about ascribing specifics to the feelings I am getting in the reading.

One example recently was regarding the election outcome for each party. For the Lib Dems I drew 9 Coins. Now usually, there is a slightly negative connotation when I draw this card. But in this reading, the card said to me that they would make some 'gains' in some way, the card didn't feel very negative or troubling - my mind said, 'Oh well that must mean they will gain some seats' so I thought they might do quite well relatively speaking, ('logic' ascribed to the card meaning - pah!).

Well...we know now that didn't happen. So looking back on the reading I was initially confused. I felt the card was right but couldn't see where I was going wrong in my interpretation. I discussed it with a good friend of mine, we had been looking at the election results too, seats, vote % etc. and they pointed out that in fact Lib Dems had in fact gained a vote share change of +4.2% (even though they didn't gain any seats, because of the way the system works). So they had in fact had a level of success in that the gain was more people voted for them than in the last election. My tarot question didn't ask if they would win, but how they would do in the election, and I think it answered that question! Initially I had made an assumption about what that 'gain' meant.

So this was really interesting! And I learnt from that.

There's always the issue that, compared to reading for a person we can ask questions to if we need more information, we as an individual can not possibly know all the in's and out's of what we are reading for regarding world events,(unless we have inside information somehow) so we may well be seeing something that we can not yet understand (or may never fully) because of that lack of information - so more questions and readings may needed to be asked to get more clarification or a fuller picture. I think it's tempting to think we know what's going on about an issue and so put our ideas of what we think the cards are saying based on that, and perhaps not consider other angles or perspectives.

Things that help me are to have a very clearly worded question (no ambiguity), be sure of what it is I really want to know, and have clearly defined positions if using a spread. Also, never try and throw logic into it, go with my initial thoughts and feelings, always

I would certainly be up for joining in if anyone wants to pose new events questions that we post our readings for. I think it's a great way to get to know and understand one's own practise.

BlueStar wrote: ↑15 Dec 2019, 15:26 One example recently was regarding the election outcome for each party. For the Lib Dems I drew 9 Coins. Now usually, there is a slightly negative connotation when I draw this card. But in this reading, the card said to me that they would make some 'gains' in some way, the card didn't feel very negative or troubling - my mind said, 'Oh well that must mean they will gain some seats' so I thought they might do quite well relatively speaking, ('logic' ascribed to the card meaning - pah!).

Well...we know now that didn't happen. So looking back on the reading I was initially confused. I felt the card was right but couldn't see where I was going wrong in my interpretation. I discussed it with a good friend of mine, we had been looking at the election results too, seats, vote % etc. and they pointed out that in fact Lib Dems had in fact gained a vote share change of +4.2% (even though they didn't gain any seats, because of the way the system works). So they had in fact had a level of success in that the gain was more people voted for them than in the last election. My tarot question didn't ask if they would win, but how they would do in the election, and I think it answered that question! Initially I had made an assumption about what that 'gain' meant.

That's an interesting example you gave. It's another reminder that when one is reading for world events, we have to be so precise - as precise as we can be with every word we use. There's no room for nuances and vagueness in our vocabulary. As it should be in politics actually. Precision instead of bullshit. And it's maybe even easier when two people interpret the cards together. This is one case where I think in the Tarot two heads are possibly better than one.

There's always the issue that, compared to reading for a person we can ask questions to if we need more information, we as an individual can not possibly know all the in's and out's of what we are reading for regarding world events,(unless we have inside information somehow) so we may well be seeing something that we can not yet understand (or may never fully) because of that lack of information - so more questions and readings may needed to be asked to get more clarification or a fuller picture. I think it's tempting to think we know what's going on about an issue and so put our ideas of what we think the cards are saying based on that, and perhaps not consider other angles or perspectives.

Things that help me are to have a very clearly worded question (no ambiguity), be sure of what it is I really want to know, and have clearly defined positions if using a spread. Also, never try and throw logic into it, go with my initial thoughts and feelings, always

You've summed it up nicely. We can't know all the ins and outs. World events also are fickle. It takes just one ripple to topple the whole thing. And to even render our readings useless. But for people who are interested and passionate about the news and what's going on in the world, they are very enriching. I do hope we'll find some time to do some together, BlueStar.

I would certainly be up for joining in if anyone wants to pose new events questions that we post our readings for. I think it's a great way to get to know and understand one's own practise.