SynTAROTis

Upset spread

A spread for the upsetting times in life:

1. What is upsetting you?
2. What needs are not being met?
3. How does this situation challenge your values?
4. What boundaries need to be set?
5. What could have been misunderstood?

Appreciative Inquiry

Have you noticed how often we define problems as what we do not want, or what is negative, painful, or needs to be fixed? Even the word “problem” is problematic: it immediately makes us think of what is imperfect.

What will happen if we focus on the positive instead?

Suppose, instead of asking …

• What do we want to avoid?
• What do we want to leave behind?
• How can we eliminate this?
• What needs to be fixed?
• How do we fix it?
• What do we want to improve?
• What went wrong?
• What must be removed?

… try

• What is going well, and how do we increase it?
• What benefits are there in this situation?
• What is working, and how can we improve it?
• Where do we want to be, and how do we get there?
• What can we add?

Of course we also have to focus on what is wrong, what is negative and needs to be fixed. But framing a question differently—appreciative inquiry—can help us gain a different perspective.

Appreciative Inquiry as a technique was formulated in the mid-1980s by David Cooperrider at Case Western Reserve University. He suggested that rather than focusing on the pain, we look towards increasing the pleasure. The technique is also an effective way to identify opportunities and strengths for improvement.

Appreciative Inquiry involves four Ds: Discover, Dream, Design, Deliver. First we define the problem, then we decide where we want to go, how we can get there, and how to do it.

Let’s use these elements in a Tarot spread:

Prologue:

1. What is going on?
2. What is painful, or needs to be changed?

Second row:

1. Discover: What has gone right before? What is currently working well? What do you like about this? What are the strengths?
2. Dream: Where do we want to go? What is the pleasure, and how can we increase it?
3. Design: What do we need to get there? What can we add, increase, or strengthen?
4. Deliver: What do we do? What is the next step?

In spite of fear and doubt, create ...

Creativity does not refer only to artistic creativity. A creative life is one in which your decisions and choices, you actions, your beliefs, and your values spring from openness, tolerance, curiosity and a sense of awe for the world we live in.

Creativity can be expressed in poetry, painting, sculpture and music, but also in a journal entry, in the way way you tackle challenges, and the empathy with which you approach the people around you.

Fears and doubts are obstacles to living a creative life. But they can also provide inspiration. The trick is not to let them overwhelm you (easier said than done, I know).

Here is a spread for those days when you need to remind yourself that, despite fear and doubt, you are a creative being.

The spread

Shuffle the deck. Draw a card and lay it face-up before you, saying “I fear ….”

Draw a second card and place it to the right of the first card, but keep it face down.

Draw a third card, saying “I am uncertain ….” Place this card face up below the first card.

Draw a fourth card and place it face down next to card four.

Draw a fifth card, saying “I doubt….” Place this card below the other two face-up cards.

Draw a last card and place it face down next to card five.

You should now have three rows of two cards each, with the cards in the left column face up, and the other three face down.

Before you read each individual card, spend a few moments just looking at the cards in the left column. They represent fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Identify them, acknowledge them, and they will immediately lose some of their power.

Now turn over the top face-down card, saying “I create …”. Spend some time with the card, finding ways to control fear, and allow it to inspire you.

Do the same with the other two face-down cards.

What is standing in my way?

One of my favourite spreads is a modification of the traditional Celtic Cross spread. The emphasis is on identifying and exploring a wish.

1. What do I want?
2. What is standing in my way?
3. The ideal
4. The danger
5. Where does this wish come from?
6. Where is it going?
7. Where am I, in this wish? (What is my role? What can I do to make this wish come true?)
8. How can I arrange my environment (people, resources, etc.) to give me what I want?
9. How are emotions blocking or helping me?
10. Possible outcome

Reverse the spread

Asking “How can we really annoy our customers?” instead of “How can we increase customer satisfaction?” may just prod your brain into creative mode.

Reverse brainstorming and reversing the problem are fun ways to jolt the brain out of its usual ways of thinking. Sometimes a surprise shakes loose some ideas, so why not approach the problem from the opposite direction?

In reversals, you ask questions such as “How can we make the problem worse?” or “How can we cause the problem?”

Alternatively, you can reverse something in the problem definition:

“How can we increase sales of Widget X” could become “How can we stop people from buying Widget X?”

You can reverse anything in the problem statement—go backward or do the opposite. Reverse a viewpoint. Change direction. Reverse the action, or the object, or the goal of the exercise. Find an upside-down and back-to-front way of stating the problem. Then brainstorm solutions.

And with Tarot cards?

Reverse or negative brainstorming works well with Tarot cards, but techniques specific to Tarot would be to reverse the cards or to ask the “wrong” questions in the spread positions.

Reverse cards offer a wealth of meanings, mostly because there are various ways to read them. In The complete book of Tarot reversals (see bibliography below) Mary Greer offers twelve ways to read reversed cards. James Ricklef and Joan Bunning also describe ways to read reverse cards.

And in creative problem-solving, the more stimuli you have, the greater the chances of finding unexpected solutions.

The reversed spread

The first part of this spread is a normal problem-solving exercise using upright cards, so write down your problem statement, shuffle the cards, and lay them out like this:

1. What is the problem?

2. What is the most important thing about this problem?

3. How can I approach this problem?

4. What or who can help?

Now reverse the cards

Repeat 1: What is not part of the problem?

Repeat 2: How can I make the problem worse?

Repeat 3: What should I not do?

Repeat 4: What if I do nothing?

Why reverse the problem?

When you concentrate on what not to do, you surprise your brain by tackling the problem from a different angle.

Once you have generated ideas, of course, you need to reverse the “solutions” to apply to your problem.

Reversing the problem also addresses common stumbling blocks in problem-solving.

The first is working with a fuzzy definition of the problem, so that it is not clear what is or is not part of the problem. You might have defined your problem too widely (“How can we increase customer satisfaction” versus “How can we make our teenage customers happy”), or too narrowly (“How can we encourage teamwork?” versus “How can we improve staff morale?”).

You might be trying to solve the wrong problem (focusing on team spirit when the team members are unhappy about things that have nothing to do with the team).

You also do not want to spend time on a problem, only to find that the problem does not exist anymore. The urgency of the problem might have passed, or the problem might have solved itself. (Wouldn’t that be nice!)

__________________________________________________

1. Bunning, J. (2003). Learning Tarot reversals. York Beach, ME: Red Wheel / Weiser.
2. Greer, M. K. (2001). The complete book of Tarot reversals. Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn.
3. Anthony Louis, Tarot plain and simple. Bounty Books, 2008
4. Ricklef, J. (2003). Tarot tells the tale: Explore three-card readings through familiar stories. St Paul, Minnesota: Llewellyn.

Building bridges (Tarot spread)

1. What I want
2. What I have
3. What I need
4. Build a bridge between what I want (1) and what I have (2)
5. Build a bridge between what I have (2) and what I need (3)
6. Complete the bridge (or synthesize)

Sample reading

I have used the Buckland Romani Tarot, with a question about the creative block that I have been experiencing.

What I want: Ace of Koshes (Wands)

I want a fresh beginning, with all the energy, enthusiasm, idealism and creativity that have disappeared along the way.

What I have: Four of Bolers (Pentacles)

I am blocking my own creative energy. I should stop holding on so tightly to what I have already achieved. I might feel proud of what I have done so far, but I am stifling creativity energy. Fear has made my creative self become stagnant and careful.

What I need: Three of Bolers

I need to work again; I need to realize that I am good at what I do, and should not fear that the best of my work is behind me. I should also not be complacent about what I have already done: it is not finished. I do not need the energy of the Ace of Koshes to get going again. I do not need the wild-spark creativity of the beginning of the project. I need a calm confidence that the project will be completed.

Build a bridge between what I want (Ace of Koshes) and what I have (Four of Bolers): Two of Chivs (Swords)

To move from the desire for the Ace of Koshes creative energy to the productivity of the Three of Bolers, I need to stand back for a moment and evaluate the situation. The wildness of the Ace of Koshers is inappropriate for the stage my work is in, but the Four of Bolers is taking one step too far into comfort and security. The Two of Chivs does not represent a lasting balance, but it does mean I need to take a breath and think for a moment.

Build a bridge between what I have (Four of Bolers) and what I need (Three of Bolers): Five of Koshes

Struggle, discomfort. Take up your tools and get back there. Stop holding on to what you have and start working. I don’t need the energy of the Ace of Koshes to shake things up. I need to leave my comfort zone and have faith in my creative abilities and the products I am creating. The energy of the Five of Koshes is not fearful and contemplative: it is enthusiastic, chaotic, and even aggressive.

Complete the bridge (or synthesize): Trump XIII Death

The project will be the death of me? Not very reassuring! Seriously now: my project could be “on fire” if I stop being so comfortable in what I have done so far. This far into the project many changes have already taken place—even transformation. Being afraid to move forward will mean death; taking the project and moving forward with confidence might mean the most exciting journey I have yet been on. I take the wheels on the wagon to mean it is time to roll!

The root of the problem (Spread)

Root cause analysis (RCA) is an attempt to solve a problem by first identifying its causes.

RCA is used when you want to do more than find a solution; where the root causes of the problem must be eliminated and prevented from recurring.

Several techniques exist to help you in RCA. This spread, based on the Celtic Cross, examines various angles to understanding the problem.

1. The problem
2. The main challenge to overcome
3. What you know
4. What you hide
5. What has contributed to the problem?
6. What else?
7. What role did you play?
8. What role did your environment play in this problem?
9. What role did emotions play?
10. Where is this leading to?

Going around in circles (Tarot spread)

This spread consists of cycles of three cards within a larger cycle of nine cards.

The problem is described in card 1. The reading then moves to the cause of the problem (card 2), the effect or consequences of the problem (card 3), and a new situation (also described by card 3).

The cycle then moves on to cards 3, 4, and 5, then 5, 6, and 7, and so on.

The cycle is broken in card 10.

Because each “effect” becomes a “problem” in turn, the spread covers several causes and possible consequences of a situation.

Three describes a completed cycle, nine is completion on a new level, and 10 is completion, fulfilment, and satisfaction. It is also the start of a new cycle, so if you want to, you can lay out another spread with card 10 as the central problem.

 

1. The problem

2. Cause of the problem

3. Effect or consequences of the problem

 

3. Read card 3 again, this time as the problem or situation created by the previous cycle (cards 1, 2, and 3)

4. Cause of the problem in card 3

5. Effect or consequences of the problem in card 3

 

5. Read card 5 again as the new problem

6. Cause of the problem in card 5

7. Effect of the problem in card 5

 

7. Read card 7 again as the new situation or problem

8. Cause of the situation in card 7

9. Effect of the situation in card 7

 

9. Read 9 again as the new situation or problem

2. Read card 2 as the cause of the problem or situation in card 9

10. Break the cycle (back to the beginning, but this time as card 10, not card 1)

A really good day (Tarot spread)

1. This was a really good day

2. Why was this a good day?

3. This was a very bad day

4. What made it so bad?

5 & 6. Lessons learned.

“Yes, BUT …”—A challenging technique

“Yes, but ….”

I believe this is true, but just suppose …?

I have decided to do this, but have I taken everything into account?

The next step is …, but are there alternatives?

The “Yes, BUT” technique can be a challenging—but fun—technique to confront yourself.

How it works

Any spread will work, although it might be a good idea to choose a spread of no more than four or five cards.

Draw cards for each position in the spread, laying them face up. These are the Yes cards.

Now draw a second card for each position, keeping them face down. These are the BUT cards.

Find the connections between the first card and your situation (Yes). In other words, follow your usual practice for reading the cards, whether for reflection or for divination.

Now turn over the BUT card.

BUT what else is there that you have not considered? Could there be a different interpretation of events? Does the card challenge a decision, interpretation, belief, assumption, or perspective? Does the card suggest alternative actions?

Example

This example uses the Past / Present / Future spread and the Modern Medieval deck by Shayn Amber Wetherell and Tim Wetherell.

The BUT cards are in the top row.

1. Past: Two of Swords / BUT … Five of Staves (Wands)

This is true:

A temporary truce was established to consider a difficult choice between opposing ideas. A compromise was reached that seemed impartial and fair (Lady Justice is often portrayed with a blindfold).

BUT …

… the Five of Staves in the Modern Medieval deck suggests that a goal had been reached, but not in a peaceful way. The card is about struggle, competition, and conflicting desires. So …

… was the compromise as fair and impartial as I believe?

Suppose the blindfold in the Two refers not to justice and objectivity, but to a deliberate attempt not to face the truth in my desire to attain a goal? Might I have bullied others into agreeing to a compromise that benefit me more than they?

On the other hand, the woman in the Two seems to block her emotions. The swords protect her heart, and although she is surrounded by water (symbol of emotions), she is not immersed in it. She also keeps the swords above the water.

How much benefit will I derive from the compromise if I had disregarded my feelings?

2. Present: Ace of Swords / BUT … Queen of Staves

This is true:

The Ace is about fresh insight and new ideas, an intellectual approach to a project, and the ability to analyse and discriminate between what is useful and what to discard. It implies the ability to concentrate, and mental energy. Whereas the Two of Swords indicates difficult decisions to be made, the Ace is decisive and forceful.

Many creativity techniques require a linear or analytical approach. In addition, my current project requires a detailed and focused approach.

BUT …

… the Queen of Staves is not interested in the intellect. Her creativity is infused with imagination and inspiration, and she relies on instinct and intuition to find and evaluate ideas.

Many creativity techniques involve imagination and the ability to associate and find links between disparate items and concepts. Intuition can also be important in problem solving.

This card reminds me that these techniques are effective, and more fun than those using a logical, step-by-step approach.

3. Future: King of Staves / BUT … The Hermit

These are the qualities of the King of Staves that I aspire to:

The King is master of the qualities of his suit. He is confident of his creative ability, and courageously expresses and implements his ideas. He inspires others through his charismatic leadership, energy, and enthusiasm, and is willing to consider novel, and even far-fetched, ideas. He can be unconventional and encourages others to challenge assumptions and beliefs.

BUT …

… in contrast to the King’s impulsive and enthusiastic approach, the Hermit advises careful study and perhaps the wisdom of a guide or mentor.

The King is surrounded by fire, symbolising passion, energy, and the urge to act; in the Hermit card, however, the fire is tempered and controlled.

In creativity, the King could represent the generation of ideas. The Hermit, on the other hand, represents incubation: the complete withdrawal from a problem for a period, giving the subconscious a chance to work. Many people find that the solution to a problem pops up unexpectedly a few hours or days later.

Although my inclination is to follow the King, the Hermit’s approach must be part of my strategy. In general I am too impatient to give incubation a chance to work. The Hermit is a reminder how effective it can be in solving complex problems.