BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Tarot Tarot Spread Tutorial : 3 Card Spread Practice Exercise

3 Card Spread Practice Exercise :music:

This interactive Practice Exercise is meant for readers studying the 3 Card Spread Tutorial on the BellaOnline Tarot Channel.

To help you practice performing the 3 card spread, I offer two study cases below, based on the same spread.

In the illustration, you can see three face up Tarot cards. These three cards are from the Thoth Tarot Deck, with the following configuration:

1. Left Card: - Ace of Wands (Past or Context)
2. Center Card: - The Chariot (Present or Focus)
3. Right Card: - The Magician (Future or Outcome)

PRACTICE A. Olivia wants to know if she will get a good job when she is finished her degree in new media and communications (she finishes in three months). Do a Timeline Analysis for her.

PRACTICE B. Jack wants to explore how his business coaching company will fare over the next year. He has worked hard at promoting it for the past three years. He and his wife are expecting their first child as well. Do a Problem-Solving/Decision-Making Analysis for him.

If you would like to have an interactive experience with this exercise join in this Forum Discussion devoted to this particular 3 Card Spread Exercise. If you prefer to work in private on your own, by all means, do whatever is comfortable for you. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

What a great idea! Well, here goes...

Well the first thing I notice is there is a majority of Majors here-- which makes me think that this is a very important situation on a higher level (maybe spiritually?).

Ace of Wands in the Past. She started her education with a strong desire to begin a career (I don't think it's a career change, as much as the beginning of her desire to begin her first career-- since it's an Ace?). Very self motivated, it was on her own initiative to choose this line of study, and it seems like she really knew what she wanted all along.

Chariot in the present. A lot of momentum at this time, as she heads for the end of her schooling. A lot of power and force behind her, almost seems out of control, but she is still holding the reigns. She is still directing her future in a productive direction.

Magician in the future. Soon after graduation (I think the Future position is 3 months out, isn't it?) she is in a position where she can confidently use all of the resources she has gathered, and all the resources of the world around her, to manifest what she truly wants-- for herself and her clients. The world is her oyster. I think the Magician is related to the god Mercury, so this is very aspicious for a career in communications. Although he's also a trickster, so things might not be as they appear at first, or there may be a miscommunication with or from a prospecive employer.

I'm almost thinking of her freelancing, more than working for someone else. (I'm not sure if this is just my own 'stuff' here, but... ;-) The Magician card seems more open, more empowered than a regular 'day job' (especially considering the other cards behind it). It feels like she would really be striking out on her own.

But if she does work for someone, maybe it will be in a position where she has a lot of say in how she does things. Not necessarily leading others, but a lot of control over how she does her own job. Or maybe in charge of many different responsibilities, or different types of projects-- maybe a position in a small company? Either way, I see her as very empowered, doing exactly what she is meant to do, and very skillful in doing it.

Short answer: Yes, a good job shortly after graduation. I might suggest another spread, or more cards, to clarify what type of work situation she should look for, and what types of companies, etc.

I've never used the Thoth deck before, and I think I got more out of the Magician than I would have with a RWS type deck. It's odd, because I don't necessarily feel drawn to the Thoth images-- even in this reading-- but I was getting ideas by looking at this version of the Magician. I'm not sure if that made sense or not. It didn't seem like a 'visual' thing... maybe it's the 'energy' of the card, or a 'cognizant' thing. Hmmmm.

This is a great exercise-- I wonder how well I did-- because I usually read for myself and end up THINKING about it too much, and second guessing things. Thanks, June.

Wow Michael!

Really stellar interpretation!! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

You have opened up this discussion in a very thoughtful and insightful way. Indeed, the Thoth Magician - they actually call him The Magus AND The Juggler in this deck is a prime card for its creators, Aleister and Lady Frieda. There is a distinct Egyptian and Ancient Magic feel to this card.

From the Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley:

"The French title for this card in the medieval pack is "Le Bateleur", the Bearer of the Baton. Mercury is preeminently the bearer of the Wand: Energy sent forth. This card therefore represents the Wisdom, the Will, the Word, the Logos by whom the worlds were created. (See the Gospel according to St. John, chapter 1). In brief, he is the Son, the manifestation in act of the idea of the Father. He is, in the language of modern physics, that electric charge which is the first manifestation of the ring of ten indefinable ideas. He is thus continuous creation. He represents both truth and falsehood, wisdom and folly. Being the unexpected, he unsettles any established idea, and therefore appears tricky."

"The present card has been designed principally upon the Graeco-Egyptian tradition. Hindu and Buddhist symbology is also applied."

Thanks for the encouragement June. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> What a great opportunity to develop confidence in our impressions!

The extra info you include is very interesting. I think the Magician card seems to have a certain joyousness to it, that I don't get from the RWS Magician.

Interesting about the "Being the unexpected, he unsettles any established idea..." part. Maybe in the reading it's indicating a fortunate surprise in the future? Maybe a totally different job situation than she's expecting? Maybe 'freelancing' or a job prospect she has discounted? Hmmm.

I see where you're going with this, Michael. Indeed, I agree - the Magus seems to bring energy where she can have room to breathe in her career, and not "have" to follow the established norm. I work in post-secondary education, and always try to open up my nursing students' eyes to the possibilities. Sure, most will start out working as hospital nurses. But, these students are earning their degree, so will also be primed to begin to climb the ladder to admin, research, specialist positions. About 50% of our grads go onto Masters degrees as well.

My point <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

The energy that is indicated is to "think outside the box" - a key concern of Crowley's by the way,..it amused him that he was labeled a "devil" when really, he was just one of the people who initiated what we now call critical social theory. This entails questioning the status quo,....recognizing the foundational and traditional beliefs and concepts that keep us all in "herd mentality"....I ramble :rolleyes:

What do the rest of you see in this spread????

Yes, I think I got spooked by Mr. Crowley early on, and sort of avoided the Thoth deck altogether. This, of course, was without a lot of real knowledge about him... I think it was the Ozzy Osbourne song that did it (you can't always trust the Osbournes! lol) :rolleyes:

I think it would help us all to expand our vision. That's what I've been trying to do lately, in general-- entertain the little 'impossible' things for ourselves. This is going to sound like another 'plug', but the reading you gave me is helping with that.

Anyway, I'm rambling... Now to envision more time to write about things. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hi Michael,

You provoke thought as always. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Crowley definitely cultivated quite a reputation, one I think he even encouraged - he enjoyed the notoriety and mystery. But I think we have to put him into context. The turn of the 20th century was quite a unique time. There was a huge wave of mysticism from about 1875 through to about the 1920s - but it came on top of the Victorian era. There were also millions of people who were afraid of this movement,.. remember this was also the eve of the industrial revolution. Modernism was taking hold.

Crowley was one of the first to encourage people to question - he could almost be called a postmodernist, I would say. If he lived today (perhaps he does???) he would be in his element in many parts of the world. His thoughts would be fairly common place in some circles.

We have come a long way strictly speaking, to acknowledge the worth of diverse beliefs and practices. There is still a long way to go, of course. But examining our own beliefs is the place to start, I feel. Then moving on to our values, our primary socialization, and choosing what serves our Higher Good and what doesn't.

Again, Crowley encouraged people to do this... though he had his own hangups, about women, etc. :rolleyes:

Interesting. I don't know much about Crowley... and what I think I know, I know must be wrong. (That just sounded like a line from a bad country song) <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
For some reason I have images of him sleeping with the dead... or in the crypts under the pyramids (?)... Again, it's probably totally wrong or was taken out of context and sensationalized before I heard about it, so please forgive the ignorance. I must have done some misdirected reading WAY back when I was a Goth-teenager, and had a totally different agenda. ;-)

But I'm curious, are there any simple examples of what he DID do, to break with convention? By "postmodern", do you mean as in 'deconstructionist',
'things-have-no-inherent-meaning', that sort of thing?

Are there any easy examples of his actual philosophy that you can think of, or is it all very complicated metaphysics? Does his personality show up in the Thoth deck? Sorry for all the questions (don't feel the need to answer ALL of them lol)... you probably know by now how curious I can get. :rolleyes:

Oh, and that last bit about "hangups"... It's funny how all these enlightened thinkers can liberate themselves from all the 'norms' but can still have these little blindspots. It just shows that each of us will always have some 'work' ahead of us.

It's interesting, even the Buddha didn't admit women as monks at first. He later reversed that idea... I think it was his step-mother that lead a large group of women, that proved their determination for enlightenment, and he changed his mind. I think it was explained that he did not want to disrupt the general society outside the Sangha (causing suffering, unrest, etc.), but it still makes you go hmmm....

HI Michael,

I found a passage in one of Crowley's writings about learning to remember our past lives that sums up his approach quite nicely I think.

From Aleister Crowley, Liber ThIShARB -

Gives methods for attaining the magical memory, or memory of past lives, and an insight into the function of the Aspirant in this present life. (So to enable the Aspirant to calculate his True Orbit in eternity.)


1.Second Method. Preliminary Practices. Let him, seated in his Asana, consider any event, and trace it to its immediate causes. And let this be done very fully and minutely. Here, for example, is a body erect and motionless. Let the adept consider the many forces which maintain it; firstly, the attraction of the earth, of the sun, of the planets, of the farthest stars, nay, of every mote of dust in the room, one of which (could it be annihilated) would cause that body to move, although so imperceptibly. Also the resistance of the floor, the pressure of the air, and all other external conditions. Secondly, the internal forces which sustain it, the vast and complex machinery of the skeleton, the muscles, the blood, the lymph, the marrow, all that makes up a man. Thirdly the moral and intellectual forces involved, the mind, the will, the consciousness. Let him continue this with unremitting ardour, searching Nature, leaving nothing out.

2. Next, let him take one of the immediate causes of his position, and trace out its equilibrium. For example, the will. What determines the will to aid in holding the body erect and motionless?

3. This being discovered, let him choose one of the forces which determined his will, and trace out that in similar fashion; and let this process be continued for many days until the interdependence of all things is a truth assimilated in his inmost being.

4.This being accomplished, let him trace his own history with special reference to the causes of each event. And in this practice he may neglect to some extent the universal forces which at all times act on all, as for example the attraction of masses, and let him concentrate his attention upon the principal and determining or effective causes.

For instance, he is seated, perhaps, in a country place in Spain. Why? Because Spain is warm and suitable for meditation, and because cities are noisy and crowded. Why is Spain warm? and why does he wish to meditate? Why choose warm Spain rather than warm India? To the last question: Because Spain is nearer to his home. Then why is his home near Spain? Because his parents were Germans. And why did they go to Germany? And so during the whole meditation.

5. On another day, let him begin with a question of another kind, and every day devise new questions, not only concerning his present situation, but also abstract questions. Thus let him connect the prevalence of water upon the surface of the globe with its necessity to such life as we know, with the specific gravity and other physical properties of water, and let him perceive ultimately through all this the necessity and concord of things, not concord as the schoolmen of old believed, making all things for man's benefit or convenience, but the essential mechanical concord whose final law is "inertia." And in these meditations let him avoid as if it were the plague any speculation sentimental or fantastic.

6. Second Method. The Practice Proper. Having then perfected in his mind these conceptions, let him apply them to his own career, forging the links of memory into the chain of necessity.
And let this be his final question: To what purpose am I fitted? Of what service can my being prove to the Brothers of the A.�. A.�. if I cross the Abyss, and am admitted to the City of the Pyramids?

7. Now that he may clearly understand the nature of this question, and the method of solution, let him study the reasoning of the anatomist who reconstructs an animal from a single bone. To take a simple example.

8. Suppose, having lived all my life among savages, a ship is cast upon the shore and wrecked. Undamaged among the cargo is a "Victoria." What is its use? The wheels speak of roads, their slimness of smooth roads, the brake of hilly roads. The shafts show that it was meant to be drawn by an animal, their height and length suggest an animal of the size of a horse. That the carriage is open suggests a climate tolerable at any rate for part of the year. The height of the box suggest crowded streets, or the spirited character of the animal employed to draw it. The cushions indicate its use to convey men rather than merchandise; its hood that rain sometimes falls, or that the sun is at times powerful. The springs would imply considerable skill in metals; the varnish much attainment in that craft.

9. Similarly, let the adept consider of his own case. Now that he is on the point of plunging into the Abyss a giant Why? confronts him with uplifted club.

10. There is no minutest atom of his composition which can be withdrawn without making him some other than he is; no useless moment in his past. Then what is his future? The "Victoria" is not a waggon; it is not intended for carting hay. It is not a sulky; it is useless in trotting races.

11. So the adept has military genius, or much knowledge of Greek; how do these attainments help his purpose, or the purpose of the Brothers? He was put to death by Calvin, or stoned by Hezekiah; as a snake he was killed by a villager, or as an elephant slain in battle under Hamilcar. How do such memories help him? Until he have thoroughly mastered the reason for every incident in his past, and found a purpose for every item of his present equipment, [A brother known to me was repeatedly baffled in this meditation. But one day being thrown with his horse over a sheer cliff of forty feet, and escaping without a scratch or a bruse, he was reminded of his many narrow escapes from death. These proved to be the last factors in his problem, which, thus completed, solved itself in a moment. O.M. {WEH NOTE ADDENDA: Here Crowley speaks of himself, the event being noted in his China walk account.}] he cannot truly answer even those Three Question what were first put to him, even the Three Questions of the Ritual of the Pyramid; he is not ready to swear the Oath of the Abyss.

There are some great e-copies of many of his books available at this site (including his writings on Yoga, etc.)

Hermatics.com - Crowley collection

Wow! ...a very methodical man.

Reminds me of how methodical the Buddha was, in his eachings. Also makes me think of the Heart Sutra, given by Avalokitesvara (Kuan Yin), which I've just recently started to understand-- "Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form." (Empty of an independent self. All things are interdependent.) I've been reading the commentary by Thich Nhat Hanh, "The Heart of Understanding"-- a very short and accessible book.

Thanks for the quote, it gives me a tangible take on 'interdependence'. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />