Scratch
reading.
Creator: Andrew Volk (Kosmos)
(Used with permission)
This is a
spread I came up with and have used many times. I find it is often fairly
revealing when I do it for myself and when I do it for others it also seems to
get good results, so I thought I would share. There are a few steps so I will
try to keep things nice and clear.
I use this
spread with my Thoth deck only because it makes use of the cross on the back and
the numbers 1-10 (kabbala), but if you can/want to adapt it for another deck
please do.
I call it the scratch reading because I intended it for situations where there
is no specific question. The first few steps are based entirely around 'getting
to know' who you're reading for, and the final step is a spread to reveal an
issue they're facing - So its kind of like starting from 'scratch'. I also refer
to it as a reading rather than a spread because it uses a couple of different
spreads and there's a few steps to it.
Begin with all cards facing the same way (no reversals).
-
After shuffling, have the querent cut the deck. Whatever card they cut to
becomes their significator for the reading.
-
Shuffle again, leaving the significator aside. Cut the deck into equal halves
and place them in front of the querent, one upside down, the other right side
up. Ask that they choose the deck that best represents them from their
perspective (using the Thoth deck this means they will be choosing either a
cross, or an inverted cross, which *might* reveal something about the querent
(but I've found that they often come up with some other reason for picking the
half that they do without even registering the position of the crosses.
-
Tell the querent that the half they chose represents the world they see,
while the other half of the deck represents the world that is hidden to them.
Set the hidden world/other half of the deck aside for now. Now have the querent
cut the half deck again, and insert their significator. Because we all face the
world, turn the significator so that it is reversed in relation to the rest of
the cards.
-
Shuffle the half of the deck that contains the significator thoroughly and
deal it out into ten piles. There should be about 4 cards per pile. You will see
where the querents card is because it will be reversed. Take the pile that the
significator is in. (Collect the rest of the cards and place back with the half
of the deck that represents the hidden world. )
-
The number of the pile
corresponds to a number in the kabbala, providing a sense of where the querent
is along their journey to self-realization. If not having numbers printed on the
cards, just number the piles one to ten.
1-not much different than the concept
of zero. One is all is one. There is no size, or location, or position, or
proportion, or anything because there's nothing to relate to.
2-I see 2 as the dynamic aspect of 1.
The instant we identify the concept of 1, the 'other' emerges simultaneously.
This is where position emerges. The book of Thoth interestingly points out that
there is still no measurable distance between two points, but that the points
simply 'have distance'. A boundary or a third point would be necessary for a
measurement to me made. In a sense, 2 is basic self-other awareness.
3-Because 2 is the dynamic aspect of
1, 1 and 2 are forever bound, and 1+2=3, so 3 emerges naturally, but is quite
unique. At 3 there is measurement, choice, relativity, combinations, etc. 3 also
creates the plane (1 was the point, 2 is the line).
4-With the 4th point, the plane
becomes a solid. 4 has to do with structure, control, a constructed world.
5-Where there is structure there is
chaos, and where there is control and security there is worry and danger, and
this is 5. 5 represents the solid(4) in time. Concern with past and future,
attempting to maintain the control of 4 in a dynamic universe = struggle.
6-In the kabbala this is
self-consciousness. There are boundaries, desires, constructs, etc. that set us
apart from the universe as a 'self' while the control we practice and the world
we practice it over are again 'other' to us.
7-Bliss. The 'self' emerges and there
is individuality. The self-consciousness (6), or awareness of a self that is separate
from the constructs and the need to control the world is very freeing and
liberating.
8-Thought. This might be seen as the
ability to be critical or objective. If 4 is constructions and power, 8 is 4
twice, or the application of these things to themselves. Construction becomes
deconstruction. Thought allows someone to take apart and rearrange the
constructs that bind their reality.
9-Being. we can construct and
deconstruct the world around us endlessly, over and over, by deciding what
things mean and then viewing them in relation to one another. Being or existence
is the unchanging backdrop to this endless cycle.
10-The integration of all previous
points is our manifestation on this plane as a transcendent whole, or as a being
that is actually a multiplicity.
Each number then, corresponds to a certain phenomena, or stage of development,
and together they are a 'map of the universe'.
...3...
...2... ...4...
...1...
Cards 1-4 represent the querent's 'body'.
1-physical body
2-emotional body
3-mind body
4-spirity body
This spread establishes the state of the querent's total being. Their
significator will be in one of these places, showing where they are most
strongly located within themselves.
Leave this spread as it is and take all the other cards. Shuffle them back
into one deck and spread them out. Ask the querent to select 5 cards. These
cards make up the final spread:
.....5.....
2...1...3
.....4.....
1-The current issue
2-Unconscious/factors the querent is unaware of
3-Conscious/factors the q. is aware of/sees within his or her control.
4-The decision to be made
5-The outcome
Hope that wasn't too long. Enjoy.
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