Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.


When I first started to immerse myself in the Tarot, I found the various divinatory spreads, or layouts, if you will, to be rather confusing. In fact, I never really felt compelled to utilize them at all. In short, they left me cold.

As a practicing Magician, however, I have the keys to constructing my own! Here's how I've done it:

First, let's get attuned to that brand new deck you've just bought.

Take, say 3-5 minutes per day and meditate on a single card. Start with the Major Arcana. Sit in Asana. Prop the card up such that it is easily viewed. Set alarm for desired length of session. I would suggest three sessions per Major Arcana with a one day breather in between. The rest of the deck can be done at one session per card. I would still suggest no more than three days in a row regardless.

Log all impressions in your journal entry.

One Card Layout: Differs from above in that the card is drawn from the deck after shuffling. One can meditate on it as above as well. The card should be considered thoughout the course of the day. Log impressions.

Two Card Layout: Sit in Asana. Shuffle deck. Draw two cards and lay them side by side. Set alarm. Synthesize the two cards into one concept, ie. reconcile all polarized concepts represented by each card. Log impressions.

Three Card Layout: Sit in Asana. Shuffle deck. Consider the points of a triangle as representing various triadic concepts. For example: Mercury, Sulphur, and Salt, or Sattvas, Rajas, and Tamas, or Father, Mother, and Child, etc.. When you've decided on the symbol system, and determined whether the triangle points upward or downward, you can proceed. Consider the question or issue and state it clearly. Draw the cards and lay them out.

Four Card IHVH Spread: Inspired by the Golden Dawn Enochian Tarot. Sit in Asana. Shuffle deck. Utilize all the implications of the formula of IHVH you are capable of currently comprehending, ie. elemental attributions, the Four Worlds Model, etc., consider the question or issue and state it clearly, and lay the cards out side by side.

There are at least two other spreads that can be constructed based on the number four. One can be correlated with the quarters of the day, and hence Resh...I'm certain there are other variations to be discovered!

One last layout for now. The rest should start to become obvious to a practicing Magician.

Pentagram Spread: Yup. Just what it means. As above. The attributions I've worked with are the symbols of which we are all familiar: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. Knowledge of the Pentagram Rituals and their variations will inform the use of this spread and use of this spread will inform one's knowledge of the rituals themselves. Start at any point. One can trace the invoking and banishing pentagrams. The star can be upright or averse. There's a lot to explore.

By now it should be quite clear that a Magician gathers the Keys to knowledge as he or she progresses along the Path. Such knowledge has been gathered and developed by individuals very similar to you and I. In my arrogant opinion, it is our responsibility to carry on this Work.


Love is the law, love under will.


Frater LA'AL