Essays in method
The classical approach with a twist
Aradia Academy started with the writing of essays on cartomancy, from the vein of 'we can do better.’ The essays here adopt a very clear position against the use of cards with symbolism in mind, advancing the theory – and demonstrating – that logic is preferable to vague intuition and incoherent messaging.
Most of these essays were written between 2010 and 2015. Since then more essays appeared in Camelia’s columns for both Taroflexions and The Cartomancer on Patheos. Keep reading.
But the selected ones here are part of Aradia Academy’s history. They give you a sense of what the Reading like the Devil is all about.
Playing cards
Intro to the basic cunning-folk approach (that includes a 21-card tableau): Fortunetelling in Three Steps (a 52-card pack)
On how to read playing cards so you won’t loathe your work: The simplest lesson in cartomancy
On reading the grand tableau with playing cards: Heart’s Desire (a 52 pack)
On reading the grand tableau on count of 9: Give or Take (a 52-pack)
On reading the Houses: Houses in a grand tableau with playing cards (a 52-pack)
On reading 40 cards: Kill your Neighbor’s Children (40 cards, expansion, contraction method)
On choosing significators: The Logic of Significators (square of 9 example)
On reading with a piquet deck: The Logic of a Pique Deck (a 32-card pack)
On reading the square of 9: Cartomantic Promotion
On reading a 13-card spread: Council of 13
On Etteilla: Petit Etteilla Just for You
On the difference between tarot and fortunetelling:
Marseille Tarot
On reading with the Marseille tarot, 3-card: TdM: 10 readings
On seeing what others don’t see in a 1-card reading: Your Cup Runneth over
On reading a 2-card spread: The Inverse and How to Boom the Cards like the Devil
On reading the French Cross: TdM: French Cross
On reading a string of 5-cards (tirage-en-ligne): Five cards, one Mirror
On reading the court cards: Courting the Self
On reading a 3-card spread: 30-second Tarot
On numerical value in tarot: Tarot ad Infinitum
On what to make of the flourishing in the Marseille pack: Foliage in the pips: Unite or divide
On connecting cards: Connectors
On which deck to use: Tarot Correspondence: Which System?
On Tarot as cultural text: Rainbow Sword
On flat/dynamic readings: Merry, merry by the book
On being a diviner:
Lenormand Oracle
On reading the Grand Tableau: The Happy Marriage and Insentence
On reading houses: Lenormand Houses
On the significance of ‘the master sentence’ in a Grand Tableau: Insentence
On crafting original Lenormand grand tableau designs: The Clover.
On reading 13 cards in 2 ways: Lenormand Gemot
On semantics, or creating sentences: Semantics.
On reading the square of 9: Whipping the Wish and Lenormand’s 9 yards: Fated or Doomed
On reading a 2-card spread: Lenormand 2-card.
On reading the insets: Lenormand Insets: A Theory and Playing-card Insets.
On identifying geographical locations: Locations.
On reading for yes/no questions: Major and Minors
On reading for a meta-question: Meta-Question
On non-existent meaning: Why I resist meaning?
On the extraordinary diviner: What of the Bear?
On the importance of surfaces: The story behind the image
On nonsense: The best and worst in classical fortunetelling