Elemental Dignities

[maya]

One of my favorite of the more advanced tarot sites is Paul's Tarot : http://www.supertarot.co.uk/lessons/beginner.htm. He has some really interesting ideas about the element combinations formed in readings and how they can affect each other. I just wanted to share the site with anyone looking for something a tad more advanced than just spreads or card meanings. Does anyone else here use elemental meanings in their spreads? If you do, why? If you have tried it and did not continue to use it I'd also like to know about it.

~Maya

[Nina]

I occasionally use a nine card spread:

213
546
879

where the first row is the past, the second the present and the third, the possible future. The middle card of each row is the main issue, with the two cards either side giving clarification. I can't remember where I got this spread, it may even have been on here! This is where I really use the elemental dignities, as well as the individual meanings, to understand the depths and influence of the central card on each line. It seems to work really well for me. I don't, however, tend to use elemental dignities in general three card or celtic cross spreads.

:D :D :D

Nice topic for a thread - it made me jump up and do a reading for myself - and I haven't done that in ages!!;)

[maya]

Wow! I really love that spread. I can also see how it can work well with the elements. So you read the as the end cards affect the middle card? That's very handy. I could also see how it could work a little for a three card-spread but I'm of the mind that if you're going to want more information than that you should try a bigger spread. I've been really interested in doing some spreads where I could use this but I haven't found a good spread for it. Thanks!

Also, I know some times when you get a card in a spread (such as the Tower or Death) where it seems to be very negative I would think this might help sort out just how negative it is or if it's not negative at all. I think of things like this as an intellectual way to further your readings when your insight isn't making enough connections.

~Maya

[Nina]

There's a great spreads link here:http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10642

I've printed out most of these, though I've yet to try them all!!! (not enought hours in the day!!!) and some of the bigger ones should work well with elemental dignities, I think.

[Myst]

I've read about them but never used them in that way. I only think in terms of wands = intellect and wisdom, swords = conflict or strength, cups = emotions and family, pentacles = prosperity and work.

[maya]

I think the main difference between that and the elemental dignities are those are sort of self-contained within the card whereas the EDs actually affect the cards they're close to. When it gets to this point it almost feels to me like I'm working out a math problem.

(7 of cups-five of swords)+(3 of wands+Strength)=X

Since I love this kind of intellectual puzzle I find the idea of it quiet delicious but I'm sure most people prefer relying on intuition and if they even do these things it's secondary to the process.

~Maya

[Myst]

Oh yes I understand that, and it's interesting. I'm in the "like to think less logically and more intuitively when doing readings" camp. :)