Rider Waite Puzzle

[tree3]

I have been dabbling on & off with my Rider Waite deck for 6 months or so now, have some sort of connection with it and a good degree of accuracy - but no gift or real insight.
A couple of days back, I was reading the book at the end of which is an epilogue that suggests studying the following cards in order to ge some insight:
The Magician, Fool, High Priestess, Hierophant, Empress, Emperor, Hanged Man, Tower and finally Judgement.
So I did, reading Waite's description of each card as I went along and saw a 'storyline' linking the earthly/heavenly, religous/spiritual and hidden keys to this.
I was absent-mindedly thinking of all of this while shuffling the deck for a few minutes and decided to do a random Celtic Cross layout with nothing particular in mind.
I was amazed to see all of the above cards come out again - except The Magician, which I had taken to be the final step in bridging the religous/spirtual divide.
It has been driving me babanas since then to find out what, if anything, is the significance of this. Is there a latent gift there - if so how do I get at it?
I appreciate any input you can make.....
Rookie.

[Witchy Cowgirl]

uuuuummmmmm!
As a rookie too, I'm going to anxiously await an answer on this also!
Good Question!

[Magnus]

It could depend on how you shuffled the deck. Had you pulled the Major Arcana from the rest of deck when studying them and then returned them to do the reading? The shuffle may not have been enough to "relocate" the cards if they had been removed from the deck. Personally, I like to have two decks . . . one I use for readings and another for study purposes. It avoids this problem which can occur. I feel that removing the cards from the deck drastically effects the outcome of the cards once they are returned.

Magnus

[tree3]

I understand what you're saying, as someone who has played a bit of poker (entirely w/out success), I know you can bunch cards.
Basically, I took the a/m cards from the deck to study, put them back in having studied them and shuffled for about 5 minutes while thinking about what had come out. I'm pretty happy that they got a good shuffle.
Just in case you think I am in/advertantly trying to kid myself, believe, am not - to me this sounds like an incredible coincidence, so I can imagine how it can sound to someone else. My wife had the same initial response as you did, and we know each other 30 years.
Again, I appreciate your taking time to respond.
Rookie1.

[Magnus]

I don't doubt you at all. As a professional card magician, I immediately think of these things though. The method of shuffle can influence the fall of the cards as well. That is why I would use a farrow or dove-tail shuffle (several times) after removing a block of cards from the deck. An overhand shuffle is very unreliable for actually mixing the cards. In fact, some very good magic effects can be achieved because of this.

On the esoteric side of things . . . your intense study of the cards could also have "brought the cards". If you had been holding them apart from the deck for some time, your energy would have been deeply embedded into them. Thus drawing them to you.

Magnus

[tarotbear]

There are no accidents in the universe...

I doubt you could duplicate this feat, but adding to the shuffling commentary, I find that if I do a lot of rapid-succession readings that many times two or three of the same cards may appear in all the readings. Mind you, I shuffle the cards myself (casino shuffle) between each client, and then make them shuffle them again, and one or two cards may still elude the complete shuffle.

Take it as a sign....

[tree3]

HAdn't thought about duplicating it, seems somewhat unlikely right enough. I'll give it a try over the next few days when I get some P&Q and let you know the result.
There's more to this Tarot thing that I thought.

I visited a spirit medium some years back who was VERY good and asked her what was the difference between what she did (speaking directly to those who had passed over)and tarot card/rune readers etc. Her reply was that they were all doing the same thing - speaking to spirits - but that some used props. Is that the generally accepted view?
Rookie1.

[tarotbear]

They all did the same thing - speaking to spirits - but some used props....

I laughed a lot at that one- what an over-simplification! Not completely wrong but far from accurate, IMHO.

You could probably get the same answer asked to four different people using four different mediums. Once you work with one medium, you start to find that all divinations systems lead you down different paths, yet may lead you to the same conclusion. If your friends read tarot, I Ching, Runes, and chicken bones, they might all give you the exact same answer even though they will reach it in different ways.

Talking to the spirits? That's O.K. if that's what you want to believe. If there are spirits talking to you (not my cup of tea), then whatever you are using is only a focus point for the spirits.

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

I agree mostly with Tarotbear. The only time I "talk" to spirits through my tarot cards is when I'm asking for guidance or ask a specific question and draw ONE card for the "answer" or "lesson" to be learned.

In a normal reading....I think it's all about how you interpret the symbols on the cards....not Great Aunt Milly whispering in your ear. ;)

[tree3]

Interesting, but please don't underestimate the medium I spoke about. It's possible that she is not very 'educated' in such things, but believe me she spoke that night to 4 family & friends who had passed over.
Rookie1