Analysing Four Card Tarot Spreads
You can now analyse three card exercises using elemental dignities in a logical progression. A relationship between three cards is established, and interpreted using two very simple rules. You can even add information from the missing element(s). The Three Card Spread shows a situation. The next stage was to include the 'missing' element. Unfortunately this situation has no context, no backdrop, so you put the three cards onto an elemental position, and added to the interpretation. The problem is that it is difficult to see how the situation will develop. The next stage is to read cards in groups of four.
The Golden Rule in using Elemental Dignities is:
Apply the rules rigidly; interpret the results flexibly and liberally
For good reason, we are going to look at a single card in each position. You may be wondering why I am contradicting the basic of tenet of Elemental Dignities — that cards are never read in isolation. Well, the system of Elemental Dignities becomes complicated very quickly. The intention is that the basic techniques in this and the previous lesson are integrated into a complete system, but it is better to walk before running. With practice you will see how the separate positions are in fact intimately linked, and we have to look at the whole rather than individual cards.
The positions of the four card spread are elemental, and are in this order:
- Earth
- Air
- Water
- Fire
You may recognise this order as being YHVH or Tetragrammaton, and so we read the spread from right to left, starting at Fire. Volumes have been written on YHVH, but let us see what we can find out using Elemental Dignities.
From the viewpoint of Elemental Dignities, you see that the Elemental enemies are sited next to each other. You also see that the basic attributes of the elements alternate: Active, Passive, Active, Passive. Note that we have added no other definition to the positions, something that is unique in using Elemental Dignities and Tarot.
Although the laws and application of Elemental Dignities are very simple, the results become complex alarmingly quickly, so we will start to read this Four Card Spread using one element at a time to see how it changes in each position. Fire is an obvious place to start.
To begin, let us analyse according to the rules.
Horus
- Fire
- Earth
- Air
- Water
- Fire - Fire
- Friendly: excess fire, very active
- Water - Fire
- Enemies: neutral, very weak
- Air - Fire
- Friendly: active
- Earth - Fire
- Friendly: neutral
Fire is about deeds and actions. Fire in Fire is an explosive combination. Excess of Fire has to go somewhere, and the only place is Water, its enemy. Events happen rapidly, but without long-lasting effects despite there being nothing to prevent or modify the action. The energy is dispersed and becomes quiescent (Water). It is as if we have a gestation period. Eventually there are some stirrings, some signs of consciousness and direction or thought (Air), that results in a positive, long lasting result (Earth). In a reading we could say "An event happened out of the blue that stunned everyone. After some thought, the results took time to happen, but were eventually long-lasting.
Now we will try with Water.
Isis
- Fire
- Earth
- Air
- Water
- Fire - Water
- Enemies: Neutral - fire is extinguished
- Water-Water
- Friendly: Excessively passive
- Air - Water
- Friendly: Neutral
- Earth - Water
- Friendly: Passive
Despite there being two active positions, we do not see any action at all. The start is inauspicious, and not much happens in the end.
Water is a placid, passive element, and so is not well placed to start something. In the position of Fire, the Water gets heated up. Water likes safe, secure surroundings and is very uncomfortable. The next stage, in its own position, we get even less action. If anything there is a cooling down! Moving onto the Air stage, consciousness stirs, but the emotions over-rule everything. Water is very happy in the Earth position, but earth acts like a sponge, it looks as if we have a super-saturated solution.
Aroueris
- Fire
- Earth
- Air
- Water
- Fire - Air
- Friendly: Active
- Water - Air
- Friendly: Neutral
- Air - Air
- Friendly: Excessive activity
- Earth - Air
- Enemies: Neutral
Air starts off very positive and enthusiastic — there is no resistance or proving ground to thoughts — instant gratification. The next stage, Water is friendly, but very neutral. Air wants results, but Water prevents this happening, so frustration could set in. Alternatively, the Water provides creative imagination that almost loses Air in a reverie. On its own element, there is an excess. It is as if Air is stir crazy, with wild thoughts all over the place. The final stage, Earth naturally tries to ground Air, but they are so inimical to each other that the final result is flimsy.
Nepthys
- Fire
- Earth
- Air
- Water
- Fire - Earth
- Friendly: Neutral
- Water - Earth
- Friendly: Passive
- Air - Earth
- Enemies: Neutral
- Earth - Earth
- Friendly: Excess passivity
The action of Earth is to consolidate its position. The final result is extreme heaviness. We may see an analogy in heavy isotopes such as plutonium that explode when in sufficient quantity.
As you can see, each element has a unique signature in each position, but it is not necessary to memorise this information since it can be easily created from first principles. This is important since mathematically there are many, many combinations of using four elements in four places, let alone actually using Tarot cards.
Let us look at a few more examples of the Osiris class
- Earth
- Air
- Water
- Fire
The elements in their own places creates an excess in all positions. It is the most extreme form of YHVH, particularly violent, and one only has to read the Bible to see how dangerous this is.
- Earth
- Air
- Fire
- Water
Transposing Fire and Water renders this combination weak and dangerous, since Air and Earth are still excessive. The tail is wagging the dog.
- Air
- Earth
- Fire
- Water
All positions are weak. The worst possible start, and it gets worse. Here are some positive combinations:
- Fire
- Earth
- Air
- Water
All positions are friendly, and the actions are harmonious. An original directed action (Air) that has a strong emotional basis (Earth), has the drive and energy to carry out the actions (Fire), and the result is emotionally satisfying (Water).
- Fire
- Water
- Air
- Earth
The positions are friendly, but the actions neutralise each other! There is a circularity to the situation. A strong, consolidated start that probably results in a similar, but more concentrated state. This is an excellent indication that a desired situation will be maintained.
- Earth
- Earth
- Fire
- Fire
Here is an Apis combination that has the worst of both worlds — the elements are simultaneously excessive and weak. Things are very unstable here. Fire over-acts and under-acts while Earth is insecure. As well as being omitted, Air and Water are actually further weakened by the actions of the Fire and Earth. Actions performed without compassion or intelligence coupled with instability of purpose or shifting goal posts. What happens when we transpose Earth and Fire?
- Fire
- Fire
- Earth
- Earth
Here we have an apparently strong situation that disintegrates with time. Note that despite all positions being friendly there is a subtle jockeying for position. Fire in the Air position is particularly interesting. As Air is an enemy of Earth it is supplying the oxygen needed to inflame the situation and destroy Earth, while the Water position is passively cooling down the Earth. Who wins? For my money, it would be Fire since it appears in the final position.
- Earth
- Water
- Fire
- Air
Which Element is weakest here?
- Is it Earth since it is excessive?
- Fire in the place of its enemy Water?
- Passive Water being agitated both by Fire in its natural position and by its place in Air?
I would suggest Earth is particularly strong even though it is unbalanced. Water and Air are in friendly positions but Air is the strongest since it is an active element in an active position and Fire is so weak.
This is a situation where one would have to look at the actual Tarot cards and the circumstances of the reading to make a decision.
As one studies Elemental Dignities, the subtle transformation and transmission of energy becomes apparent. We begin to perceive the ebb and flow of energy, the blocks placed in the way, or even dissipation of purpose. It is as if the elements try to take on the qualities or aspects that are weak, excessive or missing, even if they are contrary to their natural condition. Checks and balances abound. After a time, the eye naturally falls upon the stronger or missing aspect that is the lynchpin of the reading, that an image or feeling is the sum total of the combination of Tarot cards. With Elemental Dignities, we have a method of validating that impression above and beyond asking the Querent for combination. The static cards become alive.
The problems with Elemental Dignities and the Four Card Spread are clear — we can see how a situation will develop, but we do not have the analysis that we had in the Three Card exercise. The next stage is to amalgamate the techniques into a coherent system so that we have the best of both worlds.
