The

Complete

Cold reading
Routines Handbook

A quick guide to cold reading, tarot cards, and seduction

Includes:
• Interpretations for each individual tarot card • Ways to become a master of the esoteric arts
• A quick method for doing in-field cold readings • A method to fix of a cold reading gone bad
 STYLELIFE
Congruency is key
Lessons about the game from Neil’s book tour
One of the things I enjoy most about book tours
is that it’s a chance to meet many of you. And
I’ve notice lately that a big difference between
Stylelife students and other attraction students is
that you guys are, by and large, a cool bunch.
There are certain guys I’ve met in the community
who I’d never be able to take to dinner with my
regular friends or family, because there’s some-
thing about them that just makes people uncom-
fortable.
For a long time, I could never figure out what
the difference was. I thought those guys were just
not cool or too cheesy or not interested in any-
thing in life but pick up.
But then I realized the difference, and I want to
share it with you all in this newsletter because it’s
an important trap to avoid.
Most of us got into the game because we want
more success with women. And the reason for
many of our failures, besides approach anxiety,
was that we were too needy and desperate
around women, and didn’t understand how at-
traction worked and how to generate and em-
body attraction.
But a strange thing happens to a certain subset of
I
guys after studying attraction. They begin to un-
derstand how things work, and change the way
they dress, act, and behave around women. They
do things that they have learned cause attraction
in women: push-pull, demonstrating value, cocky
funny teasing, role-playing, disqualifying, and the
line.
Yet even though they’re learning so much, going
out so much, and changing so much – especially
compared to before the game, when they rarely
even approached women – they’re not improv-
ing at the pace they should. Especially considering
all the work they’re putting in.
Here’s why:
What’s one of the biggest turn-offs to women?
I mean, besides a massive buildup of ear wax and
nose hair.
Right – it’s neediness.
So then what’s one of the biggest mistake guys
who are deep into the game make?
They replace one form of neediness with an-
other.
In other words, they no longer buy girls drinks
Special Edition
and compliment them and accept disrespectful
treatment in order to win their approval.
Instead, they push-pull, demonstrate value, do
cocky funny teasing, and disqualify them in order
to win their approval.
In other words, the intention is still the same.
They’re still trying to win the approval of a com-
plete stanger. Thus, all they’re doing is showing
their desperation in a new way, rather than in the
traditional way.
The general principle is that anytime you do
something you wouldn’t normally do in order to
win someone else’s approval, you are supplicat-
ing.
So instead of becoming social artists, some men
end up just becoming better supplicators.
This doesn’t mean you can’t change. But you
should change because it makes you a better,
happier person – not because it will make people
like you more.
One of the subtleties of the game, which sepa-
rates the champs from the chumps, is being cen-
tered in yourself, and going out to have fun and
learn new things rather than show off for anyone
else.
If you do the “Ring Finger Routine” or “The
Cube,” for example, with the expectation that
a woman will be impressed by your knowledge
and thus find you interesting, it will usually fall
flat. If you do the “Ring Finger Routine” or “The
Cube” because you’re interested in learning it or
you’re curious to know more about the person
you’re talking to or you just find it fun to do, then
you’re far more likely to create a real connection
with her.
The same goes for push-pull and disqualification
and cocky-funny. If you’re making these bold
statements and then expecting a reaction from
her, they’re going to seem needy. And she’s going
to become uncomfortable, because she’ll sense you want or expect something
from her. But if you’re doing them because you’re truly confident, and you un-
derstand and appreciate her, and you enjoy pressing her buttons because you’re CONTENTS
in such deep rapport, they become powerful tools of attraction.
Introduction: Congruency is the key
And this is why some guys you will meet in the community you may not want
By Neil “Style” Strauss
to bring out to dinner with your friends and family. It’s not that they aren’t cool.
It’s that they’re needy, and in every social interaction they’re trying to prove
something or impress someone or get a certain reaction. And so they end Page 1 The Esoteric Arts Overview
up making the people they want to validate them uncomfortable. Thus, they By Evolve
never get the validation they’re seeking, and begin to grow negative and bitter
and incongruent with the fun, successful, happy, and confident personality they Page 3 Cold Reading Basics
display. Their personality becomes a theater mask, hiding a very different sort By Evolve and Gypsy
of person underneath.
Page 4 Blood Type Cold Reading
The game is an art form full of ironies. One of them is that to attract a woman
By Evolve
who isn’t interested in you yet, you can’t let her know that you’re attracted to
her. Another is that the harder you appear to be trying, the worse you’ll do.
And a third – and the lesson for today – is that in order to get the best reaction Page 5 Hands of the Gods
from a woman, you can’t appear to be seeking a reaction. By Neil “Style” Strauss

And, the truth is, this irony is a good thing that will help you become a better,
Page 6 I Heart Routines
happier, more successful person. Because your power, your self-esteem, and
By Evolve
your enjoyment of each moment are yours to keep. Don’t give them away
every night to complete strangers.
Page 7 The Guide to Tarot Cold Reads
By Evolve and Gypsy

Page 17 Apologia Esoterica

By Gypsy

STYLE

II
 The Esoteric Arts
The
overview
By Evolve

By Bolshevik

If you’ve been alive and at least partially

Astrology, con- cards,
Tarot tions the palm
Stylelifereading, andreceive
crew and I would runeif stones
It was sheer
havelunacy.
been Wepartwere in full party mode
scious in America during the last
of the few months
seduction we hit thesince
community town wearing Snuggies. It dawned
its conception. onstrauss’
In Neil and geared
the up to turn
Game the town upside down so
these
then you’ve no doubtartsbeen were
exposed to the “chick
called lat- mecrack”
that thisbecause
could be aofwonderful
women’s social experi- we
insatiable piled into
appetite forGypsy’s car and floored it for Hol-
the un-
est infomercial productknown.
sweeping the nation. I’ll ment. of
These four styles Would it be possible
fortune to attract
telling, andwomen
manyinmore lywood.
like them, are all
give you a hint: it’s blue andof
part softaand ridiculous.
group a toasty warm
of disciplines body-length
called blanket?arts.
the esoteric After a few
First seen on silly low budget commercials late at clicks of the mouse our Snuggies were ordered As we approached the first bar we were pumped
The primary
night, it has had a meteoric purpose
rise in exposure and of and
the esoteric arts, in regards to seduction, is to help build
we were about to find out. up to burst through the doors and make a splash.
comfort
become a cultural phenomenon as well
as the as an emotional connection. Comfort building routines, such
latest high The Sneak busted out some impromptu freestyle
as “The
profile gimmicky consumer itemCube” or “Strawberry
guaranteed to The fatefulFields,” allow you to build a deep emotional connec-
day of the Snuggie adventure arrived rap about the joys of wearing a Snuggie as we
become the hot gag gift tion with season.
this holiday your target. The esoteric arts do the same with the added benefit of
and we met at the Stylelife office to don the strode up the street towards the entrance. We
reaching a person spiritually.
comfy robes and sarge Hollywood. The crew handed the bouncer our ID’s and he barely bat-
Yes, I’m talking about Religion,
the Snuggie.spirituality, consisted
The sleeved and of me, Gypsy,
the occult haveThe Sneak,been
always and Mike, ted antools
powerful eye at how obscenely ridiculous we were
of seduc-
blanket to be worn while
tion.you
Theylounge us anStylelife’s
on the
allow escapecrack
fromsoftware developer. Afterof
the constraints some dressed. I world,
the material suppose aand
doorman in Hollywood is
sofa watching TV like aoffer
fleece us
robe
theto hope
keep youthat useless
we arearguing over who
not merely would
specks ofwear
dustwhich prone to becoming
in an indifferent jaded and we might have
universe;
comfortably wrapped spirituality
in your own warmth and Snuggie (they were all the same size and color) been
makes us feel like there is something larger out there working in our one of the least curious spectacles he’d
shame. Much like the favor.
FlowbeeThisin the
is 90’s,
whythisthesewe gleefullyhave
systems threwbeen
on oursoSnuggies
powerfuland added seen onand
for so long a Friday
why night.
theyThe doors swung opon
quirky item has become its owngreat
remain punchline. It is forsome
tools additionalto
seduction accessories
this day. to make ourselves before us and we bounded inside the bar to
the target of ridicule from high profile comedians all the more outlandish: sunglasses, headbands make a grand entrance, expecting the arrival of
The four most popularand esoteric artswore
Gypsy even are aastrology,
duck pin. It’s Tarot,
surprisingpalmfour
reading, and rune
wildly dressed Snuggie freaks to ignite the
such as Jay Leno who mercilessly mock its cheesy
stones. These arts arehow relatively complex and can seem overwhelming at first
quickly four grown adults regress to play- crowd into an eruption of joy at the mere sight
commercial and the gullible dimwits who buy
glance, but with a fewfulsimple tips
children you
once candressed
they’re appearupasand though
feeling you’ve been
of us. But studying
there was no burst of applause, laugh-
them. The derision is well deserved as anyone
any of these arts for years. giddy. We were riled up and giggling like four ter, or high fives. We found ourselves standing in
who’s seen one can attest that people wearing a
Snuggie look absurdly silly. Japanese school girls in a Hello Kitty store. We the middle of a quiet, near-empty bar with half-
joked and rough housed and made up names for asleep patrons. There were mostly small groups
I took this as a challenge. After all, absurdly silly our Snuggie alter egos. I became Snoop Snuggie scattered throughout all transfixed on a multi-
is my specialty. I wondered what kind of reac- Snug and Gypsy transformed into DJ Snugglebug. tude of flat screen TV’s watching various sport-

07 WINGMAN
01 | FEBRUARY 2010
 rapid fire banter. The riotous laughter and smiles
Know the history of your art. Mentioning a few facts about confirmed that we were a hit. But it was time to
the roots of your art will add to the perception that you are a master. Many press on.
esoteric arts have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years, so
We walked proudly up the street charged from
there is plenty of history to choose from. A master should always know
Red Bull and attention and arrived at the hottest,
where his art came from.
most prestigious club in Hollywood. After flirting
Develop a root. Every social artist should have a story that explains shamelessly with some gorgeous, short skirted
how he became interested in an art that most people disregard. The story Astrology women lingering in front of the club we made
you come up with could involve a best friend who became interested in an ill-conceived attempt to skip the entire line
Western: The first evidence of astrology dates back to 3000 BCE. How-
astrology, a mother who taught her son to read Tarot cards, or an interest and waltz right in. Apparently, the bouncer didn’t
in Viking culture that led to learning rune reading. This story helps flesh out ever, it wasn’t until the Greeks adopted it from the Babylonians that it be-
share our view that four men in Snuggies are akin
the perception that you are truly interested in the esoteric arts, and not just came what most of us know as astrology today. Western astrology is the
to celebrity and deserve instant access to the
a guy trying to pick up women. Be sure to include some of the art’s history most common form of star reading. What you read about in magazines and
most exclusive nightspot in town. We even tried
as well as a personal story that supports your interest in which ever art in newspapers is a small fraction of Western astrology.
to convince him we were “Snuggie VIP’s” but he
you’ve chosen. didn’t go for it and we went rambling on com-
Vedic: Vedic astrology comes from India and is referred to as Jyotishi. Sev-
pletely offer
eral universities in India actually unfazed.
degrees in astrology, due to its cul-
Learn the variations. Astrology exists all over the world in many
different forms. The same is true for many of the other arts. A pick up art- tural importance. The Vedic system is similar to Western astrology in many
Our walk along Hollywood Boulevard was con-
ist who practices the esoteric arts will eventually run into women who talk aspects. It shares the same 12 signs that western astrology does (Aries,
stantly interrupted by partygoers stopping us to
about very specific styles of an art. If you know at least a few facts about the Taurus, Gemini, etc.) as well as the same planets (Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars,
pose for pictures. We were quite the rambunc-
most common variations of the arts, you’re ahead of the game. etc.), however the difference is that its 28 degrees behind the Western
tious crowd: Gypsy singing improvised Snuggie
zodiac, meaning that, if you are a Scorpio in the Western zodiac then you’d
melodies, Mike flirting and enjoying all the at-
Have Personal Experience. Whether you read the stars or read be considered a Libra in Vedic.
tention, and Sneak riffing an endless barrage of
the stones, it’s crucial to have stories about other people whose fortunes
Snuggie jokes. A strange thing occurred as we
you’ve told. Comparing one person to another helps an esoteric artist flesh
stepped through the door of the next bar on our
out the world that he’s created. The best way to obtain this information is
tour: the crowd instantly burst into applause as if
by doing as many readings as possible, including your own.
they had somehow been expecting us. We piled
ASTRO-Disqualify through the door all at once with huge smiles
negative traits for each of the signs to help you tease the women of the on our faces and everyone in the bar laughed
universe.
and clapped as a single unit. We felt obliged to
Aries: Competitive, CHILDISH libra: CO-DEPENDENT, INDE- Tarot Decks perform so we broke out into a spontaneous
Arrogant, overconfident CISIVE, VAIN
dance and hopped around to the rhythm of the
Rider Waite: The famous Rider Waite deck is one of the most popular
music. People loved us. We even picked up our
Taurus: Lazy, self-indulgent, scorpio: MANIPULATIVE,
Tarot decks in the world. The cards contain an immense amount of astro-
first groupie. Unfortunately, he was a guy. He fol-
insatiable CRUEL, DEPRESSING logical and occult symbolism and are one of the best decks for any beginner
lowed us around like a puppy dog for the rest of
Tarot reader.
the night just standing there in numb amusement
gemini: Judgemental, sagittarius: NARCISSISTIC,
manic-depressive, bitchy PROMISCUOUS, EXCESSIVE Thoth: Aleister Crowley,and laughing
a world at our
famous antics.and influential member
occultist
of an early 20th century occult group called “the Hermetic Order of the
The next bar we entered was a dimly lit dive but,
cancer: Moody, cRY-BABY, over- capricorn: COLD, MISERLY, Golden Dawn” created this deck based on a number of different occult
like most spots in L.A., filled with lovely women.
protective MISERABLE, REPRESSED systems. It features symbolism from cultures the world over. The deck has a
Gypsy and Mike wasted no time and were each
book of interpretations that accompanys it called The Book of Thoth.
chatting up sexy blondes within minutes of walk-
leo: Egocentric, obnoxious, Aquarius: DETACHED, OVER
DRAMA QUEEN ANALYTICAL, WEIRD ingstyles
The others: Many other in theofdoor.
decksGypsy
exist.had hisagirl
From Lordhanging
of theon his
Rings
every
deck to a fairies deck. These word, her
alternate sets body language
are used completely
much more fix-
like rune
Virgo: FOLLOWER, obsessive pisces: WISHY-WASHY, FLAKY,
ated
stones where each card has on him
a more as she significance
personal seemed entranced by the
rather than fas-
a spe-
COMPULSIVE IRRESPONSIBLE cific meaning. cinating mind of this charismatic man in a fluffy
monk robe. Mike and his blonde snuck off to the

FEBRUARY
OCTOBER 2010
2008 | WINGMAN 08
02
 STYLELIFE
Cold Reading Basics
How to talk like an expert
By Evolve
Conditional:
Make sure that nothing you say is definite. Peo-
ple can easily say “No, that’s not right.” to a
definite statement.
Do not say, “You are confident.”
Say, “You can be confident at times.”
False Specification:
Imply specificity by comparing this person’s
traits to everyone else’s.
Say, “Though most people don’t think before
they act, you almost spend too much time
thinking before acting.
03
Sound Bytes:
Always think about the words you use. They should sound mystical
and deep. They should also make the person you’re reading feel like
everything is specifically about them. Here are a few common sound
bytes to think about when cold reading:
Personal Journey…
The way you experience…
The feeling you get…
Breaking the common pattern…
There’s no way I‘d
date a Scorpio.
Two paths to choose…
You have this positive (or negative) energy…
Affirmation: Opposites:
Get them to accept your authority by respond- Most emotions and actions have a dual nature.
ing to them with words like, Combine opposite qualities into the same sen-
tence for a powerful cold read.
“Yes.”
Say, “I’m certain at times you can be lazy or
“Right.”
lethargic, while at other times, when you are
doing something you’re interested in, you
work like a maniac.”
Confidence: Approval:
Act like everything you say is true. People agree with positive statements about
themselves and disagree with negative state-
Don’t doubt what you say.
ments about themselves. Merge the two prin-
Do say everything like you’re the authority.
ciples.
Say, “Some people think you lack confidence,
when you’re really a confident person. Gen-
erally, they confuse the fact that you like to
watch and learn before you speak.”
 STYLELIFE
Instant
Cold reads
Blood Type
Cold Reading
By Evolve

Type A
People with blood type A are known for being able to stay calm under pressure. They like to keep the
peace and live comfortably. They feel like they’re outcasts which leads to an amazing artistic quality,
but also shy and sensitive personality. They secretly crave success and are known to be perfection-
ists.

Cold Read #1 Type B

“They say that Type B’s are the most dependable of the blood types; they can be counted on to finish any project they
start. They always try to find their own way to complete a task, although they are good at following
women with directions. They’re minds are one track, always focusing on what they’re working on at that moment

bangs like that are and nothing else. They can seem cold because they tend to stick to the logic rather than emotion when
dealing with people. They are individualists who can sometimes seem selfish.

known for having Type AB

a nasty darkside.” Type AB people are known for having a very dualistic nature they are known for being hot and cold,
timid and confident, the life of the party and shyest person you know. They are easily overwhelmed
with responsibility. AB types are known for being trustworthy and honest. Most AB’s are extremely
Cold Read #2 critical when it comes to their personal beliefs.

“You look around Type O

a lot. Supposedly People with Type O blood are known for being energetic and social. They are said to be flighty and un-
dependable especially when working on a project that doesn’t interest them. They love attention, and
that means you’re listen well to others. They say what’s on their mind (sometimes without thinking) and are extremely

some one who confident.

needs to feel safe.” Compatibility by Blood Groups

Type A is most compatible with type A and Type AB
Type B is most compatible with Type B and Type AB
Type AB is most compatible with Type AB, B, A and O
Cold Read #3
Type O is most compatible with Type O, and Type AB

“The way you hold Contingencies

your glass is inter- • Some girls hate blood, if they don’t want to talk about it, turn pale, or pass out – then you might
want to stop the routine and move onto something else.
esting. It means • Some people don’t know their blood type. If the girl you’re speaking with doesn’t know hers you

you’re really confi- can still run a story telling routine using only “the root” section of this Underground that segues into
a different cold reading paradigm, like astrology or tarot.
dent.” • If you have a pivot, I’d suggest having her come up and agree that it’s right on and that she couldn’t
believe how accurate it was.

04
 stylelife

hANDS OF THE GODS

The Ring Finger Routine
by Neil Strauss

Notice a gleam of metal on her fingers (a ring)
and say, “I have to ask before I run: Why did
you chose to wear that ring on that particular
finger….Interesting…Do you always wear those
Your middle finger is represented by Dionysus
rings on the same fingers?” Note: Of course they
always do, because that’s where they fit.
Then continue, “I have a friend who’s a spiritual
type, and she just told me that the fingers you
choose to wear your rings on says something
about your personality…”
If she is not wearing any rings, just ask instead,
“Out of curiosity, and I’ll explain why I’m asking
in a second, when you do wear rings, what fin- “Your ring finger is of course represented by Aph-
gers are they usually on?” If she normally doesn’t
wear wings, ask, “Well, if you were to wear a
ring, and it wasn’t a wedding ring obviously, what
finger would it be on?”
Then go on to explain:
“Interestingly, it is the only finger that has a vein
“Each one of these mounds” – the pads on the
palm where the fingers join the hand -is repre-
sented by a different God, and in Greek culture,
you wear a ring on that finger to praise and pay
homage to that particular god.
“For example, the thumb represents Poseidon
which as you know is the god of the sea. And he
was very independent. He was the only god who
nant person.” (Wave your index finger at them
like “no no no” or “don’t do that.”) It represents
power and immense energy.
“The pinky is represented by Ares. who is the
who is the god of wine and partying. He is a very
irreverent God. So if you have a ring there, it
means you tend to do what ever you want and
can be less about what others think.” (Then lift
your middle finger up on its own and give the
bird and say, “It’s like fuck you to the world.”
When they are wearing a ring on that finger, they
always laugh at this.)
rodite. She is the goddess of love, and that is why
we wear our wedding rings on that finger. (You
can add all kinds of romantic cold-reading lines
here, like, “When you fall for someone, you tend
to fall completely for them.”)
that goes straight to the heart without branching
off, and so when someone puts a ring on that fin-
ger, they’re actually making a direct connection
with your heart.” (If she is comfortable, you can
The Ring Finger Routine Map
us
trace a line from her finger up her arm as you
say this.)
God of war, and that’s why you see mobsters
wearing pinky rings, It represents conflict.”
If she is wearing a pinky ring, ask, “Did you buy
that yourself or did someone give it to you?” If
she bought it herself, it means she is sometimes
at war with herself and has some inner conflict,
maybe an emotional conflict or something she is
not comfortable with herself about. If she was
given it by someone ask, then ask by whom and
tell her there may be some tension below the
surface between the two of them, some unre-
solved problem that she just hasn’t solved yet.
If a woman asks, “How do you know this?” You
may respond, “An ex-girlfriend of mine was into
mythology and taught it to me.”
If she has a ring on her wedding finger ask, “Is
that an engagement ring or do you just wear that
to keep the womanizers away?” You’ll be sur-
prised how often the latter is true.
Ares, representing conflict, aggressiveness, com-
petitiveness

didn’t live on Mount Olympus. He did his own

Dionysus/bacch

Aphrodite, representing love, romance, beauty

thing. And the thumb kind of sticks out, it kind of
nus

ter

does its own thing. People who wear thumb rings

upi
e/ve

are therefore very individual and independent Dionysus, representing irreverence, rebellious-
s/j
odit

ness, and decadence

and generally do their own thing. They don’t fol-
Zeu
s

low trends, but prefer instead to set their own.

Aphr

Zeus, representing dominance, power, and energy,

ar
m

travel, expansion
s/

The index finger is represented by Zeus, the king

e
ar

Poseidon, representing
of all gods, and the God of Thunder and Light-
e imagination, individuality
ning. That’s a very dominant finger, and having a un
e pt
ring there means you tend to be a more domi- /N
n
o
id
se
Po

05
 Technique

Evolve’s fast and easy

I Heart Routines Heart drawing cold read

By Evolve

To set up this cold read simply, grab a napkin, a pen, and a girl. Ask her to draw a
broken Heart:
heart on a piece of paper. Be sure to “root” the cold read. In other words, let them
know why you know this game, for example:

“I want to try out this little psychology test my friend taught me.”
Quickly falls in and out of love
Now simply cold read her based on the heart she drew. Pay attention to the size, Lives for adventure.
shape, and line structure. Understands “the big picture.”
Lives for the moment.
The Basic Shapes: Uneven, Perfect, and broken Not concerned with details.
The ends justify the means.
Uneven: One side is larger than the other. Cutting and quick witted.
Extremely social.
Meaning: indicates some sort of imbalance in her life, you can easily associate
it with right and left brain behavior, the larger side being more dominant. (Left:
logic Right: creativity)

Perfect: both sides are even, the heart is full and round

Meaning: indicates a perfectionist, talk about how she has a need for control
over situations concerning their love life and professional life.

Broken: Lines don’t meet in the dip on the heart.

Meaning: indicates someone who thinks and acts quickly, talk about how they
are impulsive in relationships and outside of them.

uneven Heart: Perfect Heart:

Large Right Side: Knows what she wants in life.

Caring, Motherly, Artistic, She’s well organized, but neurotic at times.
Creative, Emotionally She believes love, but not at first sight.
Impulsive, Socially unique, She lives for the moment.
Romantic, Passionate She tends to be a perfectionist when it comes
to things she loves.
Large Left Side: She has huge dreams of success.
Easily excited, Logical,
Analytical, Philosophi-
cal, “no time for drama,”
Emotional coldness

06
 STYLELIFE
By Gypsy and Evolve
GUIDE TO TAROT COLD READS

Prepare yourself for

the tarot experience

The idea of cards telling the future seems nonsensi-

cal to most men, but to millions of women the tarot
is no joke. By learning to read these ancient cards
you’re peering outside the average guy’s pick-up
world into a new realm of seduction. The following
is a guide to help you map out your first steps.

Acquire a deck of Tarot Cards:

For the beginning Tarot enthusiast the “Rider Tarot

Deck”, also known as the “Waite Tarot Deck” and
the “Rider Waite Tarot Deck”, is the only deck
you should be using. This is the standard deck of
most Tarot readers because it has strictly codified
illustrations that also present the same images and
symbols with each publishing. There are a myriad of
other decks in circulation, including one illustrated
by Salvador Dali himself! However, many of these
decks differ in their imagery and symbols so it will
be highly difficult to learn with the information we
are providing you on one of these alternate decks.
As you rise in skill level feel free to experiment with
other decks. For now the “Rider Tarot Deck” can
be found in several varieties, even a smaller playing
card size for easy transportation.

Care and Storage of Deck:

When you first get your cards take them out of the
pack and play with them as much as you like. New
decks can be very stiff and they require a period of
breaking in before they can be shuffled and dealt
with relative ease. Try to keep your cards clean
and stain free. Do not expose them to liquids as
this will warp cards and affect your dealing of the
cards. Find a nice way to store your cards that says
something about your personality. I personally keep
mine in a decorated silk bag that a friend got me
from Thailand because it references my interest in

07
Asian art and massage. I know other Tarot readers
that keep their cards in beautiful carved wooden
boxes. When you retrieve your cards for a reading
the receiver may view the receptacle for storage so
make it a meaningful one that can be commented
upon and displays that you care for your important
possessions.
Preparing to Read:
Become as familiar as possible with the short and
pertinent themes provided in this document for
each card. Initially, you do not have to have every
meaning for each card memorized. With Tarot, just
as with attracting women, you will learn exponen-
tially as you do. Keep the sheet of card themes that
is provided here close to you when you do a read-
ing and feel free to reference it if need be. As long
as the receiver of your reading is aware that this is a
new passion of yours than you should not be called
out for referencing your “cheat sheet”.
Vocabulary of Tarot Terms:
Receiver:
The individual receiving the reading of the Tarot
cards for the Tarot reads. The receiver’s input
and reception of the cards is vital to an insightful
reading.
Reader:
The individual reading and interpreting the cards
for the receiver.
Major Arcana:
The 22 special face cards (not the suit royalty
cards) of the Tarot deck. These cards are num-
bered 0-21 beginning with “The Fool” as zero
and ending with “The World” as twenty-one. In
a sense the Major Arcana cards can be the most
powerful in the deck. Important life issue read-
ings that need immediate and powerful answers
are often done with only the Major Arcana. The
twenty-two cards are a visual metaphor for the
experiences encountered in life’s journey.
Minor Arcana:
The 56 suited cards, including both the court
cards and the numbered cards. The suits are
Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles (sometimes
also known as coins).
Pre-read setup and patter
Set the mood:
As with performing magic and other fortune
telling rituals the environment and presentation
of your Tarot reading will definitely effect the
perception of the receiver. Set the mood with
dim lighting (not too dim that you cannot see
the cards clearly), scented candles, incense and
music that is evocative, relaxing and exotic. This
sort of environment is also conducive to kino
escalation for after your reading.
Give a quick explanation of Tarot:
Let your receiver know that the history of Tarot
is a rich and powerful one. It is a tool that has
been used for ages to solve problems and por-
tend the future for everyone from peasants to
presidents. Tell them that the Tarot deck also
works in mysterious ways and often chooses
its own best answer for the receiver’s question
(this line allows you to be more creative in your
reading). You will be the humble interpreter of
the Tarot’s message as it guides you to the an-
swer for the receiver’s query.
Involve the receiver:
Hand the deck of the 22 Major Arcana cards
to your receiver. Tell her to shuffle and cut the
deck anyway that she feels appropriate. She
must manipulate the cards and lend some of her
own energy and spirit to them. As she does this
action the receiver must also ask the Tarot her
specific query aloud. In general, most people’s
questions can fall into four easy categories:
health, wealth, relationships, and travel (which
is sometimes somehow included in or related
to one the other three categories). After many
readings you will have experienced most of the
possible permutations of questions again and
again and your calibration at reading will greatly
improve. Get as much information from your re-
ceiver as possible and feel free to ask follow up
questions about his/her main original question.
Encourage your reader to participate verbally as
much as possible and when they are speaking be
quiet and listen attentively. People will often lead
you and the cards to the correct answer to their
own problems just by discussing it aloud. When-
ever, the receiver is done manipulating the cards
in any way she seems fit, urge her to take her
time, have her hand the cards back to you.
Giving your reading
The Gypsy Easy Spread:
There are as many placements or spreads of
Tarot cards as there are cards in the deck. For
my beginning days with Tarot I kept things ex-
tremely simple so as not to complicate my read-
ings and to focus more on learning how to read
and experiencing giving actual readings. I use a
very simple four cards spread with one leader
card placed face down above three cards follow-
ing placed faced down below it. (Pg. 16, Fig. 1)
The leader card will be the first card that you
draw off. Then proceed to deal the three other
cards and place them in a row as pictured above.
After having dealt all four cards you will turn over
the leader card first and begin your reading.
The leader card will set the theme of the read.
You must relate it to the question of the receiver.
For example let us imagine that this read is for a
receiver asking how an on-again-off-again rela-
tionship with a boyfriend should be ended. The
theme card is the Justice card. (Pg. 16, Fig. 2) You
know form the short themes given above that
the Justice card denotes a need to find balance
in life. So the eventual dissolution of this chaotic
relationship means that it will put the receiver’s
life back into balance and focus. However, the
Justice card also warns their relationshipis should
be ended in a fair manner that offers equality to
each party.
As you turn over the next card the story of the
read will continually unfold.
The next card revealed is the Death card. (Pg. 16,
Fig. 3) Using our quick reference guide again we
know that the Death card although it appears
ominous is really a card that marks a vital change
in the life of the receiver. Certainly a break-up of
08
this sort is a major change. The important thing
is how the receiver deals with this change. Con-
vey to the receiver that this change is imminent
and must be received in the most positive light in
order to move on with her life. Death is merely
the precursor to rebirth.
Next turn over each successive card in turn and
weave a story throughout the reading that con-
tinues the receiver’s journey. (Pg. 16, Fig. 4)
Our next card is Temperance which is a card that
conveys the need for moderation in life. So the
receiver will enter a period of renewed balance
from her break-up this will bring about a great
change in her life that if embraced positively and
in moderation will lead her further down her
life path. The last card revealed is the Hanged
Man which is a waypoint in all journey’s repre-
senting a voluntary sacrifice made to gain a new
perspective or life goal. The receiver’s sacrifice
in this case could very well be her relationship
which although chaotic offered some sense of
comfort. The letting go and sacrifice of this rela-
tionship will lead her to a renewed perspective
on life but only if she enters into this endeavor
seeking fairness for all parties, embraces change
and finds a way to a path of moderation in her
new and more care-free life.
09
As you weave the story that the cards reveal
be attentive to your receiver and listen to all
that he/she has to say. They will help guide you
as much as the Tarot cards do throughout the
reading.
Evolve’s Tarot Method:
This method of Tarot reading is very quick as
well as easy. You are going to use the cards to
tell a story. The better you are at coming up with
stories on the spot the easier this method will
be for you.
Preparation: Divide the cards into the three
groups listed here
The major arcana: Fool card up to The
World card – 22 cards total
The minor arcana: 1- 10 of each of the
cup, wand, sword, and pentacle cards – 40 cards
total
The court cards: All the pages, knights,
kings, and queens – 16 cards total
The Receiver:
1. Have the receiver shuffle each group of cards
individually. Tell her to “only think of what
comes to mind first, because that is what may
be most important right now.”
2. Next, have the receiver draw one card from
each pile of cards. (3 total)
3. Let them hold on to the three cards or have
them place the cards on the table, while you
put the others away. Have them place the cards
in this order. First the minor arcana, second the
court card, and third the major arcana.
How to Read Her Cards:
Each group of cards represents a different com-
ponent of any story. In this case:
• The major arcana are the theme
• The court cards are the characters
• The minor arcana are the events in the story
It is your job as the reader to put these pieces
together in a way that makes sense to the re-
ceiver.
For example, if my receiver drew, the Two of
Pentacles (minor arcana), the Knight of Wands
(court card) and Judgment (major arcana) the
reading might go something like this:
“You drew Judgment, a symbol of choice, and a
decision that you will have to make that is very
polarized. It’s a very yes or no choice, a good
and evil choice. This is the theme of your story.
It’s very black and white.
Next, we have the Knight of Wands, the charac-
ter in your story. This could be and active male,
who is impulsive and sometimes unpredictable.
This person, who in a bad mood will refuse to
change his path, is a person who can prove to
be sincere and brave. This person is the center-
piece for your story. He may be the root of the
theme or just a helper in the story. This person
is often the cause of change and is a major player
in stories. His sign is of fire. Fire represents ego,
generally its accurate to say that people like this
will pull themselves into a good friend’s life when
they feel it’s necessary, acting as the glorious fi-
ery knight depicted in the card.
Last we have the Two of Pentacles, a card that
represents change and balance. As the card por-
trays a juggler, balancing out the two coins. This
is how the story goes. The event that will take
place is an event that concerns the balance of
your life. Generally this card has financial signifi-
cance. This is because pentacles or coins repre-
sent earth. Earth cards correspond to the mate-
rial world, and by that, of course, I mean money,
assets, business and other worldly things. Also,
it can represent imbalance in a relationship. It’s
possible that since no water cards were drawn
in this reading that there is a lack of emotion. It’s
possible that you were not viewing the relation-
ship with emotion; rather you were viewing it as
an object, something material and not emotional
or spiritual.”
Note about Aces:
If the receiver draws an ace. Read it as raw energy
and have them chose another Minor Arcana card.
Interpret the ace like so; “you’re going to put in a lot
of [ego (wands), thought (swords), your material
self (pentacles) or emotion (cups)] into this story
if you haven’t already.” Use the Ace card to em-
phasize any other card with a matching elemental
quality, or use it to emphasize the lack of a specific
elemental quality.
Tarot Card Interpretations
Major Arcana
0. The Fool:
The fool is above reality. He playfully moves to-
ward the edge of the cliff fearlessly to fall into
the realm of worldly things. He represents silent
intuition. When his card is drawn it usually rep-
resents new beginnings and taking chances.
I. The Magician:
The magician can be seen with the four objects
of the minor arcana on his table; he has one hand
in the air and one pointing to the earth. He rep-
resents a connection between heaven and earth,
as well as the world around us (represented by
the four objects on the table). He generally rep-
resents the transition of knowledge from source
one to another, the experience of power, and
signals a need to be active.
II. The High Priestess:
This card is feminine in nature and is a sign of
emotional receptivity. She sits balanced between
the sun on her crown and the moon at her feet;
on either side she has a pillar of light and of
darkness. She represents a need for people to
look deeper in themselves into the unconscious
mind.
III. The Empress:
This character represents femininity, mother-
hood and beauty. It can represent the creation
of new life and the abundance of pleasing things.
She represents a great number of material quali-
ties as well as a number of spiritual qualities.
iV. The Emperor:
The emperor is a figure of strength and fortitude.
He is representative of maleness, both as a fa-
ther figure and as a political authority. He can
represent a need for organization as well as an
assumption that one has both power and con-
trol over a specific situation.
V. The Hierophant:
The hierophant represents the spreading of se-
cret knowledge to the people in portions. He
sits in front of the people in his religious gar-
ments spreading the words of his spirituality. He
is the connection between the message and the
people. He represents education in a system of
belief as well as conforming to an idea.
VI. The Lovers:
This card represents division as well as symme-
try. It can relate to any interpersonal relationship
where one person is another’s counterpart. It
can relate to both equal and opposite partners
in any relationship: lovers, friends, business part-
ners, and enemies alike.
VII. The Chariot:
The chariot represents using will to exert con-
trol over an emotional state. It is usually present
when the receiver is needs to come to grips with
the state of both their ego and their emotions.
It represents direct action and control, as well
as confidence inherent in a strong positive emo-
tional state.
Viii. Strength:
This card is representative of both inner and
outer strength. It can relate to strength in all
aspects: physical, mental, or spiritual. This card
can be associated with compassion and patience,
both, of which are products of specific types of
strength.
IX. The Hermit:
The hermit lives alone, he is drawn away from so-
ciety in order to spend his time in introspective
thought. This card if drawn represents searching
for guidance. If it is drawn it may mean that the
receiver is in need of some serious “alone time”
in order to gain guidance through introspective
thought.
X: Wheel of Fortune:
This card deals with fate, fortune, and luck. It
is a positive card that can mean good fortune
for the one who draws it as long as a specific
issue is solved. It is one of the few cards that are
not represented by a human looking figure. The
wheel is above man, it exist outside our world. It
brings fortune from the divine.
XI. Justice:
The Justice card conveys the need to achieve
balance in the receiver’s life, in particular the bal-
ancing of the mind. Also, represents a need to
resolve unfinished life issues with a sense of fair-
ness (e.g. when ending a romantic relationship
the receiver should be sure that his/her partner
is told respectfully and given the opportunity to
express his/her feelings about the break-up). If
being interpreted as an individual in the receiv-
er’s life it may be someone that brings balance
and fairness, perhaps a strong female figure of
an authoritative stature or position.
XII. The Hanged Man:
The Hanged Man represents a waypoint in the
receiver’s journey. This point will require a vol-
untary sacrifice to be made by the receiver in
order to make a gain towards a life goal. The
card itself is a strong metaphor for the sacrifice
of control as the hanged man evidently is bound
and has no control over his destiny. The card
may also represent a need to sacrifice a particu-
lar way of viewing life in general or a particular
subject. The Hanged Man after all is strung up
with his head pointing down suggesting a com-
plete 180 degree change of perspective.
XIII. Death:
Due to its ominous title this card is generally met
with a gasp by the receiver. Be quick to assure
them that this card does not always represent a
physical death but rather signifies a coming life
change or the need for one. It should be empha-
sized that the Death card represents not just an
ending but a new beginning as well. The receiver
must be prepared to accept these endings in
life’s journey and begin anew.
XiV. Temperance:
Demonstrates the importance of moderation
and toleration. If this card is dealt after a card
that resonated strongly with the receiver than
10
Temperance shows that the previous card’s sug-
gestion should be received or dealt in a mild
manner. The temperance card by itself suggests
to the receiver that he/she ought to cooperate,
compromise, practice patience and tolerate the
differences of others.
XV. The Devil:
The devil represents man’s attachment to the
material world. A man and a woman are chained
to a block of stone. The stone represents the
material world. Above it sits the devil. He is
the ruler of all things material, and reminds us
that, as humans, we are forever attached to this
world. The man and woman are depicted as
having horns to let us know that on this earth
we are his creatures; that we all have limitations
and we are all subject to lust and desire. It also
represents the things we must get done in order
to move on.
XVI. The Tower:
Many people initially interpret The Tower as an
ominous card. The truth is that it is no more
ominous than any other card. The Tower is a
card foretelling that an immediate and dramatic
change is going to happen to the receiver. This
change that strikes like a lighting flash will be no-
ticeable but it may be for the good or the bad
there is no way of telling. Whether the outcome
is negative or positive depends on how the re-
ceiver reacts to this change.
XVII. The Star:
Indeed a truly promising card. It represents a
strong meaning of hope and inspiration. The Star
can be seen as the receiver’s muse reinvigorat-
ing his/her life with her pitcher of crystal water,
a universal sign of knowledge. Other meanings
are personal renewal of life forces, strong op-
timism and joy. The Star can often represent a
person of these particular qualities entering the
receiver’s life particularly if their question to the
cards pertains to seeking romance.
XVIII. The Moon:
An omen that deception may be on the horizon.
The old saying about this card is that by the light
11
of the moon nothing is as it really seems. The
receiver must be careful to inspect all things and
relationship closely on his/her journey lest he/
she be betrayed.
XIX. The Sun:
A polar opposite of The Moon card. In the sun-
light all things are as they are and it is not at time
for deception and betrayal but rather for lively
activity, enjoyment and clear perception. The
Sun card foretells a promising new day to come
for the receiver. A day when all of the receiver’s
hard work is reaped and is bountiful. This card
may also predict a particular festivity to come,
perhaps it is a future moment for the receiver
to shine amongst all his/her loved ones and
friends.
XX. Judgment:
Can signify the final settling of a matter that has
thus far gone unfinished in the receiver’s life. On
a larger scale it can symbolize a reckoning of the
receiver’s karma. There may soon be an occa-
sion in which the universe will take into account
the receiver’s good and bad deeds, hard work or
lack there of, and reward or punish accordingly.
This is the evaluation of one’s journey.
XXI. The World:
This card represents the end of a journey and
the reaping of the knowledge from that jour-
ney. This card can be interpreted to the receiver
as the light at the end of the tunnel; whatever
path or life complication he/she is engaged in a
finite end will be reached and wholeness and an
understanding of one’s place in the world will
be achieved. The World does not represent
the complete end of life but rather the end of
one life cycle so that another may begin. It may
also be interpreted on a microcosmic scale as a
physical journey to come to another geographi-
cal location, perhaps a vacation or a visit to a
loved one in need.
WANDS (FIRE)
Also known as rods or staves
Wands are representative of fire. Fire, in most
esoteric systems, represents ego or willpower.
Wands usually appear when there are issues
concerning identity. Fire can also represent ac-
tion, as well as the will to act.
Ace of wands:
Raw fire, the creation of an identity, the motiva-
tion to action.
Two of Wands:
A man looking out to the sea with the world in
his hand. This card represents power given to
man in its most raw form, as well as the will to
go fourth and be great. It is the firs step in a new
creative process and almost always has to do
with newfound power.
Three of Wands:
A man looking out from the sea to the moun-
tains. This card represents the exploration of a
newfound power. The man is looking to explore
the mountains in an effort to find and explore
himself and find his true identity.
Four of Wands:
a completed task. This card is a well-deserved
celebration the full manifestation of power and
will now, given a structured solid form. It is de-
fined by and understanding of one’s true iden-
tity.
Five of Wands:
Five men each with their own wands, all in dis-
agreement. This card is representative of strife.
The wands, which were once held by one indi-
vidual, are now split between many. It is a sign of
disagreement and dissention.
Six of Wands:
A man wearing laurels rides with other men.
This card is a sign of victory and recognition. The
men who were once in dissention now have a
leader. This card represents the recognition of
a success.
Seven of Wands:
A man stands on a hill fending off others. This
card represents a drive to make a stand. The
leader of other men now uses his power to try
and change the world; he must now face the
masses. It can also be seen as an individual who
was once known for something being pushed
into the background.
Eight of Wands:
The wands shine down like rays from the sun.
This card represents the wands as a message to
the people or a person. It represents a message
or an action from outside of ourselves.
Nine of Wands:
A bandaged man uses the wand for support. The
wand representing a philosophy is now a crutch
for this battered soldier. He clutches the wand
because it is the source of whatever idea caused
his injuries, it is the rational behind his suffering.
It is the defense of an idea in order to feel that
any trials and tribulations faced were not in vain.
Ten of Wands:
A man carries the heavy wands to the city; he
carries them in front of his face blinding him as
he stumbles forward. The power has become
a great burden. He lets the power blind him as
he pushes himself too hard. This card is a sign
of struggle. It represents the refusal to let go of themselves. He is often quick to share his point
one philosophy in hopes of no longer carrying and is an utter victim of indecision. Though he
a burden. is prideful he is often willing to look at an idea
from all sides.
Page of Wands:
Represents a charming, excited, and creative PENTACLES (EARTH)
character. He is extremely individual. He repre-
Also known as Coins or Disks
sents a person that can fuel his or her own fire.
Someone who can inspire others while inspiring
The key thing to remember about the Pentacles
themselves.
cards is that they are related to the receiver’s
Knight of Wands: money and/or possessions. These cards are
more wealth and physical related than any other
This card represents a person with an unpre- cards. Pentacles represent earth and the mate-
dictable nature. This character is impulsive and rial world.
passionate. He is an extremely self-confidant
Ace of Pentacles:
crusader who is willing to risk everything in or-
der to succeed. At times he can be much to full
Signifies the beginning of a prosperous endeavor
of himself. When someone stands on the other
or the aquisition of material goods.
side of his ideals he can be cruel and bigoted.
Two of Pentacles:
Queen of Wands:
The juggler or fool depicted is juggling funds this
A self-assured adaptable character. She is often
too may become the receiver’s future fate or be
impatient due to her overabundance of energy.
his/her current state. It may also suggest need-
She is the initiator for all of her friends and lov-
ing to get a handle on a business or financial situ-
ers. She is creative, energetic and generally opti-
ation that is beginning to get out of control.
mistic. She is a competitive person who tends to
be prideful, and often vain.
Three of Pentacles:
King of Wands:
In this card an artisan’s work is being admired by
This card represents a theatrical character, onlookers. Soon the receiver will be recognized
someone who can easily communicate their for his/her own business endeavors and be clos-
enthusiasm, especially when it has to do with er to reaping the rewards related to them.
Tarot Cards and Astrology
By Evolve
Almost every culture in the world has had some sort of system
for using the stars to divine answers about people and society.
So it’s no wonder that astrology was incorporated into the The astrological
symbol for Venus
tarot decks.
Many of the cards have very obvious symbols incoprated into
the art. Some appear in the form of planetary glyphs. The em-
press card, for instance, has the glyph for venus on it. Alternaely,
the justice card has a man holding the scales - a sybmol of the Venus as it appears
in the Empress card
zodacal sign Libra. from the rider-
Once quick way to DHV and prove that you are a master tarot
waite deck.
card reader is to point out the astrological symbols on the cards The Empress is representative of the planet
venus from astrology. Both the planet and the
as you read them. With a little research this techniuqe could
card signify love, relationships, and beauty.
make your tarot reading more powerful than ever before.
12
Four of Pentacles:
This card expresses a strong financial foundation
rightly earned, symbolized by the man’s solid
stance and firm grip upon the pentacles. It can
also portend a warning to be wary of monetary
attachment. Do not let it rule in the face of all
other life endeavors.
Five of Pentacles:
Describes a position of poverty due to neglect.
The stained glass window with shining pentacles
is a sign of hope in the future if it is embraced.
Six of Pentacles:
Indicates a new wealth coming to the receiver.
This new prosperity could come in many diverse
forms: a promotion, a raise, inheritance or lotto
winning are just a few of the many possibilities.
Seven of Pentacles:
Reflects the end of a hard labor that will eventu-
ally reap many profitable rewards. The farmer
in the card is contemplating his many labors and
the harvest he will soon realize.
Eight of Pentacles:
Shows a gaining of great experience at one’s
13
profession and the rewards that will follow. The
only caveat to the receiver form this card is not
to remain overly focused on one task so that he/
she misses other opportunities.
Nine of Pentacles:
The woman in the card is dressed opulently and
has a serene sense about her. This card shows
that self-sufficiency and financial independence
will be eventually achieved.
Ten of Pentacles:
This card is a representation of great wealth and
can portend a large purchase such as a house or
automobile.
Page of Pentacles:
The page can be seen as an image for the receiv-
er who is entering into or ahs recently entered
into a new financial or business endeavor, pro-
fessional career or new job. The page displays
the hope and optimism of this new journey and
looks forward to the rewards, represented by
the pentacle in his hand, that might be received.
Knight of Pentacles:
A step above the page in a business or financial
endeavor. The Knight represents a growing in
one’s business position (perhaps even a promo-
tion), showing that the receiver will begin upon
the road to mastery of his/her trade or begin to
understand more clearly the benefits and nega-
tives of investments and other financial endeav-
ors.
Queen of Pentacles:
Shows a further blossoming in the receiver’s
business/financial life. The receiver has already
or will begin to realize how to get more from
his/her career or investments. The benefits will
become bountiful and the receiver’s life will be
well managed.
King of Pentacles:
Represents the ultimate in financial and career
mastery. The King of Pentacles is a symbol of
having conquered the material world and seat-
ing one’s self firmly in the throne of financial
security.
SWORDS (AIR)
The swords represent the mind. They are associ-
ated with the air element, which corresponds to
intelligence and communication. They represent
all things on an intellectual level.
Ace of Swords:
This card represents, raw intelligence, justice,
and logic. It is pure air and therefore, raw men-
tal energy.
Two of Swords:
A woman sits blind folded with swords crossed
against her chest. This card represents peace
and balance. Arms crossed at the heart and
eyes blindfolded she sits alone blocking off all
outside stimuli both physical and emotional. She
awaits coming change.
Three of Swords:
Three swords driven through a heart. It repre-
sents the heavy truth. It can represent the heart-
break that can occur when the honest truth is
revealed.
Four of Swords:
The tomb of a knight or saint. This card repre-
sents the manifestation of intelligence in the ma-
terial world, the creation of dogma and author-
ity in the intellectual realm.
Five of Swords:
A man gathers the swords of his defeated friends.
This card can represent open betrayal and dis-
honest defeat. The defeat may also be due to
lack of action or a tendency toward pacifism.
Six of Swords:
The card depicts a child with a pilgrim or mis-
sionary being brought to a new land. The boat
has in it six swords representing the ideas that
the missionary brings with him to the new land.
This card is representative of the movement of
thought, a change in ideas that is brought from
one place to another. It represents a new frame
of mind.
Seven of Swords:
A man runs away from a military camp with
swords in his hands several are left in the back-
ground. He finds their battle to be futile and
runs away to save his own skin. He no longer
pays attention to the ideas of others; he has his
own plans and his own thoughts. He looks back
to remember what thoughts he is running from.
The Seven of Swords represents the betrayal of
an idea.
Eight of Swords:
This card depicts a lone woman bound and
blindfolded within a prison of swords. This card
represents intelligence blinding us. The woman
represents intuition, feeling and emotion; the
swords represent intelligence and logical thought.
Dogma and policy binding our hands and blind-
ing us from the truths that emotion may bring.
Nine of Swords:
Intelligence, reason, and routine have over-
whelmed this man. He cannot sleep and is on
the verge of madness. He is intelligent yet un-
enlightened. Reason has taken control of his life
and emotion is no longer valid. This card repre-
sents a complete loss of feeling due to do pro-
cedure and routine. A change needs to be made
in order to preserve the mind. It can represent
depression, regret and worry, as well as an in-
ability to forgive yourself and others.
Ten of Swords:
A man lies dead, on cracked, dry land with ten
swords stuck in him, the sea is in the background.
This is the logic of madmen. Emotion is no lon-
ger part of the system. This man’s mind has been
destroyed by lack of feeling. The cracked land
represents this mans lack of water or emotion.
This is where the idea has so many variables that
it no longer continues to make sense. The idea
dies because it has been thought out too much
and has become convoluted and confusing. This
card represents the end of an idea or frame of
mind.
Page of Swords: his ideas honestly and with clarity. He can be a
harsh judge of morale or intellectual matters.
This character is known for bringing “the news”
no matter how positive or negative the news
may be. The problems they bring will usually re- CUPS (WATER)
quire logic, and intelligence to solve rather than,
These cards are related to the emotions and
emotion. This character generally materializes
feelings of the receiver. Cups are associated
whatever ideas you may have had about a situ-
with water, which is generally symbolic of the
ation.
emotion and intuition.
Knight of Swords:
Ace of Cups:
This character can appear emotionless as he
As the first card of the suit of Cups it is a repre-
judges the world around him with only logic and
sentation of the beginning of the opening up of
reason. He is a diplomatic character, who is in-
the heart. The receiver will begin to allow new
tolerant of stupidity and will always be prepared
emotion and possibly romance to enter his/her
to voice his opinion.
life.
Queen of Swords:
Two of Cups:
The queen of swords is a character of truth. Be
assured that this character will “tell it like it is” The card shows two individuals exchanging cups
revealing the truth even if it’s unwanted. She is representing the beginning of a new friendship
witty and perceptive. She can often come off as or relationship and the exchange of emotion
arrogant. that occurs in the initial stages of creating this
bond.
King of Swords:
Three of Cups:
The king of swords is an intelligent, analytical
character who is able to absorb and interpret This card shows the joyous culmination of an
information very quickly. He prefers to explain emotional undertaking. Perhaps an endeavor
14
entered into by the receiver and his/her friends
will end on a highly positive note followed by a
festive gathering as seen on the card
Four of Cups:
This card shows an individual detached from the
world and the emotions of others. This may rep-
resent the receiver or an acquaintance of the re-
ceiver. This individual is not willing to accept any
more emotional responsibility than he already
has acquired.
Five of Cups:
A powerful and ominous looking card that por-
trays the recent or potential loss of something
or someone dear to the receiver. It is important
for the receiver to accept this loss, grieve and
continue on with life.
Six of Cups:
This card represents a possible encounter with
an individual that held emotional sway over the
receiver in the past or a strong remembrance of
that individual and emotions.
Seven of Cups:
This card reveals the many choices that need
to be made in the matters of emotion and the
heart. The need for such a choice is quickly ap-
proaching the receiver of this card.
Eight of Cups:
Represents a spiritual departure from matters of
emotion. The man in the card is walking away
from his emotional attachments in order to gain
clearer insight. This card suggest the receiver do
the same if only for a short period of time.
Nine of Cups:
This well known Tarot card is commonly called
the wish card. The wish card is a card of strong
affirmation. If a receiver is asking a pure yes or
no question and this card turns up, it can be
viewed as an emphatic yes. It portrays that all
that we dream can be realized especially when
dealing with emotional satisfaction.
15
Ten of Cups:
This is the ultimate reward that the suit of num-
bered cups offers. The card displays that future
rewards are near at hand for emotional invest-
ments the receiver has put forth in family ties
and in other relationships.
Page of Cups:
The youthful page of this card has a gentle na-
ture and is quite ready to give of his emotions
willingly. This card represents a readiness to
enter into new emotional bonds. These new
bonds, however, may be entered into naively as
the page is a figure of little experience.
Knight of Cups:
The noble knight on this card is portrayed as
just about to cross over a river. This symbolism
foretells that the receiver is about to enter into
or is now ready to enter into a relationship of a
romantic nature. The card may also suggest the
emotional strengthening of a pre-existing rela-
tionship.
Queen of Cups:
This queen is shown looking forth across a sea
of water (emotion). She is one who tenderly
looks after the emotional well being of others.
This card foretells the need of the receiver to
also do so or allow such a giving person into his/
her life.
King of Cups:
Represents a mastery of emotion. This is dis-
played by his calm manner as he floats on a body
of water, the symbol of emotion and matters
of the mind. The king foretells that the receiver
will learn to master his/her own emotions just
as the receiver will calm an existing uneasy emo-
tional situation.
tHE ONE CARD
tAROT READ
shuffle THE DECK
Make the shuffle an experience. Start by
telling her to close her eyes and think
of a personal question that she would
like answered. While she’s thinking con-
tinue to shuffle. After a minute put the
deck down in front of her. Tell her to
place her hand on the deck and focus
on the question. Now pick up the cards,
cut the deck, and quickly shuffle one
more time.
Choose the card
After shuffling, place the cards in front
of her one last time and tell her to
choose a card from somewhere in the
deck. Move the rest of the deck away
and place the cards between the two
of you.
fIRST iMPRESSION
Once you’ve placed the card between
you and her, ask her, “at first glance
what does this card make you feel?” She
should begin to tell you her thoughts on
this card. Be sure to remember what
she says, because you can use what she
says later on when you read her.
rEAD HER CARD
After she tells you about her first im-
pression of the card it will be your
turn to read the card for her. Start by
describing the images on the card. For
example, if the card looks like an angel
raising the dead then say, “It’s an angel
raising the dead.” Now combine what
she told you about her first impression
with some basic metaphors for the card
to create a short but intriguing cold
read. -Evolve
 STYLELIFE

Gypsy’s Terot Card Reading Layout (Description on page 8)

Figure 1. The four card placement, with the leader card at the top. Figure 2. The Justice card is revealed as the leader card and sets the
theme for the reading.

Figure 3. The Death card is revealed, and the story continues. Figure 4. The final cards, Teperance and The hanged Man are
turned over taking the reading to it’s end point.

16
 stylelife
Apologia Esoterica
Always have a better answer: how to defend a cold reading.
By Gypsy
“It’s all bullshit,” the sarcastic buxom redhead
quipped as she called me out on reading her
Tarot cards. “I wrote a paper about this stuff last
semester entitled, A History of Fortune Telling and
the Sociological Effects on the Masses.”
“Wow, that’s amazing,” I stated, knowing my nor-
mal routine stack wouldn’t work on this one. She
wasn’t going to start telling me her dreams and
demons just because I cold-read her Tarot for-
tune. She was a tougher nut to crack, an intellec-
tual, like me. And strangely I was more attracted
to her because of it.
“Is this what you do? Go around reading girls’ Tar-
ot to get their phone numbers?” She was drilling
into me again, probing for cracks in the founda-
tion of my game. But, all the while she was do-
ing it with a slight devious smile. My calibration
said she was interested, or else she would’ve just
walked away, instead of verbally fencing.
“No, it’s more than that. Allow me to explain.”
I’d been here before with my back pushed against
a wall by analytical women that just didn’t com-
pletely swallow my “Gypsy” routine. They had
deeper questions and they knew that the an-
swers weren’t in my cards or their palms. But
what they never knew is that I had the key to
17
unraveling their analytical minds buried deep in
the history of the esoteric arts.
All esoteric arts across cultures, languages, reli-
gions, and times have the common denominator
that they serve as devices for psychological in-
vestigation. The modern field of psychology was
born in 1879 when Wilhelm Wundt founded
the first laboratory dedicated to psychological
research at Leipzig University. Prior to this, out-
side of religion and philosophy, humanity was
on its own to seek answers to the anxieties that
plagued daily life and for council on the weighty
decisions that must be made.
The esoteric arts evolved to fill this void encom-
passing diverse types, from the cliché crystallo-
mancy, seeing the future in a crystal ball, to the
involved Zi Wei Dou Shu, the combined art of
reading Chinese astrology along with constella-
tions to determine one’s fate path. The point was
that for most people distraught about the pres-
ent, worrisome about the future, or concerned
about the past these methods brought them
peace so that they could lead fulfilling lives.
The esoteric device in every varying art is re-
placeable. It is required only as a root designed
to draw individuals out of their mind to reveal to
the fortune teller their problems. In the scholarly
article Social Meanings of the Occult, by Danny L.
and Lin Jorgensen it is stated that when decipher-
ing life problems people have “many possible
paths to addressing recurrent problems, seeking
solutions, creating identities, and associating on
the basis of common beliefs. While some people
are inclined to do this on a casual basis or as a
matter of entertainment, other people make it a
career or a way of life.” One could easily replace
the incense and Tarot cards of a Gypsy with the
leather couch and dream journal of a psycho-
therapist, both inducing similar effects. In good
fortune telling there is no actual reading of the
future. The real art is in drawing out someone’s
questions and the inherent anxieties and answers
that are attached to those questions in the mind.
Based on these philosophies I’ve never thought
of the esoteric arts as ways to predict an indi-
vidual’s future. What I do view them as is a quick
way to get to the mental meat of someone you
just encountered. Normally, people aren’t apt to
dissect their fears, desires, and secrets with a ran-
dom person they meet at a bar. This means that
generally speaking a routine of boring conversa-
tions volleys, sometimes dragged out over weeks,
occurs before you really get to know someone.
It’s almost improper by our social morays to ap-
proach a woman and say, “Tell me what you want
the most from life.”
But, if you approach with a Tarot deck and tell
her to “Ask the cards a question that is dear to
your life” then that’s a different story. Suddenly
you have broken down a barrier between two
people immediately sharing their real selves with
one another. The next time you find yourself be-
ing busted on a cold read by and intelligent skep-
tic feel free to paraphrase my thoughts here. This
intellectual diatribe is a DHV in itself.
It’s okay, I expected that from a Libra.