V

The Fortune Mandala

When I was in grade school, there was always a girl with an interest in telling fortunes using a device crafted out of a piece of folded paper. She would take a square piece of paper, fold the corners back to make a smaller square or diamond, then fold the corners of the smaller square back in toward the center to create an even smaller square. Then, by bringing the corners of the smallest square together along center folds, the device would become three dimensional, such that fingers could be inserted to keep the sides pinched together. With sides pinched together the folded device could be opened, like a mouth, in one of two directions. Numbers or colors would be written on the various exposed and internal panels of the folded device. Someone would then be asked to "pick a color" which would then be spelled out while opening the device in one of the two directions for each letter. After spelling out a color, the person would then be asked to look inside the device and pick one of the four colors or numbers written on one of the internal panels. That word would then be spelled out while opening the device in altering directions. This was repeated a few times, with the last pick causing the device to be unfolded to reveal a fortune under one of the panels. I thought it might be fun to design a mandala that folds down into that functional device.

This mandala is interesting enough to contemplate on its own, but by folding it down we can actually create several smaller mandalas out of this one. If you don't understand how to fold this device to make it work, ask any grade school girl! NEW and IMPROVED!! This is a new version of The Fortune Mandala as of 12/31/2010. The old version had a single line of text under each number. That single line of text consisted of a line of advice characteristic of the number chosen. But it was only one line, and they were all inspired by positive numbers. This version gives a separate line of advice for each Quintagram! However, there is one bit of confusion that remains. This version is called "the life-biased version" because the negative lines of advice are phrased with a life bias in mind... even though they appear under the auspices of the negative icons of the Major Icons, and their life detracting subheadings. In The Numerical Tarot I only illustrate the extreme (a.k.a. "bad") of the negative Major Icons. But I didn't want to use their mitigated alter egos here, so I left the extreme names for each negative Icon, while using mitigated sentiments below them... thus making this a life-biased version... sorta.

This mandala is interesting enough to contemplate on its own, but by folding it down we can actually create several smaller mandalas out of this one. Once folded, anyone can invent their own rules for how to use it. There are plenty of words to spell out. There are "solid line" and "open line" indicators that can be used to randomly generate Quintagrams. The hidden panels that are opened up to reveal a fortune contain several words and symbols that can be interpreted. Perhaps, before opening the last panel to reveal a fortune, the quarent could be asked one last time to pick a number from 1 to 4, or pick anything of a quantity of four that could then be associated with the four operations of math that would then direct the quarent to a specific Quintagram within the panel of the device that is opened to reveal a fortune.

Whether someone wants to use this mandala to tell fortunes or not is up to them. Either way, it is a mandala that is meant to be folded down and contemplated on those various levels. When folded down as far as possible, only one of the four outer squares is visible. Unfold the one to reveal two. Unfold the two to reveal four. The four squares with the elements define the concept of a quaternary. The dashed line that goes around the perimeter, when folded down, becomes a checkerboard dividing line between each square that stands as a representation of the missing 5 which, in The All Things Are Numbers system of numerology, is characteristically an in between number known for alternation between sides. Flip the four square quaternary mandala over and reveal another mandala where each square is now divided in two - four has become eight! Again, the checked lines stand for the missing 5. In the eightfold mandala, the Geometric Progression shows how numbers can define progress through events in time. Unfold the eightfold mandala to reveal sixteen. In this mandala, the matrix of nine dots stands as a representation of the missing 5. In the sixteenfold mandala, sixteen of the eighteen Majors are additionally subdivided by the four operations of math to reveal a 32 Quintagram mandala within. The eightfold to sixteenfold transition illustrates the parent to child relationship between Majors and Minors within the Numerical Tarot Deck design. Below the Quintagrams is a sentiment that may or may not make sense to a quarent unfolding that hidden panel in search of answers to a question. Each sentiment is of course derived from the characteristic influence of each number. The sentiments are very general. There is not a lot of room to be wordy. I thought it preferable to use the space for signs and symbols that could direct people to the multitude of words offered on this site as a means of interpretation. Make up rules that will cause a person to land on one specific Quintagram, and this device could be as handy as a deck of cards! Use the Quintagram matrix below, to read more about each number.

Here is a PDF version you can download and print out. If you don't understand how to fold this device to make it work, ask any grade school girl! If you prefer the old version it's still around, here is a PDF version you can download

For another fun gadget that can be used to calculate the numerical essence of anything, try using The Dream Analysis Calculator, or the Binary Influence Calculator!

3 Ways to Go! Click M to read the Moderate interpretations or Click E to read the Extreme interpretations Click the Quintagram to read the Essential Nature of each number. Click the Title of each number to go to the Tarot Card for that number.
		M = Moderate			E = Extreme
M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E
1 Fast Beginning	2 Fluent Action	3 Refined Creation	4 Ameliorate Event	5 Controlled Middle	6 Increasing Evolution	7 Credible Realization	8 Cumulative Discharge	9 Affirmative End
Addition - Diamond -Coin
M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E
1 Nascent State	2 Open Relationship	3 Perfect Bond	4 Stable Foundation	5 Settled Union	6 Familiar Environment	7 Pure Synthesis	8 Broad Perspective	9 Ordered Infinity
Multiplication - Heart - Cup
M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E
1 Slow Beginning	2 Affected Action	3 Unrefined Creation	4 Deteriorate Event	5 Uncontrolled Middle	6 Decreasing Evolution	7 Incredible Realization	8 Exhaustive Discharge	9 Definitive End
Subtraction - Club - Stave
M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E	M or E
1 Dormant State	2 Closed Relationship	3 Imperfect Bond	4 Unstable Foundation	5 Unsettled Union	6 Unfamiliar Environment	7 Impure Synthesis	8 Narrow Perspective	9 Chaotic Infinity
Division - Spade - Sword Quintagrams Copyright © by Guy Palm