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Interpretation Pages

The patterns of nature that The Numerical Tarot points to, are somewhat objective. I say somewhat because as patterns they are only useable when observed and acknowledged by a human, and as an observation of nature they are inherently vulnerable to subjective influence. A pattern observed and acknowledged becomes an archetype for humanity, or a primordial pattern upon which the symbols and icons of humanity are built. By archetype I mean: An original model or type after which other similar things are patterned, an ideal example of a type; quintessence (see What is an Archetype elsewhere on this site).

The patterns of nature that The Numerical Tarot points to, are somewhat objective. Making the leap from the somewhat objective to the totally subjective interpretations people use in a tarot reading is tricky business! The links on this page are my own personal attempts to brainstorm possible interpretations for each number of numerology as seen through my system of common sense analysis of universal patterns in nature.

If you would like to discuss the ideas found on this site, go to:
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The Relatively Objective - Key Words

The first table below has links to Keyword Charts. The words on these charts are designed to represent the most FUNDAMENTAL and ABSTRACT aspects of each number of numerology. In this system, each number is subdivided into eight ( 8 ) variations based on whether we are expressing the Moderate of a Positive (Ameliorate) number, the Extreme of a Positive (Ameliorate) number, the Extreme of a Negative (Deteriorate) number, or the Moderate of a Negative (Deteriorate) number, in either of Quantitative or Qualitiative modes. Most of the words in each chart are linked to further clarify their meaning and take us deeper and deeper into that number's possible meaning in a reading.

Each number will appear in its own window that can keept open while navigating deeper and deeper.

What is a Quintagram!

A Quintagram is the end product of a technique I invented for delving deeper into things. It can, at times, be helpful in zeroing in on what is really going on with a situation. Or... help two people understand each other's differences in perception about something. It works off a theory about how our binary universe permeates the essence of our being, and how identifying the cumulative result of multiple binary influences can lead to a card in one of my tarot decks. For a more detailed analysis, consult the essays Numbers in Space, and The Binary Influence Calculator found elsewhere on this site.

I originally invented Quintagrams for doing dream analysis, but have found them to be useful for just about anything. One can even approach them like they would an I_Ching hexagram, tossing coins to generate open or solid lines. But, originally, the idea was to think about something (like a dream, or part of a dream) and try to identify its fundamental, archetypal essence relative to basic, primordial patterns of opposites, by asking things like... whether the thing or situation in question is more positive or negative, more left brained or right brained... literal or conceptual, practical or emotional, more masculine or feminine, more about cause or effect, etc. etc. After performing this exercise for five separate categories of binary influence, a Quintagram of cumulative influence would be constructed that would point to a card in one of my decks, from which one could then (hopefully) extract insight about the situation based on what that card is about. Unfortunately, though, Quintagrams really only work with decks made using the underlying system of thought being presented everywhere on this site. This is because these decks are uniquely designed around the idea of a binary universe and its influences upon the essence of our being... including the idea of being completely neutral (a 5). Traditional tarot decks are not designed this way. So, using this approach with a traditional tarot deck might skew the results.

As just stated, the design of The Numerical Tarot deck includes cards that represent absolute neutrality of duality. So if someone is absolutely and completely neutral in every way, they can't use this system, because this system is all about calculating how our minds flip and flop concerning 5 critical "ways of being." But... being absolutely neutral, in every way, in EVERYTHING we do and say, is very, very VERY rare. It might happen now and then, relative to this or that topic. But to be absolutely neutral in every way about everything is pretty rare. So... most people should be able to utilize the idea of Quintagrams at some time, about something. Certainly anything that is troubling them, because to be troubled is to not be neutral, but to be conflicted. Thus plotting out the exact nature of those conflicts becomes helpful. But, whereas identifying what is troubling by just "poking around the emotions to find it" might elude some, identifying conflicts by how they relate to generic, abstract conceptual patterns of nature might help some to see through their tears and actually find something.

It can be hard at times for people to find the right words to express a thought, feeling or emotion. Many times a person trying to help will end up asking the same 5 questions being asked by a Quintagram, without even realizing it. So this technique simply acknowledges that, and just asks those questions up front, before the tears even start. If a person is able to "know thyself" enough to answer 5 simple questions, they will be directed to a card in one of my decks that just might have the words - or images they seek, to describe how they feel. And... if they don't "know thyself" very well, they will be directed to a card that does not make sense... at which time I would ask them to reconsider one or more of the 5 choices they made, to see if that leads to a card that does fit. If it does, they not only find meaning, but learn something about how well or poorly they "know thyself." And... if done with a partner, they might also learn something about how and why two people can see the same thing two different ways, and thereby come to understand each other better. Additionally... if a person continually routs themself to the same Quintagram over and over again, no matter what the subject matter appears to be on the surface, then we would have something similar to a recurring dream, which would be just as revealing.

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A Frozen Moment of Change

The theoretical model of existence being presented everywhere on this site represents fundamental parameters of existence. In being so, it has many organic, living, natural behaviors to its design. It lives and dies. It breathes. It digests. It has a Heart, Soul, Spirit and Mind. It is male and female. It is literal and virtual... conscious, preconscious, subconscious and unconscious all at once. And... it will change its character depending on how the perceptions of an individual change at any given moment in time. Thus, like a tarot spread, a Quintagram is a frozen moment in time. But... at the same time... like a Hexagram of I_Ching, it is also dynamic, and can be changed... endlessly... to express the character of as many successive moments as might be desired. In that way it completely mimics the organic, living, natural tendencies of the user in every way. Thus making it itself, organic, living and natural.

In many ways, our path through life resembles a piece of music being played out across time. By analogy, the binary choices being presented by the Numbers in Space chart, or the Dream Analysis Calculator, or the Binary Influence Calculator are similar to the choices made my musicians when trying to develop the character of a piece of music. Music has high notes and low notes. Loud notes and soft notes. Long notes and short notes. Those notes rise and fall, are harmonious or disharmonious etc. etc. etc. That's what we do in life... we make endless little, and sometimes big, binary choices. Most people can only remain absolutely, 100% neutral for a limited amount of time. Eventually they have to decide whether to go left or right when they step out the door in the morning. Binary choices are endless on all scales of living and moments in time. A Quintagram represent the cumulative effect of a set number of binary "ways of being" that we experience over and over with each passing moment in time.

In constructing a Quintagram that will represent a particular moment in time, we work through a process that, itself, takes time. In that sense, one might view the process as evolutionary. But, to be more precise, the idea is more that the end result represents a cumulative influence. In this way, we are attempting to capture a moment in time that is essentially over already. So, to accomplish that, we must continually recall the moment as we pass through each of the 5 categories of influence... which, because they are only 5 in number, can hopefully be done quickly, while the character of the moment is still fresh in our minds.

I sometimes use these Quintagrams like an I_Ching Hexagram, tossing a coin five times. But, again, that takes time... time over which the character of the moment could be lost. On the other hand, one could also argue that a moment in time, although infinitely small, can... if the energy of the moment is intense enough... maintain its essential character for a sustained period, thus allowing a moment in time to be defined within the range of its actual existence. In that way a Quintagram can work at defining a moment... while we are still in it. For those who want to capture that moment, I've included, below, a pattern for constructing a device that would flip 5 coins at once, thus defining the moment in question with greater precision. Cut them out, fold them down into individual cups and stick them all together as one. Put a coin into each cup and shake. With that... a permanent invitation is extended to try out these Quintagrams using any of the various devices and techniques described elsewhere on this site. Here's a PDF.

One technique that might be fun to explore would be the Shake the Trees game. Basically, the Shake the Trees game converts the Numbers in Space chart into a metaphor of falling through the branches of a tree, or trees, hitting branches along the way that, by the end, identify the open or solid lines of a Quintragram, and thereby place us at the archetypal "roots" of the notion we started with. Another metaphor compares each solid line to a leaf in the sun, and each open line as a leaf in the shade. Put those leaves together, as we fall through the Numbers in Space "tree" and we have a Quintagram. Give it a try. What is there to loose?

I've also designed a more sturdy type of randomizer. The top one is made out of 1/4" foamcore. The bottom one is made out of 1/8" wood. Each one has six compartments into which a coin can be placed, with a top to enclose them and thereby make the shaking of the coins easier than it is with the open cups that are produced by using the paper cut-out method shown above. On the inside of the top there are written reminders of what each position reveals about the subject at hand, as well as helping to remember how each result leads to a combination or constellation of binary influences that ultimately directs us to a specific tarot card. If you want one of these, I can make you one. Just email me (put Quinagrammer in the subject line or I might trash you as spam!). It will probably be a foamcore model, because I might not always have access to a shop where I can use the tools necessary to make the wooden version.