Lapis Philosophorum

I have committed to do a process called Primary Deck Reflections (PDR) for the year of 2009 at the Aeclectic Tarot Forum.

I’ll be using the Alchemical Tarot Renewed by Robert M. Place.  It will be my 2009 study and reflection deck, and I’ll use it for reading for my self only. That mean I’ll still be using  the Universal Waite – but when reading for others, which I hope to do more this year.

The Virtues: Temperance, Strength, Justice and Prudence as the World

I simply feel an urge to dive into the mysteries of the Alchemical Tarot in partucular and Alchemy in general. Therefore I chose this deck, which I find quite fascinating – yet difficult to approach. Apart from that – as stated below in the Sacred Days of Yule Spread – I’ll embark on a spiritual journey seaching for my Soul or my Self  (Six of Swords) of a secret character – and I guess the Alchemical Tarot will fit the nature of this journey perfectly and function as a road map.

I’ll try to read once a week with the Alchemical Tarot, and then write a journal entry in this blog  – if the circumstances of my life permit. That will be during the weekends. Mostly just three card spreads. I’ll post both here and at the Aeclectic tarot Forum. Approximately but not necessarily the same stuff.

I’m waiting for the new book to accompany the deck to be released. Until that I’ll use the study group at Aeclectic for reference, since I’m not into this deck, all though I know a little tiny bit about alchemy. I’ll also try to compile a referencelist of Alchemical Litterature, to post in the Ressourceguide category. This litterature, I’ll try to read during this year.

Images from The Alchemical Tarot, copyright Robert M. Place, are used with kind permission. Visit the Alchemical Tarot website.

I’m starting a tarot journal on this blog. Really private stuff I’ll keep in my private diary and my ringbinder tarotjournal, but more day-to-day readings will be posted here. Please comment, if you like.

A note on abbreviations: I’m abbreviating for example Six of Wands to 6oW, Two of Pentacles to 2oP and so on.
I’m also experimenting with creating my own understandings of the cards based on meanings of the sephiroth of the Kabbalah Tree of Life, hence the titles of the cards. This is a work in process and progress, but I’m sure to write more about it here in the blog.

10 of Pentacles

2 of Pentacles

6 of Wands

I shuffle and draw:

6 of Wands ~
Beauty of Fire

2 of Pentacles ~ Wisdom of Earth

10 of Pentacles ~ Kingdom of Earth

Since the center card (2oP) is about carefully balancing I take it that this is about balancing my own ambitions about communication, blogging, internet (6oW) and the greater community and family I’m part of and that I am having responsibilities towards (10oP).