View The Cards

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PERSONAL TRIUMPHS
Greg Erskine's original illustrations for Tom Blunt's series of essays inspired by the 22 Trump cards.






TAROT SKETCHBOOK
A personal interpretation of the forty Minor Arcana cards, hand-drawn by Tom Blunt.





ARCANALOGUE: CYCLE II
February 2009 - August 2009







ARCANALOGUE: CYCLE I
May 2008 - December 2008







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If You Have Any Questions...

Please contact Tom Blunt at 646+286+2870 or via email regarding anything Arcanalogue-related, including questions about readings, lessons, events, or website issues such as broken links. See below for more details about Tarot readings, including rates.

You may also add me on Facebook or Twitter, where I frequently post Arcanalogue updates.

I often donate the money I make from Tarot readings to the literacy charity First Book. If you'd prefer I do this with your payment, please specify beforehand; I will happily comply with that wish. Every $2.50 donated to First Book provides one new book for a child in need. (More info here...)

READINGS

Full readings generally last from 45 minutes to an hour, shorter readings from 15 to 30 minutes. It's important for the querent (that's you) to have a specific question or topic in mind (see FAQ), as "general" readings are often much more difficult for everyone involved. Be prepared to discuss the topic of the reading with me, both before and during -- I don't read minds, "tell fortunes", employ cold reading tactics, or make blind predictions. A reading should leave you feeling relaxed and mentally alert, with many new questions and hopefully some answers as well.

LOCATION:

For private readings, I generally have no problem making house calls; there are also plenty of neutral public places in New York City where a reading can take place discreetly and comfortably. Under certain circumstances, I will be willing to host individuals or groups at my home office.

I am happy to do online readings via email or (preferably) instant messenger. Please contact me for more details.


RATES:

Short (3+ Cards) Reading: $10.00
Full (10+ Cards) Reading: $25.00

Payment may be made via cash or PayPal. 100% of your payment will be donated to First Book, as noted above.

Group and sliding-scale rates may be available.


EVENTS AND PARTIES:

Add a touch of the unexpected to any gathering, no matter how large or small -- provide your guests with access to a skilled, discreet Tarot reader who brings something extra to the art. I'll perform short three-card readings at a flat hourly rate, engaging each guest on the topics of their choice. Contact me for more details!


TAROT DECKS:

Here's a list of the decks that I keep on hand for readings. If you have a preference as to which deck is used for your reading, please let me know when you contact me:

Alchemical Tarot
Fantastic Menagerie Tarot
Hermetic Tarot
Secret Tarot
Tarot of Marseilles
Thoth Tarot
Victoria Regina Tarot
The Visconti Tarot
Waite-Smith Tarot

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Links and Resources

Here's a list of sites that I've found incredibly useful or inspiring throughout my work with Tarot:

• 78 Notes To Self
• Aeclectic Tarot: Tarot Cards, Reviews, Readings, eBooks & Info
• The Alchemical Egg
• Alchemy Website: The Artwork of Modern Tarot
• Association for Tarot Studies
• Black Fire on White Fire
• Card Games: Tarot Games
• The Elegant Tarot Project
• Mary K. Greer's Tarot Blog
• MetaFilter's posts about Tarot
• The Silicon Dawn Tarot
• Taroteca
• The Victoria Regina Tarot


Here are some resources related to other forms of divination and insight:

• The Abysmal
• Ask MetaFilter
• Astroinquiry
• BibliOdyssey
• Do You Think I'm Smart? Astrology and Other Ass Munchery
• Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab
• The Hermitary
• The Illuminates of Thanateros


These are the decks that I prefer to keep on hand for readings:

• Alchemical Tarot
• Hermetic Tarot
• Secret Tarot
• Tarot of Marseilles
• Thoth Tarot
• Victoria Regina Tarot
• The Visconti Tarot
• Waite-Smith Tarot


Tons of books have been written about Tarot-- some good, but many almost depressingly awful. The shelves at your local bookstore are glutted with "introductory" books that all completely contradict each other. This is probably inevitable (due to reasons I've outlined here), but finding the right book can make a big difference in how far you'll go.

The best book that I've read about Tarot to date is Robert M. Place's The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination. Place has made several stunning decks, but I believe his enduring legacy will be this book, which is an incredible beginner's guide in its own right, but more importantly is also a historical study of the Tarot and how it became what it is today.

Here are a few more that I've found helpful. You'll notice these aren't at all limited to instructional texts; my lists cover a wide spectrum of styles and interests that creatively intersect with themes from the Tarot. Beware, I recommend different books for different reasons, so if you have additional questions about something on this list, please feel free to ask me personally. As usual, your mileage may vary.

• List of books that are directly relevant to learning about Tarot

• List of books that are indirectly relevant to learning about Tarot

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About Me

I picked up my first deck of cards as a teenager purely out of curiosity, but despite reading a few books I quickly realized I had no real idea how (or whether) they worked. Being unable to answer people's basic questions about the cards was depressing, and I was very uncomfortable with the idea of giving bad readings, so I soon put them down again.

They never really left my thoughts, though. A few years later I was reintroduced to the Tarot through as a student of religion and art. I was especially fascinated by this particular divination system's checkered history-- and it surprised me to discover I'd forgotten very little of what I'd already learned before. In 2001 I began learning about the Tarot in earnest, and my practice has grown rigorously since then. It really seems to have reformed the way my brain categorizes imagery and experiences. Professionally, I've given countless readings, taught lessons, and mentored others as they've cultivated their own relationship with the cards, but my personal relationship with them is much harder to define. In a way, they are family to me; they are always nearby and I'm always expecting them to drop into my life unannounced with some new bit or information or reassurance. They flavor my dreams as well as my waking life.

I am currently working on my own book/deck proposal and look forward to the day when I am able to do readings with a deck of my own creation. Until then, Arcanalogue is the next best thing!

I currently live in New York City, where the rest of my attention is divided by my career as a freelance writer/editor. Add me on Facebook! I post updates there whenever I complete a new card. Twitter, too. You can learn more about me at http://tomblunt.com.

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