Hi all,
Do I understand correctly that this card system,
- as it is used in card casting, was refined by Ernst, and
- that the astrological application (birth card spread and compatiblity) was invented by Ernst? Or did the astrological application also already exist in some form or another?
Either way, second question: how to describe these systems to others? When practising Hellenistic astrology, I can simply say that I practise Western astrology. When practising Vedic astrology, one can say that they are practising Indian astrology. All a bit simplified, but still helpful in day to day conversation. What about Cards of Truth though? Is there a super simple way to talk about
- the cards as they are used for card casting
- the astrological application?
In my earlier examples, there is reference to geography. Does this also work for Cards of Truth or is there another super easy way to describe it, one that does not create even more confusion: if someone asks me what type of astrology I practise, and I immediately make reference to some sort of card system, that just creates more confusion.
Maybe, for the card casting side of it, we can say that it is the system that Tarot is derived off. Tarot being a more simplified, less nuanced, less universal version of a much older system that has many names and of which the origins are unknown? Would this be correct? Everyone knows Tarot so describing the relationship to Tarot might be helpful.
What about the astrological side of it? Seems more tricky to describe...
Input is most appreciated!
I refer to the Cards of Truth as cartomancy in my practice. Other vedic astrologers such as Laura Barat also do this. Here's the definition of cartomancy from Google:
Forms of cartomancy appeared soon after playing cards were introduced into Europe in the 14th century. Practitioners of cartomancy are generally known as cartomancers, card readers, or simply readers.
The idea of a card spread in a 52 layout of quadrations first become known of on a larger level in the book, the Mystic Testbook in the late 1800s. The cards in the spread are named after the planets, only 7 cards are in the spread if I remember correctly.
In 1976 a card reader was asked by a big magazine how the US tennis team would do. He said, strange, I don't see anyone loosing, but I don't see them bringing home medals either, it makes no sense. The olympics were boycotted that year and all of a sudden everyone heard about this system and people started to know about how this person, Arnie Lein was using it. He was using it as a birth card system, that is the first person known to have used it. Who he learned it from, we dont know.
Soon after, Robert Camp really developed the card system to a new level. He called it the Destiny Cards. He did great work on these cards. I had friends who knew and studied with him and they made great predictions.
Two others later developed their own versions. All three of these people had a different amount of cards in the spread and after the first 5 cards, different names for the cards in the spread. I was turned off by the system because they had crazy names for the cards, not planet or astrology names even for some of them. So the astrology sort of got strange.
I started to read cards in 1998, and soon switched to tarot. I started to teach Tarot in 2000 and it was my most sold course actually.
In 2014 I had a friend who had tried to read astrology but it was just not right for her, I said, I think you need to try the cards, and I bought her all the books by Robert Camp, I said, the way your mind works and how hard you will study, this is the system for you. While I was waiting for her to come and visit to pick up the books, Sristhi and I started to read the books and I really got into it this time. My brain was making all kinds of connections. I could see the holes in the astrology, and I started to put the planets in the cards. No one had actually calculated all the planets, they only calculated out the drekkana of the sun to find a drekkana card. I did not like that the system did not use the planets or asc, etc. as that only created 52 live patterns and everyone has a bit of difference in their lives. I resolved those differences by including the planets. That is the first unique thing I did. The second thing I did was to create a spread of 13 cards, due to 13 cards in a suit, and I named these cards after astrology parts, planets, rahu and ketu, outer planets, and the ecliptic. so it was 100% astronomy centered.
Previous developers had just sort of noticed what a card was doing, did some theorizing and came up with a not very astro name for a card, after the first 5, simply because they did not know vedic astrology, or really, astrology very deeply. But they did fantastic development over years and even decades based on experience and practical theory. I cleaned it up astrologically, conceptually, and technically. One of the technicalities was the method of progressed spreads. I explain those things in the courses.
Robert Camp has been the largest pioneer of the card system. He called it Destiny cards. Before that, some people have called it Magi Cards. I just called it Cards of Truth because before that my Tarot book that I used in the course was Tarot, bringing us closer to the truth. I really see this capacity in the cards.
Interesting, and very helpful!
As for how you would describe this type of astrology to others, is "Cards of truth astrology" the only and best way? How about: "a type of astrology that is based on the same principles as Vedic astrology, so that has the same level of depth and accuracy, but that is not so vast and detailed?"
@carolinedepuydt I personally believe that the cards´nature symbols make it quite different. I really do believe it´s a mix btw astrology and card reading. There are many things that astrology can do that the cards can´t, but the reverse it´s also true. Which also turns into a dilemma to me in a reading situation: I want to use both systems, but it tends to lead to overly extense readings. One kind of have to choose, or convince the client to make several readings. Of course, for concrete matters, it´s good to use both systems for to see whether they speak the same language or against each other.
Staffan