Divination Station

Intro to Cartomancy Conjure

I previously said I define Cartomancy as an esoteric tool that is used to reveal the path of the soul; a vehicle of truth. The definition of the word "conjure" from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “to summon by or as if by invocation or incantation.” To me, conjure is our own form of manifestation. The most humanized version of creation. Nothing is more true to humanity than being to create our own destiny. Using our own ways of connecting with the natural world around us, conjure is the focus of learning to reconnect back to our roots. Cartomancy Conjure is the ability to utilize the esoteric philosophies of the cards to help us create our own realities. If you have not read “Intro to Cartomancy” and “The Fours Suites of the Minor Arcana”, I suggest you go back and read those first, before continuing. 

So where do we begin? In this course, we will be focusing on Tarot specifically, although we will speak on playing cards at times as well. So let’s start there, with Tarot. We have previously discussed that there are 78 Cards in Tarot, 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. Tarot is very much a numbers game at the very core of it’s basis. It is meant to be a key that helps to decode many different meanings. 

Let’s take a look at the 56 Minor Arcana to start as an example. We will use them in comparison to the Astrological wheel (ref. Fig. 1). These 56 Cards can be used to represent all Astrological energies. There are 12 Zodiac Signs in Astrology. These signs fall into 4 elements-- Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) and Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn).  Previously we discussed how there are 4 Suites in the Minor Arcana--fire/staff, water/cups, air/swords, earth/pentacles. There is indeed a ruling Tarot card for each of these Astrological signs that coincides with their elemental energy. Tarot goes even further to break down the astrological wheel to represent each decan. A decan in Astrology is 10 degrees. 

Astrological Wheel (fig. 1)

So how does this help us to Conjure? In reference to Astrology, just to stay with one topic, if you know the energy of the stars and planets, you can utilize that energy in your workings. We are currently in Gemini Season. The last 10 degrees (a decan) of Gemini season is represented by the 10 of Swords (Ref. Fig 2). This is indeed a season ruled by the swords or air elemental. Gemini season is ruled by the planet Mercury and communication, thought and healing.  So we know right off the bat that the 10 of Swords can help us in regards to something with communication, thought or healing. At the end of Gemini season, we move into Summer Equinox; officially ending the season of Spring. The 10 of Swords, definitely represents the conclusion of a chapter. But it also represents having access to the complete power of Swords energy. 

10 of Swords (Fig 2)

Unlike in divination where the cards are a representation of our current path, Conjuring with the cards allows us to utilize the energy as a tool to help us create what we will. You do not have to keep accepting the fate of the cards, you can transmute their energy to work for you instead of against you. Seeing the 10 of Swords can be scary, with us usually seeing ourselves as the man with the swords in our back. But what if you had the ability to be in control of the swords and man on the ground then becomes a representation of an obstacle you’ve needed to overcome? Interviewing for a higher paying position? Needing your words (communication/air) to dominate at this interview? You could easily write your interviewer's name on the 10 of Swords, with a bit of Licorice Root (domination herb) and place it into your left shoe. Giving you much better success at removing any obstacles that are keeping you from your desired position. That is indeed taking the energy of what we have been given and transmuting it for your needs. And that is what conjuring is all about.

In this course, we will be following the Astrological (Tropical) seasons to go through the explanation of these cards and how to utilize them in conjure. The reasoning behind this is to 1. Not overwhelm anyone with too much information at once 2. Provide a structure to the learning process 3. Astrological seasons influence so much of our lives that it is best to try to work with them instead of against them. I believe also, it is best to see the influence of the cards within the Season it rules over.