Thirty years ago, The Tarot School was
born. While the world looks different
today, our purpose remains unchanged as
we work to give tarot enthusiasts of
all levels the tools to understand
themselves and the world around them
through the adventure of tarot. We do
this by teaching a combination of
structured knowledge and intuitive and
practical techniques, as well as
exploring the uncharted territory of
human possibility.

If you're curious about how we've
evolved over the past 30 years, read
The Tarot School Story here.

What does tarot do for you?

We asked this question of some of our
students and here are things they
mentioned. Perhaps you'll see your own
relationship to tarot in what they said.

• Provides guidance
• Helps in my meditation
• Enhances energy work
• Keeps things in perspective
• Lets me feel connected to all that is,
to be a part of the Great Pattern
• Tarot touches my heart, sparks my
imagination, comforts my fears,
bolsters my intuition, connects me
to others, and informs my actions.
In short, it enriches my life!

Tarot helps me feel...
• Joyful
• Passionate
• Energized
• Liberated

Tarot...
• Speaks to me
• Pushes me
• Reminds me
• Amuses me

And it...
• Makes life more colorful
• Focuses my mind
• Helps me brainstorm
• Shows me different possibilities
• Helps me see things from another
perspective
• Confirms my intuition

Studying tarot...
• Helps me move into, see, and accept
change more easily

• Transforms my everyday life to a life
filled with magic and wonder

Whether you are new to us or have been
part of our community for many years,
we hope that your tarot studies will
help make 2025 a transformative year
for you in all the best ways possible.

We are grateful for all who have
carried us through these 30 years and
for all that is ahead. If you know
someone who would benefit from our
work, please introduce them. It is with
thanks to your enthusiasm and support
that The Tarot School continues to grow
and reach more people around the globe
every year.

We have a tradition of giving you a gift
on our birthday. This year calls for a
special celebration so we're offering
you the chance to watch the replay of
our recent Tarot Salon class on the
4 of Wands — a very celebratory card.
Enjoy!

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the
new showrunners of The Readers
Studio had to postpone this year's
conference until 2026. We wish them
all the best with their challenges and
look forward to seeing you all at RS26.

If you're looking for another great
event this Spring, we encourage you to
meet the Boston Tea Room folks in the
GLADE (Great Lakes Area Diviners
Experience)! For more info visit:
https://www.bostontearoom.com/glade

The analemma is the pattern made by the
movement of the sun or moon through the
heavens over a year's time. If you
take a picture of the sun or moon every
day at the exact same time, in the same
place, at the end of the year you would
have the pattern of the analemma. It
is the inbreathing and outbreathing of
Spirit in the manifested universe. This

symbol, written in the very heavens,
looks like the infinity symbol or
lemniscate we see in tarot.

By PAR - JPL Horizons, Public Domain

This photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

The lemniscate appears in the RWS Major
Arcana* in several places. First, hovering
over the head of both The Magician and
the woman in the Strength card. Then we
find a distorted infinity symbol in the
patterns of the chains in The Devil card,
and finally, we see it in the shape of the
ribbons wrapped around the wreath
surrounding the dancing figure in the
World card.

When we think of the analemma
revealing, in form, the continuous
movement between light and dark, the
cosmic dance that moves us closer and
further from the sun, the simple
lemniscate symbol in the tarot takes on
added layers of meaning.

The lemniscate shining over the head of
the Magician tells us that he understands
the rhythms and cycles of life itself. He
knows how to work with natural laws to
tend his beautiful garden, to manifest his
desires. He represents the side of the
analemma, when its closest to the sun.

The symbol over the of the head of Lady
Strength speaks to the feminine aspect
of self-mastery and the side of the
analemma when the earth is in greater
darkness. She faces and embraces her
powerful inner beast, and brings it to
the light, tamed by love. The power
embodied by the beast is now available
to be used by her in service to the
greater good. The rose wreath that
circles the woman in the strength card
is also in the shape of the analemma.
Each rose a prayer, an effort to change
an undesired habit, a turning of
thoughts to higher things, an act of
love, kindness or self-discipline,
moment by moment, day by day,
indicating that this mastery of her
inner nature takes place with time and
patience.

However, The Devil, in part, symbolizes
a misuse of the life force, also indicated
in the upside-down pentagram. The disrupted,
or distorted lemniscate in the pattern of the
chains in the Devil card suggests a loss of
connection to the very movement and
source of life itself. It shows a self-imposed
blindness to their true nature. In the Strength
card, embracing shadows results in
enlightenment. Here the rejection of
the shadows results in ignorance.

Clips from RWS Magician, Strength and
Devil Cards.

Finally, in the World card, sometimes called
Cosmic Consciousness, we see the lemniscate
pattern in the ribbons wrapped around the
wreath, one above her head, and one below
her feet. The cosmic dancer is spinning in
perfect harmony with the cycles and
rhythms of life, master of herself, and the
laws of creation.

The creation of the perfect analemma
takes place day by day, over time, a
continuous interplay of light and
shadow, as the sun and earth move
through the heavens. So it is with us.
As above, so below.

To remain in balance, consciously
connected to our source, requires a
day-by-day, moment-by-moment effort
of small practices and changes as we
move through our life. We pay attention
to our inner state, willing to embrace
every aspect of ourselves however it
reveals itself to us.

Most of us would like to see quick
results of our efforts, but these Tarot
Keys show us it is only through
concentration and attention (Magician),
and daily efforts over time (Strength),
we will realize our highest selves, and
pierce the veils of illusion (Devil),
leading to rebirth, mastery and Cosmic
Consciousness (World).

We take ourselves in hand, and pay
attention to our thoughts, words and
deeds, so that we are able to cease
unwanted patterns that keep us chained
to our past. When we take up the tools
on the trestleboard (the table in the
Magician card), when we dedicate
ourselves to small daily practices,
over time the beautiful pattern of the
analemma will shine over our own heads.

Filled with understanding of its
Perfect Law, I am guided moment by
moment, along the path of liberation.
(From The Pattern on the Trestleboard
by Paul Foster Case)

*Note: The lemniscate also appears in
the RWS Minor Arcana. In the 2 of
Pentacles the dancer juggles with the
symbol. In the 4 and 9 of Cups, the
crossed arms of the figures form a
lemniscate. These are also worth
contemplation.

About Cynthia Ray:

Cynthia is a professional Tarot Reader,
Sound Therapist and Reiki Master who
facilitates transformational experiences
through sound, energy and tarot.

Website: https://themysticaltarot.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/tarotwisdom

To submit an article or question to be answered

in a future issue of Tarot Tips, send us an email

at tarot@tarotschool.com

Wald's Words of Wisdom

Papyromancy, the art of divination using
paper, is an ancient yet adaptable form of
fortune-telling. Rooted in the idea that
even the simplest materials can hold wisdom,
this practice interprets folds, burns,
tears, or ink patterns on paper to reveal
insights about a querent's life or future.

Whether you're drawn to the delicate art of
origami divination, the randomness of torn
paper messages, or the mystery of
flame-kissed edges, papyromancy can be a
deeply personal and creative divination
method.

METHODS OF PAPYROMANCY

1. The Fold & Reveal Method
(Origami Divination)
This technique involves folding paper into
simple shapes, then interpreting how it
unfolds, tears, or creases.

How to Perform It:

• Take a small square of paper and set an
intention or question.

• Fold it into an origami shape (such as a
crane, flower, or box).

• Observe how the folds settle, do they stay
crisp and firm, or do they loosen and shift?

• Gently open the paper and note where creases
have deepened, where lines intersect, or if
any part is fragile or torn.

• Interpret these signs based on your
intuition. A solid crease might indicate
strength or certainty, while a loose fold
could suggest indecision or change.

2. Fire & Smoke Reading

(Burning Paper for Signs)
A more dramatic form of papyromancy
involves carefully burning a piece of paper
and interpreting the remaining shapes or
ash patterns.

How to Perform It:

• Write a question or thought on a piece of
paper.

• Safely ignite the edge using a candle or
match, holding the paper over a fire-safe
dish.

• Observe how the flame moves, does it burn
quickly or struggle? Does the paper curl
inwards or expand outwards?

• Once extinguished, analyze the remaining
fragments. Do the ashes form recognizable
shapes? Are there holes where the fire
burned through, symbolizing gaps in
understanding?

Note: Always practice fire safety and
perform this method in a controlled
environment.

3. The Torn Paper Oracle
This method uses the randomness of torn
paper shapes to reveal messages.

How to Perform It:

• Write words, phrases, or symbols on a
sheet of paper, focusing on a specific
question.

• Without looking, tear the paper into
pieces.

• Scatter the pieces onto a table or floor,
then choose a few intuitively.

• Arrange the chosen fragments into a
message, some may form complete words, while
others may suggest abstract meanings.

This method taps into subconscious
connections, much like automatic writing or
dream interpretation.

Here is a sample Papyromancy Reading using
the Torn Paper Oracle method:

Step 1: Setting the Intention
Let's say the querent asks:
"What do I need to focus on for the next
phase of my life?"

Step 2: Preparing the Paper
A sheet of paper is filled with various
words and phrases related to growth,
challenges, and opportunities, such as:

Change
Balance
Release
New beginnings
Trust
Block
Movement
Shadow
Love
Strength

Step 3: Tearing the Paper
The paper is torn into several pieces
without looking. The pieces are scattered,
and three are chosen at random. The selected
words are:

Release
Trust
Shadow

Step 4: Interpretation
"Release" suggests that the querent may be
holding onto something that no longer serves
them, perhaps an outdated belief, a past
hurt, or a stagnant situation.

"Trust" implies that they need to have faith
in themselves and the process of change,
even if the path ahead isn't entirely clear.

"Shadow" indicates that this is a time for
inner reflection. They may need to
acknowledge and integrate aspects of
themselves they've been avoiding.

Step 5: Summary & Advice
The reading suggests that the querent is in
a period of transformation, but they must
first let go of something (Release) before
fully stepping into the next phase. This
could be emotional baggage, fear, or
external influences. Trust in the process is
crucial, as hesitation or doubt may hold
them back. Shadow work, exploring hidden
fears or suppressed emotions, may be key to
unlocking their next step.

Whether you're drawn to the delicate wisdom
of folds, the transformation of fire, or the
randomness of torn words, papyromancy offers
a tactile and engaging way to tap into
intuition. Try one of these methods and see
what the paper whispers to you!

We'd love your suggestion or submissions for this column! If you have an idea or would like to contribute, please contact us at
tarot@tarotschool.com .

Will and Intent

mp3 audio course

It will not surprise you that the world is
not as it seems and that you are more than
you know. Tarot is famous for showing the
truth of these words.

But tarot is becoming famous in our times
for possessing secrets as well as truths. It
points beyond wisdom, understanding and
knowledge to a life of personal power. These
things are not for everyone, but for some
they are irresistably attractive.

Will and Intent are secrets buried in tarot,
engines of personal power. They are tools of
awareness that

• make you more effective in the context of
every day

• give you access to the context of infinity

• permit a shift of awareness that
accomplishes amazing and unsuspected things

• extend every moment of your life by
intensifying it

They are warrior's tools, part of a
warrior's life. This course will introduce
you to vocabulary and technique from such a
life, and where to find them in tarot.

Listen to a sample clip

Esoteric Insights
RE-THINKING SWORDS

By Wald Amberstone

When you look at the pictures on the
cards in the Suit of Swords, the
tendency is to interpret these cards as
a world of trouble and pain. But if you
step through the doorway of the cards
and consider some of what you'll find
behind the pictures, a way to
re-envision them opens before you.

One of the attributes of the Suit of
Swords is that it is associated with
the Element of Air. In the entire Suit
of Swords, air breathes and rushes
through it. And one of the qualities
of air is its freshness.

Do you know what it's like to
experience being in a room, or even

in open spaces, when the air is not
moving? When the air is completely
still? It's stale, and it's hard to
draw a breath. Stale, unmoving air is
like a little death. If you stay in it
long enough, you're going to feel like
you can't breathe. You'll feel the
laboredness of your breath.

Can you imagine what it would be like
if you had only a small amount of air?
Sufficient to live, but not sufficient
to really be alive. Little bit by little bit,
you run out of freshness until it's all
gone — and then you die.

Part of the issue of air, in addition
to its freshness and flow, is the fact
that it's original. Fresh air is associated
with originality, the newness of the mind
(as well as newness of the atmosphere),
because the Element of Air is associated
with the psychological organ of Mind.
The mind needs to be stimulated, just as
the lungs need fresh air.

If you knew what you knew, and stopped
learning — if there were no adventure,
no turning of the wheel — it would
have the same effect as running out of
air. And you would find yourself
choking on old stuff.

So now when you look at the Swords
cards, consider how much (or little)
fresh air is rushing through the
situation at hand. How much original
thinking is your querent doing? What
new adventure lies ahead?

Food for thought...

Upcoming Events:



Tarot Salon on Zoom!
7:00 – 9:00 pm EST

$20 per class

Our popular Monday night classes are
now online so you can attend no matter
where you live. Classes are recorded and
all levels of experience are welcome!

FEBRUARY 2025:
3 - Symbols of The Emperor
10 - Symbols of The Hierophant
17 - NO CLASS (Presidents' Day)
24 - The 40 Faces of Love

(plus Ruth Ann's Birthday!)

Get on the notification list to see

what we'll be teaching each week.

Readings with Ruth Ann

Running The Tarot School with Wald
keeps me pretty busy, but I still love
giving readings! My specialty is using
your Birth Cards and Elemental Array
(techniques Wald and I have developed)
in conjunction with random draws to
give you an extremely personalized and
powerful reading.

If you are familiar with the Tree of
Life, you may request a Birth Cards
Synastry Reading. I will compare your
Birth Cards with those of one or two
others to give you a deeper understanding
of your relationship with them.

I excel at giving Readings for Readers
so if you're always giving readings to
others, let me help you with some
self-care for a change!