When the thieves come a-creeping

It's been almost ten years since I blogged about plagiarism so I think it's time to say more.

A lot of people in the seedy world of cartomancy just love stealing content and taking credit for it. It attracts the sticky-fingered for some reason. You see it with all the missing books at public libraries that aren't checked out - they're just gone. You see it in published works that don't cite sources - no bibliography or chapter notes, the content could have come from anywhere (and probably did!) People who can't even read cards want to look as if they can. I don't know why. I can read cards and the vast majority of people walking this earth don't give a shit. Thieves: Either learn, or write about something you actually know.

Over the years, I've noticed that the most-stolen content tends to be introductory stuff, especially lists of card meanings. My old Kipper Primer post has always gotten ripped off pretty regularly. Not the text on the top, but the card meanings. You'll want to avoid this kind of format - it makes things too easy for them. I've left it up because the damage is already done - there's a PDF being passed around, FFS. But I don't suggest posting this kind of content. If people want card meanings, let them buy books, translate websites, or pay for tutoring. If they want to share your content, make sure they credit you and link back to the original.

Sometimes it's just crazy and random. One guy stole my Grand Jeu clickable constellations post. He copypasted Didier's list and then linked to all the pages I'd linked to. He didn't steal my writing, but he stole my concept. The DMCA still worked. He was an exception to the norm, though.

I used to want to help newcomers. But after being shit on for my troubles too many times, I developed a noob allergy and drifted away from that. Why should I spoon feed people who could just as easily do the work the rest of us had to, only for them to "go pro" before they're any good and often spam their links in all manner of places that don't welcome self promotion. Ask your group or forum mods how much of this crap they have to deal with. Google works according to algorithms, but also SEO, not quality, and they're gunking up the searches.

I'm not the only one. I have a friend, an exceptionally knowledgeable and talented reader, who takes their blog offline regularly and starts another someplace else. Others, like myself, have stopped posting material for new readers. If you see a blog with card meanings, etc. and it's been there more than six months or so, it's almost guaranteed to be garbage with precious few exceptions. Most of us got fed up a long time ago. Come here for book and deck reviews, readings on current events, observations, or just to read my bitching, lol. You won't see me posting tutorials.

And don't come here to steal. I have no problem sending DMCAs. I especially love posting them to the offending blog's comments. That way everyone can see them.

Oh, and if anyone tries to be slick and thinks they'll get away with plagiarism by rephrasing a bit of someone else's content, Copyscape catches that, too. So bite me.

This dumbass. 😂 They substituted "it can get pretty physical" for "it can get sporty", i.e., "kinky." It's never a good idea to rephrase something if your reading comprehension stinks. The offending blog is part of the ATA's site, BTW. That's the same outfit I called out years ago here for racism and running a sham certification racket. Be sure to check out the comments, they're enlightening.

Simon Bar Sinister & the Ryan Edwards Decks

 

Simon Bar Sinister, or maybe Dollar Store Nosferatu. Rudy Giuliani is a man of many names. 

Recently an anonymous benefactor (who is welcome to identify themselves in the comments, but only if they choose to do that) sent me the Maybe Lenormand and the Playing Marseille. I've long been aware of both, I've even recommended the Maybe, but I gave them a pass since I already have tons of Lenormands (including expanded ones) and TdMs. I see now that I made a mistake. These are workhorse decks: sturdy stock, and unadorned enough for the images to pop. I can also recommend them to beginners, since the booklets are solid. Ryan reads some cards differently than I do, but his ideas are legit. There's no bogus information.

Anyway, I asked the cards "Will Rudy Giuliani flip on Trump?" 

 

The spread above is not what I expected! I figured Rudy's out for himself and he'll sing like a birdie. But the cards say otherwise. Still...

Mostly Diamonds. Money and risk.

Fish, lots of money involved, he's been paid off of course. (Speculation: maybe Trump doesn't pay his attorney fees because he pays them for other things?) Before the Key, it's "unlocked" and subject to change. Trump probably still owes him quite a bit and Giuliani intends to collect. What's after the Key (certain) is the Eye. He's being closely watched - not only by Trump but by the FBI and DOJ. Maybe the CIA as well, since some of Trump's crimes involve hostile foreign nations. The Eye touches the Book, too. There's certain information or records they want, but the Book opens to the Mountains. The information is blocked and Rudy's not talking. Book reflects Key, so these records are important. Fish reflects Mountains. Again, Giuliani has financial incentives for keeping his mouth shut. This could be promised money from Trump, but a likely scenario is that Rudy is in this up to his ears and he doesn't want to implicate himself lest his assets get seized.

Still, everything is likely come out in spite of that. For someone who lies constantly, he's not very good at it, as we know from the way he gets called out on twitter every time he posts his lies. He'll stick to his story until the bitter end, though.

For good measure, I decided to test drive the Playing Marseille for a different perspective and to see if there is any additional information. For the pip cards, it follows Dawn Jackson's Hedgewytchery system. Be advised that I read some cards, like the 7's, a bit differently. I don't necessarily view them all as "troubles that Fate has assigned." If "6 is a path that the seeker must tread" and we see that same path on the 7's with an additional suit symbol blocking the way, I think finding a Spade in the road is much worse than finding, say, a Heart. But Ryan's way will work, too, if you prefer that. Just be consistent.

Same question: "Will Giuliani flip on Trump?"

 

Again we have a "no." The line starts with two Knights: Staves and Cups. Trump with his stick ready to club people into submission, and Giuliani following along proffering his utter loyalty.

Next we have the 4 of Spades, the sickbed or grave. 5 of Clubs points to physical work. Hired people, of course. And 7 of Spades is a card of utter failure.

I think this might refer to Ivana's grave. I could be wrong, of course. But a lot of us find it suspicious that it took 10 burly pallbearers to tote a coffin containing the cremated remains of a frail, liposuctioned woman in her 70's. 

 There could be a metric f***tonne of classified documents in there. It really looks like this is something Rudy's mixed up in that he's not talking about. They're just riding away from the grave at the first hole. "It didn't happen."

Make of that what you will. Time will tell. ;)

Fin de Siècle Kipper ->

 

I've been seeing commentary online for awhile now stating that directions in Ciro Marchetti's wonderful Fin de Siècle Kipper are "not easily discerned." Must people be spoon fed at every step? Has anyone tried looking at the cards? O ye generation of vipers, how long must I bear with thee? Sheesh. 😂

Directions in the Fin de Siècle are as easily seen as they are in the Originals.

1. Main Male: Yes, he's looking straight at you. But he stands facing left. Therefore, the card can be read as facing left.
2. Main Female: Right.
3. Marriage: No clear direction. (But the same can be said of this card in the Original, as the man and woman are facing each other.
4. Courtship: Again, no clear direction.
5. Mature Man: He faces left. Be aware, though, that he glances to the right, and his finger points to the card below him. All of this can be useful in a reading.
6. Mature Female: Inclines her head to the left.
7. Message: Both the drawer and the envelope open to the right.
8. False Person: Right.
9. Change: The car faces right.
10. Journey: The train moves to the left. The man in the foreground also faces left.
11. Sudden Wealth: The coins spill down to the card below.
12. Privileged Lady: Left. But again, watch her eyes.
13. Wealthy Man: He's inclined to the left.
14. Message of Concern: Right.
15. Lovers: Like 3 and 4, no direction.
16. Thoughts: Left.
17. Gift: Left.
18. Child: Right. Pay attention to the card above, as well.
19. Coffin: Opens to the right, the rose in the glass faces right, the near corner points right.
20. House: No direction.
21. Family Room: The portraits on the wall face right.
22. Official Person: Left.
23. Court House: Right.
24: Thief: Two out of the three people depicted on this card face left. Majority rules.
25. High Honor: Right.
26. Great Fortune: Left. But the card below stands to benefit most.
27. Unexpected Income: Queen Victoria faces left.
28. Expectation: Left.
29: Imprisonment: Right.
30. Judication: Right. Look at the Judge.
31. Bad Health: Right. Depending on context, you can also read this from the patient's POV, i.e., left.
32. Despair: Right.
33. Concern: Left.
34. Occupation: Right.
35. Pathway: The path curves and meanders, with no set left or right.
36. Distant Horizons: Both the gull and the ship are clearly moving to the right.
37. Poverty: No direction, though you could read the cat and rat as right if needed.
38. Toil & Labour: Right.
39: Community: Not really directional. The people face various directions. 

So you see the directions are no less clear than those in the Originals. This deck is perfectly fine for beginners, as well as more experienced readers. Just don't let facing directions shove you around the board, or fall into the trap of relying solely on english language sources. German websites are generally best for Kipper, and we do have Google Translate at our fingertips. Also highly recommended: Hildegard Leiding's Leiding Wahrsagekarten, Buch 1 & Buch 2.

The Sibilla and Combover Caligula

 

I wanted to know how much more "mourning" Trump will be allowed before they re-schedule his deposition (that was postponed on 7/15 "in consideration.") What's happened so far:

7/14 Ivana dies
7/20 Ivana's funeral
7/22 Rally in Arizona
7/23 TPUSA in Florida
7/28 Pro-Am Golf Tournament NJ
7/29-7/31 Saudi LIV Golf Extravaganza NJ

I used a Vera Sibilla - no reversals as I'm a bit rusty with it. (This is a practice read.) The spread is basically a French Cross, except I didn't add the cards to arrive at a synthesis for card 5, I just laid a card. (Sibilla, as you guys know, has no Majors and isn't numbered straight through like Lenormand.)

The Sibilla, as always, lived up to its reputation for chattiness and gave me more than I asked for, lol. The first thing I noticed is that there are three diamonds, indicating an element of risk. There's certainly risk involved on all sides. Diamonds are also concerned with money. (This is "just" the financial fraud and not the sedition - its all about money.)

Card 1 is the 10 of Spades, Militare. I think the New York Attorney General's office is strong, they mean business. The soldier is determined, tenacious, and has every intention of going over the mountains.

Card 2 is the Queen of Diamonds, Donna Maritata. Cards in this position can help or hinder the situation. This card is positive, as it indicates a caring woman who is also practical. It might be Leticia James herself, even if she is unmarried. A person can be equally committed to their career. I think she very much wants to see him finally get some consequences.

Card 3 is the 5 of Diamonds, Malinconia. It might refer to Ivana's death - he had no real regard for her. He had her buried at his golf course so he wouldn't have to pay taxes on it. Unlike the Widower card, the grave on this card belongs to an animal. Losing a pet can be devastating, but I don't think Trump is devastated. The card seems to be saying it's really not important to him, he doesn't see her as a person. Many even suspect that he had her "Epsteined." The AG's office might be letting a "proper" period of time pass, for appearances sake. (Who knows, they might be gathering even more evidence while this is going on.) He IS depressed - it hangs over his head - but I suspect that's due to things like this, the Jan. 6 hearings, and the RNC's threats to stop covering his legal bills once he announces his candidacy for president..

Card 4 contains the answer, and it's the Queen of Clubs, Giovine Fanciulla. It's not Ivanka, though she's also in hot water - she's 40, and this card stands for someone unmarried and under 30. The card doesn't always refer to a literal person. She points to Militare, indicating that the NY AG's office holds the solution. If QC is a person, she's an up-and-comer working at the AG's office who is key somehow. He steps on her, disrespects her. This may be someone he's insulted or offended in the past.

Card 5 is the synthesis and it's 10 of Diamonds, Il Ladro. Definitely Trump and his financial fraud. Look at the horizontal line: see how he stalks Ms. James, but the AG's office is on his tail with a bayonet, lol. The "synthesis" of all this is quite simple: Trump is a thief. We knew that, but there will finally be something done about it. We end on a red card, a positive outcome. It's just going to take longer than we would like. How long? Card 5 is summer, so that gives it up to 8 weeks to play out. If not, the answer card is a Club and indicates winter. Let's hope it's not that long! I think they'll be requiring his deposition by the end of summer, but after that things could drag on with a final decision this winter.

All in all, better than expected.

 

 

On Excess and Bad Signal

With a few notable exceptions, I recommend books on card reading published prior to 1970 or so. There are reasons for this, read on:

This is a meme that's been going around my dog groups. As you can see, all of these "breeds" are pitbull mixes. It reflects something that's really going on with the mixed breed population: pitbulls are so overbred that you'd be hard pressed to find a mixed breed dog that doesn't have a degree of pitbull ancestry. 

Pitbulls and pitbull mixes are not for everybody. No dog is, but especially not a dog developed for tenacious animal aggression. These dogs require responsible, knowledgeable owners. In the wrong hands, things can and do go horribly wrong. But that hasn't stopped the irresponsible owners from letting their intact dogs run at large and flood the gene pool.

The same thing can happen with ideas. Let's look at "jumpers."

Once in a great while, a card might "jump" from the deck while shuffling. Some readers attach special significance to it, others just stick it back in the deck. It's something that's probably been done for as long as people have been reading cards...but then the internet happened. There was the inevitable bad signal, and now we have people doing it intentionally, even doing something called "fallout shuffling" where they just drop cards all over the place. So now we have people asking what to do if they get more "jumpers" (but they aren't really jumpers if you drop them on purpose) than there are positions in the spread, how to read a card that falls at such-and-such angle, and all manner of irrelevant bullshit that has fuck-all to do with reading cards.

It's the same with the idea that you need to learn numerous dedicated spreads for different kinds of questions, that spreads without named positions are "not spreads", that "third party" readings are verboten, that cards "don't tell the future," etc., etc., ad nauseum. These ideas are spread like viruses in contemporary books and on websites.

If you want to read cards, study the cards and the older sources, not how to do 1000 spreads while playing 32/36/52/78 Pickup and only asking about yourself in the present. And stay away from the new age and wellness stuff. It's absurd.

Unpopular Fact #3: Right- & Left-Brain Theory Is Utter Crap

 

 

 

 

For awhile, it was thought that the left side of the brain was analytical and the right side was creative and intuitive, and that one side or the other "dominates." But that's been completely debunked:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130814190513.htm

 

Then some people got the ill-conceived idea that if they just ignored left brained things, let all of that atrophy, they'd be amazingly psychic. But the thing is, even if right and left brain theory were true (which it isn't) we need to use our whole brain - even for reading cards. Analysis, logic and critical thinking skills are as necessary as intuition and creativity. Often even moreso.

 

It's not just aspiring card readers who do this. We've come to a point in time where the willfully ignorant think that facts and logic pose an actual threat. Rejection of science and embracing quack cures in the face of a pandemic, for instance, is hastening our descent into Dark Ages v2. So is racism - science itself tells us that race is a construct.  

I could go on, but you get the picture. The decision to close off from facts and stay stupid is, well, stupid.

Unpopular Fact #2: Decks Don't Call People

 We've all seen it: the aspiring reader asks "What deck should I get?" or "Can someone suggest a good beginner deck?" and without fail, people will pipe up and say "Get the deck that calls to you."

Never mind that pasteboard is obviously inanimate, so "the deck that calls to you" gets interpreted as "Do whatever you want", which is no advice at all. It's saying it doesn't matter. Get the one you think is pretty, or the one in the bargain bin, or whatever. But some decks are idiosyncratic. Others are just bad. Nobody can help this person if their deck is nonsensical. And the available reference material for wonky decks is often the LWB/companion book and nothing else.

I'm not saying that new readers should be treated like children. There's no reason not to start with the Thoth, or something similarly complex, if they're reasonably intelligent and that's what they want. But FFS, put some thought into this. Somebody asked for help, so help them. Or get out of the way. Don't just parrot things.

Really.

Stop being a parrot.