The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Was Not A Train

The Pyramid Spread

I have finally finished the first draft of the AdawnSpirit Divination book. The fate of the book is now in the hands of its editor. It has been a much longer, harder slog than I initially thought it would be, largely because I didn't initially appreciate just how much information I was going to have to include and explain. Much as I would have liked, it is not just a matter of giving a brief interpretation for each card and the bare essential instructions on laying out and interpreting a spread.

First there is the introduction itself, the bit where I had to justify my belief that my divination cards could in any way be any good to anyone. Of course they work for me; I devised and designed them, I put a lot of thought, research and effort into finding images and symbolism that resonate with me. But how do I know they will work for others? The simple answer is; I don't know. I have to have faith that the symbolism understood by our subconscious and superconscious minds will work for anyone willing to put in the time to learn; just as it does for the Lenormand and the Tarot.

Second I had to give comprehensive meaning to each of the four Houses along with each individual card in each house, both upright and reversed, taking into account the symbolism of each House and numerological influences. That's meaningful symbolism to assign to four Houses with two interpretations for each card in each House.

Next I had to do the same for the Major Influence cards. Twenty four cards each requiring two interpretations, one upright and one reversed.

At this point I at first thought I just needed to add a few spread layouts and explain what each position meant and I would be done. But no...

The third task was to explain the significance of multiples in a spread. In other words, what additional meaning can we derive from two sixes appearing in a spread (a need for creative pursuits) or four eights (doing too much, gossip and rumours). This is a concept most definitely derived from the Tarot yet it doesn't appear to be standard between Tarot readers. I did a lot of research and eventually found the influences which felt right for me.

And still I was not done. Edister (that wonderful amalgamation of sisterly love and editorial slave-drivery) insisted I had to fully explore the energy flow between the Houses as this gives even more depth of meaning to each spread. At this point my brain very nearly exploded. I had to enlist the assistance of Edister to help me first visualise and then understand the energy flows. In fact I have to admit that Edister did a great deal of the heavy lifting on this one.

It was now time to add the spreads. Firstly I needed to introduce the concept of a card spread for divination use. Then I had to explain the spreads I have included as well as showing and explaining an example of each.

Lastly a conclusion, acknowledgements and that annoying bit at the end where I had to talk about me. From the first inkling of an urge to design and create my own divination deck to having finished the first draft has taken around two months.

Now I get to sit and fervently hope there are not too many glaring errors or omissions and nothing more needs to be added. In the meantime I am awarding myself a well earned day off...