A Tarot Spreadsheet - Why Screw Around With Cards?

AlmostAtheist

Hey Guys,

I've gotten into Tarot cards lately. I don't imagine they have any power to predict the future, or that they know anything at all about anything. But I have found that they help me realize things I already know, and they help me organize my thoughts around a given subject. It amounts to having a problem, and explaining it to someone that knows nothing about the subject. By the time you've explained it enough that they know what you're talking about, you realize that you had the answer all along. You needed to talk it out in ways you hadn't tried yet in order to see it. That's what the cards help you do.

But using the cards is cumbersome and slow. You have to deal them, then look up the meanings, then look them up again when you forget what they said. It took me the better part of an hour to do a decent reading. With the spreadsheet I can do it in 15 minutes and it's more fun! Moreover, I can save the readings and review them after awhile to see if I'm actually doing any of the things I intended.

You can find two versions of the sheet here:
http://TheBentinel.com/tarot.xls (Excel 2000, and probably XP)
http://TheBentinel.com/tarot-97.xls (Excel 97)

The spreadsheet asks you to define the problem you're trying to solve. Then you click the Place Cards button. It deals four cards representing What's At Hand (the present), Past Influences (what got you here), Ponder This (perhaps a new angle), and What To Do (how to solve your problem).

Note that when you type out your problem, you are now in editing mode, which means the buttons don't work. You need to hit enter or click off the cell to activate the buttons.

Consider the meaning of each suit, in context of which position the card is dealt to. The suit descriptions are in comments attached to the card; float the mouse over the card to see them. Then read the meaning of the card itself. Try to find a way to apply the text to your problem or situation. Some things just don't apply or are dead wrong. Ignore them, use what you can.

Continue through all four cards. As you go, you can note in the Comments section important points you've picked up. When you're done, read over your original problem statement, then your comments. You can click the Save Reading button to throw the cards and comments over to the SavedReadings sheet. This becomes sort of like a diary and is useful for evaluating your progress. Click the Clear Cards button to get rid of the cards and text to start over.

Let me again mention, this is no different than tossing dice or shaking a magic 8-ball. No claim is made that there is anything magical going on. The point is only to get you to think about things in new ways. As you attempt to apply the cards to your situation, it forces you to more clearly define your problem, dig into areas of your head you haven't investigated, and be honest with yourself.

You can find the entire deck in a hidden sheet called "Deck". If you read over the cards as a group, you'll see that they all just contain good advice. However reading them all at once is exhausting. (It took me about five hours to type them in! I stole the text from a mini-deck of Tarot cards from Barnes and Nobles)

If you experience any technical problems with it, please let me know. If you experience any metaphysical problems with it, you're on your own!

Dave

Balsam

I messed around with them some since leaving. But obscurity of the message reminded me of the bible. So after a while I realized I was just tired of trying to read into something like tarot cards something meaningful. I could do a better job just guessing. LOL I had been fasinated with them as a teen and young adult, then JW came along said they are wicked so I got rid of them.

purplesofa

gonna have to open it at work.........don't have excel at home.......

sounds interesting and fun.....

talesin

But using the cards is cumbersome and slow. You have to deal them, then look up the meanings, then look them up again when you forget what they said. It took me the better part of an hour to do a decent reading. With the spreadsheet I can do it in 15 minutes and it's more fun! Moreover, I can save the readings and review them after awhile to see if I'm actually doing any of the things I intended.

That is part of the process, also the fun! It helps you to focus because you are concentrating on the cards.

Though I enjoy the 'instant' websites for fun, they cannot replace the nuances and personal touch of focussing on an in-person read.

Also, I have a notebook where I write down the date, person and cards in the reading (if that is desired for future reference).

Tarot is fun. Enjoy, AA!

tal

littlerockguy

do you have to have the excel program or can you just use the excel viewer?

AlmostAtheist

>> do you have to have the excel program or
>> can you just use the excel viewer?

I just downloaded the Excel 2003 viewer and it doesn't seem to work with it. You can't click the buttons, so the cards are never dealt.

I might be able to make a version that just deals the cards when the sheet is opened, using only formulas and no macros. Not sure, but it's worth a try if there's interest.

Dave

AlmostAtheist

I also tried it in Open Office -- no luck. It loads the page, but it doesn't support the macros needed to deal the cards.

Dave

littlerockguy

I have office 97 with excel

AlmostAtheist

I have office 97 with excel

The 97 version should work for you. Did it? I have 97 on the ancient computer in the kitchen, that's where I developed the 97 version. It works there, but who knows what's installed on that beast. I know it doesn't work in Office 95, I think they didn't have VB macros then. It won't even load on that one. Dave

littlerockguy

it worked :) I had an office 97 disc; normally just use my computer at work for stuff like word processing, etc.

A Tarot Spreadsheet - Why Screw Around With Cards?

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