Parts A, B, and C are separate documents for more efficient use and easier printing.
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BDSM/TAROT can be used either as an oracle or simply as a game or exercise.
BDSM/TAROT was developed basically because I saw a B/D Tarot and thought that although the idea was interesting, it was poorly done. Specifically, the cards did not correspond well to the underlying nature of the Tarot system. My version instead is, to the best of my knowledge, fully compatible with the underlying system, with the exception that the meanings of the Minor Arcana are not directly linkable to astrological signs. Rather, they are examples of BDSM activities which are appropriate WITHIN their particular area. Note that this limitation does not make them invalid indicators, since their meanings do fit within the overall context of the entire system.
The BDSM/TAROT is based on the Egyptian Tarot deck. This is not the most widespread one in usage today. However, this does not really matter. All of the Tarot decks are basically parallel, with some differences in how they deliniate the Major Arcana (a subset of 22 cards). If you are knowledgeable concerning Tarot decks, you might want to use equivalent cards from your own set. Alternatively, simply use the card number as the lookup entry for the reading meanings listed here. This is perfectly acceptable and will not distort any readings.
Of course, rather than looking up cards in the list each time, it is possible to select a suitable deck and write the BDSM meanings on the faces of the cards. For many Tarot decks this is not feasible because they are too colorful and have too little room on them. The Egyptian decks generally do not have this problem. Ideally actually preparing a BDSM/TAROT deck for sale would solve this problem, but I doubt there is sufficient demand to justify it (although it sounds like an interesting project!).
One final note. This is copyrighted material. I do hope that the BDSM/TAROT benefits people. So, I would like to get feedback, both positive and negative, concerning your experience using this BDSM/TAROT. Consider this request the "purchase price" of the material.
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This Tarot deck can be used in two entirely different ways. First, it can be used in a game format in which the participants choose and act out BDSM and related activities. Second, it can be used in a more traditional oracle-consulting format in which the particpants explore their needs and involvement with BDSM. The readings of the second approach can be used to constructively direct and manage BDSM activities -- assuming, of course, you believe that the Tarot can reveal hidden needs and possibilities. (If you don't have such beliefs, then perhaps you really ought to give consulting the oracle a try because it may really surprise you!)
If a game is being played, the cards can be used however you wish as "activity cards." These could be won in poker games (or other games of chance), or simply drawn at random, or given as "instruction cards" from one partner to another, or used as "dare" cards in a group or party, or whatever. For these purposes, check out the Lesser Arcana cards only.
The Card Spread. If the oracle is being consulted, the entire deck of cards is used. They are "read" by being randomly shuffled, cut, and then laid down in a specific pattern. This pattern (called a "card spread") is designed to reveal information to an inquirer's question in a specific way. For example, the sequence of "the past, the present, and the future" is one popular sequence. A series of card spreads are given later in this article.
Each card has a concept behind it. This can be expressed in a variety of ways. For the Major Arcana a number of different expressions of this are given. For the Minor Arcana it is basically given through a single concept statement and one or two examples. Thus, the reading is a merging or linking of the meaning of a certain position in the spread with a meaning in the card. All of the positions in the spread are tested in this way. Reversed Cards. When a card is "reversed" (that is, upside down), its meaning is altered. In this case, it signifies a negative influence. This could mean "fear of" or "denial of" or "rejection of" or an emphasis of the negative qualities of the card rather than the positive. However, be sensitive to the meaning of a card in understanding this. For example, if this were to apply to a Knight card (which itself in this deck represents fear, a negative quality), then this would mean confronting, overcoming, or having no fear, since the negation of a negation is positive. In using the Tarot, the position of the card in the spread in what is important, so I define "reversed" as literally face down on the table. Cards which are placed face up in the spread are "right-side up." Thus, my deck contains cards which face both ways, and as I shuffle it, I shuffle them both ways so they have an good chance to be randomized in both ways. Most Tarot users keep the cards facing the same way, but use the top-to-bottom relationship as the indicator of reversal. Just do whatever works for you.
The Minor Arcana is a set of 56 cards divided into four suits, each composed of 14 cards. Each of the four suits is devoted to one of the fundamental kinds of activities which are commonly found in BDSM -- domination & physical torture, sexual-service & submission, bondage & obedience, and exhibitionism & humiliation. (These are listed as "pairs" because they are "felt" in two different yet complimentary ways by dominants and submissives).
Each card has two "parts" associated with it (except for the four "wildcards" in each suit). One part is an example of an appropriate activity. The other part is a conceptual statement which places that card in relationship to all the other cards in that suit as well as the other cards in the other suits. For example, the Four of Cups gives "limited or private submissive deportment" as an example of "regulating your access to pleasure builds character."
Sexual activities. Note that within each suit there are both "pure" activities as well as ones which are largely sexual but which invoke the theme of that suit. The number of these sexual activities varies from suit to suit corresponding to the level of sexual involvement in each suit's theme: the suit of Scepters (domination and torture) has two, the suit of Swords (bondage & obedience) has three, the suit of Coins (exhibitionism & humiliation) has four, and the suit of Cups (sexual-service & submission) has five.
Public activities. In a similar fashion to sex, some of the tasks require performance in public, as opposed to before an intimate group. These are designated with the label "IN PUBLIC." The term "public" is understood to mean the public at large, and does not include friends or others who might be present at parties. The number of these cards also varies in accord with the nature of the suit: the suit of Scepters (domination and torture) has none, the suit of Cups (sexual-service & submission) has two, the suit of Swords (bondage & obedience) has four, and the suit of Coins (exhibitionism & humiliation) has six.
Range of activities. All the activities in each suit are listed in roughly an ascending order of intensity. Not all kinds of activities (fetishes in particular) are included, but based on participants' proclivities, these can be substituted. The Ten card in EVERY suit identifies a party or group activity, although some of the other cards in each suit also are suitable for (or require) intimate groups. The final four cards in each suit (the Page, the Knight, the Queen, and the King) are "wildcards" which allow selection of a wide range of topically-related activities. However, they all are conceptually similar. The Page indicates something not yet experienced or something new in that subject area. The Knight indicates the slave's greatest fear in that subject area. The Queen and King indicate, respectively, the slave's and Master's choice or greatest desire in that subject area. (Of course, in practice simply because there is a card saying the slave can have a choice doesn't also mean that a price couldn't be exacted for granting that choice, or having the choice controlled in some way by the Master).
The Major Arcana is a set of 22 cards that generally describes personal and life-situational characteristics. Each has a meaning determined by its astrological ruler and its area of application. Taken all together, they should give a small but complete "universe" of possibilities of behaviors and feelings. Note that each card has a NUMBER, a NAME, and an ASTROLOGICAL RULER. To further describe the meaning and action of each card I've listed some likely meanings; note that others can also apply as well: OBJECTS, LOCATION, BODY PARTS, PRINCIPLES, and ACTIONS. I've used more descriptive card names, although the traditional Egyptian ones are given as well in parentheses.
If you are new to the Tarot, at this point you are probably somewhat confused. This is understandable because it is a complex theoretical system of descriptions. Luckily, each "answer" which is provided to any inquiry uses only a few of the symbols. With practice you will gain a basic understanding of the whole system, and this will improve your ability to apply it to any specific inquiry. The Minor Arcana are presented first in Part B, since they are easier to study and understand.
click here to return to Contents1. THE SIMPLEST SPREAD
How To
This spread provides a simple response to a simple question. The pattern is simply two cards, placed left to right. Even a yes/no reply should be placed into a broader context, and that is why there are two cards displayed. The pattern should look like this:
[card-1] [card-2]
Interpretation
The card on the left is the underlying tendency (where it is starting from).
The card on the right is the evolution of the situation (what it is going to).
2. THE HE AND SHE SPREAD
How To
This spread makes it possible to place the viewpoints of both partners into the same context. One pair of cards represents the Master, the other pair the slave. The pattern should look like this:
[card-1] [card-2] [card-3] [card-4]
Interpretation
The pair on the left is the Master's reaction.
The pair on the right is the slave's reaction.
3. THE LINEAR-TIME SPREAD
How To
This spread provides a response in terms of time. The question can be highly specific or more general. The pattern is a single row, although the number of cards placed in it can be selected. What is suggested is a 6 card spread, going from left to right. The pattern should look like this:
[card-1] [card-2] [card-3] [card-4] [card-5] [card-6]
Interpretation
The two cards on the left represent the past.
The two cards in the center represent the present.
The two cards on the right represent the future.
4. THE BODY SPREAD
How To
This spread provides a response in terms of a slave's body. The question can be highly specific or more general. Purely physical questions can be answered as well as more symbolic ones. The pattern is a matrix of two columns by five rows. Place two cards in the top row first, then move down to the second, and so on to the fifth row. The pattern should look like this:
[card-1] [card-2]
[card-3] [card-4]
[card-5] [card-6]
[card-7] [card-8]
[card-9] [card-10]
Interpretation
The top row represents the head (mentality).
The second row represents the heart (emotionality).
The third row represents the genitals (sexuality).
The fourth row represents the skin and body (physicality).
The last row represents the feet (foundation).
5. THE KEY-CARD SPREAD
How To
This spread provides a focal point around which the spread occurs. Pick one other card from the deck which represents as closely as possible the subject or basic idea of your inquiry. The pattern then is pairs of cards placed around the key card in a triangle pattern to represent the response in terms of thoughts, feelings, physical reactions. The pattern should look like this:
..................... [card-1] [card-2]...................
..........................[key-card]................................[card-6] [card-5]....[card-4] [card-3]............
Interpretation
The two cards on the top represent the head (thoughts).
The two cards on the bottom right represent the heart (feelings).
The two cards on the bottom left represent the body (physical performance).
6. THE ACTIVITY/LOCATION SPREAD
How To
This spread provides a pattern of responses specific to the various "activities or locations" in which you will be planning on holding your BDSM activities. Thus, the actual number of cards used can vary. For example, one activity/location could be "in public," another could be entertaining friends in the living room, love-making in the bedroom, and BDSM play in a dungeon. Once again, using pairs of cards for each activity/location is the simplest pattern. Since the number varies depending on your situation, a pattern display here is pointless (besides which, by now you should understand the principle).
Interpretation
Each activity uses two cards for each activity/location in the pattern.
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For these use only the Lesser Arcana. Of course, these are just illustrative of the kinds of activities which could be developed.
EXERCISES -- (for a single couple) Cards can be given to the slave for "practice." They could be drawn at random, or they could be specifically selected and presented in a sealed envelope.
TAKING TURNS GAME -- (A party game for a group of people, one night). One card is randomly selected and given to each slave. Each slave will, in turn, perform the task on the card. For each task it might require the active involvement of others, or they might simply be participants. There are twelve tasks which require performance in public; these may either be replaced in the deck for a redraw, or removed entirely. (Alternatively, they could all be kept apart for drawing for a separate "out on the town" party; if this is done, don't forget to include the Page, Knight, Queen, and King cards of the Coins suit). The turns are determined in this way:
1st, those tasks which require continuous action are immediately begun (for example, dressing or behaving in a specified way).
2nd, the others are determined by rank -- 1s first, then 2s, then 3s, and so on. If there are two with the same number, the lower ranked suit goes first (that is, coins first, then swords, then cups, and finally scepters).
After a round is finished, the remaining cards are used for the next round drawing. Note that by keeping the used cards separate (or noting them down), the game can be continued to the next party, so the entire deck could be used over time.
STEPPING GAME -- (A game for a group of couples, extended play). The idea behind this game is to have a series of sessions with pre-set levels of play. For example, for four sessions the Lesser Arcana could be sorted into: Session 1 - Ace, Two, Three, and Page; Session 2 - Four, Five, Six, and Knight; Session 3 - Seven, Eight, and Nine; and Session 4 - Ten, Queen, and King. At each session each slave draws a card to determine their activity that time. Each session becomes more intense than the one before it, and the last one throws in the two most powerful wild cards along with the most intense party activity.
JUDGEMENT DAY GAME -- (A game for a group of participants, indefinite play). The purpose of this is to identify one slave from a group of slaves who in the opinion of a small group of judges performed better overall than the other slaves. Cards are drawn at random to assign the tasks for each slave. If a slave draws the same card again (except for the wild cards), it is replaced and another one is drawn. A schedule will need to be developed by which the slaves will perform their assigned tasks, and a small group of judges will observe (and optionally participate) and evaluate the performance. Points will be assigned and awarded for satisfactory performance; a zero indictates unsatisfactory performance. Of course, the scores are to be kept entirely secret from the slaves, although perhaps the name of the leading slave could be given out to spur greater effort by the others. Each round could require several days or a week to complete. The slave with the highest score is the winner. This game could be as open-ended as the participants want, and could take a long, long time to finish. The name Judgement Day refers to the idea that perhaps a final date should be set to close out the game and determine the winner.
[Copyright © 1998 by Robert G. Benson]
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