Tarot Readings and Astral Projection

I have been doing  a lot of tarot readings of late. I have done quite well with them. It has made me begin to wonder what a tarot reading really is. What are my assumptions?

• The cards are a perfect representation of the universe.
• Everything that humans can experience exists within the cards.
• The 'map' the tarot provides us is closely related to or analogous to the Tree of Life
• The cards are laid out for the benefit of the reader not the querent...most of the time.
• Deities and the psychic abilities of the tarot reader combine with the willingness of the querent to form the reading.
• The cards that appear provide suitable windows to the pertinent issues. They do not reveal the entire nature of the querent.
• Each card is a starting point, forcing something to conform to a rigid meaning is counterproductive.
• The deck is a complete system. Failing to understand its system is a failing of the reader.
• The oracle is always right. Sometimes we fail in proper interpretation.
• The reader should get the background of a situation correct.
• The outcome is mutable. Outcomes depend upon the actions of the querent, usually.

 Astral Projection

I have been asked to provide some books on astral projection and astral work. I have two recommendations.

The first I haven't recommended here previously.

I recommend Ophiel's work, The Art and Practices of Astral Projection,  because it is simple and to the point. There are very practical exercises for very practical minded people. There isn't a lot of theory. Frankly, this book didn't work for me. It is obvious that it would work for others.

The other book is Mark Stavish's Between the Gates: Lucid Dreaming, Atral Projection and the Body of Light in Western Esotericism. This is much more along the lines of those who work systems and have a penchant for enlightenment. This book is very helpful. It helped me to have more than one lucid dream that has been chronicled in this space.

In the long run, what tipped me over the edge was hard work and certain initiations performed by others. Regardless of that, expect to work. If you're a natural talent or a fractured person, you can do this already. All you may need is refinement. If you're buying a book, you can't do it. That means you'll have to work at it like any other skill.