The Optical Analogy Method

In this method, the Minors are encountered as if it is enough that the optical, artistic elements of the cards indicate how to interpret the meaning, by analogy. No overlay is needed.

One simply looks at the card and describes what is happening. This then becomes the Optical Analogy for what is relevant to the querent’s situation.

When cards are placed in juxtaposition, the analogy becomes even clearer, as the result of the interactive iconography of two cards. Then the meaning of the Courts or other Minor pips is immediately apparent in how the iconography displays itself and interacts with other cards.

In the Optical Analogy Method, we need no pre-supposed meanings of Court Rank or elements, or suits, although any correspondences are certainly potentially meaningful. The meaning of the card is immediately apparent by what is graphically on the card.

Let’s examine a few cards to see if analyzing how the cards relate is helpful. The querent asks about a work project that is potentially profitable.
The querent is a man.

Past                       Present                    Future

Optical Analogy The optical idiosyncracies are described; these become an analogy for the meaning of the card, as combined with the Context of the Question.

Context of Question The nature of the question molds how the meaning is applied.

By examining the relationships of the cards, we see that it seems synchronistic (or at least interesting) that the King and Queen look at each other; this suggests a couple. In this example, the King is the querent and the Queen is a woman at work who will be helpful. The Four of Coins {reversed} is the project, which has had trouble solidifying.

Optical Analogies may combine with Royal Function. Let’s pretend that the card in the Present position is the Seven of Cups.

Past                        Present                        Future

Optical Analogy The optical idiosyncracies are described; these become an analogy for the meaning of the card, as combined with the Context of the Question.

Context of Question The nature of the question molds how the meaning is applied.

Let’s say that the querent cannot identify any woman involved in the project, thus the Queen-as-Person simply doesn’t resonate. (This is not to say that another woman may appear on the scene!) Yet, in this tableau, the Queen of Cups may better stand for a period of gestation, contemplation.

The reader looks poetically at the card relationships and determines that it is interesting that the Queen is not looking at a person, but 7 overturned cups—thus, the clear Coupling illustrated in the earlier example with the King of Coins is not present here.

Instead, she seems to “pluck” one of the overturned cups, then upright it, and then cap it. Poetically, the string of cards seems to be indicating that the project will initiate more gestation, and that there has been a problem with this, likely because the project has not gotten enough thoughtful attention. In this case, the cards are being read by means of Optical Analogy. The overturned cups along with 1 cup being plucked out and uprighted becomes an analogy for the answer.

Remember! The Tarot is not an exact science. It is not Chemical Engineering. So, any rules may be broken, and there are no strict laws, only guidelines.

Copyright © Paul B. Williams, 2007