thorhammer said:
Perhaps you could work with it in chunks? Decide before beginning the operation that you'll be only using the pairing, or the counting, or the Four Aces. Taken in isolation, they might become clearer. When you've practiced only one aspect for a while, it should become more concrete in your mind how it fits into the whole.
Seems like it's seven years since I last posted on this thread, so for a bit of fun...
My belief is that the OOTK technique is
designed to be "modular and extensible". (Before these modern buzz words arrived! LOL). At one end of a continuum of techniques lies "conventional" Tarot reading, with it's in-depth intuition, detailed interpretation of card images / symbols, for some SUBSET of [dealt] cards - In the context of specific, pre-defined spread "meanings". At the other end, lies the OOTK, which uses the WHOLE deck, elemental dignities (basis etc.) and brief, deck-independent (significantly!) "meanings" - Derived from rank/suit, GD astrology etc. To remind the user, Crowley conveniently includes these on the cards.
Although not being party to the GD's secrets, it appears these techniques were used to some extent / purpose? Personally, I find it quite easy to make mistakes in card counting etc., so one wonders, re. practicality, in any "live" situation. But now, such problems are remedied by getting a computer to un-erringly do the hard work! With such possibilities, one can (I did!) quite easily explore the extensions mooted e.g. by Paul Hughes-Barlow: Frequently-counted or "un-aspected" cards etc. Whether these ideas were considered / used at the turn of the 19/20th century might be questioned? But these ideas DO seem thoroughly in the spirit Kabbalah and Astrology. Being a "Feline", I have no objection to (enthusiasm for!) CAT -
Computer
Aided
Tarot.
Despite the "high church" image of Ceremonial Magick, I sense Crowley was a pragmatic reader - Maybe something of the (scientific) experimentalist too! He talks of "stories", he suggests one might even "abandon" [OOTK] readings - If they make no sense. Maybe the ultimate in (much needed) flexibility...
For another bit of fun, one might ponder the significance of these in-depth studies of OOTK card strings. Given the right (ceremonial magick) treatment, might these unusual card sequences unlock some "Stargate" to... something? I have not yet gained the motivation / initiation to try... But who knows.
<wibble>