The Tarot of Plotting
The Tarot of Plotting
Copyright © 1996 Althea Sexton
From its obscure origins, the Tarot has developed into a method of divination. It has grown in myth and stature with all sorts of virtues attributed to it. Whether you believe it to be a method of divination or as a way to investigate your subconscious, you can use it as a pre-plotting tool. You don't even need to have a deck of cards. Use that most valuable of writer's tools, your imagination, by looking at tarot books and being inspired by the pictured cards.
A good starting point for using the Tarot as a plotting device is the Celtic Cross layout. It is often suggested that beginners use this layout because of its ease of use. Choose a card from either the major or minor arcana that illustrates your character. The choice to use one or both arcana is up to you. Adapt your normal reading style to this technique. Cut and shuffle the deck three times. Clear your mind of anything but your goal of learning more about your character and conflicts. The rest of the cards are drawn from the top of the deck. Begin to form the spread by referring to the diagram at left.
The first card represents where the querent is at the time of the reading. For the purposes of plot, this is where your protagonist is just before the beginning of the book. Close your eyes and think about your character. Just how does this card represent your protagonist? Enter the space of the card, look around and imagine what your protagonist is doing.
The second card lies across the first and represents what holds the querent where they are. It can be the status quo, fear or responsibility. Every protagonist should have a goal and this card is what is keeping them from going towards it.
The third card represents the 'base of the question' and why it is being asked. All conflicts begin with a single driving force. What question does the protagonist ask themselves as the book opens?
The fourth card represents how the querent has been thinking about the question. Are they marching boldly forward or fighting change with all their might? Consider what your protagonist is doing when the book opens and how they react to the central conflict. You can also think of this card as representing the emotional state of your protagonist.
The fifth card represents the 'recent past'. The recent past can be a few months or up to a year. Use this card to help you develop the back story. Think about influences that are brought to bear on the protagonist and how they reacted.
The sixth card represents the 'near future'. For the purposes of plotting, this will be the duration of the book. We know that conflict is necessary to move the plot forward. Use this card to learn more about how the protagonist acts in relation to the other characters.
The seventh card represents what the querent has to bring to the situation. This is an important card when you are developing the character. Look at the picture and meditate on its symbolism. What does it tell you about your protagonist? Are they active or reactive? light or dark? positive or negative?
The eight card represents what the situation has to offer the querent. Begin to draw the threads together with this card. What goal does your protagonist gain? This may not be the original goal, but one that the protagonist deserves.
The ninth card represents the querent's innermost hopes and/or fears. Now you get to delve into the subconscious and instinctual nature of your protagonist. What does the protagonist hope to gain? What are the stakes in the game? What is the worst thing that can happen to the protagonist?
The tenth card represents the final outcome of the situation, unless deliberately changed. The conflict forces the protagonist to create a new self and reality. They must do this or succumb to the dictates of this card. This card can be considered to represent the worst that can happen to your protagonist. It doesn't have to be total destruction. Apathy and noninvolvement can bring about their own situation.
There are many ways to read and interpret the Tarot. Find a method that feels comfortable to you. The most important thing to remember is to open yourself to the creative forces when you use this method. Walk within the space of the cards and look around to see how the cards connect with each other. Let your imagination go.
Web Resources:
Learning the Tarot - An On-Line Course
