Greater Seattle Astrology * Tarot * Reiki

The Middle Pillar Exercise is a qabalistically based energy ritual. Pulling from the symbolism of the Tree of Life, it aligns the pillar of equilibrium with the center line of the body. By using a combination of energy moving, visualization, and vocalization, we can open and balance the energy centers of the body for greater personal health, increased vital force, and deeper spiritual connection.

Absolute beginners are welcome! No knowledge of qabalistic symbolism or energy work is required. I will teach you everything you need to know.

This Meetup will be held *IN-PERSON* at my office in Burien!

Let's get together for some tarot goodness! We'll get to know each other, learn something, practice reading, and have fun!

Bring your favorite deck or a new one you want to get to know!

My office is at 929 SW 152nd St, on the second floor. Go up the stairs on the right and in the door at the top -- I'm in Office A, the first door on the left.

Please RSVP so I know how many to expect!

The difference between knowing astrology and performing a chart reading for yourself or someone else is being able to find the story in the chart. Without the story, your interpretations sound flat, clichéd, and either barely relevant or, perhaps worse, true for everyone. You know this is the one thing that will make your chart delineations vital and inspiring, but this simple step is frustratingly elusive.

Pulling on my background in stage production and creative writing, I'll teach you my no-nonsense method for looking at the chart and readily identifying the characters, settings, and actions that make up the story of your life. This approach is what allowed me to go from an astrology noob to a professional reader in a surprisingly short time!

The peculiar and shifting images of the astrological decans confound the intellect but capture the imagination. Could they be symbolic ancestors of the modern tarot’s Minor Arcana? Let’s explore this magical lineage and see for ourselves!

Please join us to meet the Faces of the Decans, observe these curious characters, and recognize the familial traits we can trace to their tarot descendants. As we get to know this extended family, what insights and connections will emerge from the depths of time and psyche?

The history of the magical images of the decans is a long and checkered one, with its foundations resting in ancient Egypt as the basis for the solar calendar, depicting deities as well as the mundane aspects of life they were thought to influence. These images, more often surviving in a written format, endured multiple translations and cultural variations until being revived in the late 19th century as a tool for ceremonial magic.

Monthly Format
In this 12-month online series, we’ll investigate three decans and the related tarot pips per month. We’ll meditate on the traditional decanic images, both in written and visual form. Then we’ll conjure the related tarot card, to reconcile these magical scenes with the imagery of contemporary tarot. We'll conclude with a discussion to share experiences and insights.

While we will be taking a primarily experiential approach to the material, prior knowledge of traditional astrology is not essential, but can enhance the meditational experience.

Suggested Reading
We will be drawing inspiration from the following:

• 36 Faces by Austin Coppock (currently out-of-print)
• 36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot by T. Susan Chang
• Telos Tarot of 777 by M.M. Meleen
• The Oracle of Decans with art by Brennen Reece and poems by Brian Wilkins

2025 Schedule
As we will be also aiming to utilize imagery appropriate for the current zodiacal time, we will be following the Sun’s course through the Zodiac during 2025:

• January 4th: Capricorn—2-4 Pentacles
• February 1st: Aquarius—5-7 Swords
• March 1st: Pisces—8-10 Cups
• April 5th: Aries—2-4 Wands
• May 3rd: Taurus—5-7 Pentacles
• June 7th: Gemini—8-10 Swords
• July 5th: Cancer—2-4 Cups
• August 2nd: Leo—5-7 Wands
• September 6th: Virgo—8-10 Pentacles
• October 4th: Libra—2-4 Swords
• November 1st: Scorpio—5-7 Cups
• December 6th: Sagittarius—8-10 Wands

The Zoom links will be visible on the Meetup event page once you have RSVP’d.

A joint venture of the Denver Tarot Geeks and the Greater Seattle Tarot Meetup.

This is a free two-hour workshop. We meet on the first Saturday of the month from 9:30am-11:30am Pacific time. 10:30-12:30pm Mountain, 11:30am-1:30pm Central, 12:30-2:30 Eastern, and 5:30pm-7:30 pm London time.

Images: Thanks to John Allen for creating these AI images based on Austin Coppock's synthesized decan images introduced in his book 36 Faces.

About Your Presenters:

John Michael Allen has been a practitioner and perpetual student (and occasional teacher) of tarot for almost 30 years, employing the cards for divination, personal development, creative work, and magical applications. While being steeped in the esoteric aspects, he has a deep appreciation for the intuitive, and continuously strives to integrate both. He has been a member of Denver Tarot Meetup since 2008 and is currently its organizer, along with DTM’s esoteric sister group, Tarot Geeks.