Which Deity Wants To Work With Me? Deity Identification Tarot Spread
Who Is This Deity Spread For?
This tarot divination method shows enables you to quickly and easily discover the identity of a deity (or similar entity) using tarot divination. It can be useful for:
Pagans & polytheists working with gods or a patron deity.
Western Esotericists (e.g. theurgists) choosing a godform.
You can also adapt the general technique for other purposes such as:
Birth time rectification for astrologers (by discerning lunar mansions, then adapting the method for exact degrees).
Finding lost objects and pets (YouTube video lesson).
Step 1: Decide on a Pantheon
1.1 Decide the pantheon to explore. I have chosen Egyptian deities as this is used by the famous magical group, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
1.2 List every deity/entity that might want to contact you. Example list of common Egyptian deities (with attributes).
Ra, Isis, Apophis, Osiris (IAO), Horus the Younger, Horus the Elder, Nephthys, Set, Apu, Tum, Tehuti (Hermes), Hathor Maat, Hermes, Horus, Ra, Set, Nephthys, Isis, Osiris. Geb.
Step 2: Decide which card(s) represent which god(s)
Decide which tarot cards represent which deities. In other words, choose correspondences.
What is a correspondence? A correspondence exists when there is some kind of correct analogy, agreement, proportion, or conformity between two things. It is not a connotation, causation or mental association.
For theurgic work, a correspondence does not need to be factually accurate. For example, a Golden Dawn initiate can benefit from studying E. A. Wallis Budge’s books on Ancient Egypt even though they have fallen out of favour with modern scholars.
Example correspondences
| Deity | Correspondence |
|---|---|
| Maat | Libra / Justice |
| Hermes | Magician / Mercury |
| Horus | Sun / Tiphareth |
| Ra | Kether / Aces |
| Set | Mars / Aries |
| Nephthys | Queen of Pentacles |
| Isis | Queen of Cups |
| Osiris | King of Pentacles |
| Geb | Earth suit and the World card |
Note: People may argue about these correspondences. But don’t take it too seriously as this is an example.
Step 3: Exclude deities from the reading
9 card tableau (3×3) of tarot cards
Now lay out a tableau and look for cards which correspond to deities from your list. These deities are to be excluded.
Example: a 3x3 tableau.
Queen of Swords, King of Pentacles, 3 of Disks (Top)
Justice, Ace of Cups, Magician (Middle)
3 of Swords, Devil, World (Lower)
Excluded Deities: Osiris, Hermes (Thoth/Tehuti), Geb, Set, Ra and Maat.
Remaining deities: Isis, Horus and Nephthys
You may further narrow these down, or not, depending on your intuition.
Step 4: Final Deity Idenfication
Once you have a narrowed list (possibly more than one deity), enquire positively about this god or group of gods to gain more detail. For two examples, you can either a) use a custom spread about that deity or deities, or b) use a shadow work spread that shows what would be best for you to work on spiritually. Here is the 4 card shadow work spread.
Each card corresponds to:
Conscious competence: you are good at this.
Unconscious competence: you have mastered this.
Conscious incompetence: you know you need to work on this and are probably already doing so.
Unconscious incompetence: you are not really aware of this, or you have been avoiding it.
You then use your intuition to choose a deity.
Wondering why I have not said to just do a shadow work spread in the first place? The basic answer is to mitigate bias from the lower mind.
Explore The Site Further:
Browse my Full Spread Library
A curated lists of tarot divination spreads that I actually use, including A.E Waite’s original celtic cross spread (as contrasted against modern versions).
RWS Tarot Card Meanings Series:
Master the Rider Waite Smith tarot card meanings (upright and reversed) across life areas, spread positions and paired combinations.
Got questions about tarot divination?
Is tarot divination dangerous? When am I ready to become a professional tarot reader? How do I read reversals? Visit the FAQ for answers to these questions and many more.
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