Which Deity Wants To Work With Me? Deity Identification Tarot Spread
Introduction
This tarot divination method shows how to discover the identity of a deity (or similar entity) using tarot divination. It can be useful to:
Pagans & polytheists working with gods or a patron deity.
Western Esotericists (e.g. Golden Dawn initiates) choosing a godform for theurgy.
Astrologers doing birth time rectification (by discerning lunar mansions, then adapting the method for exact degrees).
The general tarot divination method of excluding possibilities is also useful for finding lost objects and pets.
Step 1: List all possible gods
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: The Idenfication Via Follow-Up Questions
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.
Further Reading
Enjoy this article? You might also like my examination of A.E Waite’s original celtic cross spread (as compared to modern versions).
Need to look up tarot card meanings? I have a full series on all 78 RWS tarot cards: Series Introduction | 22 Major Arcana | Suit of Wands | Suit of Cups | Suit of Swords | Suit of Pentacles
I also have a tarot divination FAQ.
Are you a Right Hand Path occultist looking to master the art of tarot divination so that you can serve others? I run a 5 year tarot mentorship programme focused on tarot divination as an occult/magical art. Enrolment is currently open for up to 4 students. Read the prospectus.
