I was raised in a very conservative middle-class family of Southern Baptists on my mother’s side and Methodists on my father’s. A family member who sincerely thought what she was giving me was a deck of regular playing cards gave me my first Tarot deck. I knew the minute I touched them that they were far more.

This was the beginning of my relationship and fascination with the Tarot that would wax and wane over the decades that followed, yet would never totally be eclipsed. There were periods of time when I read constantly. There were other time spans, sometimes encompassing many months, over which I hardly touched the cards. For the first couple of decades I read rather furtively with only one or two friends, as my family and many of my peers did not understand my fascination with misunderstood occult passions such as Tarot and astrology.

One of the techniques I discovered and found to be most helpful was the study and reading of Tarot cards via side-by-side comparisons of the same card(s) from multiple decks. Looking at the same card from different decks can add valuable nuances of meaning. I named this technique the “Comparative Tarot Method,” and taught using this method for many years. Little did I know then that many long-term readers had happened into a similar practice with multiple decks. From talking to other Tarot teachers now, I realize that I was just the first person to name this technique and base a detailed teaching curriculum upon it.

I discovered the Internet Tarot community in 1996 and conceived the idea of forming an email list to discuss this method in 1998, but with typical Piscean insecurity I convinced myself that it was a “dumb idea” and that “no one else would be interested.” I continued with that mindset and used it as an excuse to not move forward for a little over a year.

One day while getting ready for work, I found myself thinking about a Comparative Tarot e-list again and thought to myself that if I could get some kind of “sign” that I should start such a group, I would. It wasn’t anything stronger than a passing thought that made me smile; it was certainly not a challenge to the Universe, but when I opened my front door to leave for work there was a single perfect Magpie tail feather lying on my porch. For those who have never been gifted with a Magpie tail feather, these feathers are so deeply and darkly iridescent green they appear to be black even on the bird itself unless the sun caresses the feathers at precisely the right angle. They are magnificent.

In many Native American cultures, the Magpie is considered to be a symbol of divination and magic. For someone who was by this time on the shamanic path, it was far too strong a sign for me to ignore. Looking at the shimmering feather as I held it in my hand, I knew what it was telling me to do. The Comparative Tarot e-list was “born” that night in mid-August of 1999, and can be found at http:// www.comparativetarot.com/.

I should add here that it is no longer “my” list. It belongs to all those lovers of Tarot who are able to leave their egos at the door and discuss the cards with respect for all they meet there, be they Christians, Jews, Universalists, Buddhists, Witches, Wiccans or those of other spiritual faiths and/or eclectic or even indefinable paths. It is home to both Tarot beginners, or “newbies” as we lovingly call them on the web, to several Tarot Grand Masters, and to the many who find themselves somewhere in the tremendous learning curve between. Members include deck authors, artists, publishers, reviewers, students, teachers and collectors.

My approach is not a new perspective on old ideas, but is about new ideas and a new approach to a fascinating and growing subject. It is unique by its refusal to cover old ground, and by a desire to teach the reader how to break new ground by getting “out of the box” along with their cards. It maintains that out-of-the-box focus as it teaches new methods, a new mind set, and in general, how to relax and have fun while continuing to learn. This book is not about rules, but is about ways to break them in an effort to stimulate creative thinking and learning. It will dare you to write your own rules and find inspiration in the process.

Reading Tarot Outside the Box will show you new ways of looking at, and relating to, the cards. Alternate angles and approaches will ensure that your cards will never bore you. Those who are continually stimulated and taught to question and explore do not suffer from Tarot “burn out.” Living, learning, even laughing with your cards, will keep you eternally fascinated by the messages and wisdom that can be accessed via the Tarot.

Join me in looking at that Magpie feather: Is it merely black, or is there a shimmering world of color deep within?