rubrics (I like that word), wrecking crews and hugfests

[Robin Landseadel]

On Nov 26, 2009, at 2:25 AM, Carvill, John wrote:

> Yes, there are a couple of provisos here - we can't be sure this  
> 'biographical sketch' is genuine. But it seems so. And even if we  
> accept it as genuine, we still can't say it 'proves' anything. But  
> it seems to suggest an attitude towards Tarot, on Pynchon's part,  
> which is not relentlessly skeptical.

I do tarot cards, other people I know do the I Ching, in certain  
counterculture circles—Pynchon is pretty good at displaying the  
constitute examples of such tribes, getting down the demographic  
particulars—Tarot, I Ching and other modes of divination are in common  
use. You could say a concept like a "Vibeswatcher"— found in certain  
consensus-driven groups— points to a general post-LSD awareness of  
certain cycles of change. Astrology works into that as well. You could  
say all these things are indications of lowering of intellect and  
Pynchon's portraits of these sorts of actors sometimes lands on  
obvious frauds but also often lands on the genuinely gifted. Sortilège  
is one in a long chain of of Scryers who know what to look for.