Free Tarot

Free Tarot Dealer

Automatic Easy Free Tarot Dealing Algorithm by Pete & Olaf

Please note the following before proceeding:

This free tarot applet can do some remarkable things with regards to shuffling the cards based upon your personal input. It cannot read the tarot cards. Please bear in mind that Olaf is no longer in prison, (see the history section below for more about this.), and no longer working with me. Olaf was my tarot expert, and while we worked together on some very interesting tarot card shuffling algorithms, we did not succeed in producing tarot readings of any validity at all. Please do not send me e-mail asking what the tarot cards mean or when the program will be able to tell you. If you understand enough about tarot and programming in java, and if you would like to work on this applet so that it can do good readings, please let me know.

Other than that, enjoy!

Welcome, honourable web surfer, to the world of CPU_Tarot. Here we provide an interactive fortune telling program in which you, the user, tell your computer selected bits of information about yourself so that a deck of Tarot cards can be downloaded and shuffled in a unique and personal way, to give you a reading we're sure will rival that of the most adept psychic. While you wait for the program to download, you can read all about the history of the program and how to use it below.

How to use CPU_Tarot

Simple. Easy.

You will be asked for your name. It is best to enter your first and last name only, as this is the usual source of numerological information.
You must pick a colour: it could be your overall favorite colour, or one that tickles your fancy at the moment. This is the equivalent of setting a "mood" or flavour for the reading.
You will be asked to pick a topic for your reading, from a list of the eight most commonly requested topics, or select a general reading.
Cut the cards.
Finally, you will be taken through your reading by simply pressing "enter" or clicking a button to progress to the next little bundle of information on your cards.

You and your computer have a great deal of control over what your cards will be, as well as how they shall be interpreted.

CPU_Tarot today

The current version of the program is a beta only, which means that it doesn't work yet. During testing, the program told one poor guy (the cook at the little mexican restaurant next door, who hates computers...) that many large animals would come to his rescue at an awkward social situation. It also predicted that he would become a pioneer in the field of recycled shoes. It also told a poor bike courier, who we tricked into trying the program, that he would be better off choosing a line of work where he could get a bit of excitement. So for now, no actual interpretation is publicly availiable.

As I have been trying to come to grips with the subtlties and the realities of reading Tarot, I am working on some web pages that explain some of the "dryer" elements of reading Tarot. Click here to learn more about reading Tarot!

CPU_Tarot tomorrow

A card-by-card reading, explaining the position and orientation of each card. A summary fortune at the end of the reading, including any refernces to large animals and awkward social situations (if applicable...). A set of winning lottery numbers, generated using your initial input, the cards you recieve, and your percieved "reaction" to the cards, based on how long you spend reading about each. Also look for a bit more snazzy graphics and animations.

The History of CPU_Tarot

CPU_Tarot is an interesting project based on its international development. Pete Gray, a fledgeling java programmer in Toronto, Canada, creates the program which enables people worldwide to benefit from the work of Olaf Lindstrom, a Swedish mathematician/psychic. Mr. Lindstrom is currently under house arrest in Sri Lanka, for the 'crime' of correctly identifying the wife of an important (nay, VERY important) public official as the mastermind behind a plot to have his fortune subtly re-directed to a numbered swiss bank account.

While Mr. Lindstrom is not allowed to have visitors or to perform readings, he has been allowed limited access to the internet. He met Mr. Gray on a chat forum discussing the possibility of programming psychic attributes on a modern microprocessor. They have collaborated extensively on this project, and as soon as they both feel that the software is ready, reading will be made availiable to the public.

About the images on the cards

The fine folks at U.S. Games Systems, Inc. were kind enough to let me use the images on the cards, which they own, if I put the following credit up with the program:

Illustrations from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford. CT, U.S.A. Copyright 1971 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited. The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
U.S, Games Systems, Inc., is the world's largest publisher and source for tarot decks and related cartomancy products. A catalog and information can be obtained by calling them at 800-544-2537, or you may wish to view their web site at http:\\members.aol.com/usgames/index.htm

Please note the following:

This tarot applet can do some remarkable things with regards to shuffling the cards based upon your personal input. It cannot provide accurate tarot readings. You are free to read the text that appears beneath the automatic tarot dealer, but please bear in mind that Olaf is no longer in prison, no longer working with me, and no longer restricted from chasing girls around scandinavia. Olaf was my tarot expert, and while we worked together on some very interesting card shuffling algorithms, we did not succeed in producing tarot readings of any validity at all. Please do not send me e-mail asking what the cards mean or when the program will be able to tell you. If you understand enough about tarot and programming in java, and if you would like to work on this applet so that it can do good readings, please let me know.