Any sufficiently advanced technology
\nis indistinguishable from magic.
\n~ Arthur C. Clarke<\/p>\n
What is magic? Is it only a science e or technology beyond what a person is aware of?<\/p>\n
I have talked to and read of tarot readers who when studying the cards may enter a state where the representative characters painted on the cards become alive and speak with the reader.<\/p>\n
As we continue our move into technically augmented realities there will be a time in the not too distant future where mystics and fortune tellers use virtual tools to aid them in their profession the same way astrologers began using early personal computers to cast their clients’ charts.<\/p>\n
In The Californian<\/em>‘s, a subchapter of Unfolding: Awakening<\/em> Chapter 7, Drew and Andrea meet in a virtual office used by his sister Candice’s artificially intelligent counterpart to discuss their upcoming trip. On entering the office Drew finds Candice has left a message for him hidden in an arrangement of cards on the conference table.<\/p>\n Andrea describes what it was like:<\/p>\n I clicked on the door\u2019s nameplate. It shot within millimeters of my nose clattering on the floor behind me. \u201cAiyee!\u201d I cried. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Drew cackled, \u201cIt\u2019s a warning. The students built scripts into various objects. That one is a trap to catch newbies. They want to let you know to be careful what you click on. Tap UNDO and it will reattach itself.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, when you get more experience, you can use gestures too. Your Heads Up Display has a camera in it, which among other things, can track the position of your hands.\u201d<\/span> \u201cAh, that\u2019s the Artificial Intelligence\u2019s office. She\u2019s a near duplicate of Candice and is fed as much of Candice\u2019s memories as possible. One day the AI called Candice \u2018C1\u2019, Candice, called the AI \u2018C2\u2019 and that\u2019s all it took for her to get her own office.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIs it safe to go inside?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe AI is offline tonight. I can show you the room, but don\u2019t touch anything.\u201d<\/span> ____<\/p>\n Drew opened the door and I followed. He snorted as soon as we entered.<\/span> Drew pointed at a deck of cards on the glass conference table.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it, someone playing solitaire in the virtual world?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLook again, notice anything different?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an odd pattern?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Tarot,\u201d he said touching the card in the center of the spread with his pointing action.<\/span><\/p>\n The card enlarged and turning to face us, it expanded to fill the vertical limit of my HUD. The caricature of a brightly colored jester laughed, startling me. I flew back in my chair becoming disoriented again.<\/span> \u201cWhat does it mean?\u201d I asked, hoping he wasn\u2019t referring to me.<\/span><\/p>\n ____<\/p>\n He pointed once again. The jester stepped out of the card and sat lazily on the edge of the table, playing with his magic wand. \u201cWhat do I mean? To which of you am I cast?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat would be me,\u201d answered Drew. \u201cHave you a message from your mistress?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Fool stood and glared imperiously, \u201cMy mistress does not change my message for anyone! She has placed me in the center of the spread to represent the one who activates me. You have identified yourself as he, so hear my message! You come to me as one seeking experience. From said experience, you will grow wise\u2026, unfortunately, you will not become wise until you have had the experience. Touch my right shoulder to continue this conversation,\u201d the character stared at Drew then blinked.<\/span> Drew stroked his chin, \u201cCandice has a wicked sense of humor.\u201d<\/span> \u201cJust like me,\u201d he sighed.<\/span><\/p>\n He brightened, explaining, \u201cThe card runs a script; it means nothing, except the interpretation I give it. If this were truly a random spread, I would consider it and ask myself, \u2018What experiences am I seeking\u2019. Tarot basically throws a card at you and asks, \u2018What do I mean to you?\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Drew, I\u2019ve seen some pretty accurate readings. My mother used to play fortune teller at New Year\u2019s Eve parties with a WITCH\u2019S DECK, but quit when things she predicted came true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, the reader can make a difference, Andrea. Candice, for instance, has a very high hit rate. If you look at it and ask yourself, \u2018What does this card means to me?\u2019 that\u2019s one thing. If a person with second sight does it, they will use the aspect the card represents to focus in on your life and pull real information from The Source of All Knowledge,\u201d he looked at me as if I understood.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, \u2026 I see.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNot yet, but you will soon,\u201d.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is as close as we get to meeting the AI in the first two books of Unfolding Series<\/em>.<\/p>\n Cheer up, I promise after we get Unfolding Nexus<\/em> published I’ll write her into the third novel where I see her becoming a permanent part of the series.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n –<\/strong> Jeffrey A. Limpert<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n __________________<\/span><\/p>\n Image Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n 2005-05-08 i like plasma<\/p>\n https:\/\/secure.flickr.com\/photos\/schizoform\/44566722\/<\/p>\n By schizoform<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\n I watched the sign fly back across the room and reattach to the door, \u201cI better just follow you. I wanted to ask what \u2018C2\u2019 stood for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about that,\u201d I promised.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\n Drew chuckled this time, \u201cThe Fool.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\n \u201cWhat does he \u2026 it \u2026 mean?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\n \u201cLike you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n