Below are the Expanded Rules as found in the Instruction Book, which comes free with every deck of Konxari Cards. In addition, the Instruction Book has Quick Rules, complete Card Index, Symbol Charts, Color Keys, and more.

Do not play Konxari Cards alone. There are many reasons for this, but in general the supernatural should never be taken lightly and each step must proceed with caution. Also, in case an overwhelming connection is made, one where visions from the other side actually materialize, you certainly want witnesses.

Find a location one suspects is haunted, or a place one feels comfortable trying to contact the deceased. Utilizing a place where odd noises have been heard or other curious phenomenon has been observed can make a stronger connection with the cards. Of course, 'blind readings' can often provide interesting results as well. A tabletop is recommended, but floor space is fine. Approximately 20 inches diameter of flat space is needed, though more space may make for a more comfortable reading.

Traditionally, Konxari readings are done at night, under candlelight. Most professional ghost hunters or those who work with the paranormal have a "lights out" rule, as most supernatural activity occurs during peak night hours.

One person is the 'reader', who plays, reads, and interprets the cards. This person is considered to be in charge, as they are channeling messages from the other side.

Anyone else is an observer, though their presence can be just as, if not more important to the reading. It's often that observers find a synchronicity with the events, people, or messages from the other side.

Also, observers are encouraged to utilize tools for recording and documenting any paranormal phenomenon during the reading. This includes (but is not limited to) audio, video, and photographic recording as well as monitoring thermal and electromagnetic fluctuations.

Shuffle cards. Unlike some forms of tarot, where you always want card faces in the same direction, Konxari Cards can and should be completely shuffled. As long as the faces stay down, they can spin and rotate in any way comfortable to you.

Lay out 12 cards, face down, into the diagram as seen below. Make sure the angles of the cards are precise to the diagram, as they may indicate certain directions like a compass when flipped. Set the rest of the cards into a stack, face-down in the left-hand corner.

Retrieve the far north, south, east and west cards (numbers 5, 7, 9 and 11) and discard them back to the bottom of of the stack (13) as seen below. Do not look at these four card faces. Why exactly these are discarded is a mystery, but has been part of the Konxari tradition since its inception. It is said that these cards are retrieved out of respect for the dead, and are not meant to be read by the living. Even after a reading is finished, do not look at these cards. Shuffle them back into the deck.

Begin to slowly flip over the cards one by one with the new order you have as seen below. When flipping each card, keep it in place so that the angle keeps the same shape of the diagrams. In terms of how you flip the card (horizontal or vertical), let it be a natural gesture from where you are sitting.

As you flip each card, try to interpret what the overall message is. Not only does each card represent something individually, but you may see some connections between cards that complete the puzzle.

One of the more common methods for Konxari reading is to ask "Who, What, Where, When, Why, How, The Problem, and The Solution" of the eight cards. These questions can be asked in the order the cards are flipped, but is not strictly adhered to that. It is recommended to flip all the cards first and analyze them all before trying to decipher specific connections.

WHO. As in, "Who am I speaking with?" This card may or may not be a character card, but the answer to who you are connecting to. For example, if a particular card is "Hiding", that may tell you that this spirit is not comfortable with revealing their identity just yet. Also, the letters in the right-hand corner could spell initials or even a full name. Remember, even if the first card doesn't make sense as to "who" this is, the 8 displayed cards are meant to be assessed as a whole.

WHAT. As in, "What are you trying to tell me?" This card is a strong one, and usually is the focus of the overall message. Again, be sure to see how it relates to the other cards, symbols, and letters before determining what the images mean to you.

WHERE. This card often tries to tell you where something is. It could be from where they themselves are standing, or where something happened, or where they want you to look. A location card like "Closet" is pretty specific, but a card like "Shadow" may tell you to look in the shadows.

WHEN. This card usually tells you when something did, is, or will happen. It could be telling you when they died, when they will show you more clues, or when they would like to contact you again. "When" can be vague, but in the context of the other seven cards, you may see a connection that makes sense. A time card here would reveal something specific, but in addition to an "Attic" card, for example, may be telling you "When to go in the attic."

Keep in mind that numbers often found in the lower right hand corner can play into "when" more specifically. For example, if you have a "Night" card, that could mean that something happens only at night, but if you also have cards that reveal a "1" and a "2", that could collectively represent 12 o'clock midnight.

WHY. Most often, this card would reveal why the message is being relayed to you, but it could also possibly be telling you why someone did something they now regret. The cards may not be easily apparent at first, but more experiences will help you read between the lines with future messages.

HOW. This card expands on how events may have happened, are happening, or will happen. For example, the "Karma" card may tell you that, for better or worse, these events are the result of something done in the past that defines their character on the other side. A Victim card like "Age" or "Accident" may tell you how a person died or provide evidence to how someone else was hurt.

THE PROBLEM. It is said that many spirits or ghosts are just souls on the other side living in unrest. They feel they have unfinished business before they pass on to the next stage of an afterlife. Spirits often relay an an issue they have frustration with. For example, a "Lost" and "Honor" card may tell you that they broke a promise when they were among the living, and they are now resentful of that.

THE SOLUTION. Often a card or two will be a clue that will help you, or help them. Konxari was created not only for the living to gain knowledge and assistance from the dead, but vice versa. This can be an opportunity to help such a spirit find resolution, and finally rest in peace. For example, a spirit may want you to deliver a message to someone living they still love.

Whether physical action is taken to cary out such deeds is up to you, so long as you do so by the code, "Harm thy none." Konxari Cards are meant to inspire, improve and influence in positive ways, not negative ones.

Again, these questions (and answers) may or may not be given in the precise order the cards are flipped. As cloudy as the cards may appear to you at first, keep in mind that the spirit(s) trying to communicate with you are restless souls, and they themselves can get confused. Many psychics and mediums describe ghosts as aimlessly inhabiting a place they aren't yet ready to leave, so have patience with them. At the same time, they are smarter than you think, and often find clever ways to contact you. If you don't open your mind and consider all possibilities, you might miss the message altogether.

Also, Because the diagram is set with potential for individual cards to point in any direction, you may want to take note of which way the cards are facing. For example, if you have an arrow symbol on a card that's pointing in a direction or specific place, that's a clear tip to investigate further.

In the the lower left-hand corner of each card, you'll find either a symbol or a color. Depending on the cards displayed, the location you're in, or people present, these symbols or colors may mean something to you. An index of symbols and what they represent is detailed in the Instruction Book, as well as color meanings.

In the bottom right-hand corner of each card, you'll find either a number or a letter. Any number or combination of them may find significance to the message, situation, or people that are present. The letters displayed could spell a name or word(s) that present additional clues.

THE 13 / 9 WILD CARD
After the initial reading of 8 cards, you have the option of reading one more. The top card on the lower left deck is considered the wild card.

This is a special card because of its numerical significance, 13 or 9, depending on how you look at it. It's the 13th card from the top of the deck you originally shuffled, and 13 is considered a superstitious or powerful number in many backgrounds. As well, because of the four cards that were placed under the deck, if used, it's actually the 9th card flipped over. 9 is considered to be the most magical number because of its mathematical anomalies. (Any time you multiply a number by nine, the sum of the individual digits is always 9 again. Always. No other number ever does this.)

This last card can be a final clue, but is only to be viewed if you can't make strong sense of the first 8. Otherwise, best to leave the reading as is, as the wild card can have an adverse effect, clouding the original message. If you have a strong reading with the first 8 cards, do not ruin it by picking up the wild card.

Once you've performed a reading, do not do another in the same room on the same night. If drawn to a particular location, it's best to wait at least one week before doing another reading in the same place.

However, additional readings can be performed throughout the night in other locations, but it's advised to wait at least an hour between them to let the spirits (and the cards) cool down. In the downtime between readings, this is a perfect opportunity to continue other methods of recording supernatural anomalies with a camera, EVP, or even auto-writing.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

A popular variation of using the konxari is to, after shuffling, set up your diagram instantly with your cards facing the proper way for a reading. Here, you place all cards facing up, with the exception of 5, 9, 7, and 11 (as seen in fig. 4). You do not need to place these cards at the bottom of the deck. As long as they stay face down, they can remain in place. Again, do not look at these cards, even after a konxari reading is finished.

This eliminates excessive flipping (and wear and tear on the cards) but readers should still take the time to slowly dispense the cards, pondering possible connections as the cards are revealed.

With this variation of dispensing the cards, the rest of the traditional konxari process is the same.

In the original version of Konxari, folks would place the shuffled deck down and leave the room for 15 minutes, out of respect for the dead. This would let spirits familiarize themselves with the deck in it's current order, and some believed it would allow for supernatural manifestation of which cards end up on top. This step is not necessary, though some konxari purists swear by it.

Another tradition used by purists before a reading is for all present to hold hands around the table and speak a chant in unison. Again, not mandatory, but an option you may consider before going into a reading.

In Ancient Egypt, part of the "Opening of the Mouth" ritual was to invoke spirits by an incantation such as, "If you can hear me in this place, come speak to me. While you are here I will speak and act with good behavior." This type of simple dialogue is a great way to start.

Many chants and variations have been discovered through the years, but the most widely found is:

Calling to those
For whom we can't see
Through the Konxari
Please speak to me

Another popular one is:

Konxari by day
Konxari by night
Open this door
To show me the light

USING A PENDULUM

An interesting procedure (after the initial reading) that some add to the konxari experience is to include radiesthesia over the cards. Radiesthesia is divination through the use of a pendulum or rod.

Virtually any small weighted item suspended on a chain or thread can work as a pendulum. A key on the end of a chain was popular during the Middle Ages. A meaningful family heirloom, like a pendant necklace or a ring tied to the end of a ribbon can work well, too. There are also commercially produced pendula made out of wood, gold, brass, and various crystals. However, connections can be found with any weighted item, especially if it has sentimental value to the reader.

The process is to simply hold the pendulum directly over the center of the card diagram, as seen below. For best results holding the pendulum steady, keep your elbow resting on the edge of the table.

The reader then asks questions out loud, often to reaffirm a message they assume understood. Even when held steadily, the pendulum will at times swing or lean of it's own accord. When this happens, depending on the direction the pendulum leans, further clues may be realized.

Another technique readers will use with a pendulum is to ask "Yes" or "No" questions relating to the cards. The pendulum swinging in a clockwise circle means "Yes," counter-clockwise means "No," and the pendulum swinging back and forth in a straight line means "I don't know" or "I'm not sure."

ADDITIONAL CARD SPREADS

Through the years, many variations of how konxari is used have been found. Several of the more popular ways involve laying the cards out in different diagrams.

Because the cards in these diagrams don't lay at different angles that could potentially point in different directions, results may not be as effective as a traditional Konxari card spread. However, if ever doing a card reading in a place where your surface area doesn't have the length or width needed for the traditional card spread, one of these options may suit that particular reading better.

CROSSING THE BRIDGE

One such alternative card spread is known as "Crossing the Bridge". Here, the reader lays the 12 cards down in the shape of a bridge, symbolizing a ramp to the other side. This is particularly effective if doing a reading where you have a long horizontal surface available. As well, this card spread can be ideal for beginners trying a Konxari reading, as all the cards are facing the reader, letting them interpret the message clearly without have to read any words or symbols that could be facing upside-down.

Here, the reader interprets 8 cards, with the 9/13 wildcard as an option just like the traditional Konxari method. However, the 4 cards not flipped are the middle ones: 5, 6, 7, and 8. These are left not only out of respect for the dead, but are symbolized as a leap of faith, making the connection from one realm to another.

Another aspect of understanding the message with a "Crossing the Bridge" card spread is to analyze the separation of cards from one side to the other. Cards 1-4 represent the world of the living. As the cards read left to right, and leap over the unseen cards (5-8), the cards on the right (9-12) represent the world beyond our own.

It's a helpful way to understand whom and what a message may be referring to when you have the cards split up like this. For example, if you have a "Mother" card on the right side, you know it's referencing a Mother that has passed on into the next phase of existence. If you have a "Mother" card on the left, then they are indicating, or possibly trying to contact a Mother among the living.

STAIRWAY TO THE GODS

While Konxari doesn't endorse any particular faith, some believe in a higher power, and the fundamentals of most religions have uncanny similarities. At the same time, the Konxari does not impose against any religion, but rather can be a tool within one's faith to reach out to a loved one long gone, a saint, an angel, or even a power or deity above and beyond.

Another alternative card spread which can honor such a faith is known as "Stairway to the Gods". In this format, the reader lays the cards in the shape of a tower or pyramid, leaving the final three floating at the top, representing higher power(s). With the ancient Egyptians, this diagram represented the 11 card as the Moon, 12 as the Earth, and 13 as the Sun. Many other faiths have a holy trinity of sorts, and many believe that this ancient set up is where they originated from.

As with all konxari readings, only 8 cards are flipped, leaving the optional 9/13 wild card at the reader's discretion. However, the 4 cards that you leave unseen are the first 4 at the base of the tower. Some folks believe this represents a sacrifice, and a step forward in climbing closer to higher powers on the other side. Others say these first 4 represent the base of the pyramid which is beneath the sands and acts as a buffer between the underworld and the world of the living.

ADDITIONAL TIPS AND TROUBLESHOOTING

Not every symbol or letter is directly related to the card itself. For example, on the "Dusk" card, there is a Judaic symbol. That doesn't necessarily mean that the sunset is a Judaic one. Depending on the rest of the reading, you may find that certain cards displayed may have more emphasis with with a symbol, color, number, or a letter. Rarely would you have a reading where on each card, the face, letter and symbol all have specific meaning.

While the cards are loosely meant to be interpreted in order, keep in mind that linguistics around the world have a much different syntax. In other words, if you translated a sentence from another language to your own, you'd find that the order in which the words are phrased can be very different. The answers to who, what, where, when, why, and how may not be the order you're accustomed to.

For that reason, it's suggested to flip all 8 cards in the diagram first before attempting a read. This way you can get familiar with the cards before piecing the puzzle together.

If anyone present, observers or otherwise, are giving you a hard time or not taking Konxari seriously, stop the session at once. You can always return to a reading at a later time, when everyone present can give it their utmost attention and respect for the dead. Focus and concentration are vital to getting a good reading, and the spirits will be more willing to cooperate.

For a complete index of the Konxari Cards, click HERE!