Customer Reviews

The Complete New Tarot

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Some have said that this 'approach' to the Tarot is not worth considering, but I have to disagree, strongly. The Tarot has a complicated, convoluted, and not always esoteric history. The Mantegna-Tarocchi has 50 cards. In fact, most of the early decks bear little resemblance to the decks of today -- certainly the easy 22 Paths, 22 Cards of the Qabalistic attributions isn't seen until modern times (beginning, perhaps with Eliphas Levi).

So, the addition of two cards (Female-Intuition; Male-Truth) is really no big deal, especially since many decks can be shown to include cards like these (often they were the male and female 'questioner' cards, intended to represent the questioner in a reading). The re-numbering of the cards isn't a real problem either, since many of the first decks had no numbers on the cards. Also, others in recent times have suggested that the cards should be re-numbered (such as Crowley, who wanted to move the Emperor and The Star, and Strength and Justice). Re-numbering the cards shouldn't bother anyone who has done an in-depth study of the Tarot.

Give the book a chance. Read over what they have to say. Their linking the Runes to the 24 cards of the Major Arcana has some merit. If you are a Tarot enthusiast with an open mind, you might just learn something new from this book (and deck). If you want a book that just going to re-hash everything you already know, this one isn't it.

I hope this helps,

Neshamah

While I agree with the first review, that much of the authors' theorizing about the "true" tarot feels specious and unlikely-- I think that nonetheless, many of the ideas they put forward are at least worth consideration. They do make so many changes to the standard tarot deck -- that it should be 80 cards, adding two new cards called Truth and Intuition, and then rearranging the order of 10 cards -- they might as well have simply said they're creating a new card divination system, using the tarot as a jumping off point. If you have an open mind for a bit of tarot-theorizing, then you may find this book interesting. If not, then definitely stay away. Also, new-comers to Hermetic philosophy should find the Glossary very informative.

So far the best book on Tarot I have purchased. Not sure why I had to buy 10 other books first, before I heard about this one. I found out about it on a Tarot web site.

The Complete New Tarot, begun by Onno and finished by Rob Docters van Leeuwen, is a living tribute to their sincere beliefs. I honour that intention, and admire the courage of this book. Plus, if you can get the deck, it's a beauty! Peace, dear friends, and many thanks!

The book begins on an incorrect premise and goes downhill from there. The basis for the authors' assertion that there were "traditionally" 80 cards in a Tarot deck is faulty. There are two blank cards because of the constraints of the printing process, not because of any arcane significance. The authors seem unaware of the wealth of knowledge gained through recent Tarot research. They lack historical method, and make strange leaps from the factual to the speculative, often presenting fancy as fact. The result is an indigestible mass of highly dubious "scholarship". It is hard to see how this book ever made it into print.