Customer Reviews

The Esoteric Scene, Cultic Milieu, & Occult Tarot (Cults and Nonconventional Religious Groups)

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This book is a fascinating, disciplined, and relatively sympathetic study of the esoteric subculture during the 1970s in the U.S., which includes an in-depth report on Tarot and Tarotists from a sociocultural viewpoint.

Jorgensen observed and experienced the world of Tarot as an "insider" and describes it in terms used by Tarotists. His findings are based on field research which he conducted during the 1970s when he worked as a professional card reader in a community in southern California (which he calls "the Valley").

He views the world of Tarot as located in a "social scene" which he describes as an esoteric, occult, and cultic milieu, which "consists of common themes (esoteric and occult knowledge) and means (social networks, study groups, cults, sects, movement organizations, confederations, published literature) whereby participants structure and organize their experiences and activities."

The author views Tarot as an organized system of socially created knowledge which is subject to human interpretation and serves as the basis of such human practices as divination. On the other hand, he is unsure that the Tarot can predict specific events in a scientifically observable way or, more generally, that magic "works".

I recommend this book to readers who want to learn about the sociocultural aspects of the esoteric scene from the point of view of an "insider". I also recommend it for those who want to understand better how sociocultural theories may help to explain the popularity and effectiveness of Tarot and how it is used by readers and querents to structure their worlds and give their lives meanings.