Customer Reviews

Guide to the Pythagorean Tarot: An Interpretation Based on Pythagorean and Alchemical Principles

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The subtitle of this book is "An Interpretation Based on Pythagorean and Alchemical Principles," and as such it gives a broad introduction to the symbols at the root of Western occult iconography.

In his introduction Opsopaus writes that he's written the book for neopagans who are dissatisfied with traditional decks based on the theology and esotericism of the late Renaissance. But that doesn't mean the book isn't useful for traditionalists as well. After all, much of the esoteric though of the Renaissance grew out of Pythagoras' thought and the Greek mystery traditions. I use traditional decks myself, but I reference this book constantly.

In fact, anyone interested in the history of symbols will find a wealth of material in this book. The bibliography in the back is absolutely wonderful. The section on Pythagorean numerology is the best I have read on that subject.

In addition, the cards are beautiful; the symbols are different than a traditional deck, but not so different that you can't recognize immediately which major arcana card you're looking at. The pip cards have no pictures, which is the way the early tarot decks were created. However, their meanings are easily derived by combining the numerological information with the element qualities. Opsopaus does this in his section on the pip cards.

The book starts out with a section on the background of the metaphysical ideas the author deals with, then goes on to sections on the major, then the minor arcana. The fourth section covers divination thoroughly and with some wonderful insights not covered in other books.

I first found out about Opsopaus' tarot writings on his encyclopaedic website, which has the same name as the book. I originally tried printing out the website material (before the book was published), but there was just too much. I've found the book to be a must-have in my Tarot library. It's not only scholarly but also very readable, which makes for a good learning experience.

I am a newcomer to the Tarot, which is probably not the best way to start this book. However, I'm well read in Pythagorean esoterica, and dived straight in. What can I say?

Phenomenal! The logic and symmetry which underlie Pythagoras' school of mysticism, is astounding. And, despite being extremely lucid, the author is clearly a highly qualified and academically rigorous authority on the subject.

Discovering this book honestly feels like stumbling upon some ancient priceless treasure. Perhaps the greatest preSocratic philosopher, Pythagoras treated magic and science as an indestructable whole, and the meaningfulness that emerges is a powerful antidote to our modern schizophrenic view of the world.

I didn't buy the book for the tarot deck. But having extensively researched the Tarot since, I don't think one could get nearer to profoundly insightful divination

John Opsopaus is an incredible scholar & that is what lays the foundation for this magnificent book & deck of Tarot cards. I am a fanatical researcher of the "Arcane Arts" & have learned SO much from Mr. O's website. I have never owned a Tarot deck before & was scarcely interested as I'm as psychic as anybody & just learned to follow my hunches at an early age & I like suprises. However, after reading about each of the Major Arcana on his site, I felt compelled to get the book & deck.

As it turns out, my studies of Alchemy, Astrology, Magick & Mythology all came in handy because this book is SO thorough in it's use of symbology & numerolgy, & synthesizes these cross-culturally. This has a layering effect & I'm certain to learn even more upon subsequent readings of this tome. While there was plenty of dot connecting I could do while I read it- there was still plenty I could nowise make use of as I had no frame of reference.

If you are new to Arcane Arts this is probably NOT the best place for you to start unless you have some amazing gift of Intelligence &/or understanding beccause this IS complex. Mr. O puts the Tarot back in it's original order making one wonder WHY it was EVER changed & why SO many just blindly go along with those changes. Also, this particular Tarot is NOT a game- there is a whole industry of pseudo-occult objects & websites (read: Occult-lite or diet-Occult) that caters to the surfacey, dabblers & thank Goodness for it as that keeps us all safe. This Tarot is in depth citing around 1600 sources.

One can visit John Opsopaus' website & learn in doses before deciding whether or not they're ready to go this deeply into the Tarot but please, whoever you are, wherever you are, start telling anyone you know with any interest in the Tarot that most decks DO not use the original order of the Major Arcana & it's MOST likely that the Tarot has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with the Quaballa. (or howEVER it's spelled.)

A user of traditional Tarot will be quite confused while thumbing through these cards at first. The order of the cards is strange; the images on the cards don't 'fit' our usual understandings. Which is why the creators of this deck include, for our edification, a 470 page book that explains everything they were attempting to achieve with this marvelous set of cards.

They went 'back to the drawing board' in constucting this deck. The iconography corresponds to the Greek pantheon, as well as including alchemical ideas. Also, the order of the cards is based on Pythagorean numerology. So, don't expect to begin using them as soon as you get them; they will require some work -- reading the book and studying the images on the cards. I assure you that the work is well worth the effort.

You will come to treasure this deck for its unique approach and its bold re-statement of traditional concepts. Highly recommended.

The most in depth publication I have found on the Pythagorean teaching and Tarot....
Insightful in many areas of life experiences....
Very thorough!

If one views the the Tarot as a guide to the alchemical process of the psychospiritual evolution of the human being--i.e., individuation, as Jungians might say--this book is a flawless & invaluable guide. The vicissitudes of life become clear markers of where one is on the terra "infirma", one could say, of growing up and out of the projections given us by culture, which some call maya. The mainstream expectation & use of the Tarot is not the approach of this book & deck. I do not denegrate any of the others, which I own and also use, for other purposes.

The cards are beautiful, perhaps the most beautiful I've seen in a while. However the book is scholarly. Somewhere in the middle I'm afraid pragmatism was lost. The book is wonderful for it's insights, but you have to endure footnotes. I'd say it's great to have for deepening your study and understanding of tarot. I read through the descriptions for each card and still wondered "what would this card basically mean in divination?' The scholarly approach almost makes learning this like not being able to see the trees for the forest!
So I wouldn't say it is a very pragmatic approach. I give it four stars for the beautiful cards and the fact that the book will be a great reference for general knowledge...but will I be able to use this as a system? Maybe after a year of intense study?

This book has a ton of information surrounding Pythagorean Numerology. It's based around a deck created by the author during his study of both numerology and tarot. The deck itself isn't my favorite, well drawn and accurate (full of symbolism, all explained in the book), but the real value for me was the pages upon pages of descriptions. Everything is broken down and explained extremely well, from the Major Arcana all the way to the spreads that are taught.

I'm glad I purchased this book, it's a great resource for symbols and commentary on the cards themselves. Not necessarily a must have, but definitely something worth picking up if you're into numerology or alchemy and want to apply it to your tarot readings.

This book has a different point of views from other books with the same theme. It discussed tarot from mathematician perspectives. It also explained minor arcana better, although the card sequence is strange than common ones. Quite a perspective idea which will enhance your tarot reading.

We used to have this deck and never used it. The Major Arcana are completely confused, their order doesn't even resemble the usual numbers. The book is also terribly complicated, confusing, and includes a lot of material that is utterly inessential to reading tarot. I can handle a pretty deep, complicated and intellectual explanatory book. The Gill Tarot's book, for one. This one makes no sense. Perhaps it would work if you were already an alchemist.