Customer Reviews

History of the Occult Tarot

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Very impressive book. My initial impression was that this would be another competently researched book on tarot & it's history, I soon realised that it is a lot more. This is one of the most concise histories of modern westen occultism that I have found. Even though it's not broad in scope the leval of detail is impressive. The history of Tarot is thorogh & well presented but the background on Occult orders was unexpected. Groups like the Golden Dawn & the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor are covered with enough detail to merit this being rated as a good general history of Occultism. The Church of Light & Manly Hall are treated with good biographical essays on the central characters. Even though I have been reading about these people & groups for many years I learned much new information here.
This is not a "how to" Tarot guide book but just as it says, a history. It establishes the personalities, places, & groups necessary & goes on to develop the story better than I have see it done elsewhere.

An excellent reference volume. A little too much time is spent on the explanation of Kabbalah and ceremonial magic for my liking - would like to have read even more biography of folk like Madeline Montalban and Rolla Nordic - but this is just a personal quibble. Dummett and Decker (particularly) are to be congratulated on their efforts. This book is a must-have for all serious tarot enthusiasts.

When the tarot deck was invented in Italy in the early 15th century, it was just a game pack of cards. Interpretations of the game changed over the centuries to where the cards are today used for fortune telling and uncovering secret meanings in living. From the cards' use in the Golden Dawn religion to modern times, A History Of The Occult Tarot provides a lively and thorough coverage of the occult tarot from 1870-1970, and should not be missed by any involved in tarot.