Customer Reviews

Never Cross a Palm With Silver (The Bible Tarot Series)

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

At first, I thought that this book began a little slowly, over explaining what I thought should be easy to grasp ideas from philosophy and theology, but as I continued reading, I realized that the author was merely using these ideas as stepping stones, which grew larger and larger as the work became more complex. This book presents a new and unique view of how we should consider Tarot cards and their place in the world and our lives. It is a logical philosophy well versed in the history of the tarot, the occult in general, theology of different denominations, culture, and even science. This book is a must have for anyone interested in reading or having a reading done of the Tarot cards, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in religion, philosophy, or the occult. I read this book in one evening, and I will read it again in years to come. This book is a book of many answers, but it is also a book of even more and more complex questions. I am in great anticipation of the next books in this series.

This book was recommended to me and I'm very glad I picked it up. It gives a thorough accounting of Tarot NOT being used for divination but for prodding the unconscious to awaken the sleeper in all of us.

If you are open-minded and are more than a little interested in learning about the 'mysteries' of Christianity, then this is a book which should interest you.

In NEVER CROSS A PALM WITH SILVER, author Jacqueline Lichtenberg looks at the Tarot from the viewpoint of Christianity and the Qabalah (Jewish mystery school), with a little bit of ancient Greek philosophers and Wicca thrown in for good measure. She begins with a discussion of the Biblical prohibition against divination, then describes divination in this connotation as connected with fortunetelling, or predicting the future, which is prohibited because it contradicts the Biblical belief in the free will of man. She further explains that the act of reading Tarot is not predicting the future, but divining the truth of an issue, getting at the subconscious motivations and issues that make us the way we are. The Tarot doesnt predict the future, but rather it shows some possible outcomes of the current situation, based on the questioners choices in life, habits, experiences, etc. The author goes on to discuss such topics as the dangers of using the Tarot, why you might not wish to charge for Tarot readings, and how to find a Tarot reader appropriate for you. All the topics are discussed in a philosophical fashion and are explained at great length, making the authors viewpoint easy to understand. She doesnt say this is how it is, merely this is what I believe, you can make your own decision, which is refreshing. All in all, a very interesting, enlightening and different look at the Tarot as a potent tool for self discovery.

You have to throw away a huge piece of the books prepostions:

The Tarot didn't exist until the 1400s, and anyone who tries to trace it further back is practicing wishful thinking. Also Tarot was not in anyway assoiciated with the Tree Of Life until the works of Eliphas Levi. You can learn this much just browsing around on Amazon and checking out reviews.

Additionally the Tree Of Life was significantly different at the time of the Bible. Planets have been added to it after thier discovery, so as you go back in time, you find fewer spheres on the tree.

That's not to say that Jesus wasn't a rabi, that is something that is still to be resolved historically. But the Kabbala was not something you could study until a certain age, and one had to also be married. He might have known a smattering but he was not a student of that esoterica.

Also one of the things Hebrews of the Bible found offensive (for generations) was the heavy borrowing of ideas and lifestyles from Eastern cultures by the Romans and Egyptians. So you can also discredit whatever Egyptian divination processes Jesus might have heard about (that were not actually Tarot connected) as part of his life.

A thoroughly interesting view of the difference between fortune-telling and divination and why the first is condemned but the second lauded in the Bible. We all should learn a little divination so our path through this world can be more determined.

can't say I agree with a lot of the authors views but it was an interesting read.

I was most impressed with this book. While I don't feel that everyone will agree with every point raised, I do feel that this book does indeed go into territory not often found in contemporary Tarot books.

There is plenty of food for thought here. There are many references, and not just to the Bible, but also to different philosophies and cultures The book was an easy read, with much information; the index and vocabulary were useful, although I felt they could have been more extensive. The 'sneak peek' at the next volume was interesting too.

It is my opinion that the author has done an excellent job in helping to define the differences between 'divination' and 'fortune telling'. Down to earth and practical, this book should be on the shelf for those who are interested in taking Tarot divination beyond a parlor game.