Customer Reviews

Osho Zen Tarot: The Transcendental Game Of Zen

5 star:		(124)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have collected and read tarot for about 25 years. I have held and studied some of the oldest cards that are in the British Museum. I own over 100 decks. This deck was going to be just part of the collection -- until I read from it. I couldn't believe the insight and how well it fit with today's world and issues. It was like an epiphany. Most of my tarot reading friends have purchansed it after seeing me read from it. A friend who had been trying to read the tarot for years, but said she just couldn't get it, can read from this deck. The wonderful colors and imagery of the deck and the poetic language of the book trigger one's intuition into full gear before realizing it. Readers of other decks can quickly use it as it follows the traditional pattern but in an innovative way. New readers can also begin using it quickly as the deck and book are inspirational. I highly recommend this book/deck combination!

I've never bought into the "divination" description of Tarot cards. Instead I've always thought Tarot cards were better suited as tools to lend insight into current situations. The Osho Zen deck is perfect for this task.

I have been searching for the *perfect* Tarot deck for myself for years. I've always been uncomfortable with the traditional Rider-Waite symbolism, and always thought many decks (Rider-Waite or not) were unattractive. I've never been compelled to pull any of my decks out and consult them more than once in a blue moon. There are a few decks I've found along the way I like- the Connolly deck was an early favorite, with its bright and luminous illustrations and positive descriptions, and an I-Ching deck I was given for Christmas. But no deck I have ever seen or touched has been as beautiful as the Osho Zen.

First and foremost, the illustrations blew me away. I just can't describe how beautiful they are. I went through the entire deck and and spent an hour "ooohhh"ing and "ahhh"ing over the cards. I have never seen anything quite like these cards. Their representations as well as the feel of the cards really makes me want to take the deck out and shuffle through them and read about every card. I have never felt that way about a deck before. It's so inspiring.

Although many people claim its a deck strictly for dealing with the "here and now", I disagree. In the past few days I have done several readings with the deck for insight on my own situation and have found the deck to be very helpful. The cards are *not* vague, but not entirely specific, so it allows the user to apply the meanings to their own lives.

The cost of these cards is slightly higher than most other decks, and the caption describing the deck as a "game" may prevent certain people from buying this deck- it did for me. But what a mistake that was. If you are drawn to the illustrations on the box/cover, purchase this deck. There is something very special about it. It puts other decks to shame.

Thanks, Mom, for getting this for me for my birthday!

I'm a scientist; I don't believe in magick. But this deck should be in everyone's house regardless. Many other tarot decks are geared towards giving you answers about what will happen -- predicting the future. People get them to help make decisions without having to think too hard. Asking this deck questions, on the other hand, tends to immediately focus your thoughts on yourself and who you are, but never really "tells you what to do". I thought it was great and it was exactly what I needed during a personal crisis.

I also love the artwork and the ideas for the cards - simple, bright, happy. My favorite is the VIII (Courage), which shows a flower ringed in light growing out of a stone wall. Every time I turn over this card I smile.

The Osho Zen Tarot is a beautiful and serene, not your usual traditional tarot cards. It speaks to your inner self, tuning in to your most sensitive and passionate self.

I chose three of my favorite cards in this tarot deck:

1. The No-thingness card - totally black card. The 176 page book describes it as - because the nothing is not just nothing-it is all! It is vibrant with all possiblities, etc.....

2, Slowing down - a large tortoise wading through the mud and weeds - we are like the tortoise, we carry our home with us, wherever we go. There is no need to hurry, to let go of expectations you've had about yourself or other people.
The last paragraph of the commentary is the keyword - The essence is at ease. Do whatsoever you are doing, but at the deepest core remain at ease, cool, calm and centered.

Slowing down is so beautifully said-I cannot say it more graciously!

3. Existence - One of the major arcana card that comes after the Fool. A picture of the back of a naked - long hair woman sitting on a lotus leaf of perfection. I love the way the book describes this No.1 Major Arcana card - you are not accidental. Existence needs you. Quoting the last sentence " Once you are clean and clear, you can see tremendous love falling on you in all dimensions."

This is very calming, it speaks directly into your heart and soul and gives "one" peace and serenity within. You will learn to slow down and become one with Zen!

Do you want to have your own personal Zen Master, Guru, or Old Wise Yogi to help you along your Spiritual Growth and in life in general? Sure you do, but you ask yourself. "Where am I going to find a Wise Master in the Heartlands of America, the Deep South, or in the Rural New England?" You can find this Wise Guru deep within, as we all have Wise Spirit Guides, and with the use of these beautiful cards, you can finally harness their voice.

The Osho Zen Tarot card, is not like your traditional Tarot, but something more. Each card has a beautiful image with one single word, and when the cards are lade out in front of you, many of your questions can be answered. These cards are beautiful and good to use during your personal meditation time. I use the Osho Zen Tarot as a great tool for meditation, you know sometimes the mind wonders when we meditate, and this is an excellent way to control the mind. Ask a question as you begin to meditate and pull out one card and meditate on that certain card.

The Osho Zen tarot is good for your own Spiritual Work, or for giving readings to those who are also on a Spiritual Road. But do not confuse this deck with your average Fortune Telling Tool, or Tarot Deck, as this deck will confuse those who seek answers to love, money and material gain. The Osho Zen Tarot is a tool for inner and Spiritual Growth. The Osho Zen tarot is excellent when working with your Spirit Guides, Ancestors or Angel Guides. Place these on your Ancestral Shrine, and when ever you want an answer from your Spirit Guides or Ancestors lay the cards out, and get ready for a bit of enlightment.

As is my usual practice, I'll preface this review with the disclaimer that I am not what you would call a professional practicioner of the tarot. The cards are nothing more than a hobby for me--one that I picked up after becoming intrigued with tarot during my reading of the Illuminatus! trilogy. Since then, I have begun to collect decks a few at a time, but I treat the entire pursuit more as an entertaining hobby than any kind of lifestyle. That being the case, you might think that Osho Zen Tarot would run a little roughshod across my sensibilities. After all, these cards are designed almost specifically for meditative purposes, and I'm not the sort of person who's real likely to put in that sort of time. That's really not the case, I've found. In fact, I'm not even sure that I'd call this a tarot deck--most tarot cards are designed with at least some divinatory capacity in mind, while these focus more on personal reflection and an exploration of the self. The cards have been reworked to a great extent. Both the major arcana and the minors have been rewritten and reordered--I have a hard time even relating this deck and other tarot decks. It is because of this difference that I cannot recommend this deck to beginners--not only is it vastly different from every other set out there, but it's probably also not what you're looking for to begin with. As usual, my recommendation for beginners is to stick with the Rider-Waite or another deck done in the style, but this one's probably not up their alley. The cards themselves are fully illustrated, with keywords printed at the bottom for aid in interpretation. The court cards are indistinguishable from the rest of the cards in the suit, except for the presence of directional arrows at the bottom of the card instead of a number. The trumps are numbered, but don't appear to directly correspond to the majors of other tarot decks. One thing should be noted before purchasing this deck--Osho can rub some people the wrong way. Reading the book, some of what was included for aid in interpretation was useful, and some was a little disturbing--reminiscent more of cult rhetoric than real guidance for life. The ostensible purpose of the deck is to relate Zen and tarot--not being a practitioner of Zen, I can't say how well that's been done. The inclusion of a twenty third trump, however, should be reflective of the tone and attitude of Osho--the twenty third trump is labeled the master, and his picture is plastered all over it. I'm really not sure what to make of this deck, all things told. I am glad that I own it, and I think that any collector of the tarot will definitely want to add this to their stash. I'm not so sure about these cards' utility for divinations, but for personal exploration I expect they should work very well for most people. If you can put up with a little bit of arrogance from Osho, than this deck is probably a good investment for you, with beautiful artwork and an interesting take on the tarot.

The wisdom of Osho contained in this illuminating book and card set transcends the ego's need to look for outer validation, to worship others, and instead will bring you the wisdom to become and integrate the wisdom and enlightenment that the Enlightened or "Awakened" ones have sought to teach humanity.

Osho Zen Tarot teaches us to be fully ALIVE and to live with joy, to interact with others in compassion, to shed the ego's domain of fear that seeks to control all elements that exist outside of us, and to embrace our child-like wonder to experience life completely in the here and now.

The path to freedom is written simply, and the wisdom profoundly applicable once you are open to its teachings. Osho's own words in this breathtaking book states: "It is the capacity not to worship buddhas but to BECOME a buddha, not to follow others, but to develop the awareness within that brings a quality of light and love to all that we do."

I HIGHLY recommend this book not only for the reading you can do, but for the divine and illuminated wisdom it will bring to you so that you may live your life with the peace and joy you deserve.

Barbara Rose, Ph.D. author of Know Yourself: A Woman's Guide to Wholeness, Radiance & Supreme Confidence and Stop Being the String Along: A Relationship Guide to Being THE ONE

Osho speaks in a clear voice both in the books of his teachings and in this special deck. I've been a tarot reader for 20 years and this is the one deck I "Trust" with totality. It has never "lied" to me and is easy to "cleanse" after doing readings for others.

For a nice on-line demo of this deck (great for readings as well!) be sure to visit www.osho.com and look for the Tarot link.

*** UPDATE ***

The more I work with this deck, the more amazed I am by the power and authority of the cards. The spirit of the beloved Master Osho comes through these cards. I have more responses from people I read for than any other deck I have worked with in my years of reading. Other decks are nice, but with the spirit of Osho still being so fresh in the world today, and with his voice being so original and alive (compared to most cards of the past where the authors have already left the realm of spirit), well I now start out every reading with this deck and often only need this deck to amaze and delight the person I am reading for.

I bought this package some-odd years ago as my first Tarot deck and was both delighted and disappointed. The Zen approach to card interpretation makes it very easy to begin readings, but leaves you with only a vague idea of what the combination of cards means. Most people want a hint to help make a decision, not a self-help recommendation. But I agree with the book in that "all answers lie within." Unfortunately, the meanings of many cards are subtle enough that I have to have the book at hand to derive an interpretation and they're all quite large, even for my 'palm-a-basketball' hands, and don't shuffle easily. The artwork is very "transcendental" rather than invoking intense emotions. I'm happy I bought this as my first deck and I use it off and on for issues that bother me, but I'd find a more entertaining deck to give readings with.

These images are stirring to the masculine and feminine mind because they are both beautiful and powerful. The issue is how to use them for practical advice in real life. Tarot, like the I Ching, taps your subconscious for insights. The greater self already knows what it wants. These methods are for getting the messages through to your conscious mind.

There are many variations of Tarot available including the 52-card poker deck. Osho Zen Tarot with 78 cards combines superb images of east and west with powerful commentary. It is the most exciting and compelling of the decks I've seen. When I saw it I wanted it. When I brought it home I used it.

The book that accompanies the cards shows several simple layouts and how to interpret them. You ask your question, draw your cards, and reflect. The images are of nature, people, and eastern and western symbols. The commentaries in the book address the imagery and Zen principle for each card. Examples can be viewed at: http..... under "ZenTarot".