Customer Reviews

Tao Oracle: An Illuminated New Approach to the I Ching

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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Deal with the here and now effectively with this in-depth divination tool. The ancient Chinese method of acquiring wisdom, the I-Ching, comes alive through the awesome art work of the Tao Oracle by Ma Deva Padma. This deck makes the I-Ching entirely accessible to beginners, and the cards' depth and beauty is sure to captivate even advanced practitioners of divination.

From my dabblings with divinatory devices, I believe I can go out on a limb and say that this is the best new divination tool of the year 2002. Padma is also known for the beautiful Osho Zen Tarot, a Tarot deck designed for those concerned with living fully in the present moment. Besides artwork you can just melt right into, there are a lot of other things going for the Tao Oracle.

First, I don't know how you could just pass this deck up on the shelf without giving it a second, or third look. Its earth-toned, sturdy outer packaging depicts card #27, "The corners of the mouth". The card shows a meditative, serene face with a white flowering tree superimposed over the right side of the face. It denotes the importance of achieving body-mind balance towards maintaining good health.

The cards themselves are named, numbered, and each includes extremely helpful word associations. The card's I-Ching symbol appears in the lower right and special symbols created by Padma are on the lower left to help emphasize the natures at work in the I-Ching symbol.

At the top, a Yin-Yang symbol depicts the colors associated with the hexagram, which again, reinforce the duality of forces at work on the card. Sometimes these forces are in harmony, reinforcing each other, sometimes they conflict, showing challenges to be overcome.

The well-organized accompanying text contains direct, thorough interpretations of the cards and Padma shows us that her talents for visualization are not just through art, but through words as well. There is a detailed interpretation of the card followed by an interpretation of the individual lines of the card's hexagram.

There are some well-crafted spreads at the back of the book, including a one-card daily "pearl of wisdom" reading. Should you want more information on the "pearl", or, on the card in the "insight" position in the other layouts, you can use 3 coins like you would when consulting the traditional I-Ching, in order to create a new hexagram.

This is where it gets a little complicated so be sure to carefully read the section on this, it's not that hard to follow, and it will be worth your while. You will be surprised at the new insights you will obtain when you add this step into your reading.

What I especially like is the Tao Oracle's emphasis on the present moment...not some far-flung future predictions. It focuses readers' attention on the thought patterns, habits or actions they are dealing with presently. The future will come about based on what one is doing today -- that's where attention really needs to be focused.

All in all, the Tao Oracle is a feast for the eyes as well as for the spirit. Though fine for the bright beginner, advanced practitioners of divination will more immediately appreciate the depth of this tool for self-awareness. It's an incredibly beautiful, well-designed divination tool at a very reasonable price.

I have worked with the I-Ching for years and also Tarot. I also love Ma Deva Padma's artwork. So, when I saw this oracle, I just had to get it! The artwork is beautiful and really captures the meanings behind the I-Ching hexagrams. You dont even have to look at the book. But the book adds alot to the reading.. is very well written and easy to understand. A must-buy for anyone who wants a fresh view of the I-Ching.. or for anyone wanting to try a new oracle.

I own several Tarot decks but love this one, by far, the most. The artwork is extratordinary and the information beautifully and clearly written. Several friends have visited and pulled a card or two, left speechless by the appropriateness of the explanation. You are left facing what you most need to know, and ambitious to move through it.
I highly recommend it.

I own and regularly use many different types of oracle cards in my private spiritual practice, as well as in the meditation class I facilitate. For a long time the Zen cards were a favorite until a friend showed me the Tao Oracle. Now this is the set of cards and book I use daily.

Tao Oracle: An Illuminated New Approach to the I Ching
The ancient Chinese book I Ching (or Yi Jing), is usually translated as "The Book of Changes". Another translation could be "The Book of Easiness," because that character "I" has a double meaning. In this new card pack -- Tao Oracle -- based on the ancient Chinese book, this second meaning of 'easy' might be more appropriate I think.

Gone are the arcane, obscure, and somewhat convoluted passages of the original text -- replaced by Ma Deva Padma's totally fresh slant. Easy.

Easy to view, easy to read, and easy to dive into the depths of. That doesn't mean that this pack of cards is for the novice only.
Far from it.

These beautiful and modern cards are windows to multi-layered mysteries of the human psychology and the human world that is our contemporary environment. They can take you as deep as you want to go. But you don't have to be a Taoist scholar to understand it all. The Tao Oracle brings eternal truths to you easily, and in a refreshingly modern way.

Artist Padma has the knack here for putting into images (all original paintings by her, we're told in the accomanying book) what most of us are thinking about and feeling in our everyday lives anyway, though for us sometimes in a jumbled up way. The colorful (and sometimes quite enigmatic) cards take the viewer to an isolated part of this frequently complex life we live in, and "illuminate" it. That's a good word to describe what happens here -- illumination.

From "Youthful Folly", to "Discipline", to "Oppression", the cards are lit up before you, allowed to soak in -- giving one the feeling that the viewer is free to utilize it to explore whatever insights they want relating to their own lives. No Madame Ryu "Love Potion #9" tarot card diviner ramming some truth down your throat here.

To be honest, as a man who has never had the slightest interest really in tarot cards of any kind, Ma Padma's Tao Oracle comes as a real surprising eye-opener to me. I don't know or care anything about divination, fortune telling, throwing coins or sticks, or laying out cards. I just pick up the whole pack, and go through each card separately -- one by one. That's enough for me. More than enough. The pictures are gripping, the text is clear, and the experience is just great. You get the feeling that the creators of the Tao Oracle have the maturity of many real life experiences -- they're not just blowing smoke and tinkling colored glass.

I give Ma Deva Padma a 5 star rating for this treasure, because that's all Amazon allows, but if I could, I'd give her all the stars in the universe that I could lay my hands on -- the Tao Oracle is that good.

I adore these cards. Sitting down and pulling a card spread is one of the most peaceful ways I know to examine where life has you at the current moment and how you feel about it. It is astonishing to me how insightful these cards can be - a great tool for contemplation that can be used over and over again. Stunningly easy, and absolutely beautiful!

I use these cards for readings at the Tao Oracle Blog, TaoOracle.[...]. You can see many of the cards, and understand the insight they offer by viewing some of the readings there: I hope you'll visit.

Angela

This deck was given to me as a gift as I navigated through some big life decisions. I've had it for a few years now and it has never let me down.

The words helpfully guide the reader towards seeing the bigger picture of life. The images are gorgeous paintings by the author that help relay the message of each card.

It's very powerful deck that's easy to use. The new edition is so irresistible that I keep giving it as a gift to friends.

Highly highly recommended!

The Tao Oracle is SO different from any other insight deck that I have ever used. First, it is very clear. Second it always seems to provide that extra little bit of insight that I need whenever I use it. In a way it has become a trusted friend that I go to when I'm looking to understand what's REALLY going on in a given moment. I have given many Tao Oracle sets to friends maybe because mine was a gift to me.Without exception it has become a meaningful companion in their lives as well. So, if you are looking for something that will help to keep you in touch with "the bigger picture" and your "inner truth" then don't hesitate... this is it!

This is a simple and beautiful way to work with the wisdom of I Ching. For years I was pulled to the I Ching but often felt lost when trying to relate the texts to my particular issues. This rework of the Ching makes it easy to grasp and the words feel very personal.I also enjoy how the book's text supports the cards.
The artwork on each card is both subtle and powerful. The images alone, are enough reason to own this deck!
I highly recommend the Tao Oracle for anyone interested in delving into self-enquiry.

The book that comes with the set is a fairly modern take on the I Ching. Gone is the lovely poetry of Lao-Tzu. Gone is the wealth of chinese euphimisms. Gone is the delicate symbology. OK, so there's the fact that most people don't get that stuff, but if they don't why are they interested in I Ching or the Tao?
(now that that is off my chest, you can mull it over)

As for the cards, which is to a large degree what you buy the set for, they are very multicultural in a new age modern genre. There's some Mayan, American Indian, very wide assortment of Asian depictions of people, as well as African Americans. There are a large number of cards with a sort of floral etching that radiate energy but not in an asian fashion. While I love the oversized cards of the deck, the cards should have been surfaced to protect them and make them easier to handle (playing cards and most tarot decks have a plastic surface to aid in handling). As is, they are hard to shuffle or spread out, they clump when attempting either move.

I'll definitely use the book, it covers changing lines for each hexagram succinctly. But given how the cards don't budge when you try to handle them, I'll be throwing coins instead. Speaking of which, her instructions for throwing coins are rather muddled. If you'd like a concise explanation (and a couple of modified methods) I recommend you wiki "I Ching divination"