Customer Reviews

Tarot for All Seasons: Celebrating the Days & Nights of Power

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The publisher may have been laying it on a little thick when they describe this book as part spellbook and part ritual guide. It does try a bit too hard to be a little of everything. What this book does best is provide a Tarot reading that correspond with each of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year celebrations.

Author Christine Jette (author of Tarot Shadow-Work & Tarot for the Healing Heart) directs her talent for Tarot work towards creating a spread for each of the 8 Wiccan Sabbats as well as spreads for the waxing (Maiden), full (Mother) and waning (Crone) moons, and 3-card spread variations that lend greater depth to these readings as needed.

She provides some background into the moontimes and their associated Maiden, Mother and Crone symbology, and the significance of the 8 Sabbats and corresponding times of the year. For each, Jette includes ritual accoutrements such as, altar decorations, ritual scents, brews, candles, and tarot cards to use as symbols for the celebrations.

Jette also provides readers with samples of all the readings in the book. She also gives a brief introduction to the Tarot in the beginning and a well-written, concise section in the back of the book of upright and reversed card interpretations.

But the main selling point of this text are the individual spreads which are well crafted, incorporating one or more aspects relating to each of the Wheel of the Year or the 3 Esbat (Moon) celebrations. For example, the Imbolc (or Candlemas), February 2, reading explores growth and new beginnings and can be used "to make plans, gain strength, heal, and attain creative inspiration". The Spring Equinox spread is called Metamorphosis, and celebrates the transformation of the cold, barren Winter to the fresh green growth of Spring.

Some of the readings, such as the Mabon (Fall Equinox) spread, have cards that are meant to be read in pairs. For example the Mabon spread provides an inner focus and an outer focus for key areas, mirroring the Fall celebration's theme of balance. Night and day are in balance, so too, are the inner and outer pairings in this spread.

I only wish there was more than one seasonal spread per turning of the wheel. Perhaps the moon phases and other moon spreads could have been explored in their own book, as there is plenty to focus on with that topic alone. But the readings provided by Jette in Tarot for All Seasons are great ways in which to use the Tarot as part of seasonal rites and celebrations. Or, they can just be used without the pomp and ceremony as part of one's own personal divinations throughout the yearly cycle of growth and change.

Recommended for all levels of users from novice to advanced, especially for those interested in Wicca, Witchcraft or seasonal magick.

The real heart of "Tarot for All Seasons" are the wonderful tarot spreads. The author provides one each for the waxing and waning moons. She provides one for each sabbat as well. The spreads tie in excellently with sabbat and esbat themes and are also an excellent way to track personal progress throughout the year. Each spread is well thought out and designed, and Jette provides sample layouts as well. I found the sample readings to be a big help in understanding her thought processes behind each position meaning. But these spreads aren't only for use on holidays. You can use them when similar themes come up at other times of year. Need to know what baggage you can lose? Try the Samhain spread. The spreads are fabulous, both useful and meaningful.

One caveat: this book would be best for those who already have some background in paganism and tarot. The author does have a small appendix devoted to tarot card meanings, but the spreads would probably flow easier for someone with at least one basic tarot book under their belt. Ditto for the Sabbats. She gives a brief explanation of each one but doesn't cover the holiday or its symbolism in any depth. A reader with little background would not get as much from this book, but Jette does recommend other books to help the reader gain more knowledge.

For those who are already somewhat familiar with Wicca/paganism and tarot, this book is great and will add more depth to your religious observances.

I just read this book and I think it is excellent. It gave me some new things to think about regarding some cards, and I've been studying tarot for 18 years. Proof that you never stop learning!

The ritual/spellbook angle is what would make me pause before recommending this to some of my friends, though. I'm Wiccan myself and the connections seemed clear and natural... also very basic. There are already a lot of good books on basic Wicca, but I'd think twice before suggesting this book to a non-Pagan friend of mine. I know a book on herbal medicines that told me to (as an example) give thanks to Jesus and which saint guarded each herb might make me a little uncomfortable.

That's just my little rant. It's a very good book and a good addition to my collection, I would just have preferred more Tarot and less Ritual.

Christine Jetter is gifted with the talent to say so much with her succinct writing. Although I`m new to the Tarot, I`ve already read about a dozen books. This book is so good in explaining the importance and connection to nature cycles. I really was not so conscious about my own feminine connection to the moon before this book,afterwards, I feel more grounded and connected to the relationships of earth and moon cycles. I made a big conscious shift regarding this.
From the beginning I feel an urge to practice the so well explained rituals, the are simple to arrange, but profound in the intention and meaning.
I first read *Tarot Shadow Work*(by the same author), that`s a masterpiece. I found her style so easy to read that I fall in love with her other books. If you are interested in good tarot spreads, buy her books.

This current reading of Christine's book is the second time I have checked it out of the library, and it will be the last, because I realize it needs to be in my personal Tarot library where I can have access to it all the time, and it will be used all through the months and around the wheel of the year. So I am ordering it. She is really a very fine natural writer and her love for both her spiritual path and the Tarot shine through on every page. It has been some years since I read this book the first time, so I have forgotten just how good it is. I love the way she helps me connect my spiritual path with the cards, it's exciting and brings a feeling of wholeness to me. The spreads she has created for the Esbats and Sabbats are wonderful, and her examples as well help make anyone at any level of experience with the cards feel able to read them. Her list of card meanings at the end of the book is insightful and not so lengthy as to leave all the meanings rattling around in your head. Also each seasonal and lunar holiday has added associations if you so choose to enhance the working that way, with the herbs/scents of that holiday, the appropriate candle, the drink (be it wine, apple juice, etc.) What I am amazed and grateful for is Chritine's "less is more" approach, as she manages to bring this all in in around 150 pages! I would recommend this highly (but certainly, be aware it has a Pagan/Wiccan focus to it,) though for someone open minded just learning about the seasonal turnings and their meanings in our lives could be very enlightening whether they are Pagan or not.