Tarot Outside the Box (Special Topics in Tarot Series) [Paperback]

Valerie Sim (Author)

Book Description

Series: Special Topics in Tarot Series | Publication Date: December 8, 2004

Looking for new ways to expand your understanding of Tarot? Renowned Tarot specialist Valerie Sim helps Tarot enthusiasts step "out of the box" and advance their practice to a new level. Emphasizing a fun, relaxed approach, she teaches how to break rules in order to stimulate creativity. Readers learn many valuable Tarot techniques, including the comparative method, which involves practicing with several decks to fully understand each card and its abundant possibilities for interpretation.

Tarot Outside the Box also offers original spreads, sample readings, and valuable advice for practicing Tarot without querents, engaging in interactive readings (both reader and querent participation), and using Tarot for creative writing.

 

This is a Print-on-Demand title. Please allow an additional 2-3 days for delivery

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Valerie received her first deck of Tarot cards 32 years ago and began studying astrology in 1973. Both have continued to be passions for her over the years and have led to the authorship of her own Tarot and astrological teaching materials, with which she has been an online teacher for the past year and a half.is a Certified Tarot Grand Master (CTGM) and also the Listowner of a popular Tarot email list, Comparative Tarot, populated by over eleven hundred Tarot students, readers, teachers, authors and artists.

Valerie named and was the first to publicly write and teach about the Comparative Tarot Method.  Her book about the Comparative Tarot method and ways to keep Tarot fun and exciting, Tarot Outside the Box, is available now through Llewellyn Publications.  She also wrote the pamphlet, or "little white book," for the recently published Lo Scarabeo Comparative Tarot Deck, is the Editor for both Tarot Reflections and The ATA Quarterly, and is a frequent reviewer for Tarot Passages.

On the shamanic path and active in animal rescue, Valerie has many favorite decks including Animal Wise, Vision Quest, and Shining Tribe.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Exercise One
Our spread will be a simple three-card spread addressing underlying
problems (cards 1 and 2), and a direction or potential for alleviating
those problems (card 3), in response to a client's desire to identify what
the crux of the communication problem is in a familial relationship.

The following cards were drawn:
Card 1: Five of Swords
Card 2: Ten of Wands
Card 3: Page of Cups
Interpret the RW cards according to their positions and synthesize the
combination.

What message or insights are you getting from these cards? Now,
using the ST, select the same cards from this deck and lay them alongside
their RW counterparts. What do these cards tell you that you
might have missed in the previous layout? What further amplification
are you getting with these cards? How are you hearing that “second
voice” with this deck? Is the message stronger? Does it change? Are
you getting reinforcement of the initial message, or is this additional
information that needs to be synthesized?

Five of Swords
The Five of Swords in the RW deck shows a man in possession of three
swords while two lay behind him on the ground.He has a smirk on his
face and appears by expression and posture to be gloating as he looks
at the people in the background. In the ST deck's depiction of this
card, Rachel Pollack has painted a dead Shaman, around which circle
many-feathered vultures. As she mentions in her book, one is tempted
to turn the card around seeking the proper orientation, which seems
slightly elusive from every angle. She has made the card deliberately
disorienting in an effort to shake us out of our fixed Western perspective.
While cultural biases may lead you to concentrate on the dead
body or the vultures themselves, it is important not to miss the nimbus
of light surrounding the head of the Shaman, which signifies his
understanding and self-knowledge. This takes us beyond the usual RW
meanings for this card (self-interest of the personality/body, discord,
possible dishonor) to self-empowerment from the proper confrontation
of a situation and the resultant process of healing in order to
release that inner light.

Problem
This family seems to suffer from competitiveness carried to the extreme,
a sense of one-upmanship and a tendency to gloat over minor victories.
All of these things aggravate communication and make it a real sore
point. This problem will only get bigger if ignored. Things need to be
put back into perspective and healing needs to occur.

Ten ofWands
The Ten of Wands in the RW deck shows a man struggling with ten
heavy wands he is carrying awkwardly as he heads in the direction of
a house in the distance. His back is bowed under the weight of the
wands. In the ST depiction of this card (the Ten of Trees), we see a
Tree of Life bursting forth with energy and signifying the pleasures
and satisfactions of daily life. The abundance and variety of our lives
is accentuated rather than the “burdens” of attaining such joys. I find
in this Ten a message we should heed more often, that of thinking
less of our burdens and more of the blessings they truly represent.
Only through experience, both challenging and rewarding, can you
arrive at consciousness. Perhaps the man in the RW card should
glance up and see just how close the beloved home to which he journeys
really is?

Problem
One or more members of this family feel overburdened. The family
has the health and strength to offer support to the burdened member(
s). All members seem to have suffered from dysfunctional communication
for so long they have missed seeing how close they were in
the past and can be again.

Page of Cups
The RW Page of Cups shows a young girl holding a cup from which a
flying fish protrudes. Common interpretations of this Page would
include: Listen to your emotions and intuitions; don't miss the opportunity
to experience deep feelings and your inner life; don't be afraid
to receive guidance from within. The comparable ST card (Place of
Rivers) is a simple and beautiful depiction of inner peace. An androgynous
figure kneels before a pool of dark water fed by two lighter-colored
streams. Ms. Pollack mentions that we enter this place “simply by
stopping our compulsive outward rush of attention and turning our
awareness inward” (Pollack 2001, 249).

Solution
Get rid of that “neener-neener” approach, that sense of superiority
and preoccupation with who is richer or more successful than whom.
Remember the love that unites you, that bonds you at a root level, but
has been overlooked for so long. And most importantly, remember to
love yourself. Until you have discovered yourself and are truly happy
on a soul level you will not relate well with others, nor will you find
peace within. Look into your cup. It is truly full. See your reflection
and then experience the depths of the liquid within. Therein will you
find inner peace and the love for and communication with others you
misplaced along the way.

Exercise Two
A second example of this method will be a three-card Past-Present-
Future spread using the RW deck and the hauntingly beautiful Legend
deck by Anna-Marie Ferguson. A friend had asked me to read for her
when her sister approached her for advice on her current troubled
relationship. The sister had asked her to give her situation thought,
prayer, and even to seek a confidential second opinion if necessary.
Accordingly, my friend approached me to obtain further insights via
the Tarot on her sister's relationship so that she could better give the
advice her sister sought.

The following cards were drawn:
Card 1 (Past): The Tower
Card 2 (Present): Four of Cups
Card 3 (Future): King of Cups

The Tower
The Tower in the RW deck shows the infamous image of the lightning-
struck tower from which bodies tumble to the earth. In the past
position, does this indicate that the relationship has sustained some
sudden dramatic upheaval or some quick and possibly explosive
change? What else can we learn with the addition of the second deck?
The Legend deck shows us another threatened edifice, but this image
shows us there is a specific reason this tower tumbles. Here we see
Vortigern's Fortress and the pair of legendary dragons that troubled it.
Time and time again Vortigern built his fortress, and repeatedly it
came tumbling down. In that legend we learn that Vortigern chose to
build upon a spot underneath which was a subterranean pool of water
in which slept two dragons. Merlin explained that the destruction of
the fortress was due to the nocturnal battles of the awakened dragons.
Perhaps fortresses (relationships) built on battling dragons can expect
constant strife? Is constant stress and endless strife a good foundation
on which to build your castle?

Past
Foundations have been built on turmoil; relationships need to be built
on solid ground.

Four of Cups
The Four of Cups is often called the apathy card and is commonly
interpreted as boredom and dissatisfaction of an emotional nature. In
the RW deck a self-absorbed man is seated at the foot of a tree and gazing
listlessly at three cups in front of him while completely missing the
cup in the outstretched hand close by. In Legend we see the disenchanted
Knights of the Round Table. They are disgusted, disillusioned,
and uninspired. The tournaments have been fought, the damsels rescued,
and Arthur is away fighting in a distant land. They need something
to motivate them and inspire them anew. In the legend the inspiration
they sought appeared in the appearance of the Grail, symbol of
inspiration and love. Caution is urged here not to let self-imposed apathy
allow you to miss the apparition of your personal Grail. How can
you find love if you see it not?

Present
Hello! This is a wake-up call. You are bored and you know it. You have
emotionally “sold out.” You have the right to real love. Open your
eyes-only then will you not miss it.

King of Cups
The King of Cups (RW) represents the mastery of all that is embodied
by the suit of Cups.As with all Court cards, the appearance of the King
can signify both self and another in a reading. This King encourages
you to acknowledge your own emotions, feelings, and intuitions. Given
the nature of the question, I feel that the King has definite double
meaning here: Only by knowing your own heart fully and by being
ready for an emotion that empowers as it grows can you share such an
emotion with someone else. This card in the Legend deck is illustrated
with the Fisher King, the name given to the various “kings” entrusted
with guardianship of the Holy Grail. In the legend, only via the Fisher
King could one obtain and unlock the mysteries of the Grail.What better
way to meet your King of Cups than by using that King's energy?

Future
Embrace the healing energy of this King. He lives within you. Know
your own heart and you will heal yourself.
As you use this method, you will find that certain decks work better
toget...

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (December 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738702773
• ISBN-13: 978-0738702773
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #529,238 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Think Outside the Box!, December 6, 2004

By 

Mark McElroy "www-madebymark-com" (Jackson, MS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tarot Outside the Box (Special Topics in Tarot Series) (Paperback)

There's never been a Tarot book quite like this one! From the Foreword by Mary K. Greer to the appendix of recommended books, Tarot: Outside the Box is packed with great suggestions for exploring the Tarot in unconventional ways.

Tarot literature is filled with books that "lay down the law," warning readers to shuffle, cut, deal, and interpret the cards in very specific ways. Tarot: Outside the Box offers a welcome, experimental alternative to this pedantic approach. In this book, the only rule is, "Break the rules!"

Got several decks on hand? Why not mix 'em together? Think one card provides an interesting commentary on your situation? Draw that same card from up to forty different decks, compare and contrast the illustrations and interpretations, and see your situation in an entirely new light!

Want something entirely different? How about spreads that combine cards from multiple decks? Have a client who packs four questions into one inquiry? Why not use the multiple cards depicted on each card of the Comparative Tarot - or several cards from several decks - to divine answers to his questions?

Other great techniques provide quick and easy methods for practicing readings for simulated clients, making readings more interactive, and designing your own spreads. Valerie's conversational tone and good examples encourage even the most timid Taroteers to try everything from comparative readings to elemental dignities.

Catching the spirit of comparative reading would be easier if the book contained more card images ... but Valerie (who hints at the difficulty involved in getting some publishers to support her efforts) compensates well with vivid descriptions of the cards we can't see.

As one of Llewellyn's Special Topics in Tarot, this book is positioned to sell to more advanced Tarot students ... but this title has a great deal to offer beginners, too. (If nothing else, it should get them past obsessions with "getting it right" and help them embrace the joy of exploration and experimentation.)

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Starts out well-written and innovative, then goes downhill, February 7, 2005

By 

Psyche (spiralnature.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tarot Outside the Box (Special Topics in Tarot Series) (Paperback)

In <u>Tarot Outside the Box</u> Sim informs the reader up front that it is assumed that one already has a certain familiarity with the Tarot. It is expected that the reader knows the basic meanings of the seventy-eight cards, several spreads and is already comfortable with at least one deck.

Comparative Tarot, a method Sim named, if not invented, is mentioned frequently and forms the basis for most of the methods described in this work. Of the comparative method itself, Sim affirms: `Cards that I had previously found to be relatively "flat" in meaning frequently came alive by this method. Cards that were previously somewhat mute screamed for my attention' (pg 8). Essentially, what Comparative Tarot breaks down to is comparing the cards of a reading with one or more different decks to see the variances in meaning, and interpret the reading thusly. The myriad of variations on the theme one can come up with present the reader with a deeper, or at least different, take on the cards' meanings.

In addition to this, Sim also includes several activities and Tarot spreads which make use of more than one deck on the outset, and several suggestions for exploring the Tarot in uncommon ways.

While the beginning chapters are well-written and innovative, the second of half the book is mostly comprised of spreads, and, after a brief note on creative writing with the Tarot, appendices - including a twenty-eight page story that seems to have absolutely nothing to add to the book itself. After such a promising beginning, I found the book to be ultimately disappointing.

For those stuck in a rut with Tarot, this book may bring fresh activities to help liven up one's exploration of the cards, but ultimately I wouldn't recommend this book, there are others which offer more.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How Many Tarot Techniques Can You Find?, November 21, 2004

By 

Sandra A. Thomson (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tarot Outside the Box (Special Topics in Tarot Series) (Paperback)

Valerie Sim, who is the list mother of one of the largest tarot e-lists on the Internet, has written her first book, in large part about Comparative Tarot, a technique she named. To read Sim's book is the equivalent of attending a graduate seminar with the Dean of the College of Comparative Education. However, "Dean Sim" not only explains the comparative technique, she gives many different examples of the various ways you can use more than one card to expand on, or give more depth to, your tarot readings. She also includes many readings with different spreads and with different decks. The book explores and explains exactly what Sim says in her title, i.e., ideas and exercises to challenge your imagination and to help you continue looking outside the box for different tarot experiences. It offers many techniques to learn and master. If you are unable to get anything new out of this book, draw the Judgement card immediately to help you get out of your own box.