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The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards [Paperback]

Alejandro Jodorowsky , Marianne Costa
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

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Book Description

November 17, 2009
Filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky’s insights into the Tarot as a spiritual path

• Works with the original Marseille Tarot to reveal the roots of Western wisdom

• Provides the key to the symbolic language of the Tarot’s “nomadic cathedral”

• Transforms a simple divination tool into a vehicle for self-realization and healing

Alejandro Jodorowsky’s profound study of the Tarot, which began in the early 1950s, reveals it to be far more than a simple divination device. The Tarot is first and foremost a powerful instrument of self-knowledge and a representation of the structure of the soul.

The Way of Tarot shows that the entire deck is structured like a temple, or a mandala, which is both an image of the world and a representation of the divine. The authors use the sacred art of the original Marseille Tarot--created during a time of religious tolerance in the 11th century--to reconnect with the roots of the Tarot’s Western esoteric wisdom. They explain that the Tarot is a “nomadic cathedral” whose parts--the 78 cards or “arcana”--should always be viewed with an awareness of the whole structure. This understanding is essential to fully grasp the Tarot’s hermetic symbolism.

The authors explore the secret associations behind the hierarchy of the cards and the correspondences between the suits and energies within human beings. Each description of the Major Arcana includes key word summaries, symbolic meanings, traditional interpretations, and a section where the card speaks for itself. Jodorowsky and Costa then take the art of reading the Tarot to a depth never before possible. Using their work with Tarology, a new psychological approach that uses the symbolism and optical language of the Tarot to create a mirror image of the personality, they offer a powerful tool for self-realization, creativity, and healing.


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The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards + Psychomagic: The Transformative Power of Shamanic Psychotherapy + Universal Tarot of Marseille (English and Spanish Edition)
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A profound work that is both penetrating and fascinating. It offers thought-provoking commentary on the cards from a pair of authors who are among the world's most deeply knowledgeable authorities on the tarot." (Kooch Daniels, co-author of Matrix Meditations, Oct 2009)

"The Way of Tarot is a very impressive work. Whether you agree with the authors conclusions or not, it will make you think outside of the box, and will perhaps be the impetus needed for someone out there in the Tarot world to connect the dots between their thoughts and present them for examination. . . . This is a worthwhile addition to the Tarot library of anyone that wishes to move beyond the divination aspects of the cards into self-realization." (Bonnie Cehovet, certified Tarot Grand Master, Aeclectic Tarot, Oct 2009)

"An excellent all-around guide to both the nuts-and-bolts practical and the spiritual sides of Tarot, The Way of Tarot is filled with invaluable insights for Tarot practitioners of all skill and experience levels." (The Midwest Book Review, Library Bookwatch, Feb 2010)

"The beginning of this book reads like a sophisticated treasure-hunt adventure. It also happens to include a history of tarot cards, which will be invaluable to people who are studying tarot seriously. . . . a reference they can go back to over and over again as they gain experience with the cards." (Anna Jedrziewski, New Age Retailer magazine, Feb 2010)

"The purpose of this book is to show the reader how the tarot can be seen and used in a practical way that is holistic, balanced,and grounded. . . . The Way of Tarot can be a guide along this path." (New Spirit Journal, Vol. 5, No. 12, April 2010)

"The beauty of this deck is that Jodorwsky puts aside the Kabalistic and other Western influences upon the tarot and just studies the primal and bare gestures, numbers, and minute details . . . " (Indras Net, blog: The Sync Whole;@The Heart of Jupiter-Evolve!, Mar 10)

From the Back Cover

TAROT / SPIRITUALITY

Alejandro Jodorowsky’s profound study of the Tarot, which began in the early 1950s, reveals it to be far more than a simple divination system. The Tarot is first and foremost a powerful instrument of self-knowledge and a representation of the structure of the soul.

The Way of Tarot shows that the entire deck is structured like a temple, or a mandala, which is both an image of the world and a representation of the divine. The authors use the sacred art of the original Marseille Tarot--created during a time of religious tolerance in the 11th century--to reconnect with the roots of the Tarot’s Western esoteric wisdom. They explain that the Tarot is a “nomadic cathedral” whose parts--the 78 cards or “arcana”--should always be viewed with an awareness of the whole structure. This understanding is essential to fully grasp the Tarot’s hermetic symbolism.

The authors explore the secret associations behind the hierarchy of the cards and the correspondences between the suits and energies within human beings. Each description of  the Major Arcana includes key word summaries, symbolic meanings, traditional interpretations, and a section where the card speaks for itself. Jodorowsky and Costa then take the art of reading the Tarot to a depth never before possible. Using their work with Tarology, a new psychological approach that uses the symbolism and optical language of the Tarot to create a mirror image of the personality, they offer a powerful tool or self-realization, creativity, and healing.

ALEJANDRO JODOROWSKY is a filmmaker who made the legendary El Topo and The Holy Mountain. He also is a psychotherapist and author of many books on Tarot and spiritualism, including Psychomagic and The Spiritual Journey of Alejandro Jodorowsky. MARIANNE COSTA has worked with Jodorowsky since 1997, coteaching workshops on Tarot and family-tree therapy. She is the author of No Woman’s Land. Both authors live in Paris.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 552 pages
  • Publisher: Destiny Books; Original edition (November 17, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1594772630
  • ISBN-13: 978-1594772634
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.4 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
(14)
4.7 out of 5 stars
This is THE definitive book on the Tarot. S. Burden  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
If I were to not yet own this book while knowing what I do of it, I would buy it - right now. Robert N. Taylor  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 50 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards March 20, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
(Review by RNT's wife, C. A. Taylor)

I firstly purchased the Jodorowsky tarot deck which quickly made it plain to me that I needed to brush up on my numerology, symbols and so forth in order to understand this particular deck, so I was compelled to buy the corresponding book for the price of two cheesecakes. A month into my study of the book, I can say that it has impacted my perceptions beyond what words can describe. This inability to describe "that which is beyond us" is precisely why we are given symbols, colors, all elements in their respective places (etc.) on the cards - and I feel that I moved quickly from "novice" to "humble minor expert" without straining my brain one iota. This book would be sufficient for understanding and employing all decks of cards.

Jodorowsky approaches the wisdom-seeker as a patient teacher who does not strive to sound omniscient but, rather, presents his insights and information logically and with a respectful eye-to-eye style of delivery.

Upon reading The Way of Tarot, the mind opens, receptive as the beak of a birdling, to numbers, orientation, suits, degrees, order, color; the infinite possibilities of card combinations; mind exercises and layouts devoid of that "hocus-pocus" feel. Contrary to the singular negative review, I find this book to be abounding with logic and coherence even in its esoteric obscurities. It seems to make perfect sense once the various pieces are put together. Jodorowsky seems well aware that the more angles from which we study a subject, the greater our understanding:

He addresses the Major Arcana and how the cards correspond to one another in various ways.
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Facinating book on Life and Tarot September 3, 2010
By NYC-Ill
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am not a fan of the Tarot de Marseille, but the text and the logic of this book is fascinating and illuminating. I don't know if the casual Tarot reader would ever appreciate this book, but any Jungian or creative artist working with the collective unconscious would LOVE it.
Highly recommended.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Read December 2, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is probably the most fascinating book on the Tarot of Marsielle that I have ever read. I'm learning more than I ever knew due to the authors deconstructing the symbology via numerology, colors used, earth squares, heaven squares, etc. I've just finished the first 100 pages and have ordered the Tarot of Marsielle deck through the Camoin website. Extremely fascinating! A+.
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44 of 57 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Some good ideas, but flawed by sexist and religious dogma September 28, 2010
By Dreamer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
There are good reviews of this book already, but they all focus on the positives and there are some definite negatives for me. I imagine other new readers may also feel this way as time goes on.

First off, I found Jodorowsky to be rather limited in his ideas of sexuality and he sees the Tarot as 100% heterosexually enforced. He can't help but bring up sex on every page, and yet, offers little beyond what seems to be a very rigid approach to sex, gender, and gender roles in society. For example, he states that a major relationship problem occurs when the "woman of a couple is more masculine and the man more feminine. This will induce a cosmic disorder..." and provides countless examples of how women are 'receptive' and men are 'active'. Basically he comes off as an old man who is set in his conservative ways - maybe not quite a misogynist but definitely there's something there.

He states his reasoning for not using Tarot as an oracle or fortune-telling device is a passage from the Bible that goes on about not being a soothsayer, not practicing divination, etc. That's fine to not believe the Tarot is used for divination, but to quote the Bible as proof? There are countless numbers of quotes that people today would find to be very bad advice, and that particular quote rings of intolerance of the times rather than divine direction. The author tries to justify his religious beliefs quite often, which is unnecessary and frankly not appealing when trying to learn about the Tarot.

However, besides these major shortcomings (the authors dogmatic beliefs get in the way of his full understanding with the Tarot) there is a lot to like about this book.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Nick February 13, 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I suppose, like myself, many have found their way here through Jodorowsky's profound cinematic achievements. I've come to realize these achievements would not have been possible without such iconic, exemplary mirrors as the Major Arcana, and so it seems the end of my journey (as far as Jodorowsky goes) is at the very beginning of Jodorowsky's own journey.

I ordered the Camoin deck from France and, for weeks, carried the Major Arcana everywhere, inside my breast pocket. I kept them well hidden, ashamed of the stigma that I myself had attached to the cards because of their associations with pseudo-spirituals I abhor, who claim Divinity and speculate on the Future, asking questions only of Love. I agree with Jodorowsky, Divination is reserved for con-artists. The cards are a mirror. I remember once, long ago, picking up a friend's Tarot deck and shuffling it in the way we normally shuffle playing cards, by cutting them and using my knuckle and thumb to mix everything together. My friend told me not to, that bending them would ruin the cards and drain their "energy". What I appreciate about Jodorowsky's interpretations are that he never applies these ridiculous metaphysical rules, the cards only contain images that allow us to peer into the depths and see what is there, to know ourselves and be honest with Desire.

Excuse my digression. At work I would find quiet places, dark rooms behind secret doors, and lock myself inside to ask a question and do Reduced Spreads which I'd learned about in Camoin's informational handbook included in the deck box. I would stare at each card, one by one, and, with the most elementary knowledge of their symbolism, attempt to extract their value, each time finding my own value staring back at me.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book...
I have never understood why everyone who has used Tarot thinks they can create a deck (or multiple decks)--Waite is definitely responsible for this, in creating a deck with images... Read more
Published 5 days ago by KatyRose O'Day
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome! Awesome!
Jodorowsky rocks! I've read several books on Tarot but this one truly provides a unique perspective on Tarot. It challenges you to look at the cards as a living language. Read more
Published 7 months ago by David Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars As good as anything I've ever found on the Marseilles Tarot
After many years of dabbling in the Tarot, always with a Coleman-Waite, or Coleman-Waite inspired, deck, I have recently come to the Tarot de Marseilles. Read more
Published 10 months ago by C. Reed
5.0 out of 5 stars great read
Quite informative from different perspectives. Details pairs and the interconnectedness of the cards that can change the meaning of individual cards. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Frances R. Johnson
4.0 out of 5 stars great book
this is a great book, with lots of information to understand the deck of the tarot of Marseille, but I have to be honest and say, I did not have the patience of reading this tick... Read more
Published on April 18, 2011 by Roberta Moura
5.0 out of 5 stars My new favorite book
My favorite director, and maybe person, Alejandro Jodorowsky. He's a madman, a visionary. This is THE definitive book on the Tarot.
Published on April 26, 2010 by S. Burden
5.0 out of 5 stars Filled with invaluable insights for Tarot practitioners of all skill...
Filmmaker and psychotherapist Alejandro Jodorowsky and Tarot workshop teacher Marianne Costa present The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards, a guide to Tarology and... Read more
Published on February 12, 2010 by Midwest Book Review
5.0 out of 5 stars The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher In The Cards by Jodorowsky,...
greetings & happy new year to one & all!

i would like to say that i have been reading tarot professionally for many years, have studied w/many of our greatest teachers... Read more
Published on December 30, 2009 by C. K. Tedesco
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Jorodowsky Tarot Deck
On the uk amazon site, search for 'Jodorowski' in 'All departments'. You will then see Tarot Kit (1 jeu), or maybe it was called 'kit' only.. Anyway, it is a kit of Jodorowski's book and a deck of his restored cards. The price is a little over 15 British pounds.
Jan 9, 2011 by Phoenicia |  See all 5 posts
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