Way of the Horse: Equine Archetypes for Self-Discovery - A Book of Exploration and 40 Cards [Paperback]

Linda Kohanov (Author), Kim McElroy (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"To produce a singular work -- like no other in equine literature -- is what Linda and Kim have done with Way of the Horse. This archetypal exploration of the wisdom that horses offer us is totally intriguing."
-- Robert Vavra, author and photographer

About the Author

Linda Kohanov is the founder of Epona Equestrian Services, a collective of riding instructors, educators, and counselors exploring the healing potential of the horse-human bond. She lives near Tucson, Arizona.

Kim McElroy is known for her exquisite equine artwork, which reveals the horse's powerful spiritual and emotional presence. She lives in Kingston, Washington.

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: New World Library (September 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577315138
• ISBN-13: 978-1577315131
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,256 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book and Deck Set Filled With Equine Wisdom, September 11, 2007

By 

Janet Boyer "Author, Blogger, Radio Host" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Way of the Horse: Equine Archetypes for Self-Discovery - A Book of Exploration and 40 Cards (Paperback)

"[Horses] mirror, and help us recover, the beauty, power, and nobility of our own spirit hat elusive Presence so easily lost in the frenzy and disconnection of civilized life. Now that horses are now longer obliged to work in our fields and carry us to war, they're free to do something arguably more important: work on us." - From the book

Three years in the works, the Way of the Horse oracle deck and companion book are a masterful combination of the "archetypal realistic" art of Kim McElroy and profound essays of Linda Kohanov. Ms. Kohanov, a writer and riding instruction specializing in equine-facilitated human development, conveys the exquisite sensitivity of horses--especially in terms of intuition, present-moment awareness and the detection of human emotion--with the oracular messages from the Way of the Horse deck.

A 40-card deck graced with lavish matte illustrations by Ms. McElroy, the Way of the Horse cards captures the spirit of these majestic animals, as well as mythological equines such as Chiron, Pegasus and the Hippomorphic goddess Demeter.

For each of the cards in this deck, the author provides three themes, as well as the Gift and Challenge. Weaving archetypal ideas, Jungian psychology, moving anecdotes and equine wisdom, Ms. Kohanov reminds us to use the Way of the Horse cards for inspiration, insight and healing in the present moment--rather than as fortunetelling devices aimed at giving pat answers or detailing the future.

Because of my lack of familiarity with horses, I was surprised at the extent I resonated with the author's introduction--let alone the cards themselves and the accompanying essays!

Published by New World Library, the deck and 255-page clothbound hardcover companion book comes in a sturdy box--almost too sturdy, in fact! (I had a hard time removing the cloth-bound companion book from its niche, and was wary of tugging the chocolate-hued satin ribbon for fear that I would tear something. Happily, the ribbon intended to ease extraction wasn't too damaged after my tug of war session!)

The cards measure approximately 5 x 3 ½ inches and have their own box for ease of portability.

Although I've never been especially attracted to horses, the Way of the Horse box set sparkled with possibility from the time I laid eyes on the cards. After reading the introduction in the companion book, I realized this was, indeed, a special oracle.

I then felt to place the deck face down, fanning out the cards. I kept "hearing" the number 2, and was guided to select card #2 (I hadn't shuffled the deck).

I smiled when I saw that the them was "Believe", encouraging faith in the unknown and unformed, especially in light of the Authentic Self freed from the defensive scaffolding of the ego.

As I began to read the essay on Card 2, the commentary reminded me of a book I happen to be reading right now--A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. Imagine my surprise when Ms. Kohanov mentions this EXACT book within Card #2's essay!

Needless to say, the synchronistic spiritual truths offered by the author (and the equines!) ministered to my spirit and uplifted my soul.

Whether you raise horses, love to ride them, or adore equine art, you'll no doubt fall in love with the Way of the Horse book and deck. However, even if you're not familiar with horses or don't feel particularly attracted to them (but care about and honor animals), there is a wealth of practical guidance, heart-warming stories and pathways to healing found in both the companion book and the stunning art of Ms. McElroy.

(To see 12 images from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)

Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful cards for reflection, December 27, 2007

By 

L. Finger (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Way of the Horse: Equine Archetypes for Self-Discovery - A Book of Exploration and 40 Cards (Paperback)

I ordered these cards because I was planning to buy a set for a friend who is a horse-lover. This is not a traditional tarot deck, but instead a deck defining different aspects of life and offering a unique lens for looking at these aspects. There isn't any skill involved in using these cards (just pick a card in the morning or lay out 3 if asking a particular question) but they seem to offer insights at first use. The first question I asked this deck involved a relationship and I pulled card 6, "Rivalry" which described two people in a partnership wanting to dominate when it could be a more cordial relationship. I was able to discuss this insight with my partner. This deck lends itself to meditation, and is definitely the kind of deck you can use for deeper insights about a situation. It is not the kind of deck for "yes or no" answers. Also, the explanatory chapters on each card goes for several pages so be prepared to sit and read a while when you pull your card, as there are no quick answers in this deck. The book makes interesting reading on its own. The cards are beautifully drawn and perfect for any horse lover. If you want a deck of "wisdom" cards to look at daily, these are very suitable. There is so much wisdom to be drawn from horses, and with evocative cards such as "Kairos," "Merlin's Spirit," "Keeper of the Mysteries," "Maste of Sadness," and others, these cards and book allow a deeper look at any issue you might be facing. These cards will not tell you what to do. They will give you a new view of your situation with alot of food for thought.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, October 27, 2007

By 

Lori B. Cohen - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Way of the Horse: Equine Archetypes for Self-Discovery - A Book of Exploration and 40 Cards (Paperback)

This work is truly a gift to everyone that will come in contact with it. It is a powerful tool for helping to understand yourself and curcumstances surrounding your life. The words are written with a beauty and grace that is consistent in all of Linda's writing. It is a must have for your library. Lori Cohen