I'm new to reading Tarot. I started with Joan Bunning's Learning the Tarot, and while that book is fantastic for getting your toes wet, and remains a useful resource, it didn't offer enough depth for me.
Rachel Pollack's Tarot Wisdom is exactly what I was looking for -- an in-depth look at each card, its history, and its meanings that I will be able to use for years. The thoroughness really helps me get a feel for each of the cards, and the more esoteric info about the Kabbalah, numerology, etc, will be useful as I gain more practice and familiarity with the cards. This is one of those books that you can read and re-read, and get something new with each reading.
For each card, several different versions are shown: Visconti, Marseille, Rider, Golden Dawn Ritual, Egyptian, and Shining Tribe. The comparative approach is very useful as an accompaniment to the discussions of symbology, and helps to show how the cards and their meanings have progressed over time. Also useful are the lists of historical interpretations of the Major Arcana cards, and how those have differed from and/or influenced contemporary meanings.
I also really enjoy the Wisdom Readings that are included throughout the book. Each of the Major Arcana has a reading, as well as one each for the Court Cards, Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. The Wisdom Readings help to reinforce the meanings of the cards, and what those cards signify to me personally. For example, a few of the questions from A Fool Reading are:
How have I been a Fool in my life?
Where in my life do I need to be more Foolish?
Where do I find the Fool outside myself?
One note: the book includes the author's personal experiences with and interpretations of the cards, as well as the more academic information. The personal anecdotes, while interesting, aren't for everyone. I would also have preferred not to have the inclusion and explanations of the author's Shining Tribe cards. However, these two drawbacks don't lessen the overall usefulness of the book.
This book would not be suitable for a beginner who just wants an overview of Tarot, who wants to keep things simple at first and memorize a few keywords for each card. However, for a beginner who wants to immerse themselves in layers of meaning and symbolism for each card, this book is outstanding.
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From the brand
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As the world's oldest and largest independent publisher of books for body, mind, and spirit, Llewellyn is dedicated to bringing our readers the very best in metaphysical books and resources. Since 1901, we've been a source of illumination, instruction, and new perspectives on a wealth of topics, including Paganism and witchcraft, astrology, tarot, wellness, magic and the occult, and the paranormal.
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From the Publisher
From the Author of Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom
Beloved by nearly half a million Tarot enthusiasts, Rachel Pollack’s Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom forever transformed the study of Tarot. This much-anticipated follow-up to Pollack’s classic guidebook will inspire Tarot aficionados and inform a new generation of Tarot students. Enhanced by the author’s personal stories and insights gained over the past three decades, this book on tarot invites you on a fascinating and fun adventure.
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| The New Tarot Handbook | |
| Also by Rachel Pollack: | Renowned author Rachel Pollack has spent more than forty years studying and practicing Tarot. This insightful guide distills her vast knowledge and offers a direct, accessible approach to mastering the cards. |
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All around good hearty book packed with info on the Tarot
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2019
The item itself was in pretty good sjape being a used book. Everything in tacked except for a corner on the front and back page had a crease and folding a little. Inside the book was unmarked and in great shape. As far as the book itself goes this is a 480 page book about the meanings of the 78 tarot cards. Unlikw most books the author discusses the whole deck and not just the major arcana. 251 of the 480 pages of the book are discissing the major arcana. Definitely more depth with the major arcana but that is to be expected since these are bigger life experiences. I've read the whole intro to the book up to the first card meaning and so far the history behind tarot and all her info on it and her personal beliefs are very interesting. Not specific complaints about the reas thus far.
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2019
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 9, 2019
All around good hearty book packed with info on the Tarot
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 9, 2019
The item itself was in pretty good sjape being a used book. Everything in tacked except for a corner on the front and back page had a crease and folding a little. Inside the book was unmarked and in great shape. As far as the book itself goes this is a 480 page book about the meanings of the 78 tarot cards. Unlikw most books the author discusses the whole deck and not just the major arcana. 251 of the 480 pages of the book are discissing the major arcana. Definitely more depth with the major arcana but that is to be expected since these are bigger life experiences. I've read the whole intro to the book up to the first card meaning and so far the history behind tarot and all her info on it and her personal beliefs are very interesting. Not specific complaints about the reas thus far.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 9, 2019
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 27, 2022
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 8, 2010
Top reviews from other countries
JuliaB
A good addition to the Tarot Library
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 2, 2020
Chloe
Well-written, covers history and lots of great spreads, too!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 4, 2014Sil reviews
interesting book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 3, 2020
PAT ILOTT ARTIST
Tarot is always interesting to follow
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 14, 2013
