“Who Are You In The Tarot” by Mary Greer is actually a reprint of “Tarot Constellations” which has been out of print for a long time.  When Weiser Books approached Greer to republish this book, she did an extensive revision of the original.

I never had the original.  So I am not quite sure what the revisions were – but I will say this: if this is the end product – bravo!

I purchased my copy shortly after attending a class on this subject with Mary at SF BATS (San Francisco Bay Area Tarot Symposium).  I was very intrigued by the subject, so I thought I better get the book and study deeper.

Although many of us use tarot for divination and self development, this book allows us to look at our personalities through the lens of tarot.  By combining simple numerology  with the cards, you end up with a clear and informative snapshot into your potential, strengths, weaknesses and more.  This gives the reader a road map into their destiny and a powerful tool for self understanding.

Let me show you how it works with my own birthdate (June 11, 1965).  You add up your date as follows:

6

11

1965

_____

1982

Then add up the end results like this:  1 + 9 + 8 + 2 = 20

Now you take that number and find the card that corresponds to that number.  In my case, it would be the Judgment card (part of the 2/11/10 Constellation).  This would be my Personality card.  Greer provides a detailed  description of how this plays out in the personal makeup.  For example, Judgment’s theme is Cosmic Understanding and Spiritual Truth. The Judgment personality is “aware of how they can transcend personal limitations and they seek to transform and take control of things around them”.  This card also has a connection to Pluto and the Moon, which creates a highly psychic aspect as well.

Each card also has a “Hidden Factor” card which acts as a “teacher”.  In my case, it was the Justice card (very interesting as themes of justice often figure prominently in my life).  My combination of cards indicates “a devotion to world harmony” and “psychic ability”.  Intriguing.

This follows with a list of famous people who have the same personal cards which was fun to look through.  I loved seeing who shared similar traits (lots of presidents in my case!).

This is the main meat of the book but there is so much more here: name cards (a cool way to discover the significance of your name and how it affects your personality), techniques for working with the cards (I loved the dialoguing), Soul cards, yearly cards, minors (lessons and opportunities) and more.

Greer even takes time to address the 8-11 controversy. (Strength and Justice were switched in the Rider Waite deck.  The Marseilles deck had Justice as 8 and Strength as 11 originally.)

One thing I would like to add is this: her method of adding up your birthdate is different from other methods.  For example, I have also seen in some texts that you should add it up like this: 6 +1 + 1 + 1 + 9 + 6 + 5 = 29.  If I reduce that, I come to 11 instead of 20 for my Personality card – and this would change the outcome and I would end up with the High Priestess instead of Judgment for my Personality Card.  I only point that out to show that there are other schools of thought regarding the numerology part.  For this book, I am sticking with her method and interpretation, which seemed to work out fine.

This book is a great addition to any tarot collection and I had lots of fun discovering information about myself and my loved ones.  I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in learning how to use the cards to uncover more about their personality.

Blessings!

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady.com

I’ll sheepishly admit that I had some reservations about the Gaian Tarot.  Rumor was that it was very feminine ala The Motherpeace Deck. I’m actually kind of masculine in nature so that concerned me. Would I be able to relate to this deck?

I also heard that some of the traditional names for the cards had been changed.  And since I consider myself a traditionalist that troubled me as well.  Would the changes water the deck down?

It was with great apprehension that I approached this deck.  I worried that I would not be able to connect at all.  (Funny how hearsay makes you uber-cautious about something as innocuous as a tarot deck.)

I’m happy to report that those assumptions were delightfully misguided.

The author, Joanna Powell Colbert, originally self published the deck – I am writing here about the recently mass published version from Llewellyn.  This new version comes in a bright yellow box with the Sun card on the front.  The deck consists of 78 cards and comes with a companion book, “Journey Through The Gaian Tarot”.

The book is well written, very meaty with a lot of information to absorb.  The author starts out talking about how the deck came into being and how to use the deck and book. She then gives the meaning for each card but also adds an interpretation for the “shadow side” of the card (one could use this for reversals or for an overall negatively slanted reading).  The interpretations provided are not cut and dried “predictions” – these are focused more on the energy surrounding the situation and has a more empowering and therapeutic vibration to it which allows the querent to have a feeling of being in control of their destiny.

She then provides meanings behind the symbols on each card, which adds further depth to readings.  In the Majors, Powell Colbert offers “Journal Questions” which I found to be extremely valuable. This allowed me to use the deck for internal processing which made the Gaian Tarot a powerful tool for healing or therapy.  All cards came with an affirmation.  I happen to love affirmations so this was an added plus.

Although the overall tone of the deck seemed to be positive, the author did not shy away from the negative. That being said, the interpretations were always geared towards facing the dark side and healing it.  This makes the deck appropriate for anyone, especially those who may have a negative view of the tarot.

The deck itself is beautiful.  It’s colorful and stunning with clear pictures and symbols.  Animals and nature figure prominently in every card.  The people look realistic and expressive (the author used real people she knew as some of the models – you can see her granddaughter in the Child of Water – and the author herself in the 9 of Earth). Each card evokes the feeling that the author intended – you can see the despair in the face of the figure in the 9 of Air and the expression of sheer joy in the Sun.  To illustrate another example, the Two of Water (in a traditional deck this is the 2 of Cups) shows a woman embracing a dog with an expression of happiness.  The interpretation provided is: “You have a caring, compassionate response to another.  You choose to begin or continue a relationship based on a deep heart connection.”  Wow.  If you are new to tarot this deck would be a great starter as the interpretations are so clearly depicted on the cards that you can really “feel” the meaning behind it.

Two of Water

Although the names have been changed, it did not hamper my ability to read with these cards.  For example, in the Major Arcana, The Devil became Bindweed and The Tower became Lightning.  This still keeps in line with the traditional meanings of bondage and sudden change – so the deck lost nothing with those differences.

Bindweed

Lightning

In the Minors we have Water, Earth, Fire and Air instead of Cups, Pentacles, Wands and Swords.  Court cards became Children, Explorers, Guardians and Elders.  This did change the meaning slightly and I only say slightly because the traditional Courts are Pages, Knights, Queens and Kings – all nobility.  In all actuality, the Gaian figures are more relatable to modern life.  Also, Powell Colbert mixes it up further by adding two males and two females to each category.  In a traditional deck, Queens are always female and Kings are always male – this shifts the vibration and reminds us that we all have male and female energy within us.  I really liked that – especially because as I stated above, I’m actually a pretty “masculine” female and never identified whole heartedly with typical female imagery.

The cards are slightly larger than standard decks but not hard to handle. I have very small hands and they fit very nicely.  The backs have an image of a wreath with a starlit sky behind it.  Gorgeous.

The back of the Gaian Tarot cards

At the end of the book, the author offers suggestions for working with the cards as well as spreads by tarot notables such as James Wells, Beth Owl’s Daughter and Carolyn Cushing.  The spreads worked great and I think I found a few that I may add to my tarot tool box.

The overall tone of the Gaian is “healing” rather than predicting.  The earthy images, the sensitive interpretations, and even the spreads lend to healing your future and past rather than simply divining what may come.

As an example, I recently have been working through a situation and decided to consult the Gaian for guidance. The card I picked was the 10 of Fire.  The interpretation said: “Does it feel like your dreams have gone up in smoke?  Are you overwhelmed or burdened by loss?  Remember that new seedlings grow and flourish in the ashes of a spent fire.  You must release your passions and your energies, whether or not you want to, whether or not you think you’re ready.  It’s time.”  This was very profound to my situation and gave me a peaceful feeling (and the impetus to do a burning ceremony).  It was the advice I needed to hear (not necessarily what I wanted to hear).

My only complaint with this deck is the card stock.  I wish it were made on more sturdy material.  The deck feels a wee bit fragile and it may not be one that I use on a regular basis because I fear it would be wrecked quickly in the hands of an aggressive shuffler.  (I am a high volume tarot reader so this poses a problem and makes unsuitable for a workhorse deck.)

I will need to be gentle with this deck. But considering the heart centered and sensitive nature of the Gaian tarot, perhaps it makes sense that I treat it with tenderness.  The message is to “handle with care” – a message that we need to also apply to ourselves, each other and the earth.

I give this deck Two Swords Up!

Blessings,

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady.com

http://www.tarotmentor.com 

When I was a child, I had a destructive streak.  I mainly took it out on the Magic 8 Ball.  In fact, I was determined to smash that Magic 8 Ball open so I could get the little cube out and see what the liquid was made of.  Needless to say, I never succeeded.  Either that Magic 8 Ball was really well made or I was simply a wimp.

Luckily, I outgrew this tendency and no longer feel a need to smash toys.  Good thing I did because the Mystic Pyramid (US Games ISBN-10: 1572816902) landed on my desk and I was once again staring a novelty oracle in the face.

Even if I wanted to smash this thing, there is no liquid center nor any sort of little magic cube with snappy predictive sayings inside.  Instead, this pyramid shaped plastic toy is well….simply a pyramid shaped plastic toy.  It’s not fancy nor mysterious looking.  (Hence, it does not tempt one to smash.)

But it’s fun.  Why?  Instead of the scant predictions offered by the Magic 8 Ball, this contraption has over 100 different responses delivered in a somewhat spooky male voice. Instead of a simple “Yes” you may get: “Your deepest joy will shine forth.”  Now we’re talking!

It’s easy to use – you just ask your question and push a button for your answer.  Here’s a sample of my questions to this plastic oracle:

Q: Dear Mystic Pyramid, will I enjoy you for years to come?

Mystic Pyramid: Embark on a new path with confidence.

Q: Dear Mystic Pyramid, are you better suited for my 10 year old niece?

Mystic Pyramid:  More work needs to be done.

Q:  Dear Mystic Pyramid, should I bother to take you seriously

Mystic Pyramid: It may not be in the cards.

Hmmm……looks like this toy wants to stick around here but I should probably treat it like a toy instead of a serious divination tool.

Q:  Dear Mystic Pyramid, what would happen if I smashed you?

Mystic Pyramid: The golden ring is within reach.

Oh, please don’t tempt me.  Please.

(You can purchase the Mystic Pyramid through Amazon.com or US Games.)

Blessings!

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady.com

http://www.tarotmentor.com

PS I know this is not a book or deck – but I got this from US Games to review and it was too fun to pass up!  Enjoy!

Years ago I used to visit the (now closed) Magickal Childe occult shop in New York.  I would spend lots of time browsing the herbs, oils, candles and books – and fantasizing about what things I would conjure up.  One day, I came to the store after a friend of a friend stole money from me and one of the people who worked there recommended that I get a “seal” for protection.  That was my first introduction to the Seals of Solomon.

Since that time, I have on occasion come across them and always found them fascinating.  The story goes that King Solomon received a magical signet ring that gave him power over the demons.  This ring inspired talismans also called “seals”. Each seal has a different vibration and can give magickal powers to the user: the gift of sight, protection, prosperity and more.

The King Solomon Oracle Deck (US Games; ISBN 978-1-57281-666-4) is inspired by these ancient seals.  Created by author Itzhak Mizrahi and artist Orna Ben-Shoshan, this little deck provides powerful spiritual insights and wisdom to help the reader in any situation.  Although I usually do not play around with Oracle cards, I was pleasantly surprised by the profoundness and beauty of this deck.

The King Solomon Oracle consists of 40 cards – 36 Oracle cards and 4 Amulet cards.  The Amulet cards are not to be used in readings but instead carried with you for protection and blessings.  Each of these cards have blank space on the back for you to write your name and your mother’s name, which connects the card to you.  After about 21 days the effects of the amulet cards should be felt by the user.  The deck creators recommend carrying at least two of these cards with you at all time.  Each Amulet card focuses on a different area of your life: Livelihood, Relationships, Health and Security/Protection.

Amulet Card

Back of the Amulet Card

The other 36 cards are used for readings.  The little white book not only provides spreads you can use for readings but also different interpretations depending on what you are asking: situation, person, or advice. A meaning for inverted cards is also included.  Recently I consulted the cards for advice about a situation and pulled Card #28 – the advice portion said: “Your battle has already been lost/ wait for the situation to be rid of negative influences/ don’t proceed until you can see the situation clearly/ seek outside help in order to be freed from the problem.”  (This advice did indeed serve me well.)

The cards are standard sized and fit nicely in your hands.  The finish is smooth but with a light texture that makes this deck easy to shuffle and not too slippery.  And the art work is simply gorgeous.  Vibrant colors, whimsical yet magickal images and clear images of the Seals make this deck a wonder to behold.  Some of the cards have a Goatic symbol while others have the “72 Names of God”, the Kabbalistic names. (These are not written in Hebrew letters but in angel writing.)  The backs of the cards are a pale greyish blue with a Seal in the middle.

The authors state that the King Solomon Oracle Cards “were created as a personal deck for your daily use.”  While that may be the intention, I find them to be uncanny when I need simple advice.  They have been accurate and wise in that use.

I would highly recommend this deck to anyone who is looking for a simple oracle deck or who is drawn to the Seals.  This deck is great for beginners and would be a lovely addition to any deck collection.

I give it Two Swords Up!

Blessings!

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady.com

http://www.tarotmentor.com

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2011

If I had to sum up “Tarot Spreads and Layouts” by Jeanne Fiorini (Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN-10: 0764336290) in one sentence it would be this: do not be fooled by the slimness of this book.

When it arrived, I expected it to be a typical book on tarot spreads and I guess I didn’t anticipate anything out of the ordinary.  I was dead wrong.  This little book is so jammed full of information, tips, spreads and insights that it actually took me a long time to get through it.  It’s obvious that the author put her heart and soul (and years of teaching experience) into this.  I was pleasantly surprised by all that this book offered.

Fiorini starts the book out with a chapter called “The Art of The Question” where she gives advice on what formulates a good question.  She is quick to point out that “tarot is not about wish-fulfillment but the pursuit of information, knowledge, and awareness”.  This statement helped me to understand that the spreads I would be working with were more about self development and not predictive in nature.  Being as I am a straightforward person, I appreciated having this spelled out right from the get go.  The author continues on with examples of well worded questions and how they may help the querent get a better, more accurate reading.

She then moves forward to a chapter on “Reading Skills and Practical Matters” – this chapter is worth the price of the book alone.  All tarot readers, no matter what skill level, will find the author’s thoughts on tarot reading to be essential information.  I really liked this chapter and found myself gleaning a few insights that I hadn’t considered.

The next part is the “meat” of the book – with 17 different spreads, the author gives a lot but manages to keep things in check by not over delivering.  This was very appealing to me as it gave me plenty to work with but didn’t overwhelm or bore.  And here’s the interesting part – while 17 spreads may not sound like a lot, Fiorini provides suggestions for expanding the reading should you decide that you need to. This makes the spreads versatile and gives the reader an opportunity to choose how deep they want to go.

Additionally, she gives questions to ponder for each spread that provokes critical thinking.  This is way more than most “spread” books ever offer.  My brain was reeling from the information and I realized that this is a book to savor, to play with, to explore…and to pick up when you need a new way of looking at your tarot cards.

Although all the spreads featured are useful, my favorites were: Helper/Hindrance, Body/Mind/Spirit, The Resolution Factor and Relationship Spread.  These layouts were  fun to play with and practical.

The Reader’s Checklist in the final chapter closes the book beautifully.  Although I found Fiorini to be a very detailed writer and a bit dry,  she makes up for that by providing good, solid, useable information. Overall, this little gem was a lovely surprise.  I’m giving it a gushing Two Swords Up!

Blessings!

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady.com

http://www.tarotmentor.com

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2011

As a fan of predictive style tarot reading, I was looking forward to receiving my copy of Tarot Prediction And Divination by Susyn Blair-Hunt (Llewellyn Worldwide, Jan 2011, ISBN 0738721727). Although there are many tarot books on the market, finding a good one on “how to predict” is always a challenge.  Most books tend to focus on explaining individual card meanings and the mechanics of tarot reading.

Interpretation is an art form that requires a good grasp of intuition as well as experience.  This is not easy to explain in a book – actually doing a reading seems to be the only way to get a handle on the prediction part.

The author attempts to bridge the gap with this book and although she presents some very good exercises, I think that the title was somewhat misleading as this book seemed to be more or less another book of “tarot spreads” rather than a “how to predict” book.  Now, that is not meant to be a harsh criticism – the spreads here will help to access your intuition.  I guess I expected this book to really lay out how to divine the future from the title alone.

The book begins by explaining the three different types of readings: divinatory, therapeutic and spiritual.  (I did like to see that the author does not shy away from the word “fortune telling”.)  She also covers free will and fate, looking at the visual cues in the deck, preparing your deck, and accuracy.  This introduction is well written and gives a good, basic introduction to tarot.

She also explains how to read for each different astrology sign (ex: use keyword “I feel” for water signs, “I think” for air signs, etc.) which some readers may find helpful.  One odd thing though that I didn’t agree with: she suggests taking negative cards out of the deck when predicting pregnancy or health situations.  I had to disagree with that as my belief is that life has struggles and we can’t just deliver only rosy messages to a client.  It’s irresponsible and leads to a less accurate reading.  For example, a negative reading on health can bring the client awareness and give them the tools to seek the proper help.  Sometimes a “warning” in a reading can be preventative if the information is delivered properly.  While the author does not discourage readers from doing readings on negative situations, I felt that this suggestion to remove cards was questionable.  (That being said, removing negative cards when reading for a child would be a situation that makes total sense.)

The rest of the book is laid out in three sections of tarot spreads: beginner, intermediate and advanced.  The spreads are unique and I found a few gems in here that I really liked.  The “Yes or No Reading” is a great one for those quick readings where the client is seeking a simple answer – but it also lends to more depth if desired.  Other spreads I liked: The Illuminating Star, The Reasons Reading, The Veil/Truth, and Past Life Spread.  I also found the “Channeling/Chalice Reading” to be an especially good spread for talking with loved ones who have passed over to the other side.  I have been using that layout with great success.

The author uses example spreads throughout the book which really helps to show how the spreads work.  This is a big help and allowed me to learn the layouts quickly.  One bummer – the images of the cards in the book are so tiny, I could not see them well.  If you do not have the decks she uses in the book, you are going to be out of luck trying to follow along.

The appendix section in the back is rock solid and chock full of additional information that will be valuable to any reader.  Blair-Hunt covers keywords, significators, card combinations, and timing.  Her insights are imaginative and novel.  I was nodding my head as I could see exactly where she got her ideas.  In my opinion, this section alone is priceless and makes the flaws in the book less important.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more spreads and/or is looking for another good tarot reference.  Because of the issues though, this is a hesitant Two Swords Up.

Blessings!

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady.com

http://www.tarotmentor.com

© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2011

I’m a sucker for anything cool.  And in my mind, tarot is extremely cool.  So is New York.  Put them together and it’s like peanut butter and chocolate combined  – irresistible! Being that this is my mindset, you are probably not surprised to hear that I love the “Tarot of the Boroughs” by tarotist Courtney Weber and photographer George Courtney, a contemporary tarot deck based on the heartbeat and imagery of New York City.

This vibrant deck is a visual masterpiece comprised of stunning original photography.  The deck stays true to the traditional Rider Waite format but don’t be fooled as this deck is anything but traditional. The pictures are a fresh, hip take on the usual tarot images making this deck absolutely unique and a good antidote to the accepted standard.  Many of the people featured in the deck are well known artists and writers (techno musician Moby!) as well as typical native New Yorkers.  This captures the spirit of  modern New York better than any painted deck could.

Moby as the King Of Coins!

The titles for the Majors are the norm with the exception of the Fool who becomes the Seeker.  Suits are Cups, Wands, Swords and Coins.  The Court cards remain as King, Queen, Knight and Page.  The cards are printed on a glossy card stock that seems to be pretty sturdy.  Borders are black all the way around and the back is black as well with a reversible image of the city in a little circle (sweet!).  They shuffle well and feel good in my hands – another plus.  It is obvious that the authors took pains to make this a quality deck.

It comes with a small book but there isn’t much in there.  They give short, pithy explanations for the cards but encourage the reader to come up with their own meanings.  The interpretations provided are sometimes hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud over a few:

5 of Cups: Country music required

Queen of Swords: Don’t piss her off

Knight of Swords: Asses will be kicked

Some of the images are simply amazing  (Be sure to visit the website for bios on each of the models – I loved this clever feature.):

The High Priestess becomes a Santeria goddess in full regalia, lighting her cigar on a votive:

The Hermit is a homeless man sitting by candlelight outdoors (this card reminded me of a homeless man that my husband befriended in San Francisco named Zeus who would sometimes be given to brilliant and deep spiritual babbling – a wise hermit indeed):

The 3 of Swords shows a purse snatching in progress and the look on the victim’s face suggests pain and fear clearly (My favorite suit is the Swords in this deck, by the way.):

The 5 of Cups shows a man bowing his head sadly towards a half finished glass of liquid:

The details are eye catching and I found myself developing whole new concepts for the cards.  It definitely will inspire you to get creative with the meanings – making this deck a good one if you are in a “tarot rut”.  This deck will also appeal to deck collectors, photography fans, New Yorkers and anyone who is looking for a more modern twist on tarot tradition.  This is not your mama’s tarot!

I asked tarot what I need to know about this deck – I pulled the Queen of Wands.  The book gives this interpretation: Creative power; enterprise.  I think that perfectly sums up the energy of Tarot Of The Boroughs as it is one of the most creative decks I have seen in a long time.

I give this deck an enthusiastic Two Swords Up!

Blessings!

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady

http://www.tarotmentor.com

© Theresa Reed 2011 | The Tarot Lady

As a tarot reader who uses her sixth sense when reading cards, I was disappointed that I could not find any books specifically on using your psychic skills to read tarot.  Most tarot books on the  market seem to be about the basics: what the cards mean and how to do a layout.  There were mentions about intuition but nothing in depth.  I began to think that not many of tarot readers actually use psychic abilities – or perhaps we just don’t admit it.

Then along comes this book by respected tarot reader Nancy Antenucci and co author Melanie Howard, boldly titled “Psychic Tarot”.  To say that I was excited to get this book is an understatement.  I was chomping at the bit for it to be released!  Finally, a tarot book that I could relate to!

Antenucci starts the book out with a little antidote about sitting at a table with famed tarot author Rachel Pollack and a group of readers.  Pollack asks the group if they considered themselves to be psychic and most of them answer “no”.  I found that very interesting as I have over the years encountered many other readers who shied away from the psychic word.  I never understood this nor could I comprehend why people thought having intuition was some sort of “gift”.  In my mind, we all have this ability – just some of us seem to train it, use it and trust it more.  The authors seem to agree with this and in the first chapter of the book discuss the hang ups about the word “psychic” as well as how to let go of these misconceptions.

The next few chapters give exercises for intuitively understanding the Minor Arcana, Majors and the Court Cards – building a solid foundation and structure but still encouraging the reader to look for their own clues and interpretations rather than adhering to a “strict” meaning.  This helps the reader to begin to let go of “logical” interpretations and start to trust their own intuition to “find” meanings.

Chapters on Energy Basics, Seeing the Unseen, Trusting the Sight and The Initial Image have more advanced exercises for developing psychic abilities.  These practices are serious but fun at the same time – I loved the author’s gentle sense of humor and play.  If you are the type of person who is afraid of psychic stuff, these little exercises will allow you to imbue a sense of fun as you discover and hone your sixth sense.

But for me, the rest of the book is where the real gems lie.  The authors lay out system for divination, The Six Principles, which could apply to any sort of psychic work – not just tarot reading.  This is sound, sensible advice that any aspiring psychic, medium or reader will want to read.  From grounding to integration, this solid counsel provides the reader with common sense strategies that will help them to remain with one foot firmly on the ground as they tap into the other worlds.  I find this to be so valuable as so many mystics I know seem to have trouble with their real lives when they do this type of work.

My favorite chapter is on boundaries – where once again, the authors offer up excellent guidance that no reader will want to miss.  Antenucci shares one of her own personal stories that illustrates excellently on why a reader will want to set boundaries – which includes letting go of the reading once it is done.  I nodded my head in agreement throughout this entire chapter.

Traits Of A True Reader finishes off the book nicely with this line: “A true reader is really a teacher.  A teacher helps others wake up to their own Creative Authority.”  I found that statement to be very powerful.

The appendix in the back has all the exercises mapped out so that you can find them easily once you have finished reading the book.  If you want to go back to a particular exercise, this is a nice touch and makes the book accessible and user friendly.

I think this book is especially good for those who wish to learn how to read in a more intuitive fashion.  It will appeal to beginners and intermediates alike and I hope it will encourage more tarot readers in particular to embrace their intuition and be less fearful about saying that they are psychic.

I give this book Two Swords Up!

Blessings!

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady.com

http://www.tarotmentor.com

Just when you thought that tarot has become rather ho-hum, along comes an innovation that makes it fun again.  I love to play games – especially Boggle because I have never lost a game yet! (This is important to an admitted “sore loser” like myself.) So I was pretty excited to get a copy of Jude Alexander’s “The Tarot Game” (published and sold by Schiffer Books) .  I wasn’t sure what to expect but I will say for the record: this game rocks!

There are many ways that one could use this game: learning tarot, storytelling, meditation, problem solving, intuition building, fortune telling, personal sharing with loved ones or just plain fun.

The game comes in a handsome, sturdy box with a magnet closure.  There are many pieces and parts to the game including:

Game board

Instructions

Major Arcana question sheet

Reading sheets (Novice, Enthusiast, Adept)

36 Activity Cards

90 Blessing Coins

9 Game Pieces (all beautiful tumbled stones!)

3 dice

It also includes a Keyword Tarot Deck for beginners but you can use your own deck instead.  Everything is high quality and made from premium materials – from the box right down to the stone game pieces.  The board is especially stunning – it is bright and colorful and features a winding snake as the path the playing pieces move along.  Alexander put a lot of effort into making this game appealing to the eye and built to last.

The object of the game is to roll the dice, moving your piece along the snake and as you land on a segment, you act according to the rules provided on that space.  For example: if you land on a Star, you pick a card from the activity card with the star on the back.  Then you simply follow the instructions provided  (ex: Shuffle your deck and draw a card.  Spontaneously create a story inspired by the imagery on the card.  Record this card on reading sheet.).

If you land on a Major Arcana, you will need to pull out the card that matches the space on which you’ve landed.  You will then pick a number from 1 to 5 and the player on your right will ask you a question that corresponds with the number you have chosen on the Major Arcana question sheet.  And then you answer this question as completely as you can.  (Insights and ah-ha moments often come during this part!)

Land on an Infinity symbol and you can pretty much do whatever you feel like: stretch, dance, chill out, eat a snack, group hug, hand out a blessing coin -  basically whatever you want to do.  This imbues the game with creativity and invites playfulness.

The first time I played the game, it took a little time to set up and figure out the rules.  But once I got the hang of it, I realized it was actually simple to set up and play along.  All you need to do is divide your tarot deck into Major Arcana,  Suits and Court cards and put them on the designated places (the Majors need to be in numerical order).  Place the activity cards in their spots.  Select your game piece and pick a reading sheet for each player (you must choose according to the player’s experience level).  Then, each player will choose 5 Blessing Coins (The Blessing Coins have words on them such as “fun”, “loyalty”, “gratitude”; these can be handed out throughout the game to each other – and this creates lots of bonding!).  Next, one person will read the simple grounding meditation and then the game begins!

While playing with a group is fun, I also find this to be a lovely meditative tool for any questions you may be pondering or for those who want a fun way to explore the tarot.  I can’t say enough good about my experiences with this game.  It’s educational, inspirational, emotional, entertaining and thought provoking all at once.  All ages can find great pleasure in The Tarot Game and I feel this also helps to give tarot a friendlier face to those who may be unfamiliar with it.

I heartily recommend this game and give it an enthusiastic 2 Swords Up!

My Boggle has been officially retired to the back of the game closet in favor of The Tarot Game.  (My days as a sore loser have also been retired as everyone who plays this game walks away a winner!)  Get your copy today at Schiffer Books: The Tarot Game.  Visit the author’s official website at: The Tarot Game

Blessings!

Theresa

Tomorrow, I am posting an interview with Jude Alexander – be sure to learn about the woman behind the game!

And recently on Beyond Worlds, we played The Tarot Game live on air with the creator, Jude Alexander.  Here is a link to the show if you’d like to listen:

I consider myself to be a very straightforward woman.  I’m the type that won’t mince words and will tell you if your breath smells like cat litter.  It’s just how I roll.  And I happen to like books that have an honest and no b.s. tone as well.  You’ll find that here in Tarot Dynamics, which I found offers a very straight up approach to tarot reading.

This book is different than the rest in that it combines numerology and Tarot in a way that simplifies yet adds depth to the meanings of the cards.  While that may sound like a contradiction, trust me, the author Anna Burroughs Cook manages to lay a foundation that is solid yet open for interpretation.

The author chooses simple keywords for each card, based on the numbers and the suit, or in the case of the Major Arcana, one word to symbolize that particular card (ex: Hanged Man = Tranquility).  This breaks the tarot down to manageable bites – which is incredibly helpful especially for those who are just beginning to explore the cards. She then adds depth by giving different interpretations for the cards based on whether the reading is negative, positive, reversed, or romantically focused.  She also adds information for what the card could mean if it was surrounded by less reassuring cards.  This gives the reader a lot to work with.

There is a picture of each card from the Universal Tarot but this book is not limited to any one deck.  With Burroughs’ method, you’ll get a solid grip on the tarot that can be used with whichever deck you prefer to work with.

In the final chapters the author covers timing, which I consider one of the most difficult aspects of tarot reading. She once again offers a simplified method (based on astrology) that anyone can use – even if you do not have a background in astrology.   Burroughs then includes a few tarot spreads using her methods as well as sample readings which clearly paint a vivid picture of her techniques in action.  (I only wish she would have had visual images to go along with the samples as I am lazy – but after laying out the cards myself, it brought the impact of her formula to life!)

The thing I enjoyed the most about this book was her section on do’s and don’ts and FAQs.  This part was full of practical advice, written in a manner that felt like my “tarot mom” was giving me the straight talk I needed so that I could avoid the pitfalls and problems that many tarot readers struggle with.  I nodded my head often in agreement and enjoyed her down to earth approach to these issues.

If you are new to tarot or just looking for a new perspective, you cannot go wrong with this book.  I give it Two Swords Up!

Blessings!

Theresa

Learn more about the author Anna Burroughs Cook at her website: http://tarotdynamics.com/