The Cathar Tarot is a new deck that will be released on the 20th of December, 2016. I recieved a copy of The Cathar Tarot from the deck publishers in return for a honest review.
To be honest, as I started out, I did not have much knowledge of the Cathars. And I don’t claim to be an expert either. However, from a complete novice’s point of view, this deck does create a great entry point to get to know of the life and the culture of a people that have, sadly, been obliterated from this world.
The Cathar Tarot
The Cathars existed during the Middle Ages, and were found in Italy, Germany, Flanders, England, and France. The name ‘Cathar’ seems to have been derived from the Greek word ’katharoi’, which means ‘the pure’. They rejected several formalized beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church and believed that the world was not created by God, but by the Demiurge, a reflection of the real Creator. This world, therefore, was a poor copy of humanity’s true home, which is an earthly paradise where there was no ‘fall’, no ‘sin’, and no one was expelled from Eden.
Some interesting facts about the Cathars include: they were vegetarian, and they had pretty open view about sex. More than that though, the Cathars were a gentle people, and had very tolerant views about other religions.
Ultimately, these people were branded as heretics by the Church and were systematically hunted down and slaughtered.
A number of legends still prevail about them, chief among which is the belief that they held the secret to the Holy Grail, or even the Grail itself.
Deck Theme
The Cathar Tarot Card Deck is an interesting depiction of the beliefs, life and lifestyle of the Cathars in the Middle Ages. The images draw upon the beliefs of the Cathars, and then upon an ancient belief system called ‘Gnosticism’.
Deck Creator(s) and Artist(s)
The deck creator, John Matthews, and the artist, Wil Kinghan have used the universal symbolism and appeal of the Tarot structure to share the wisdom of these wonderful people with the rest of the world.
I liked how the artist has used a very interesting drawing style for the card images — you often find art and fresco drawings from the Middle Ages drawn in this exact way! I thought that this was a great way to connect with the time-period that the Cathars existed.
The Cathar Tarot: The Cards
The Cathar Tarot Card Deck comes packaged in a very sturdy box that holds the cards and a 112-page book that contains full color illustrations.
The cards are approximately 3 inches wide and 4.5 inches tall, and have rounded edges. The card stock itself is pretty thick, and so the entire deck is a bit of a thicker pile compared to, say, the Universal Waite Tarot Card Deck.
Regardless, shuffling the deck isn’t that hard for me — and I have relatively smaller hands. Probably the reason lies with the surface of the cards which is smooth and not matte.
Back Design
The back design is pretty, and features the Cathar seal. This is a part of the armorial bearings of the Counts of Toulouse and can be seen in the Languedoc region of France, where the Cathars had their final stronghold. This design is therefore also known as the ‘Cathar Cross’.
Due to the coloring though, one is able to easily know if the card is upright or reversed. For those of us who use reversed cards in readings (like I do), back designs like these can be a bit frustrating. However, I overcome this by closing my eyes while pulling the cards — that way I don’t get affected regardless of the card’s direction.
LWB
and/or Book
The deck is accompanied by a 112-page full color illustrated book.
The guidebook contains quite a bit of information about the Cathars, their way of life, and their belief systems. The card illustrations for the Major Arcana cards are big (take an entire page) but are comparitively smaller for the Minor Arcana.
The font size is pretty small though, so you may need your reading glasses for this one.
What I really liked about the guidebook is that the information is presented slowly, and it builds upon itself as you keep reading. As you read through the information of the Major Arcana cards, you learn more and then a bit more about the Cathars’ life and belief.
While I am not completely averse to info-dumps, I did like this approach very much — somehow, I wanted to keep on reading and thus learning more about these lovely people.
Meanings (Upright and Reversed)
For both, the Major and Minor Arcana cards the description included the information about the context and the imagery, and keywords for the ‘Light’ and ‘Dark’ aspects of the card’s meanings.
This is particularly useful for those of us who use reversed card meanings in our readings.
More Information
The back of the book contains a section where the deck creators talk about how one can get to know the deck better, and activate the cards. Three spreads, the ‘Cathar Cross Spread’, and the ‘Court of Wisdom Spread’, and the ‘Grail Knight Spread’ are included, along with a sample reading.
Finally, there are a few passages from actual Cathar writings that add to our knowledge of the Cathars and their beliefs and lifestyle. And if you are truly drawn into this, there is a short list of books and websites where you can learn even more.
The Cathar Tarot: Majors. Minors. Courts. Suits.
The deck follows the Rider-Waite-Smith format — the Minor Arcana cards have pictures on them. And if you have experience working with the Rider-Waite-Smith or similarly-formatted deck, learning this deck won’t be hard.
In keeping with the deck’s theme, the suits are named as follows:
Wands: Book of Shields
Swords: Book of Swords
Cups: Book of Love
Pentacles: Book of Wisdom
The names of pretty much all the Major Arcana cards are also in keeping with the deck’s theme. Here however, they do not follow the Rider-Waite-Smith pattern — Major Arcana 8 is Justice, and Major Arcana 11 is Strength.
A comparative list of the names of the Major Arcana cards is also provided at the back of the book.
The Cathar Tarot: Reading with this Deck
As you may have seen, I’ve been doing my daily card readings for this month, on Instagram, with this deck, and the information flows so smoothly from the imagery!
My Experiences and Thoughts
Since this is a new deck for me, I do carry the book with me and glance through it while I look at the card image. But, even if I didn’t have the book, I wouldn’t suffer much. The imagery of the cards lends itself very beautifully to the storytelling process and to an intuitive reading.
Knowing the meanings of the symbols and the context specific to the Cathars beliefs and lifestyle does help — but if you are in a bit of a rush, and can’t refer to the book, then too, you won’t go wrong if you just mined the cards’ imagery and used your intuition to seek guidance. IMHO, this is the best thing about the Cathar Tarot Card Deck.
Video
I also made a video where I talk about this deck, and where you can get a sneak peek at the cards as well. Enjoy!
The Cathar Tarot Giveaway
The fun thing is that I accidentally ended up getting two copies of the deck in the mail. That meant only one thing. A Giveaway!
So go ahead and enter yourself into the giveaway thingy below. The giveaway ends 12 a.m. EST on the 9th of January 2017, and I will announce the winners on my Instagram and FaceBook, and also in the Comments section of this blog. The deck will be sent via USPS (and I think I ought to be able to provide a tracking number as well).
The giveaway has since ended, but you can still buy a copy of this lovely deck!
Your Turn…
What do you think about this wonderful deck? Would you want to buy it for yourself? Or do you already have it? Do share your thoughts and experiences with me in the comments section below. It would be interesting to hear what you thought of this deck.
Do you want to learn Tarot Card Reading? Are you on a budget?
I think it is such an interesting turn of fate that we get drawn to wanting to learn Tarot Card Reading right when we are in the middle of something else, you know, like Life. 🙂 So there we are, wanting to learn Tarot Card Reading while pursuing studies, or working a full-time job, or raising kids.
And of course, we are on a budget – think shoestring budget. Most one-on-one or classroom Tarot Workshops cost a bit (mine included). And carving out time for the lessons is not always possible. How do you learn Tarot then? Especially when you are on a shoestring budget?
I’ve spent over a decade reading, studying, and gathering a bunch of knowledge and information about Tarot and taught Tarot Card Reading to many students. After all that reading and studying and teaching, I have compiled a list of processes, techniques, books, articles etc that may help you in your journey with the Cards.
I would like to share this with you. Part of it came about as a ‘Reading List’ that I give all of my students after they finished my workshop. And the other part — well, it is in the form of blog posts on this very web site. In this post, I’m just bringing it all together in one place, so you can have a single point of reference during your self-study process.
The learning is totally your domain though. That is one place you will have to help yourself. The biggest advantage of this resource list is that you can work through the list at your own pace while you juggle and balance all your other life stuff.
Before We Begin…
This list has been compiled with a lot of thought. I’ve either read / written every book / article / resource that I’ve mentioned over here. That is one reason why this list cannot, in any way, be complete. I still have many books sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read. And there are only so many hours in the day when I can read. So, while this list may be big and exhaustive, it is by no means complete. I promise though, that I will keep adding to it as and when I get to reading / writing those books and blog articles. Promise.
Please Note: Each of the images of the Amazon Books is a clickable link with my Amazon affiliate code embedded in it. This way, I get a few pennies as my affiliate commission if you choose to buy via these embedded links.
Now, without much ado, let’s really begin…
Learn Tarot on a Shoestring Budget
Step 1: Your First Deck + Basic Book with Card Meanings
The Universal Waite Tarot Card Deck (~$19)
To put it simply, this deck is a better, clearer, re-colored version of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Card Deck.
And the images, style and format of this deck has served as a template for many other decks out there. So if you study with this deck first, you will find it easier to get into the imagery of the other decks.
Plus, this deck suits the study needs of Tarot Card Readers from beginner through to advanced levels. This is the deck to start with. This is also the deck you will keep coming back to. Promise.
The Complete Guide to the Tarot by Eden Gray (~ $6 for Kindle and $7 for Paperback)
Available in both Print and Kindle formats, this is the ‘first Tarot book‘ for many of the great Tarot-istas in the world today. And with good reason!
This is an awesome book that gives you great insight into each card in a way that is simple and easy to understand. This book will introduce you to the cards, their colorful history, and the basic concepts of how to use and read the cards.
The book will also introduce you to the imagery of each card, and give a list of divinatory meanings for both upright and reversed cards.
There is even a comprehensive list of symbols and their meanings at the end of the book. If it worked for them, it ought to work for you too! Honestly, this isthe best first Tarot book that you can buy.
Please resist the urge to buy the Universal Waite deck along with the book titled ‘Pictorial Key to the Tarot’. (The Book and Deck Set can be purchased for approx. $19). You can totally buy the book later if you want. This book was written by A.E. Waite, the creator of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Card Deck. It is written in old style english and has a lot of stuff that is pretty obscure and confusing to a beginner. The list of meanings in this book can and will confuse you. Some of them are, at best, of historic significance, and at worst, dated. It won’t serve your purposes right now to get confused. The history of this deck is pretty engrossing, but right now, you don’t want to spend time on that, right? You can do this later.
Learn Tarot on a Shoestring Budget
Step 2: Studying and Understanding the Cards
Storytelling (Free)
Storytelling, Creativity and Intuition are sisters. They originate from the same place — the Subconscious Mind. I won’t boggle you down with the Psychology-based Theory here, only state the gist of it: these 3 abilities are intertwined. Each triggers the other. Each builds the other. Each completes the other. Storytelling with the images of the Tarot Cards can be an awesome opening into the deeper understanding of the card images. You can record your stories in your Journal.
Power Tarot: More Than 100 Spreads That Give Specific Answers to Your Most Important Question (~. $12 for Kindle, ~. $13 for Paperback)
Spreads are the way in which Tarot Card Readers actually do their Readings. This book has (as the title suggests) 100 different Spreads. Grouped together based on the number of cards that have been used in the Spread, this book is a veritable gold mine for those of us who like to have Spreads for all sorts of questions.
The book also has a very detailed section with the meanings of the cards, and how they relate to the different aspects of life / questions asked i.e. Work, Romance, Finances, Health, Spirituality, and Empowerment.
Journaling (3-Ring Binder with Loose Pages: between $5 to $20)
When you study the cards and read the book, you can also start working with your Tarot Journal. This Journal will be where you store and record all your knowledge. Over the years, it will transform into a veritable gold mine. Trust me. (Here’s what I did with my notes!)
These days you can also find some excellent apps that work on your phone / tablet / desktop computers that work in a similar manner.
Card-A-Day (Free)
Every day, in the morning, pull out one card from the deck. Sum up your feelings about the image in a few sentences. This process is not a test of how much you know, or how many meanings of that card you can mug up or rattle off. It is a process that will stir up your intuitive abilities. So don’t sweat it too much. Really. Just don’t. All you have to do is pull out a card and sum up your immediate reactions / feelings to that image in a few sentences. Make a note of it in your Journal. Or in your phone’s photo library. Or on Instagram.
I post my #CardADay Pics on Instagram alongwith the insights / thoughts I get at the time. If you are on Instagram, you can totally follow me there. If you prefer FaceBook, you can also see these daily card draws on the TaroticallySpeaking FaceBook Group Page. Or if you like, you can also see ’em on my Google+ Page. .
Step 3: Learning How To Actually Do Tarot Card Readings
Tarot Reading Using Storytelling Techniques (~ $10 for Kindle, $15 for Paperback)
I know. I know. This is a bit of ‘Self Promotion‘. But hear me out.
This book will show you how to actually do an awesome, intuitive, creative and engaging Tarot Card Reading. By this time, you are probably familiar with the cards and their meanings, and you’ve been wanting to do a Reading for your friends, family and so on. But when you try to do a spread, do you maybe feel a bit stumped and wishing that you could somehow get your spread to make some sense?
Do you wonder how the cards in the spread actually connect with each other and form a coherent reading? You’ve probably read articles about how people use Tarot Cards to make stories. Did you know that you could use those time-tested storytelling techniques to read the Tarot Cards?
This book will show you how you can go deeper into the images of the cards, and also understand Spreads in a way that will make your Tarot Card Readings an interesting and engaging journey for you and your client.
Click here and use Amazon’s Look Inside feature to look through the chapters. You can even download the sample chapters on your Kindle. Decide for yourself. No pressure. But give it a shot, okay. 😊 Thank you! 🙏🏼
This is the point where you amaze your friends with your awesome reading skills. The reality is that there is no sweet and nice intro into actually doing readings. You just have to invoke The Fool, and jump right in. Since they are your friends, you will feel comfortable reading for them. And hopefully they won’t be as harsh.
Visit the Forums at Aeclectic Tarot. This is one of the most awesome resources for Tarot on the Net. It has been around for the longest time, and it is the place on the Internet where all things Tarot converge. You will meet some really interesting and awesome people. You can practice your readings by exchanging readings with other students like you. You can learn different Tarot Card Reading Spreads. All of this and more — this site is a veritable Wonderland for Tarot Lovers.
2.
After the demise of Yahoo! Groups and the rise of FaceBook Groups, quite a few mailing list communities migrated over to the new social media platform, and found more followers. One such group is Tarot and More. With a bunch of daily posts that are designed to make your Tarot Juices flow, this is one awesome FaceBook Group worth joining and participating.
Learn Tarot on a Shoestring Budget
Step 4: Go Deeper With Your Tarot Studies
Entering a Tarot Card - A Mediation Exercise (Free)
Entering a card image is a very deep and involved meditation process. It will help you connect with the imagery of the card on a very deep, and very (sur)real level. This meditation will help you get to know the cards in great detail. Converse with the people in the cards, and learn more about them by simply asking them. This is a deep and involved meditation, and it really opens up your heart and mind about each card image. Be sure to keep your Journal ready for when you complete the meditation. Even if you feel tired, write down what you saw, felt, and experienced. Trust me, it will give you insights like never before!
78 Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack (~ $15 for Paperback)
This book is considered to be the Tarot Bible. This book will enrich and deepen your knowledge of the cards and the mythology, numerology, and psychology aspects associated with it.
This is the book that made me feel as if I had finally come up on the path that I wanted to follow, especially with regard to the Tarot Cards. This book gave me deep, intricate knowledge about the various associations of the Tarot Cards. Connections such as Mythology and Psychology became clearer to me, and I was able to immerse myself deeper and deeper into the cards.
Tarot For Your Self by Mary K. Greer (~ $11 for Kindle and $13 for Paperback)
Pretty much of all of us (including yours truly) are drawn towards the cards by a hope that one day, we will be able to read for ourselves, and divine our own future.
Alas! Those dreams take a back seat when we realize that reading for ourselves is the hardest thing one can do. This is where this book comes in. It will show you how to work towards gaining the sort of detachment and clarity of thought that is required to do readings for your self. And all of this while working through several interesting exercises with the cards.
If you’ve followed the steps in this list, you may feel that some of the chapters in the book cover things that you’ve already known about. But don’t fret. There’s a lot more information and detail in this book too! Be sure to work through the exercises to get the most from the book.
The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals by Mary K. Greer (~ $11 for Kindle and $12 for Paperback)
If reading reversed cards has bothered you no end, then this is the book for you. Now you don’t have a reason to run away from reversed cards.
Reversed cards are simply another way of looking at the card image. Just like the story of life is full of unexpected twists, turns, surprises, these reversed cards show up and force a spotlight on the issue or situation depicted by that card. This book will take you through the various ways of looking at, understanding, and interpreting the cards when they come up reversed.
Tarot Wisdom by Rachel Pollack (~ $15 for Kindle and $17 for Paperback)
The new book written by the author of 78 Degrees of Wisdom. This book was written at least 25 years after Rachel Pollack published her groundbreaking Tarot book.
In this book, we discover deeper details of each of the cards through a historical and comparative perspective. We see how the meanings and associations of each card changed over time and how the understanding of the symbols has evolved. At the end of each Major Arcana card, we also have a spread that will bring the card’s dimensions into deep focus.
Take your understanding of the Tarot Cards to the next level, by understanding the deep wisdom hidden within the card images.
21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card by Mary K. Greer (~ $10 for Kindle and $15 for Paperback)
The Tarot Cards have images on them, and since images can be perceived and understood in so many different ways, there is absolutely no end to the amount of interpretations that each image can generate.
This book will show you 21 very innovative ways of looking at the Tarot Card Images to deepen and strengthen your knowledge and understanding of each card. There was a time when I felt that I knew a whole lot about the cards. This book gently tapped me on my shoulder and told me to rethink that belief. And for that, I shall forever remain grateful.
Understanding the Tarot Court by Mary K. Greer and Tom Little (~ $15 for Kindle and $16 for Paperback)
Do you get confused when Court Cards pop up in your readings? Well, then this is the book that will help you feel at ease among them.
The Court Cards are just people — either they represent the client, or the people in the client’s life. They show us the side of the personality that came to the forefront during the situation described by the surrounding cards. Read up on the Court Cards, and work through the exercises that have been designed to help you figure your way through these 16 different personalities within the Tarot Card Deck.
There are so many things areas within the cards where you can go deep and explore. You can either see the cards as a place where these things converge, or you can see the cards as a launching point to exploring these realms.
While there are many realms to explore, there are many areas which I haven’t explored. It is a simple matter of being drawn to a concept and not being drawn to another.
Everyone likes a different flavor of ice-cream. That doesn’t make the other flavors irrelevant. Or unimportant. And since this is a list of resources that I have compiled based on my personal experiences, you may find some interest areas ill-represented.
For that I apologize in advance.
A Walk through the Forest of Souls: A Tarot Journey to Spiritual Awakening (~ $19 Paperback and ~ $12 for Kindle)
This is the book that started it all for me. And I hope it does that for you too.
I used to think that all the divinatory arts performed only one function: predicting the future. But I was wrong. They do so much more than that.
They are a bridge that take us from ‘what is going to happen?’ to ‘why is it happening?’ and then to ‘what can I do to stop this from happening / change this / make this happen?’.
Perspective matters. And this book changed mine. It put me on the path of inner exploration that I am on today.
The Tarot Card Images are filled with Symbols. From the simplest to the most complex, symbols populate each aspect of the card image. Symbols are like short forms or acronyms. They convey vast amounts of deeper truths in a very compact format. Just by being present in the image of the card, they suffuse the image with a wealth of meanings that probably could not have been conveyed otherwise. Often, the meaning of these symbols is rooted in logic. Apart from common sense, symbols derive meaning from myths and legends, and the psychological spheres that they evoke. Knowing about the various symbols and the mysteries associated with their interpretation can be quite useful in the interpretation of the Tarot Card Images.
Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung (~ $6 for Kindle and $6 for Paperback)
This is one of those books that will change the way you look at things. After reading this book, you will see symbolism everywhere.
Read along as Carl Jung talks about the inner self and the symbols that populate not only the subconscious but also the world around us.
Go deep with understanding the imagery and symbolism that is present around us. This is the book that will open your eyes to the various ways and methods in which symbols can be applied and used to convey meanings compactly and precisely.
Pictures from the Heart: A Tarot Dictionary by Sandra A. Thomson (~ $8 for Kindle)
An alphabetical list of meanings of the different symbols that one encounters in a Tarot Card Deck — this book is exactly what you are looking for if you want precise and to-the-point explanations of what the symbols in the cards really stand for.
An amazing reference book to have in your Tarot Library, this book is also chock full of helpful tips and advice that will help take your reading skills (along with your Tarot knowledge) to the next level.
This is the aspect of Tarot that attracted me the most. Almost all of the cards in the deck are associated with some or the other myth. Being a storyteller, that was extremely attractive to me. Myths are the first stories ever told. Myths form the basis of storytelling, both simple and complex. I loved how the symbols and stories were intricately woven into the imagery of the card. And of course, understanding the meaning of those images and symbols added into the meaning of that card.
The Encyclopedia of World Mythology (~ $8 Paperback and ~ $15 Hardcover)
This book gives quite an intriguing birds-eye-view introduction to various mythologies across the world. Full of images and maps, this book is a rather interesting doorway into the world of Mythology.
It gives a quick glance through the major myths from across various cultures across the globe, and introduces you to the deeper aspects of cultures and traditions across the world. From here, you can decide where and how to go deep with the stories, tales, symbols and their deeper psychological inputs.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell (~ $13 for Hardcover)
This book takes the concepts explored in the previous book, and takes it one step further.
You may see strange parallels between the Journey of the Fool as seen in the Major Arcana of the Tarot, and the journey outlined in this book.
Explore the myths and symbols that the hero encounters during his adventures — his quest, and how he fulfills it. Many interesting themes are explored here, and provide a lot of deep insight.
This book outlines the epic “Hero’s Journey” that are the mainstay of so many heroic tales that have entertained us and taught us about our desire for adventure, heroism, and the values of kindness, learning, and understanding.
The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell (~ $13 for Kindle and $13 for Paperback)
This book will start the journey for your exploration of comparative mythology.
A collection of interviews that Campbell had with Bill Moyers, this book explores the various mythic themes that continually emerge in the world around us.
If you’ve ever started to wonder about the recurring motifs and themes across diverse mythologies, and if you’ve ever wondered why human beings are so enamored of our myths, then you need to read this book by Joseph Campbell.
From Girl to Goddess: The Heroine’s Journey through Myth and Legend by Valerie Estelle Frankel (~ $15 for Kindle and $35 for Paperback)
When you want the hero’s journey to talk about issues that are specifically about women, then this is the book you need to reach for.
This book talks about the “Heroine’s Journey” and includes a variety of mythical motifs, archetypes and information that show us the inner and outer journey that women undertake towards their attaining their quest.
This is the next aspect of the Tarot images that pulled me in. While the images are associated with myths, they also evoke many attributes of pyschology. The imagery is a pathway into the depths of the subconscious mind. It may not be simple or easy, but the cards can truly open the door to the deepest reaches of the mind so you can be guided by your subconscious mind.
Tarot As A Way of Life : A Jungian Approach to the Tarot (~ $16 for Paperback)
A very good book that will open up your perception into the Jungian approach towards the card imagery.
While many of the ‘meanings’ may be what you’ve learned before, the book provides very Jungian bits of insights into the imagery, which is pretty interesting.
If you wanted to see how the psychological aspects of the Tarot imagery intersect with that of Jung’s ideas, this is the book to read!
Discovering Your Self Through the Tarot : A Jungian Guide to Archetypes & Personality by Rose Gwain (~ $19 for Paperback)
Carl Jung and his work opened up many dimensions into understanding the human mind.
This book adds to the knowledge that you’ve gained from the previous book, taking it to the next level. This book also helps you understand yourself better via concepts like Archetypes, Extraversion, and Introversion as expressed via the cards.
All the cards have numbers on them. Naturally, that makes it easier for us to connect them with the occult art of numbers – Numerology.
While you may find a number of texts about the subject as-is (i.e. with no connection to Tarot), there is an interesting book that does talk about Numerology and Tarot together.
Numerology: Key to the Tarot (~ $14 for Paperback)
This book plays a dual role.
First, it introduces and explains the numbers on the Major Arcana and their numerological significance.
Second, it also shows us some of the deeper aspects of applying that knowledge of numerology to our real life. This book talks about many typical and standard Numerological practices and methods, all the while referencing the Tarot.
Get to know the Tarot Cards from the point of view of numbers!
Due to the number of cards in the Major Arcana (22) a unique connection has always existed between the Major Arcana cards and the Astrological Signs and Planets.
Each of the 22 Major Arcana cards is either associated with a Sun Sign, or a Planet. Most of us stop at this point, and don’t venture any further. That’s cool.
But what if there is more to this connection than what you’ve known so far?
36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot by T Susan Chang (~ $30 Paperback and $20 Kindle)
If you want to truly explore the intricate aspects of how the images of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Card Deck connect with Western Astrology, then this is the book you want to read!
Get to know your card images from a more interesting point of view!
The mystical and esoteric elements within Judaism are called Kabalah. Briefly, the Kabalah aims at explaining the connection between the infinite and the finite Universe.
The arrangement of the Pentacles on the Rider-Waite-Smith / Universal Waite 10 of Pentacles card is quite similar to the image of the Tree of Life from the Kabalah.
Also, 22 Paths connect the 10 Spheres on the Kabalah Tree of Life. Many people see that as a very straightforward connection between Tarot Cards and the Kabalah with the 22 Major Arcana Cards and the 10 Suit Cards structure in each Tarot Card Deck.
The Qabalistic Tarot Book: A Textbook Of Mystical Philosophy by Robert Wang (~ $25 Hardcopy)
Explore the Tarot Card imagery from the perspective of the Kabbala Tree of Life!
If you’ve ever wanted. to understand Kabbala, without it getting to complex — and especially if you wanted to understand the deep roots and connections between Tarot and the Kabbala, then this is the book to start your journey with!
Get to know the cards of the 4 main Tarot Decks: Golden Dawn, Thoth, Rider-Waite-Smith, and Tarot de Marseilles through the lens of the Kabbala Tree of Life.
This is also a side of the card imagery that attracted me. The images and the art on some of the decks is often pretty compelling. From a storyteller’s point of view, these images can launch you into a completely different and intriguing world. Fantasy and imagination can easily find themselves combined within the artwork of many a Tarot Card Deck. A few such notable Tarot Card Decks that I own are:
Of course, tastes vary. As I love to keep saying, “Everyone likes different flavors of ice cream”. You may like a different sort of imagery. And that’s perfectly okay. 🙂
Learn Tarot on a Shoestring Budget
Step 6: Explore the History of the Tarot Cards
There is a very colorful history that surrounds the cards and their images. To be honest, I feel that this could be a whole ‘nother post by itself. So, I’m just going to give you the information, the links, and a brief description.
The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination by Robert Place (~ $13 for Kindle and $16 for Paperback)
This book is a detailed look into the 3-fold facets of Tarot: the history, the symbolism, and the divination.
This book will present evidence that will make you look beyond the supposedly mystical origins of the Tarot Cards.
After looking through the history of the various symbols and imagery, the author walks you through the interpretations of each of the cards, and a couple of example spreads.
Pictorial Key to the Tarot by A. E. Waite (~ $1 for Kindle and $11 for Paperback)
Remember, in the beginning, I told you to wait and buy this book later. Well, here you go!
Go wild and read through Waite’s thoughts and concepts of the cards and the images. And of course, the interpretations / divinatory meanings.
Now that you’ve spent some time with the cards, learning about them, and doing readings for people with them, you are in a better position to understand the historical significance of many of these meanings and interpretations.
As I’ve said before, this list isn’t complete. But it does contain the links to resources that I’ve encountered first-hand, and over this past decade. As you work through the list, and in order, you will slowly develop and enhance your knowledge and experience of the Tarot Cards, and doing Readings not just for others, but for yourself as well. Wisdom comes from putting these principles and this knowledge into practice. Trying out various techniques and approaches to see which fits will no doubt open doors and pathways into various areas of understanding and help you grow and develop even more. As I see it, the Occult Arts of Divination are just another pathway towards self awareness, and self realization. The knowledge that you will gain from them will always help you, no matter what. Trust the wisdom of your soul, and you will find that your life opens up for you.
Your Turn…
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A very interesting idea was brought to my notice a few days ago – Tarot card images on Helmets! While exploring the whole thing a bit more, I had a chance to communicate with and have a nice telephone chat with Danielle Baskin, the wonderfully vibrant person who is the brains behind this concept.
Here are some excerpts from the conversation we had (both e-mail and telephone):
[Any errors in the transcription are purely mine.]
MG:
Danielle, tell me, how did you get this whole idea?
DB:
I [had] never touched a tarot deck until about two years ago when I was sort of ‘conned’ into getting a reading on the street. I was completely skeptical about the whole thing but [since I was] feeling sorta ‘off-track’ in life so [I said] “Okay, why not?”.
What really surprised me was the powerful sense of agency I felt immediately after leaving. It’s like all these hypothetical ideas [that] you didn’t know ever existed started to emerge simply from attempting to construct a story using these enigmatic images as a template. I accepted the idea that the Tarot cards [are purely images] – and didn’t reject it as a form of advice or therapy. The images trigger so much buried information! It’s [the process of] constructing the story that helps clear [the mind] and create patterns of thinking.
Helmet with Star Card Image
MG:
What was it about the cards – especially the images on the cards – that really struck you?
DB:
When I bought a deck and tried to figure out the different meanings of the cards, I started writing down my immediate reactions to the way Pamela Colman Smith placed the symbols.
I’ve always been fascinated on how different modes of thinking trigger eye movements – and how visual perception relates to storytelling.
For example:
Upper Left – What you’re imagining in your future
Upper Right – What events have actually happened (Unseeable)
Bottom Left – Potential area of mental space – not yet broken into
Bottom Right. What factors are affecting/controlling you
Of course, reversing the images changed the meanings dramatically. For example, in The Magician [card], when the card is reversed, the hand pointing at the plants is more noticeable. This could mean quite literally feeling like a situation is out of your hands and you can’t grasp your resources, you’re blaming something else for your situation. The infinity sign [seems] less important when reversed. His face frowns more. He points at nature. When [upright] The Magician is aware of all his resources and the natural world. He appears to be altering nature, to make it more beautiful using cleverness and manipulation.
Helmet with Hierophant Card Image
[The amazing part is] that the cards were not painted in reverse. I’m not sure [that] Pamela Coleman Smith [thought about the fact] that the images would be flipped while she was painting them intuitively – but I still like the idea of the card possessing dual meanings, but a reversed card might be a stretch of a confabulation.
MG:
So what gave you the idea of painting these image on helmets, of all the things?
DB:
Well, the idea just came to me suddenly one day. The idea of having an entire deck of Tarot cards cycling around on the streets seemed to really jump out at me. There is a lot of motion involved with the Tarot cards. The images of the cards make you want to take action! I most certainly wanted to, and did!
The idea of seeing connections and attributing causality to chance circumstances is really fascinating to me. – while on a surface level the helmets are ‘protecting people from accidents’, they might [also] be regularly reappearing into people’s lives. It would be fascinating if people run into certain Tarot helmets on their daily commute and if there’s some sort of pattern of thinking (or mental state) that correlates to the times they do see that image – like “Whoa! I’ve seen that before! This is connected to this which is connected to this.”
I think temporarily disengaging from your environment is really important to help crystallize memories and sort of ‘think about yourself thinking’. Noticing symbols are important – because they help you learn about how you think. Not that symbols or omens are more powerful than you – but the idea that you’re noticing them could be more relevant than the symbol itself. It helps you pay attention to your own personal thought patterns and open up spaces for possibilities.
I also like the idea that each card-wearer will be connected to an entire deck. Realizing that he is a part of a whole. And that the whole is always in motion and impossible to capture.
MG:
All this sounds pretty interesting if you ask me!
DB:
Helmet with Emperor Card Image
Yes, it is! Especially since the wearer of the helmet always has the card stationary – there would be different ways to think about the card. [And as] the helmet is hemispherical like a brain, I got the idea of purposefully mapping out the images in accordance to the right-brain/left-brain.
Though highly debatable in neuroscience, the dualities that represent your conscious/public behavior (left) and your potential and unconscious thoughts (right) are understandable. The brain doesn’t necessarily work that way – but the two concepts or mental-modes are simple to grasp. I thought about this for a bit while mapping the images.
For example, the character in Justice is on the left side of the helmet hence its a card about public persona and and image you’re portraying. It’s less of a ‘personal’ image. I painted the High Priestess split in the middle in the back because its both subconscious and conscious. I think that card is about information and knowledge. How one can become burdened by excessive knowledge to the point where it blocks thinking. It is really symbol-rich and relates to vision (the occipital lobe).
MG:
What are your thoughts about looking at all these images in motion?
DB:
As I said before, the wearer of the helmet has the image stationary on his head, while he is moving around. Meanwhile other people may see the image either coming towards them, or moving away from them.
For example, with the High Priestess, if the image is coming towards you it means you have too much information clouding your thinking. You can’t see her from the front of the helmet. If [the image is] moving away from you it means you’re just scratching the surface of the learning experience. You need to examine things more closely. In the High Priestess image, you can see words and letters like ‘TORA’ but its physically moving away so you need to catch up.
MG:
What about the colors of the cards? Did they play any role in this process?
DB:
Helmet with Hermit Card Image
Oh, yes! The color choices are also really important.
For example, placing gray around only half of the Hermit (disappearing into a vanishing point) is another intentional choice.
I am planning to make a little informational booklet about each card and give it away with every helmet so that the people who buy the helmets can understand the fantastic symbolism of the images that they have chosen.
MG:
Did you get inspired by any particular card when this idea came into your mind? If so, which card was it?
DB:
Oh yes! It was The Magician card. He has all these resources on his table which he is using. And the infinity sign on top of his head – its like there are an infinite number of possibilities with the things you have in front of you.
MG:
Wow! The Magician is the card that does always talk about creative inspiration and creation. In fact, many creative people often use the image to help them find focus and bursts of creativity within their lives and work. I know I always pull out this card and look at it and carry it around with me, whenever I feel myself losing focus.
DB:
That is very interesting. But, funnily enough, it wasn’t The Magician which was my first helmet painting.
MG:
Then, which was the first card you painted on a helmet?
DB:
It was actually The Wheel of Fortune card. And I had some pretty interesting experiences with that image, let me tell you.
MG:
Really? Like what?
DB:
When I first started my company I created a Wheel of Fortune card for this psychic I met at a craft fair. I made it for free so I could meet with her to discuss tarot cards. Once I created it I kept getting tons of orders. When I went to meet her to give it to her my wallet was stolen from me on the subway. I actually lost some money when I was giving away the lucky helmet. Who knows what to attribute this to?
MG:
Oh yeah! I have had that experience with The Wheel! It is a crazy merry-go-round alright!
DB:
Tell me about it!
Danielle and I chatted for a few more minutes after that exchanging our experiences with the cards.
My Take:
Helmet with Fool Card Image
Personally, I found this whole concept quite fascinating – imagine you are going to work and then you spot a helmet with the picture of The Magician card, and then you go to work feeling great and experiencing a burst of creative energy within you! Or seeing the picture of The Hermit card while you go back home from school, and finding that peaceful, solitary place to sit down and grasp some complicated lessons you learnt at school…
The possibilities of the sightings of these symbols is endless – and will only add to the powerful symbolism that surrounds us in our lives everyday! In fact, something like this makes us sit up and take notice of these symbols – which otherwise just go away unnoticed because we just didn’t look.
When I do get me one of these helmets, I plan on getting one with The Fool card .. We have quite an interesting bond, The Fool and I..
This year began with a bang for me! After waiting for 6 years, my immigration visa interview came through and I am finally on my way to USA to meet my family, live with my Mom (till I find my own accommodation) and generally give my career as a fiction writer some right mileage.
But before I launch into all that, let’s have a look at some interesting number facts that I noticed along the way…
My final interview date was set on the 31st of December, 2008. Add it all up: 3+1+1+2+2+8 = 17 which adds to an 8. Then, my interview was conducted in a cubicle numbered 9. If you add up 8 and 9, you again get 17, which, adds up to an 8. I was the 8th last one from among the whole lot of people to be called in for the interview (the Gujrati (!!) lady next to me was keeping count!) 🙂
Interesting! Well, I was born on the 8th of Jan…. and I have often observed how this number and it’s half (the 4) keeps popping up in my life on and off for all the strangest of reasons.
My flight is booked for the 28th of Jan, 2009. Add these up and you can see that 2+8+1+2+9 = 22 which adds up to a 4! I live in a flat numbered 4.
I am going to live with my mom for some time, before I can figure things out in the USA. Her house number is 305 (another 8)!!
So, with all these numbers going around, let’s have a look at the year to come: 2009. This year adds up to 11 or 2. So, let’s examine these numbers with regards to our cards.
Beginning with the Major Arcana:
Key XI : Justice.
This one is the actual number that this year adds up to. The Justice card, among other things, talks about decisions – taking decisions, making decisions (oh, yes, there is a difference between them two!) and about Karmic Justice. This is the kind of open-eyed Justice, where all is seen and heard, and then action is taken with all the pros and cons in mind. The main feature of this card is also inherent in the pair of scales which she holds in her left hand – Balance, and the sword she holds in her right hand – Logic.
She is often likened to Themis, the Greek Goddess of Justice, or to Ma’at, the Egyptian Goddess of Justice. And in keeping with the qualities ascribed to both these Goddesses, she takes logical and balanced decisions, weighing all her actions and thoughts in accordance with the Universal Law of Karma.
My Prediction:
This is a year when all things will even out – Karmic Debts will be repaid and decisions will be taken with an even-handed, action-oriented, long-term perspective and an objective vision.
Key II: The High Priestess.
The High Priestess card is often held to be the most powerful card in the entire deck – simply because it is full of deep symbolism, and because it shows the inner sanctum of the Divine Feminine.
She is often likened to Persephone or to Isis, and sometimes even to the female Pope. The High Priestess is the perfect picture of the balance that one can achieve within the Duality of everything.
She is the inner self – the unconscious force which holds all the secrets concealed within her psyche. She is the representation of inner wisdom and intuition. She is the stillness before creation.
She simply is – and there is no disputing that fact.
My Prediction:
Taking forward the tone set by the Justice card, this year will also be one where focus will be drawn within – our souls, our inner worlds and our inner wisdom. Intuition and instinct will rule the decisions which will be made and taken. Although stillness will be the norm, it will foster new thoughts and ideas which will be waiting to germinate and sprout out into form (in the next year!)
Key XX: Judgement
The Judgement card talks of redemption – a redemption from the cycles of Karmic action. This is a card indicating freedom and release. Typically depicting a scene from the ‘Judgement Day’ scenario, this card signifies a movement forward on the Karmic ladder – where one transcends the flow of material life and moves into the spiritual form.
My Prediction:
Adding to the tone of the message from the Justice and The High Priestess cards, the Judgement card tells me that for those among us who ‘hear the wake-up call’, our intuitions will guide us along the right paths – helping us take and make decisions with a strong will power, and creating situations from where maintaining and generating Karmic balances will lead us on to a place where we will be free from struggles and transcend towards redemption. The key theme of this year will be Forgiveness.
So, after all these deep, heavy, top-level things, what will our everyday lives be all about? Let’s look at the Minors for that.
So, Moving On To The Minor Arcana:
2 of Wands:
This card from the Suit of Wands talks clearly about careers, work and seeking opportunities. This man standing on the terrace of his house, dressed in fine clothes, looks on to the sprawling ocean in front of him, while holding on to a wand in one hand and a globe in another.
This card talks of how the world has indeed become a small place. We don’t really suffer from the ‘frog in the pond’ syndrome anymore – rather, we have now begun to question ourselves more about our self-created perceptions of that pond. To me, this card is now raising the following questions:
How would you described your pond?
Do you want to explore another pond?
Or do you want to remain in your own pond and be satisfied and content with what you have?
My Prediction:
Many of us will face these questions in different aspects of our lives – especially, our careers, and in any other area of life, where our desires and passions – our fire energy – comes into play.
2 of Swords:
This is a card which talks of choices and decisions. In this picture, we see a woman holding two swords in her hand, while crossing her hands across her chest. She has a blindfold on her eyes, and she cannot see. We also see a crescent moon in the sky, and a water body behind her. She is faced with decisions (remember the Justice card?) – but she also wants to protect her own heart from the consequences of these decisions. Perhaps, she is also afraid to see what lies ahead of her, and so she has chosen to be, or to remain blindfolded. There are choices available to her, but she knows, that she has no one else to rely on, except for her own intuition. She knows that no matter what decision she takes, she is liable to face the consequences.
My Prediction:
Many of us will find ourselves at cross-roads and at cross-purposes this year. Taking and making decisions will rule our minds – choices will be available: between a rock and a hard place, or between the devil and the deep blue sea. Take your pick! But the main questions that abound will be: ‘Should I choose now?’ and ‘Can I choose now?’. No matter how logical it may or may not sound, it is Intuition which will rule over the mind in the next year.
[Psst: Note how her sitting pose is strikingly similar to the Goddess in the Justice card and the High Priestess card!]
2 of Pentacles:
This card from the Suit of Pentacles shows a young man dressed up in clothes which look funny, but he is definitely not laughing. He is juggling two pentacles within a lemniscate – with boats going up and down on the waves right behind him. The whole juggling the pentacles business is exactly how many of us are going to manage our money this year.
My Prediction:
Many of us will spend time in an endless juggling match – trying to do this thing and that, trying to keep things going. And while this is going on, the emotional ups and downs in the background are not going to ease up on us…Add to this mix the whole career-questions raised in the 2 of Wands and the choices presented to us in the 2 of Swords, this year promises to be one filled with a seemingly endless up and down financial see-saw.
2 of Cups
This card seems to be the most promising one of all. Here, we see a young man and a young woman meeting each other and exchanging cups. Above them rises the face of a lion with wings and a caduceus – passion and healing, combined with an exchange of emotions.
My Prediction:
Many of us will find friends or lovers or significant others in this year. It will be a relationship where the key feature will be sharing of emotions which brings about healing and then leads on to passion.
Alternatively, this card also shows a harmonious partnership at the workplace or business. This kind of partnership is sustainable and creates a positive feel at the workplace.
Some of us may also experience a harmony coming about within the male and female parts of their psyche (the Animus and the Anima).
So, To Sum It All Up…
This year looks good with regards to taking and making balanced and logical decisions – in fact, the favorable decisions made in this year will be those which have been taken with the gut instinct / intuition in consultation. Similarly, in the different aspects of life choices, decisions, harmony and adjustment are the key themes which abound.
Perhaps nothing substantial may occur this year, but this is the year where the foundations are going to be laid out for the fruits of next year. So it is extremely important and essential that things be done right this time!
And so I leave you with a quote from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (Act IV, Scene III), which is something which I always follow in my life:
First off, let me apologize for writing a post after such a long time….
Lately, the world’s been buzzing about with books and videos related to creative visualization and manifestation of your desires. All this has taken off especially after ‘The Secret’ came out in the market. And now the sequel to the book has also come out (titled ‘Law of Attraction’) and it is creating quite a buzz too….
Let me start by telling you all that the video of ‘The Secret’ was one of the most amazing videos I have seen in a verrry long time…
So, back to the post….I have been experimenting with Creative Visualization and Manifestation for quite some time now. Back when I began experiencing these moments, I didn’t have these nice names for it – it began as a process of simply making a wish, and seeing it come true in front of your eyes. Of course, back then, I felt as if something tremendously magical was happening to me…Now I know that it is still magical, but there is a process and so forth to it…the video simply seemed to put things in the right perspective for me….
So, how can you use the Tarot cards for this process of Creative Visualization? There is a very simple process quite like a meditation with the card. Here is how it goes…
Choose a card which resonates with what your wish, and your desire is. Hold it in your hand. Watch the card closely and close your eyes. Try to recreate the image of that card in front of your closed eyes. Open your eyes after some time, and see if you got all the details correct. And then close your eyes again. Now visualize that these details from the card are actually manifesting or happening all around you. It is almost as if the card is materializing all around you. Stay in that image / visualization for as long as it takes for you to feel right at home in it. Then, slowly imagine that the elements of that card are dissolving in the reality around you, and that the energy of those elements is now getting transformed into your desired outcome (which has to be in resonance with the card you have chosen, of course). And then slowly open your eyes…
If you want to, you can even choose 2 or more cards if you want a certain situation to manifest. But for a start, you can choose just one card, and then work your way up to more.
However, a few words of caution / wisdom here: Choose something which is in alignment with the forces of Nature, and make sure you follow the ‘Harm None’ philosophy. Otherwise your manifestations could just bombard you in a way you may have not imagined it and things can end up going crazily out of control for you….
So, I leave you with the card I am going to meditate with for now…
Card from Osho Zen Tarot Deck. Card from Rider-Waite-Smith Deck.
The Large Hadron Collider has been in the news lately for all sorts of reasons. So, today, I decided to have a look at the Wikipedia page about it here. Fascinating read!
To be honest, all the technical stuff kinda went over my head (yeah, well, that’s why I am no scientist!) – But then the ‘Purpose’ section of the Wikipedia page made me stop, think and wonder. Apparently, among other things, this machine will help Mankind understand so many different concepts and theories – all relating to the creation of the Universe itself!
All the people, especially those from the scientific community are obviously very excited about this – and of course there are those doomsayers who think that this experiment may pose a danger to the world itself.
Creation.
The one word that has inspired many books, concepts, theories, ideas, philosophies, myths and even religions – why are we so curious (often to the point of being obsessive) about how things began?
What does any person think that the beginning of anything will really reveal?
How does the BEGINNING of anything make any difference to what that thing IS NOW – or for that matter how it ENDS?
An interesting thought – considering that everything that ends must have begun somewhere and unless it begins, it simply cannot end. But it is sure that creation and destruction are both, equally inevitable parts of every single thing that IS.
In Hindu Mythology, there are 3 Gods who are associated with these different aspects of existing – Brahma is the Creator, Vishnu is the Protector, and Shiva is the Destructor. These 3 Gods form a Trinity, to keep everything going. And as per the Divine plan, everything begins remains and ends – apparently all at the same time – simultaneously.
Will knowing how the Earth or even the Universe began really make so much of a difference to Mankind – or is he just satisfying his innate inherent curiosity – and that’s all there is to it?
Or is Mankind waiting for some kind of a revelation to happen at the end of this discovery?
What does Man hope to gain from finding out how it all began? Is it a quest for Glory? Or is it for attaining the honor of becoming a God?
Will that satisfy the thirst?
When we find the Beginning will the search End?
You know what I think: I think that we all exist because of our will to exist and if that will went away, then everything will cease to exist.
It reminds me of something I saw when I meditated once: I had been sitting for some time watching the darkness in front of my eyes and feeling the tingling in my body. And then in the darkness there was a voice that asked: ‘Who Am I?’ And so a blue dot began to take form in that darkness – and it grew and it grew till it covered everything. It was all water, I think, rippling and flowing – and it was almost as if the question had stirred up echoes of reverberations all inside it and on the surface of it. And when each part of that flowing liquid resonated and asked the same question, the cacophony of sounds grew and grew till the whole thing exploded because of the sound. All those particles – each and every one of them – wanted to find out, individually (of course!), who they were! And they all began to move around and began to take shape and form – trying to find their identity in this and that – trying to find out whether this was who they were or that was who they were. They changed their shape and size and form and design – but the answer still eluded them. So they kept on going and going – because each shape and size and form and design – gave them no way, no method and no means of reaching any satisfactory conclusion. The more they changed, the more they began to become more confused about who they were. Soon it came to a point that they even began to forget what the question was in the first place. And it became commonplace for them to keep on changing their form from one thing to the next – completing a life-cycle every single time. And soon, the world (as we know it), began to take form. And then these particles began to become trees and birds and animals and then human beings. They liked becoming human beings – because they could now find several means of expressing their ideas, their thoughts, their concepts and their new questions. So they continued to remain more and more in this human form – they somehow thought that it was the most superior form that they had ever achieved. They were pleased with themselves. But then again, they realized that this form was not quite satisfactory too. Meanwhile, a few among them began to look deeper and probe more and more within themselves. They began to ask more and more questions. All these questions were about the same thing – how did it all begin? And the most important question of all – who were they? And so it all came full circle – and Mankind was besieged by this question – ‘Who Am I?’ Some of them have been able to ‘crack the code’ as it were – and then they supposedly merged with the Supreme. In my meditation, I saw that some of these became glowing blue dots and then some of them, the rare ones, just simply disappeared and started to form the darkness all over again.
And one day, it all went back to becoming the glowing blue dots, and then found its way back to the darkness – of course, only till the next time that a voice asks, yet again: ‘Who Am I?’
And as I moved far away from this, I saw that there were many such blue globes floating around in this darkness – each and every single one of them in different stages of this process. And each particle within each globe asking the same question: ‘Who Am I?’
Creation, Preservation, Destruction – all of them carry within them the seeds of the other. Everything came from the darkness and will go back there to rise once again – in the endless search for the elusive answer.
And this is not the first time this story has occurred. It has happened again and again and will keep on happening for ever.
Nothing is Everything and Everything is Nothing. Everything comes from Nothing – Nothing creates Everything. And then Everything turns into Nothing.
As I came out of this meditation, I realized that either of two things could be possible: that I had a really fantastic imagination (yeah, well…) and that what I saw was REAL.
So I decided that it was really great to JUST BE and ENJOY THE HERE AND NOW and stop chasing the elusive answer. Perhaps that is just the answer.
I AM. AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.
Reminds you about the symbolism of the Number Zero [ 0 ] – The Fool Card and The World Card – both merged together – doesn’t it!
Continuing my trend for looking at things from the other way round (as with the Minor Arcana cards), here I am trying to look at the journey of the Major Arcana Cards from the other way round, -i.e.- from The World to The Fool.
Sounds interesting? Well, then, click here to read on.
The Cathar Tarot is a new deck that will be released on the 20th of December, 2016. I recieved a copy of The Cathar Tarot from the deck publishers in return for a honest review.
The cards are approximately 3 inches wide and 4.5 inches tall, and have rounded edges. The card stock itself is pretty thick, and so the entire deck is a bit of a thicker pile compared to, say, the Universal Waite Tarot Card Deck.
The back design is pretty, and features the Cathar seal. This is a part of the armorial bearings of the Counts of Toulouse and can be seen in the Languedoc region of France, where the Cathars had their final stronghold. This design is therefore also known as the ‘Cathar Cross’.
The deck is accompanied by a 112-page full color illustrated book.
I think it is such an interesting turn of fate that we get drawn to wanting to learn Tarot Card Reading right when we are in the middle of something else, you know, like Life. 🙂 So there we are, wanting to learn Tarot Card Reading while pursuing studies, or working a full-time job, or raising kids.
This list has been compiled with a lot of thought. I’ve either read / written every book / article / resource that I’ve mentioned over here. That is one reason why this list cannot, in any way, be complete. I still have many books sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read. And there are only so many hours in the day when I can read. So, while this list may be big and exhaustive, it is by no means complete. I promise though, that I will keep adding to it as and when I get to reading / writing those books and blog articles. Promise.
All the cards have numbers on them. Naturally, that makes it easier for us to connect them with the occult art of numbers – Numerology.
The mystical and esoteric elements within Judaism are called 
