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The Keeper of Words
Legend - The Arthurian Tarot
author: Anna-Marie Ferguson
Llewellyn Worldwide
1995/2003
ISBN #1-56718-266-6
The Keeper of Words is the companion book to Legend - The Arthurian Tarot (Anna-Marie Ferguson). I wish that I had gotten the book when I got the deck. This is one of my e-bay errors - I thought I was bidding on both, but I didn't read the fine print! ;-) I love the deck, which can certainly be used without the book as a reference, but the book adds immeasurable depth to readings with these cards.
Ferguson is a thoughtful, well spoken writer, and presents a thoroughly researched seaming of the Arthurian legend and the traditional Tarot. The title, The Keeper of Words, derives from the legend itself. Percivale, in some versions of the Arthurian legend, is a descendent of the Grail Guardians. After he achieves his quest, he fulfills his destiny in becoming custodian of the sacred words. The Grail King dubs Percivale as "The Keeper of Words", or "The Keeper of the High Word".
In defining the Major and Minor Arcana, Ferguson references the role of the Major Arcana as the "Gate Keepers of Higher Knowledge", and the role of the Minor Arcana as being that of "helping to bring a reading into focus". The symbolism in this deck is many-fold: it comes from Traditional Tarot, from the pre-Christian Pagan symbolism of the Arthurian times, and from the Christian symbolism of the Grail quest.
One comment made is that the reader will find in a reading what they need to find at that time - that the meaning of the symbols will alter slightly with each reading given, dependent on the situation being read for and the place that the Seeker is in their life path. I think students of Tarot need to take this to heart! Ferguson also makes the point that through myth we can access universal truths with great ease through symbols and archetypes. Think of the children's stories that frequented your childhood, and then think of how you view those stories now. The many layers become part of our psyche from the time we are able to form a personal understanding of what the "pictures" (symbols) mean to us.
The design on the back of the cards is known as "Julian's Bower", an actual maze found on a hillside in Lincolnshire, England. The dragon depicted on the face card of Legend - The Arthurian Tarot is the emblem of the Fellowship of the Round Table, with the dragon symbolically representing the primal energies of mother earth. Ferguson adds that Arthur's father, Uther, took the name Pendragon, indicating "Head Dragon", of "Foremost Leader", with the thought that perhaps the dragon symbolically represented chieftains or overlords. Of great interest to me was the presentation of the Celtic Cross spread, with Apple boughs, considered Otherworldly and held sacred by the Celts, being used to note the seasons of the year in the spread, as they surround the Tree of Life.
Each card in this deck corresponds with a person, place or activity from the Arthurian legend. The card, and its accompanying symbolism, is to be taken in the context of the moment in which it is presented, and not with the overlaying of the final "outcome" of the legend. Traditional titles are placed at the top of the cards, with the person, place or activity from the Arthurian legend placed on the bottom of the card. The cards are presented in the book with black and white scans, following the pattern of: Meaning, Reversed Meaning, Description and Symbolism, followed by a synopsis of the action taking place within the card. From the book:
9. The Hermit
ruled by Virgo
Lancelot In Exile
Meaning:
A need for solitude. Caring for the soul. Recuperating and slowly centering one's self. Cherishing time alone. Examining ones true feelings. Consulting the wisdom within. A need to pay close attention to dreams and the poignant teachings that they can embody.
Traditionally, the Hermit can represent a meeting with a wise person who may aid one's search, but ultimately the answers one seeks must found within; only then can they be fully realized.
Reversed:
Rejecting assistance from others. Fear and suspicion of the outside world prevents worthwhile interactions. An unwillingness to explore new ideas. The search for self knowledge has been hampered by brooding and depression. Dismissing sound advice.
Description and Symbolism:
Lancelot flees the turmoil of court life. The forest symbolizes a safe and private environment in which to recuperate. Here, resembling a wild-man, he is free. Dropping all masks and pretenses he is closer to his true self and can begin his search of the soul.
The roots of the tree symbolize a need to examine the health of one's foundation in order to find what has been weakened by neglect. In the stillness of the Hermit we tend to the needs of the mind and soul - for when the strong winds blow it is the strength of the roots that ensures the tree's survival.
Lancelot carries a torch in his left hand, indicating the subconscious at work, guiding and illuminating the way. This is a reminder to watch for the insights carried in dreams.
The spring depicted in the painting lies in the west country of England; it is believed to be of great antiquity and today carries the name of St. Andrew's Well. Many spring's were thought to have curative powers, and here, deep within the tangled forest, Lancelot finds the door that guards the sacred spring. This symbolizes a return to a long forgotten source of inspiration and spiritual fulfillment.
Lancelot in Exile:
Lancelot du Lac was the flower of chivalry; a role model to many knights and the passion of many women.
King Pelles had a beautiful daughter, known as Elaine of Corbenic, who was desperately in love with Lancelot. Unlike the other women of the court, Elaine was not deterred by Lancelot's love for the queen. Any chance they could be together lay with the magical arts of Elaine's lady-in-waiting. Brison was an enchantress who foresaw that the child of Lancelot and Elaine's union, Galahad, could benefit the land. And so Brison led Lancelot to Elaine's chambers and there made him believe that Guinevere awaited inside.
As Lancelot lay with Elaine, Guenevere sent her lady-in-waiting to fetch him. When the maid reported that she found his bed cold, Guenevere flew into a rage. Suspecting Elaine, she raced to her chambers, where the two were found sleeping. In her fury, Guenevere banished them both from the court. It was only then that Lancelot realized that he had been deceived (or so he said). Lancelot was so grieved by Guenevere's words that he fell to the floor in a swoon. On awakening, he was quite out of his wits. Wearing only a shirt, he leapt out of the window and into the protection of the forest.
For two years Lancelot remained in the sanctuary of the woods, running with the animals and feeding on berries. The Knights of the Round Table searched for their friend to no avail. Though there were sightings, no one recognized the wild man as Lancelot du Lac until Elaine came upon him sleeping by a well. She immediately sent news of her find to King Pelles - guardian of the Grail. And so, by the virtue of the Grail, Lancelot's mind was healed.
Three spreads are included in this book: the Celtic Cross (which also has a sample reading); the Astrological Spread and the Horseshoe Spread. In her choice of spreads, Ferguson has gifted readers with a wide range of tools with which to approach the Tarot.
I highly recommend both book and deck - bought together! The gifts and symbolism carried within this myth/legend are far reaching. It is an excellent deck for any use, by students of all levels of Tarot understanding. Whether used for personal reading, reading for others, meditation, ritual/ceremony or dream work - this book and deck are wonderful tools of empowerment.
The 2-Hour Tarot Tutor
review by Bonnie Cehovet, TM
author: Wilma Carroll
Penguin Books
2004
ISBN #0-425-19618-6
"The 2-Hour Tarot Tutor" is being promoted as a revolutionary method for learning to read the Tarot cards in two hours. I tend to raise my eyebrows at promotions like this, as I am sure do many other Tarot readers. To be honest - the method of reading taught here is not revolutionary, it is one that has been in use for many years now ... one of many diverse methods for reading the Tarot. One can reference the work of Tarot wise-woman Mary K. Greer (starting with her work "Tarot For Yourself"), as well as the work of Tarot Passages web-mistress Diane Wilkes, who practices (and teaches) the story telling technique.
I think that one of the major differences between Carroll's work and that of other Tarot teachers is that she starts with the picture symbolism technique, and has her students work with that before she presents any other kind of Tarot background. Her work then becomes a starting place for further Tarot study, and for that it has merit.
The prompt for Carroll to write "The 2-Hour Tarot Tutor" is certainly a valid one (although no author needs to be "validated" before they write!), and that is the frustration of individuals coming to her as students - frustration based on the overwhelming amount of information they were finding in their Tarot books, and their inability to do what they perceived as the "right" thing - to memorize the meanings of the cards.
Her advise to them - put the books away, and take the cards out. In her introduction, Carroll advises that the key to Tarot is looking at the pictures on the cards, not at the books. While I can agree that it is important for both the reader and the Seeker to connect with the cards through their pictorial symbolism, I also believe that before a reader can wander off in their own personal direction(s), they should ground themselves fully in whichever school of Tarot they find the greatest connection to. Without a good foundation, the house of cards that the reader builds is apt to fold in the slightest breeze.
The "2-Hour" in "The 2-Hour Tarot Tutor" refers to the procedure employed to get to know the cards - not the time that it takes to read the book! ;-) Students are asked to go through all 78 cards, and jot down what they see. They are asked to do this before they read the book, before they go into spreads, before they read the possible meanings for the cards. This procedure is what takes two hours. "Say what you see" becomes the modus operandi for working with the cards, and there certainly is truth in that. Just because something does not make sense to the reader, it does not mean that it won't hit home with the Seeker.
"Say what you see" sets the storyline for each reading. To the point that, in interpreting Tarot spreads, Carroll advises students to not place too much importance on the position definitions - to just read the story, card by card. The reason that we use spreads is because they set down a foundation for answering a specific question or delving into a specific issue. It is through layering the foundation of the spread over the basic meaning of the cards that the story begins to unfold, and the questions answered.
The actual presentation of this book is done in a commendable fashion - through personal anecdotes, and the use of sample readings (complete with interpretations). In this manner the student can actually follow along and "see" how Carroll came to her conclusions, and start to identify with the life situations being discussed. One quibble that I have is that Carroll feels that male Seeker's tend to be more doubtful than female Seeker's - that has not been my personal experience. My other quibble would be Carroll's consistent referral to "trade secrets" and "what other readers say/do". A good example of this would be the following:
"Reading Tarot cards is really very easy. All you have to do is "look at the cards and say what you see!" By simply looking at the cards, you are making intuitive connections with them. The cards speak in a language of symbols. If you look at the cards, the images actually do talk to you.
This is a truly revolutionary technique. I break all the rules. And here is a trade secret: So do "all" the really "good" readers. They are not following the standard rules either."
Carroll presents a section called "Are We Having Fun Yet?" that could really serve as an FAQ for beginning Tarot readers. She addresses issues such as the meaning of the Death card, reversed cards, cutting the deck, care of Tarot decks, what Tarot does, a light version of Tarot history, the four suits, wording questions, timing, casting spells with the Tarot ... and much more.
She also presents several different Tarot spreads, along with sample readings and interpretations. Included in the spreads are the Celtic Cross and an Advanced Celtic Cross spread; a very interesting Seven Triplets spread; a Horoscope spread and an Advanced Horoscope spread; a Five by Five (Month by Month) spread; a One Year spread; several versions of the Past/Present/Future spread; several versions for Yes/No Questions; the Horseshoe Spread; and Wilma Carroll's Party Spread.
At the end of the book there is a section where the cards are presented (using the Rider-Waite deck), using black and white scans followed by "Possible Meanings", "Possible Meanings in Combinations and/or Positions", and a space left for notes. From the book:
"The Magician"
"Possible Meanings: corporate or political leadership, decision maker, executive ability, power, willpower, skill, mastery, self-confidence
Possible Meanings in Combinations and/or Positions: Near the 5 of Wands, it may mean corporate politics; near the 7 of Wands it may mean political power struggles; in the 1st House of the Horoscope Spread, it may mean a strong, powerful, or controlling individual.
Notes and/or Observations"
What has been addressed in this book is the core of Tarot - the ability to see the story in the cards and relate this story to the Seeker. I think this is a scary thing for many Tarot readers when they are first learning the craft. There really are no rules for "how" this is done! While I do not agree with everything presented in this book (and disagreeing only means that I hold another point of view, after all), I feel that this is a book worth reading. It acts as a reference for some highly usable Tarot spreads, as well as basic card meanings, and could be a great help to those new to Tarot, or those that are currently struggling to find the "story" in the cards.
One last word - I love charts, graphs and templates, and Carroll has gifted the reader with several well done worksheets for keeping track of specific spreads that have been done. I have to give credit where credit is due!
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Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master, and Reiki Master/Teacher.
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Bonnie Cehovet is a Tarot Master, professional Tarot reader and Reiki Master/Teacher.
Bonnie has been reading the Tarot professionally for over ten years. She has served in various capacities with the American Tarot Association, including Secretary and Web Assistant For Links. She is currently Certification Director and Secretary for the American Board For Tarot Certification. Bonnie is also a founding member of the World Tarot Network.
Bonnie has had her work published in the ATA newsletter, in Geraldine Amaral's "Celebrating The Tarot" print newsletter, on the World Tarot Network and other internet sites. She is editor for her own monthly newsletter "Gateway To Tarot" (Yahoo Groups).
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