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Reviews: Tarot Decks
Tarot & Cartomancy
Deck & Book Reviews
by Bonnie Cehovet, TE
Tarot Master
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The Kabbalah Deck
Pathway To The Soul
reviewed by Bonnie Cehovet,TE
author: Edward Hoffman
illustrator: Mickie Caspi
Chronicle Books LLC
2000
ISBN #0-8118-2732-1
This is one of the most gracious decks that I have ever seen. Very understated, it serves its purpose well. The companion book is well written, and speaks with a very humble voice. For over twenty years Edward Hoffman has written on the subject of Judaism, in such books as "The Way of Splendor", "The Heavenly Ladder", and "opening the Inner Gates". He has written on the Kabbalah in connection with meditation, self-examination, and dreamwork, with a focus on actualizing inner potential.
The "Kabbalah Deck" is a working synopsis of the Jewish wisdom tradition of Kabbalah. It was written with two purposes in mind: contemplation and sacred study, and divination. It allows the student to thoroughly explore this mystical system, and to put it to work in daily life in a way that allows personal growth, as well as personal fulfillment. This is in no small part due to the work of people like psychologist Carl Jung, theologian Martin Buber, and theorist Abraham Maslow. Through their influence spirituality has become accepted by mainstream society as an authentic aspect of human nature.
Each card is presented in the accompanying book with the Hebrew letter, the English name, and a short discussion. From the book:
Aleph
For Jewish mystics, it's no accident that Aleph begins the first of God's holy names in the Bible - Elohim - as well as the traditional esoteric name for God, known as the "Ein Sof" (Infiinite), whose supernal vastness and strength lie beyond all comprehension. Yet, as the Hassidic founder, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liady, declared, every soul "naturally yearns to separate itself from the body in order to unite with its origin and source ... the fountainhead of all life." For any Kabbalistic discussion of space, time, and human existence in the cosmos, the Ein Sof is the fundamental concept.
To bring greater energy into your sphere of daily activity, meditate upon the letter Aleph. It's especially useful to do so when embarking on a new project or venture in your life. When Aleph appears in a divinatory spread, its message is that you need to overcome inertia or oomph - particularly of a creative sort - is currently essential.
There is an excellent preface to the 10 Sefira that discusses the layout of the Tree of Life, the triads that make it up (Keter, Hokhmah, and Binah; Hesed, Gevurah, and Tiferet; Netzach, Hod, and Yesod), the shadow vessel of Daat, and the Sefirah Malkut that completes the Tree.
At the end of the accompanying book are several exercises that allow the student to work with the cards for divinatory and meditative purposes.
The deck itself is made up of 35 cards - 22 cards representing the Hebrew alphabet, 10 cards representing the 10 Sefirot of the kabbalistic Tree of Life, and three "blank" cards bearing the symbol of the "Hamseh" - a hand shaped talisman with an eye in the center that is said to bring good luck. These cards are to be used as extra cards if the same letter is required more than once to spell out a Hebrew name.
Exercises are given for meditating on the cards to allow the student to: experience their energy; work with the five other letters to strengthen ones own spirituality; meditate upon each of the 10 Sefirah; work with a "card a day" in an effort to understand the essence of each day; work with a "card a week" in order to understand the tone of the following week; seek guidance in reference to livelihood, relationships and love; messages for Rosh Hoshana, Passover, and the Hebrew Year; receive birthday messages; understand the energy of your spiritual name; work with Hebrew words as inspiration; work with a group focused on spiritual sharing; work on nurturing a family or group; begin a new enterprise; prepare to travel; work with letting go (completing unfinished business); discover your spiritual timeline; work with your dreams; find balance in a moment of crisis; accept a moment of opportunity.
There is an appendix covering Hebrew words of inspiration, including numerical values for Hebrew letters, and an in-depth list of resources.
The cards themselves are 3 1/4" by 5", made of heavy, quality, non-glossy card stock. The backs are black and gold, with a 1/4" gold border, followed by a dotted black border, then a solid black border. In the middle of the card we there is a pentagram, with an eye in the middle. Over and under the pentagram is the glyph of a fish. Lacy black lines form a patchwork surrounding the pentagram and fish. The face of the cards is stark white. On the cards representing the 22 Hebrew letters, we find the name of the letter, in fine gold lettering, at the top of the card. In the bottom third of the card is the Hebrew letter itself, in heavy gold. On the 10 cards that represent the 10 Sefirot, we see ten circles, in fine gold, laid out in the Tree of Life format. In the center of each circle, in fine gold letters, is the name of the Sefirah. The Sefirah that is being represented is in solid gold, with the name in Hebrew and English lettering at the bottom of the card.
This deck and book will work well for anyone, whatever their faith. The simplicity of the cards, and the well written text, combine with the exercises to forge paths to inner understanding and wisdom that bring a great sense of peace. From my personal point of view, this system would also work well in conjunction with other meditation/divination systems, such as the Tarot.
© October 2005
Astro Mythological
review by Bonnie Cehovet, TE
author: unnkown
illustrator: unknown
Publisher: Grimaud
Date of Publication: Unknown
It is quite interesting how this deck came into my life - it found me, I did not go looking for it. It was on a lengthy list of decks and books looking for new homes, and it literally called out to me. I looked through the deck, and was left with the impression of a colorful deck filled with symbolism. I was also left with the impression that this would not be an easy deck to read with. What I did not anticipate was that this would not be an easy deck to review!
While this deck is listed on the front of the box as being "by" Mlle Lenormand, the instructions are not by her. The artist for the deck is unknown, and the date of publication is not listed anywhere on the box or in the accompanying LWB (Little White Book), which is in both English and French. The publisher is the only thing that is a known quantity! This is one of four decks connected with Mlle Lenormand, and I believe it is the only deck to contain 54 cards (52 reading cards and 2 cards that represent the person being read for - one male and one female card).
The 52 reading cards are related to the four playing card suits of Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, and Spades. The number one through ten, and the Jack, Queen, and King from each suit appear on the cards, in the upper left hand corner, as a small picture. In the middle of the upper half of the card is a diagram of a constellation of stars. In the upper right hand side of the card appears a letter from the alphabet. The picture under this shows a scene from mythology, an under that a picture of varying types of flowers, with pictures on either side that elaborate on the symbolism and cartomantic meaning of the card.
The 52 cards of t his deck are divided into five categories:
1. The Conquest of the Golden Fleece, which represents business, consists of the Nine and Ten of Diamonds; the Ace, Four, Nine, and King of Clubs.
2. The Trojan War, which represents the right of the strong over the weak, consists of the Five, Six and Ten of Clubs; the Two and Nine of Spades; the Jack of Diamonds; and the Six, Seven, and Ten of Hearts.
3. Hermetic Knowledge, which represents marriage, consists of the Seven of Spades; the Three of Cups; the Four and Eight of Clubs; and the Six, Seven of Hearts.
4. The Unexpected, consists of the Two, Jack, and Queen of Clubs; the Ace, Two, Six, Seven and King of Diamonds; the Ace, Two, Three, Five, Eight and King of Hearts; and the Three, Four, Ten, Queen and King of Spades.
5. The Signs of the Zodiac, which represent the sequence of time, are:
* Jack of Hearts/The Ram (Aries)/Masculine/15-20 years/30 days
* Ace of Spades/The Bull (Taurus)/Feminine/20-25 years/60 days
* Three of Diamonds/Gemini/Masculine/25-30 years/90 days
* Nine of Clubs/Cancer/Feminine/30-35 years/120 days
* Nine of Hearts/The Lion/Masculine/35-40 years/150 days
* Queen of Hearts/The Virgin/Feminine/40-45 years/180 days
* Jack of Spades/Scales/Masculine/45-50 years/210 days
* Five of Diamonds/The Scorpion/Feminine/50-55 years/240 days
* Five of Spades/The Archer/Masculine/55-60 years/270 days
* Seven of Clubs/Capricorn/Feminine/60-65 years/300 days
* Eight of Diamonds/Aquarius/Masculine/65-70 years/330 days
* Four of Hearts/Pisces/Feminine/70-75 years/360 days
There are very explicit instructions on how the game is to be played. The consultant (Seeker) must shuffle the deck themselves, deal the cards out on the table face down, and draw an odd number of cards face up, which will represent the storyline of the reading. The cards are read in a different manner depending on whether the consultant (Seeker) card is face up or does not appear in the reading.
In an example of how to read the cards using a five card draw, with no consultant card showing, the middle card represents the consultant (Seeker), the influences around them, and the questions and answers that the consultant (Seeker) asks. The two cards on the left hand side are habits of the consultant (Seeker), and future possibilities; the two cards on the right hand side reveal plans, desires, and hopes. Often the flowers on the bottom of the card provide the conclusion of the reading.
The LWB (Little White Book) gives an example for the five card draw above, talks about how it would be read with the consultants card, talks about how it would be read if both the masculine and the feminine consultant card showed face up. An explanation is given showing how to set up a Full Card reading, which uses all cards: ten rows of five cards, and one row of four cards.
There is also a five card spread shown that answers the five main questions that the five categories of cards represent:
1. Business
2. The Right of the Strong Over the Weak
3. Marriage
4. The Unexpected
5. Sequence of Time
The LWB contains a section where an explanation for each of the cards is given. From the book:
King of Clubs
Represents: Man of knowledge who gives good advice.
L.I.: (Phineus, King of Thrace showing the Argonauts the road they should follow): Ask the advice of an old man.
S.I. right: (Rocks and a dove): Precautionary measures should be taken before leaving on a journey.
S.I. left (Also rocks and a dove): Do not journey by plane.
Flowers: Risky plans which nevertheless succeed because of advice given by a rich man.
Under the section on talismans, it is indicated that certain cards show the fate of the consultant (Seeker) to be irrevocable. It is suggested that talismans may be used to counteract the influences of these cards (the Jack of Diamonds; the Two, Six, Eight, and Nine of Spades; and the Six and Ten of Clubs). Talismans are shown with their corresponding cards, and it is suggested that they be copied out and carried with the consultant (Seeker).
Of the four decks under the name of Mlle Lenormand, this is the most difficult to work with. It contains references to geomancy, flower symbolism, numerology, and the meanings of letters and talismans. The stories in the cards are from Greek and Egyptian mythology. The use of the deck is given as understanding the past, analyzing the present, and predicting the future.
The techniques for reading the cards are clearly explained, but they are time consuming, and one would have to pay strict attention to them. This is a deck that could be used for reading by someone who was a student of mythology, and of the esoteric, and understood the nuances of the cards. Other than that, while I find the deck fascinating, I see it more in the collector category than the user category.
© October 2005 |
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Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Educator, Reiki Master/Teacher
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Bonnie Cehovet is a Tarot Educator, a professional Tarot reader with over ten years experience, a Reiki Master/Teacher and a writer. Bonnie holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaii, Manoa campus, and is certified as a Tarot Educator with the American Board For Tarot Certification.
She has served in various capacities with the American Tarot Association, to include Secretary on the ATA Board. She is co-founder of the World Tarot Network, and Vice President (as well as Director of Certification) for the American Board For Tarot Certification.
Her articles and reviews currently appear in the World Tarot Network newsletter (www.worldtarot.com),
The Meta Arts Magazine (www.themetaarts.com),
the Aeclectic Tarot site (www.aeclectic.
net/tarot),
and on her own site,
www.tarot.
thecrystalgate.com.
For the past three years she has edited her own monthly Tarot newsletter - Gateway to Tarot. She also has articles appearing in the 2004 and 2005 "Llewellyn Tarot Reader".
www.americanboard
fortarot certification.org
www.tarot.
thecrystalgate. com |
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