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Reviews: Tarot Decks
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Deck & Book Reviews
by Bonnie Cehovet, TE
Tarot Master
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Tarot Tells the Tale -
Explore Three-Card Readings
Through Familiar Stories
author: James Ricklef
Llewellyn Worldwide
2003
ISBN #0-7387-0272-2
I remember when James first began his "KnightHawk" readings - three-card readings done for characters from history, myth and fiction. Quite frankly, I rolled my eyes when I first heard about the readings - I thought it was a unique hook, but a bit too "cutesy". Then I actually read some of them (they appeared in the ATA newsletter, as well as various other Tarot-related newsletters), and found them to be very well done, entertaining, and a wonderful way to introduce beginning Tarot readers to the concept of a storyline (as opposed to reading individual cards).
"Tarot Tells the Tale" goes far beyond being a mere collection of three-card readings (as interesting as that would be). James has broken the book down into three sections: "Preludes" covers numerological and elemental associations, court cards, finding card meanings, reversed cards, rephrasing the question, three-card spreads, pulling it all together, and ethical considerations. "Three-Card KnightHawk Readings" includes 22 readings, keyed to the 22 cards of the Major Arcana. "A Celtic Cross KnightHawk Tarot Reading" presents a reading, and explanation, using the Celtic Cross spread.
Appendix 1 (Comments on the Seventy-eight Tarot Cards" ) covers each card of the Tarot, with an appropriate quote, keywords, comments on the cards energy, and advice on how the card can be worked with.
Appendix 2 (Card/Reading Cross Reference) lists all of the cards that appeared in each of the readings, and the readings that they appeared in.
The "Bibliography and References" section lists, books and references to where the readings have appeared previously.
The "Prelude" section is a gift to all Tarot students, whatever their level. In discussing numerology, James makes a point of showing how the numbers flow into/build upon each other, as well as presenting their general significance. He discusses how the energy of the numbers shows up in the mechanics of real life, which translates very easily into the "story" of the reading being presented to the Seeker. He does the same thing for the nature of the suits, so that Wands are growth and energy, as well as passion; Cups are reflective and nourishing, as well as flowing; Swords can be weapons or useful tools; and Pentacles relate to safety and security, as well as finances and grounding. The Major Arcana become the "fifth suit", the suit of Spirit.
Court cards become quite interesting when one considers that they carry not only psychological nuances, but that they also carry the energy of their suit and rank. This "suit and rank" stuff becomes an "Aha!" experience when applied to ranking within work or group situations. James also discusses associative meanings for the Court cards, such as Kings and Queens being men or women in the Seeker's environment that are older than they are, while Page's can be seen as a male or female in the Seeker's environment that is younger than they are, with Knight's becoming the Seeker's peers. That should open up quite a few readings! As for the card meanings, James advises studying the meanings developed by others as a way of developing/determining your own meanings.
Reversed cards are broken into the "Five D's": Diminuation, Delay, Denial, Dark Side, and Direction. Reversals are invariably tricky territory, in that they are what they are due to the interaction with the cards surrounding them. Even a small help with identifying them becomes a big help! (I was also impressed with the presentation of a "Reversal Cube", which worked with projection vrs internalization, external blocks vrs internal resistance, and diminution vrs delay.)
The discussion on questions was also very well done, covering how to phrase/rephrase a question; how to move away from "fortunetelling" questions; how to work with timing; how to work with Yes/No questions; rephrasing "should" questions so that the Seeker is empowered, rather than giving up his/her power; third-party questions rephrased to reflect the Seeker's needs; and avoiding questions essentially requesting professional advice (legal/medical/financial).
Now we come to the heart of the book - three-card spreads, and their many variations (Temporal; Levels of Being; Background, Problem, Advice; Progression; Yes/No; Choice; Sandwich; and Miscellaneous spreads). This section shows the reader how to develop their own three-card spreads, and would certainly help to develop a reader's confidence!
One last thing before we get to the readings themselves, and that is the section on the necessity for each individual reader developing their own working set of professional ethics. There is enough information here, presented in a very lucid fashion, that the process of creating a personal Code of Ethics flows quite easily.
I very much enjoyed the readings presented in this book. They begin with a "Banner Headline", the deck that was used for the reading, the question (some of which are quite funny, when you think about the history behind the character doing the asking!), the response, and commentary on the response (a "heads up" as to why each card was read in a certain way). Not everyone will agree with all of the readings, which is their prerogative. If you follow the reasoning in the commentary, it will help even the most seasoned reader break through blocks that they did not even know existed in their own readings.
"Tarot Tells the Tale" is a wonderful teaching book, as well as a highly enjoyable read! The section on the Celtic Cross reading is a fine example of this - breaking down the ten card reading into smaller groups of 2-3 cards that add great depth, as well as alternative ways of explaining the story to the Seeker, who may have become a bit overwhelmed by seeing that many cards in front of them (or perhaps they got stuck on one card and were not able to mentally move past it).
If you haven't read this book yet - go find it! There is something here for everyone!
© March 2006 |
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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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