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Reviews: Tarot Decks
Tarot & Cartomancy
Deck & Book Reviews
by Bonnie Cehovet, TE
Tarot Master
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Tarot of Jane Austen
by Bonnie Cehovet, TE
Author: Diane Wilkes
Artist: Lola Airaghi
Lo Scarabeo
2006
ISBN #13-978-888395607-2
"The "Tarot of Jane Austen" is based on several works by Jane Austen, including "Emma", "Lady Susan", "Mansfield Park", "Northanger Abbey", "Persuasion", "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility". Wilkes (webmistress for the renowned Tarot Passages web site) has done an excellent job of matching characters from these works with the archetypes and characters that tell the story that is the Tarot.
The kit comes with a 78 card deck, a LWB (Little White Book), and a 175 page companion book. The LWB, in the style of Lo Scarabeo, has sections in English, Italian, Spanish, French and German. There is a short introduction, with each card being presented with keywords and key concepts. No scans are shown. The suits are Candlesticks (Wands), Teacups (Cups), Quills (Swords) and Coins (Pentacles). The spreads presented are: Love and Friendship and the Bildungsroman (referring to a specific type of literary genre, the novel of education/formation within the context of a defined social order).
The companion book is nicely indexed, with the pages for specific cards noted. In her introduction Wilkes notes that the major point that brings Austen's works together with the Tarot is that they contain an essentially identical message: the vital importance of balance in our everyday lives. Wilkes goes on to say that she feels that Austen, through her books, provides a template for the way that life should be lived.
Following her introduction, Wilkes presents a nice synopsis (called a Movie Guide) for the works included in this deck. This is a great help for those of us that have read some, but perhaps not all, of these works. It might even encourage us to go check them out!
The Major Arcana are presented with a black and white scan, the book that the card imagery is taken from, a description of the card, the storyline from the book, an extensive interpretation for the card, and a "What would Jane do?" section that shows the reader what advice Jane Austen would give based on the individual card. The Minor Arcana Pips (numbered cards) are presented int he same fashion, without the storyline.
At the end of the book is a section on how to read the cards, along with the following spreads: a five card Love and Friendship spread, a six card Power of Persuasion spread, an eight card Sense and Sensibility Prosperity spread, a six card Bildungsroman spread and an eight card Kunstlerroman spread.
Wilkes has also presented a unique section that I like a great deal: she provides a template for doing an overview of a reading, called a Card Connections Checklist. This includes things such as the suit and elemental connections between the cards, repeating numbers, card analysis for Majors, Minors and Court Cards, image-based connections between repeating colors, repeating symbols, directions and mood, the number of reversals, and story connections.
At the end of the book Wilkes has provided a synopsis of each of the books used for this deck, followed by a short bibliography.
The cards themselves are approximately 2 5/8" by 4 3/4", of sturdy card stock. The artwork is nicely reflective of that time period. The characters, through body posture and facial expression, become very three dimensional, as if you could step right up and start talking to them. The colors are muted, as is so often the case with Lo Scarabeo work. The primary colors are gray, green, a brownish-burgundy, burgundy, orange and gold.
The card backs, which are reversible, have a gray-blue background with a gray border and gray stylized figures in the center of the card. The face of the cards shows a white border. The Major Arcana show the card number in Roman numerals centered at the top of the card, with the card title in six languages: two in the upper right and left and corners, and one in the lower right and left hand corners. The Pips (numbered cards) show the number centered in the middle of the card on the top, with the suit listed in six languages: two each in the upper right and left hand corners, and one each in the lower right and left hand corners. The Court Cards show the title and suit in six languages: two in the upper right and left hand corners, and one each in the lower right and left hand corners.
This is an amazing deck, both for the artwork and for the time taken to research and present Austen's works in a manner quite complimentary to the Tarot. I have many favorite cards, amongst which are: Justice (from Pride and Prejudice) shows a cameo of Darcy (Lord of Quills) writing a letter in the upper left hand corner, while in the lower right hand corner we see Lizzy (Lady of Candlesticks) reading a letter, with a quill pen dividing them; the High Priestess (from Ode to Pity) shows sitting in an elegant chair, with a book in her lap; the Emperor (from Mansfield Park) shows an older man sitting in a throne-like chair; Judgment (from Emma) shows several members from the cast of "Emma" in a garden, reaching up to the sky for what they want.
The Devil (from Lady Susan) shows Lady Susan, in a red dress, with her daughter Frederica held firmly at her left hand side, while James Martin is on his knees, looking adoringly at Lady Susan on her right hand side; the Chariot (from Mansfield Park) shows Mary Crawford happily cantering along on her horse; the Hierophant (from Pride and Prejudice) shows Mr. Collins at the alter of his church, with two very well dressed church members in the front pew; the Six of Coins (from Persuasion) shows two women sitting in a small, impoverished living room; the Maiden of Candlesticks (from Pride and Prejudice) shows Lydia Bennett sitting in front of her mirror, flirting with her reflection.
Each of the Aces shows the suit icon atop a book, and the imagery is absolutely breathtaking! Two of the Eight's really caught my eye: the Eight of Candlesticks and the Eight of Teacups both show carriages coming down the road towards the reader. Quite an interesting juxtaposition from the traditional "walking away" imagery for these cards.
This is a stunning deck, with an extremely well written companion book. I would advise getting the kit ... the deck without the book might be a little hard to work with unless you were a Jane Austen aficionado. This deck will appeal to collectors, Jane Austen fans, and those readers that are looking for a really nice "general" deck for their clients to choose from. I came to this deck late, but am enjoying it thoroughly!
© September 2007
Simplified Qabala Magic
review by Bonnie Cehovet, TE
Author: Ted Andrews
Llewellyn Publications
1999, 2003
ISBN #0-7387-0394-X
"Simplified Qabala Magic" is an introductory book into the practical world of Qabalistic magic ... no more, and no less. It does not mention the Tarot anywhere. Before you read this review, you need to know that I am reviewing this book from the perspective of "Can this wisdom be applied to working with the Tarot?" Qabala is a subject that many ... if not most ... Tarot students shy away from until they are well into their studies. My feeling is not only that this does not have to be, but that a good understanding of the "everyday" working of Qabala and the Tree of Life are beneficial to working with the Tarot. With that understanding, you the reader will either chose to read this review, or to walk away, if this is not your path.
Ted Andrews is well known for his work as a clairvoyant, and for his books, including "Animal Speak" and "How To Meet and Work with Spirit Guides". He also conducts workshops throughout the country on the ancient mysteries, bringing them to a level that can be understood by people from all walks of life, and all backgrounds.
In his introduction, Andrews states that this book is meant to serve as a book of Light. The magic contained herein is not that of stage magicians, but that of a Divine Light that operates in a positive manner, and is active throughout our universe. The caveat here is that we are made up of more than flesh and bones ... we are also spiritual energy. It is understanding this spiritual energy, and learning to love ourselves, that begins the process of personal transformation.
The book begins with the telling of a tale ... a tale involving a young man on a quest for wisdom, on a quest for an answer to the proverbial question "Is this all there is to life?" Andrews posits that any wisdom system, if it is to be of benefit at all, must be easily understood, and it must be a living, growing system that can be adapted to each individual and their stage of unfoldment while at the same time retaining its primary form and content. He notes that current day students of the Qabala must reinterpret it in light of modern knowledge to make it useful.
Andrews presents the wisdom of the Qabala through the venue of the Tree of Life. He also notes the dual nature of the Qabala, in that while it is a map of how the universe was formed and manifested, it is also a map that is reflected in each one of us as individuals, showing how the forces of the universe are manifested in each of us. It is a system that allows us to discover ourselves. Is this not what the archetypal quality of the Tarot is all about ... discovering ourselves? It is not such a leap of faith to see that these two systems can be used together to enhance each other.
The Tree of Life is made up of ten sephiroth, with each sephira representing a level of consciousness, with certain ingrained qualities and potentials. Those with a Tarot background will be able to picture where each of the 78 cards of the Tarot lie on the Tree of Life, with the Ace's through Ten's and the Court Cards placed on the individual sephira, and the twenty-two cards of the Major Arcana placed on the twenty-two paths between the sephiroth.
Andrews does a very credible job of explaining each of the sephira, and, through the use of a graphic of the Tree of Life, showing their energies in relation to each other. They are discussed by title, by associated God Names, by associated Archangel and Angelic beings, and by virtues and vices.
While most of us understand the nature of energy, we do not often think about the power that it has in our lives. The basic principle presented here is a very simple one ... that everyone and everything is made up of energy. Each of us has the ability to use this universal energy for their benefit. The thought is presented here that energy follows thought ... another way, to me, of stating the Law of Attraction. That which we hold in our thoughts is what will be drawn to us, and what will then manifest in our lives. Following this is the concept of sound, and how sound is a creative and formative power.
By the use of sound ... in this case, specifically by sounding one of the names associated with a specific sephira ... we accelerate our ability to work with the energies we are accessing. My thoughts here run along the line of using the intonation of sound going into meditation or journeying, and then moving the focus to the Tarot card represented. Images, symbols, sounds and colors open up particular levels of our consciousness, and allow us to work with them.
Another aspect of sound is that of musical notes. There are musical notes associated with each of the sephira that can be intoned, just as the associated names are. This is termed the Music of the Spheres. Remember how you feel when you are singing in church ... or even listening to church related music? It is almost an "out of body" experience. What is really does is balance our physical/mental/emotional/spiritual selves, and provide a strong mind/body connection.
Andrews has included sections on working with the individual sephira, along with a chart on the benefits to be gained from such work. For example, in working with the sephira of Kether, we gain greater creativity and information on our inner spiritual quest, while working with the sephira of Yesod guides us to true independence and confidence, access to our intuitive and psychic abilities, mental and emotional health and insight into dreamtime.
Step by step we are led into and back out of the worlds of the sephira, in a very safe manner. Adding the Tarot as a focus on this journey could be very easily accomplished. Andrews lists several ways in which working with the Qabala can be beneficial, including: (1) Fill you with creative ideas and energy potential, (2) Open you to the magnificence of the inner world, and (3) Help articulate life's journey. The interesting things is that each of these benefits can also be found within the Tarot.
Andrews also presents work on strengthening and protecting the human aura ... something that we have to be aware of in all energy work that we choose to do.
To tap into our highest inner resources, we must begin the work in a state of balance. There is quite an interesting graphic here that shows the Tree of Life, superimposed over the human body, surrounded by an auric field.
The first exercise connected with strengthening and protecting the human aura is called the Qabalistic Cross. It consists of a combination of visualization and sound, and is used as a means of awakening inner spiritual light. Another exercise is that of the Middle Pillar, and is used to balance energies. A variation of these exercises is called the Path of the Flaming Sword, which awakens each sephiroth in turn. Another exercise works with building the Tree of Life into the aura.
Pathworking ... working with the energy of the paths between the sephiroth (and working with the Major Arcana of the Tarot) is discussed, but not presented, as this work is clearly beyond the introductory level of this book.
The gift that Andrews leaves with his readers is the gift of understanding the structure of the Qabalistic Tree of Life, the energies therein, and how to place them to work in their lives. This is a perfect background for a student of the Tarot that wishes to work with the Qabala!
© September 2007
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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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