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Reviews: Tarot Decks
Tarot Reviews
by Bonnie Cehovet
Tarot Master
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The Shining Tribe Tarot:
Awakening The Universal Spirit
Author: Rachel Pollack
Illustrator: Rachel Pollack
Llewellyn Publications Worldwide
2001
ISBN #1-56718-514-2
Suits:
Trees (Wands), Rivers (Cups), Birds (Swords), Stones (Pentacles)
Court Cards:
Speaker (King), Gift (Queen). Knower (Knight), Place (Page)
I count myself amongst the people that were blessed to be able to attend The Reader's Studio 2003. I say blessed, because it was here that I got to meet Rachel Pollack and see "The Shining Tribe Tarot" in person. Rachel used this deck in her presentation on "The Forest Of Souls", her latest book. I had seen this deck being discussed many times on on-line Tarot lists, and it was on my "most wanted" list - but I didn't have it yet. After seeing it - I had to have it!
"The Shining Tribe Tarot" grew out of a previous deck done by Rachel Pollack called "The Shining Woman Tarot". Part of the reason for the revision was that "The Shining Woman Tarot" was perceived by some as a feminist deck, which in itself is not a negative thing, but it was not the author's intention. The deck was actually named for one card within it - the Shining Woman, which was Rachel's representation of the major arcana card The World.
There is much more than that to the revision of this deck. At its heart, this is a "deck of many cultures", represented by Stone Age hieroglyphics, Native American and African shamanism, Australian Aboriginal art and the Kabbalah. As Rachel points out - these are amongst the earliest forms of tribal art and divination. The artwork itself is primitive - and yes, takes some getting used to if one depends on the graphics for interpretation. The basic nature of the deck has not changed - while the art is non-traditional, the meaning and structure of Tarot has remained intact.
The gift that Rachel brings us is one of recognition - as readers, we are accessing the cards through very old symbols, the symbols of the ancient ones, our forefathers. As readers, we carry the same energy of our forefathers - that of membership in the tribe of diviners.
The cards are on good quality, glossy card stock. At approximately 2 3/4" by 4 1/2" they fit well into smaller hands, and are easy to work with. The backs are earth colored - the primary color being a burnt orange (or something close to it!), with two yellow figures in the middle. The figures are head to head, arms and legs outstretched, with hands touching over their heads. Each figure has three short lines over their head. There is a great deal of energy here - and it would be impossible to tell reversed cards before they were turned over.
The face of the cards has a 1/4" yellow/gold border, followed by a slender white border which encases the picture. The name of each card is written across the bottom in black letters. The artwork is primitive, including some human forms, many birds, some buildings and natural environment and many lines and spiral forms.The manner in which the images came about fascinated me. They were not drawn to either express an idea or to conform to the intent of the card - they were encountered in images (from stories and from sacred art found in books), they came through meditation on the traditional Tarot cards and they came from images that Rachel encountered in her travels to sacred sites.
The titles have been changed on four of the Major Arcana cards: the Hierophant becomes Tradition, the Wheel Of Fortune becomes the Spiral Of Fortune, the card of Judgement becomes Awakening and the World becomes World - Shining Woman. In her introduction to the Major Arcana, Rachel does a wonderful presentation of the three layers of interpretation (cards 1-7 are line one, cards 8-14 are line 2 and cards 15-21 are line three, with the Fool appearing above them). This is a presentation worth studying, as it tells not only the story of the Fool's Journey, but it shows how the cards relate to each other.
In presenting the Major Arcana, Rachel shows a black and white photo of the card, along with introductory words (I want to call them poems - four short lines that describe the card), a description and discussion of the card, along with Divinatory (upright) and reversed meanings.
The Minor Arcana suit names have been changed to reflect the elemental nature of each suit. Trees represent Fire, Rivers represent Water, Birds represent Swords and Stones represent Pentacles. I am going to include Rachel's defining keywords for the numbers, as they are very concise, lucid ... and they are an integral part of the foundation for interpreting the pips.
Aces: Prime quality of the suit
Twos: Duality and resolution
Threes: Strong expression of the element
Fours: Structure
Fives: Loss, sorrow, healing
Sixes: Passion, exploration
Sevens: Daring, communication
Eights: Movement, change
Nines: Confronting truth, healing
Tens: Fullness, completion
The presentation for the cards is the same as for the Major Arcana: a black and white photo, words of introduction, a description and discussion of the card, and Divinatory (upright) and reversed meanings.
With the Vision cards we add a new twist to interpreting the Tarot. These are not direct counterparts to the Court Cards in other decks. They retain the same traditional energy, but are more directly connected to the elemental energy of their suits, and to the understanding and use of this energy. In Rachel's world of myth, the first card encountered would be Place (Page) - this is literally a physical location so that we can see this energy as a concrete being, rather than as an abstract thought. The Knower (Knight) then gives us the feeling of actually experiencing this energy in our lives. The Gift (Queen) speaks of leaving our world and entering the world of spirit (please note - this is my interpretation of this card). Here we are able to recognize the gifts that we hold in our own lives. (The four Gifts appear together on the card of the Magician.) The Speaker (King) allows us to see images of acting from a place of power within ourselves. I appreciate this view of the court card energy, as it does not reflect the energy as actual people in the Seeker's life, nor does it relate to them as personality types. I love it when someone sees things the way that I do!
At the end of the book Rachel has written a chapter on reading the cards, where she presents a series of spreads, along with examples. For me - this is the best way of learning how a story can flow! She also talks about doing Wisdom (Soul) readings, which do not ask for personal information, but which address specific issues. She also discuses activating a Tarot card through working with meditation, affirmations, writing and other venues. Rachel talks a bit about reversals, and then she does something magickal - she encourages the reader to form their own Shining Tribes - to form Tarot study groups and do things like start their own psychic fairs. What a wonderful gift - to encourage the reader to recognize that they are part of the "Shining Tribe", and to walk their talk.
While it may take some getting used to, I recommend this deck to all students at all levels of Tarot. It can be taken for readings anywhere (public, private party etc), and is a gentle guide and mentor. The accompanying book is a marvelous gift on its own - full of both information and inspiration. Rachel - many thanks for the work that you have gifted us with here!
The Mystical Qabalah
review by Bonnie Cehovet, TM
author: Dion Fortune
Weiser Books
Red Wheel/Weiser
1998 revision
ISBN #1-57863-150-5
The Qabalah sets a wonderful foundation for Tarot, even if one views it as a esoteric system that was overlaid on the cards. It is also a system that can be difficult to grasp, leaving it to be, in general, one of the last things that a Tarot student turns to in their studies. In "The Mystical Qabalah", Dion Fortune presents the Qabala from the viewpoint of Western Mysticism. It was written to be used as an introduction to the Tree of Life for students of the Society of the Inner Light, a society founded by the author.
The background for "The Mystical Qabalah" lies in work done by MacGregor MAtthews - specifically in the tables of correspondence that he presented in "Kabbalah Unveiled". The style employed in "The Mystical Qabalah" is one of the first things that struck me, with each paragraph being numbered. Perhaps this is simply a reflection of the times that Dion Fortune was writing in, and of the fact that the book was written as a study guide for students of her society.
Some of the information presented in this book not only reflect the times that they were written in, but come across as highly judgmental. For example, from the chapter entitled "Yoga of the West":
"2. The adepts of those races whose evolutionary destiny is to conquer the physical plane have evolved a Yoga technique of their own which is adapted to their special problems and peculiar needs. This technique is based upon the well-known but little understood Qabalah, the wisdom of Israel."
"18. In consequence of this deplorable limitation on the part of our theology, many Western aspirants take up Eastern methods. For those who are able to live in Eastern conditions and work under the immediate supervision of a guru this may prove satisfactory, but it seldom gives good results when the various systems are pursued with no other guide than a book and under unmodified Western conditions.
19. It is for this reason that I would recommend to the white races the traditional Western system, which is admirably adapted to their psychic constitution. It gives immediate results, and if done under proper supervision, not only does it not disturb the mental or physical equipose, as happens with regrettable frequency when unsuitable systems are used, but it produces a unique vitality. It is this pecular vitality of the adepts which led to the tradition of the elixir of life. I have known a number of people in my time who might justly be considered adepts, and I have always been struck by that peculiar ageless vitality they all possessed."
The Qabalah itself is covered well, if at a beginners level and in a somewhat repetitious manner. Fortune goes into the choice of the Path (manner of spiritual study and growth), the "method" of Qabalah and the Tree of Life (with its esoteric symbolism), negative existence, the four worlds and the three Supernals, the ten Sephiroth, the Gods upon the Tree (the Tree of Life) and practical work done upon the Tree. It was of interest to me to see the reference that Fortune made to MacGregor Matthews essay on what he termed the four types of Qabalah: the practical Qabala (which deals with Talismanic and ceremonial magic; the Dogmatic Qabalah, which refers to Qabalistic literature; the Literal Qabalah, referring to the use of numbers and Hebrew letters and the Unwritten Qabalah, which concern itself with the "correct" manner in which the symbols/systems are arranged on the Tree of Life.
Separate chapters are devoted to each of the Sephiroth, including the following information: title, magical image, situation on the Tree, Yetziratic text, God name, Archangel, order of angels, mundane chakra, spiritual experience, virtue, vice, correspondence in the microcosm, symbols, Tarot cards and color in Atziluth, Briah, Yetzirah and Assiah.
Included is a table of correspondences for pathworking, as well as an editorial update covering corrections to the transliteration of Hebrew into English, with corrections to the existing text, a fold out series of diagrams for the Tree of Life and an additional chapter of Dion Fortune's writings.
This is not a book for beginning students, as there are enough inconsistencies that there could be confusion as to what was being presented. I did find it well written, and easy to follow - if a bit verbose. It has its place as a reference book (even though some things are implied, rather than stated), and acts as a good reflection of the times that it was written in. I fully intend to keep it as part of my Tarot/esoteric library.
Footnotes:
1. Fortune, Dion. "The Mystical Qabalah". Weiser Books. page 3.
2. Fortune, Dion. "The Mystical Qabalah". Weiser Books. page 7.
Golden Dawn Magical Tarot
reviewed by Bonnie Cehovet, TM
by: Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabitha Cicero
illustrator: Sandra Tabitha Cicero
Llewellyn Publications
2000
ISBN #1-56718-125-2
Suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles
CourtCards: King, Queen, Prince, Princess
I truly have grown fond of Tarot decks with a great deal of esoteric imagery, so it was a joy to review this deck. I was fascinated to learn that it had first been commissioned by Isreal Regardie for work by the Golden Dawn Society. (Yes, by name I knew that this was where the deck originated, but I did not know the "story behind the story" - that which makes decks come vitally alive.) The "Golden Dawn Magical Tarot" is intended to be used for work within the system of symbolic and ritual requirements necessary for Golden Dawn cabalistic work. It can be used, however, by Tarot students at any level for divination, meditation and ritual work.
The 177 page LWB that comes with this deck is quite interesting on its own - and very well written. Tarot students at all levels would be able to comprehend the message here. The emphasis is that, aside from being a divinatory tool, the Tarot has many levels of wisdom contained within it. There is a nicely done section on the origins of the Tarot, followed by Tarot's connection with the Golden Dawn.
There is a well done section on Qaballa and the Tree of Life, complete with diagrams and a discussion of the Sephirah's. The four qabalistic worlds are discussed in connection with the Tree Of Life. There is a chart covering the major arcana that is a true joy to read, with its astrological, numerological and Hebrew attributes. (The only problem here is the the book is only slightly larger than the cards - so the type of the diagrams and tables is oh so small!)
The section on the minor arcana talks about the attributions to the four elements and the four Qabalistic worlds, as well as to the Tetragrammaton. Pips 2-10 correspond to decants of the zodiac (the Aces are not included because the symbolism of Kether is the primary influence.
The court cards are seen as representing the the elemental forces of the Tetragrammaton (YHVH) in each of the four Qabalistic worlds. Each court card represents a sub-element in its particular system.
Each suit in the Tarot carries the color that represents its element: Wands (Fire) is red, Cups (Water) is blue, Swords (Air) is yellow and Pentacles (Earth) is brown. Each element has two "flashing", or complimentary colors assigned to it. In this manner, entering the astral and elemental planes is made easier.
At the end of the book, there is a quite unique section on reading the cards, with a short discussion on card groupings (a majority of of Trumps; a majority of Wands, Cups, Swords or Pentacles; a majority of each of the pips or court cards), on possible influences when two suits rule the spread and on calculating time.
Several spreads are presented, including ten and fifteen card spreads, the Opening of the Key Spread, horseshoe and astrological spreads. Ritual work is also presented in a very basic manner.
The presentation of the cards is well organized - the only thing lacking is a scan of the card. The Major Arcana has the name, the key, the path and the Hebrew letter, the attribution, the esoteric title, the Qabalistic connection, keywords, related ideas, images and interpretations in a reading. The Pips have the Decan, the Sephorah, the world, the keyword, image and interpretation in a reading. The Court Cards have primary element, world, subelement, esoteric title, keyword, image, and interpretation.
The cards themselves are on glossy card stock, 3 1/8" by 4 5/8" - a nice size for small hands to work with. The backs have a stark black background, with a large red cross above, and connecting to a large white triangle. The middle of the triangle is black, and contains a yellow semi-circle, with a thin red semi-circle creating a border for seven black circles within the yellow semi-circle.
The front of the cards are based in white, with fine black edging around the picture. The Major Arcana have the number at the top, with the card title across the bottom. There are astrological and Hebrew symbols on either side of the title. The Pips have the number and suit name at the top, with a keyword across the bottom and the elemental sign on either side of the keyword. The Court Cards have the title across the bottom and the elemental symbol at the top.
The Major Arcana all have pictures, as do the Court Cards. The Pips are simply the symbols of their respective suits. I found all of the Aces to be intense cards - very easy to use. Other cards that drew me to them were The Fool, which shows a child with a wolf on a leash - reminding me very much of Coyote in Native American legend; the Two of Cups, with a hand holding a flower between two cups; the Wheel of Fortune - a very symbol intense card and Death, which shows a dancing skeleton with a smile on his face.
Human figures are done in a not too realistic manner in this deck - and with considerable nudity, although it is not done in an offensive manner. There are, however, some really good cards: Temperance, a very intense and lovely card; The Star, filled with symbols yet getting the point across with one glance; The Empress, another lovely lady surrounded y symbols; the High Priestess, with two sets of arms that just seem to belong there and The World, with the symbols of Man, Eagle, Lion and Bull surrounding the twelve astrological symbols.
The more I work with this deck, the easier I find it to use. At first, I thought it might be an "interesting" deck that was used for reference and personal work. It certainly can be used for that, but I feel that it could be used by any level of Tarot student to good effect. Check the internet for scans, or go down to a bookstore and browse. Then use your own intuition with this deck.
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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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