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Comment on Tarot Bible (Godsfield Bible) by Wanderer

Wanderer — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:44:32 +0000

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

This is the ONE, August 19, 2008

Wanderer (Bend, OR & Greenville, SC) –

This review is from: The Tarot Bible: The Definitive Guide to the Cards and Spreads (Paperback)

I use Sarah Bartlett’s TAROT BIBLE as the text book in a beginning class on Tarot reading. I think it is excellent and worth buying. It is very comprehensive and its organization and layout are very helpful, particularly if you are new to tarot. This is truly a tarot handbook for the interpreter of meaning rather than a book about tarot.

What I especially like about this book is that it is easy to use in interpreting a layout. For the most part, its interpretations are positive rather than negative. Using other books, readings were confusing at best and alarming at worst. Using this handbook was easy, extremely helpful, and the readings feel very insightful. My students find it very helpful.

I contrast this book to Eason’s COMPLETE GUIDE TO TAROT (which was neither complete nor a good guide.) Using the same cards and the two books, I got a much better reading — more insight, more on-target, more directive — using Bartlett’s book. Also, the TAROT BIBLE is MUCH easier to get around in and locate material. I added a few plastic tabs to locate suits and the layouts I want to use. The color-indexed pages do the rest.

I particularly like it that every card is covered and in about the same depth. Some books slight the minor arcana to a degree that choosing a minor card in a central position implies a disappointment and a weakness. Also, every card is illustrated. I use another deck and design but the pictures in the book (all in color) are helpful and improve my understanding of her points and descriptions. Every card is presented in a ‘you, now’ position, a ‘blockage’ position and a ‘future’ position as well as descriptions of its general influence. This is extraordinarily helpful to me in interpretation.

The book presents several layouts in each of five categories and enough information to explore other layouts — or even develop your own. The author does not cover reversals except in broad (may delay or up-end a card’s meaning.) I didn’t find that to be a problem and it’s an approach many books take. As a novice, I am not interested in highly refined meanings and detailed predictions. Also, the author does not explore alternative decks to a great extent but this is no problem at all unless a reader wants to invest a particular design with its own particular meaning. Again, not for the novice.

Overall, this is a fine book, especially if you want to establish a solid grounding in the tarot without becoming completely dominated by the cards.

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Comment on Tarot Bible (Godsfield Bible) by Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:31:15 +0000

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

An excellent primer, August 21, 2008

Ronaldinho (Los Angeles, CA United States) –

This review is from: The Tarot Bible: The Definitive Guide to the Cards and Spreads (Paperback)

While this book probably doesn’t have the detail to help advanced readers, it’s an excellent primer for someone getting started.

The main area where this book shines is in the card descriptions. Unlike Bunning (who gives masses of indigestible bullet points) or Greer, who sometimes gets bogged down in paragraphs of detail, Bartlett does a great job of mixing prose and bullet points. An image of the card (from a RWS-inspired deck) and a list of key ideas makes each card’s meaning very accessible, while 3-4 paragraphs of detailed guidance help you find more sophisticated meanings and understand what the card could mean in various contexts.

Bartlett also does a good job of explaining the meanings of both the suits and the numbers, giving the student a solid foundation in figuring out meanings even when you don’t remember exactly what that particular card is supposed to mean. Her writing is clear and concise – enough detail to ground you without drowning you.

The book is not without faults, however. Bartlett is somewhat dismissive of reversed cards. This may be a wise choice for the beginning reader, but her treatment of the subject will be far too superficial for those who want to delve into that area. (Greer’s “Tarot Reversals” would be a good addition to the library for people who care about reversals, but it’s much less approachable than this book.)

Also, Bartlett throws a lot of spreads at the reader, and the book could probably benefit by being more selective in that area. While it’s nice that she supplies “daily spreads” “relationship spreads” “revelation spreads” and “destiny spreads,” the result is a little unfocused. WIth 40 spreads, how could it not be? Cutting the number of spread in half (or more) and giving more examples would have improved this book.

But really the meat of any book on the tarot is the card descriptions, and Bartlett provides the best organized section for really learning that material, with the best mix of depth and easily-assimilated detail, that I’ve seen.

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Comment on Tarot Bible (Godsfield Bible) by quiet0ne

quiet0ne — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:07:04 +0000

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

“The Definitive Guide” bit is overreaching…, August 24, 2007

quiet0ne (Sparks, NV) –

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This review is from: The Tarot Bible: The Definitive Guide to the Cards and Spreads (Paperback)

I bought this book with the hopes of supplementing my small library of tarot books. If this had been my first book on tarot, perhaps my feelings would be different about it. In my opinion, Sarah Bartlett presents both good and bad material, but enough bad that I’m fairly disappointed.

First, what I don’t like.

1) The card descriptions, being the meat of the book, have barely more content then the LWBs (little white books) for most decks. Cards are given one brief paragraph of general description, then two or three paragraphs of what the card would mean if it appears in certain spread positions. Example, for Rider-Waite-Smith’s The Empress: “If you draw this card in a ‘future outcome’ position, you can be assured of progress in any plan, however daunting it may seem.” It is very formulistic, almost the sorts of descriptions you would expect to hear from a quack tarot reader on TV.

2) The author ignores reversals, and forces her readers/students to do so as well. She does go into brief detail about how reversals are used (that the card is “blocked” or the energy is undeveloped, etc). However, she then goes on to explain why she personally doesn’t use reversed cards, how “the rich symbolism of the upright cards will tell you what is lacking…” This would be an acceptable statement to make if tarot symbolism was actually covered within the book. Unfortunately, the work falls on your shoulders to decipher the symbolism through intuition and guesswork, with little to no guidance on her part.

A note here: I understand that using reversed cards is a highly controversial topic among readers. I personally don’t utilize reversals myself, due to doing exactly what Bartlett suggests. Yet I study extensively and have used reversals in the past. My gripe with her method is how she ignores the option completely (even encourages you to turn any reversed cards around in a reading), which I feel would hurt a new student to tarot.

3) The only deck covered extensively in this book is RWS. There are reviews covering a few other decks, but all other information given is based on RWS. For a work claiming to be “definitive,” the omission of other decks is bothersome and limiting.

Now, what I do like about this book.

1) There is a nice collection of spreads, which are broken into categories of Everyday, Relationship, Revelation, and Destiny. Each spread also has an example reading and how the author would interpret it.

2) Some basic information is listed about astrology, numerology, crystals, colors, kaballah, and meditation techniques. All of this can be found for free online, but it’s a nice option to have it all in one volume.

3) Decent size, layout, and print quality. Not your typical black-and-white-on-cheap-newsprint book. Everything is in full color and a nice resolution so you can really see the cards. The small size (5.5 inches by 6.5 inches) makes it easy to carry in a purse while remaining discrete.

Overall, I get the strong feeling that this book is slanted at potential women tarot readers who are put off by plain-looking (but better written) tarot books found on store shelves. For new tarot students, as long as this book is purchased as a companion to a meatier, albeit drier work (such as Rachel Pollack’s Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom ), this is good for taking with you for readings away from home as you get familiar with the cards. As a stand-alone source of information, this will barely get your feet wet.

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Comment on Madame Endora’s Fortune Cards by Richard K. Kostoff "karmarich"

Richard K. Kostoff "karmarich" — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:20:15 +0000

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

Easy to learn, beautifully illustrated!, August 15, 2005

Richard K. Kostoff “karmarich” (columbus, oh) –

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This review is from: Madame Endora’s Fortune Cards (Cards)

I finally ordered this set of cards through Amazon and was not disappointed. This is NOT tarot, but work much the same way. It is a great way to introduce fortune telling into your life. The art is very nice. The images are easy to memorize, this is not really required, the cards speak for themselves.(literally, the meanings are written on the cards)

I really admire the deck’s artistry, especially the backs. It is as if the cards came from some time forgotten cabinet of curiousities. The feel is geared toward gothic style interpretation without totally leaning on the dark side. The deck’s big brother Gothic Tarot is much more serious, as this deals with the classical archetypes directly. Madame Endora could almost be consided a new ager. There is nothing wrong with this at all!

This deck could be easily used by children at a sleep overs and not cause too many nightmares. It is a great place to begin for the amature to turn professional.

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Comment on Madame Endora’s Fortune Cards by Richard and Jennifer Shadowfox

Richard and Jennifer Shadowfox — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:13:39 +0000

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

Visually Stunning Oracle Deck, December 30, 2007

Richard and Jennifer Shadowfox (Shadowfoxtarot.com) -

This review is from: Madame Endora's Fortune Cards (Cards)

This is a visually stunning Oracle deck created by Christine Filipak and Joseph Vargo of Monolith Graphics. The dramatic artwork is done in a beautifully detailed Art Nouveau style, and combines Egyptian, Greek and Celtic mythologies with Norse, Alchemical, Astrological, and Pagan symbolism. Each card contains a key phrase giving a hint to the meaning, and are easily read upright or reversed. The 48 cards are divided into 5 different categories:

I. The Royal Court - these cards represent powerful influences in the life of the querent, or person asking the question. Here we find The King, The Queen, The Wizard, The Seer, The Knight, The Maiden, The Minstrel and The Harlequin.

2. The Realm of Fable - these cards represent the outside forces that guide and influence the querent. In this category, we have The Golem, The Greenman, Hindrance, Medusa, The Satyr, Seduction, Serendipity, The Siren, The Sphinx, and The Spirit.

3. The Bestiary houses creatures both real and imagined. In this section you will find The Black Cat, The Chimera, The Dragon, The Gryphon, The Raven, The Serpent, The Spider, The Unicorn, The Wolf, and The Wyvern.

4. The Treasury contains the tools that will assist the querent in attaining their goals. In this section is The Caduceus, The Chalice, The Dagger, The Gate, The Hand of Fate, The Hourglass, The Key, Love, The Mystic Circle, The Oracle, The Shield, and The Talisman.

5. The fifth category is entitled The Elements, and are responsible for exerting specific energies on the reading. This group is comprised of The Sun, The Moon, The Stars, Air, Earth, Fire, Water, and The Winds of Change.

The LWB (Little White Book) was very informative, but short. We would have like to read more in depth about each card. Many of the card titles, however, are self explanatory. For example, The Spider represents patience, while The Raven is a harbinger of doom. The Gate tells you that there is an obstacle in your path, while The Hourglass reminds you that time is of the essence. There are 4 Oracle spreads included in the LWB, but in truth, any of the traditional Tarot spreads would work as well. Although not a Tarot deck, Tarot readers will find much that is familiar. The Magician becomes the Wizard, the High Priestess is found as The Seer, and The Chimera is very reminiscent of the 7 of Cups. The Sun and Moon are also similar in meaning to those found in Tarot.

The cards are slightly oversized, but shuffle easily, and appear to be made of relatively sturdy card stock. We would have preferred a slicker finish, however, to ensure their longevity.

As a general rule, we have not used Oracle type decks in past readings, but considering the striking quality of this beautiful deck it will be hard to resist working with it on a regular basis.

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Comment on Spirit of the Wheel Meditation Deck with Poster and Booklet by Viewer

Viewer — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:36:05 +0000

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

Gorgeous oracle and meditation deck….., August 24, 2007

Viewer (USA) –

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This review is from: Spirit of the Wheel Meditation Deck with Poster and Booklet (Cards)

The Spirit of the Wheel Deck is amazing! It is one of the best oracle finds for me, this year. I now own 4 copies, as I want to make sure I have this for life! The artwork is gorgeous, soft colours, bold statements, gentle teachings of life. This can be used in a myriad of ways, be it as a meditation deck, pathworking or as an oracle, it will help guide you into a world of Native American teachings, animal totems, spiritual growth and how the Creator of life weaves all these together to form the medicine wheel. Higly recommended to anyone interested in the above forms of divination or meditation as well as Native American spirituality.

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Comment on Spirit of the Wheel Meditation Deck with Poster and Booklet by HistoryTramp

HistoryTramp — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:40:39 +0000

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

NDNs – Check It Out!, January 27, 2011

HistoryTramp –

This review is from: Spirit of the Wheel Meditation Deck with Poster and Booklet (Cards)

As a Native person, I am cautious in introducing New Age/Metaphysical subjects to my NDN friends and family (FYI to the non-Natives reading this: many, many Native people are scornful of these things; they view the often clumsy incorporation of Native teachings into worldwide metaphysics as the frequent theft of a culture the thieves can never truly comprehend). When I started reading oracle cards a few years ago, I loved them so much and began seeking a way to share my newfound knowledge with those closest to me. This deck was the answer.

It was created by a woman who lived with a (Cree?) tribe out west, and the symbols are based on that tribe’s clans and beliefs (I like that it didn’t take a “one-size-fits-all-Indians” approach). As you read them, you will find yourself interpreting to your own tribe’s teachings and recognizing the symbology in that context. Even so, take a look at the book and just see if there’s a little more information to be gleaned from each card.

The cards are remarkably easy to read, with each one bearing three key words on the front. You almost don’t need the book, but you might want to refer to it anyway until you get to know them better. The medicine wheel chart that comes with the deck is pretty cheesy and you probably won’t use it. I usually do a simple three card spread, but there are some very intriguing suggestions in the book. I particularly liked the calumet/pipe layout and got some good readings from it right off the bat.

The first time I read for my mother and my aunt, both elders, I was amazed to learn my great-grandfather was known to read an ordinary deck of playing cards. He helped a lot of people in his village and it made me so proud to hear that. I spread a nice cloth on the table, smudged the cards and ourselves, and read for them. They loved it! If you are looking for a deck that respects the Red Road and won’t offend your ancestors, this is probably the one for you.

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Comment on The Fool’s Pilgrimage: Kabbalistic Meditations on the Tarot by Gnosis Archive "thegnosisarchive"

Gnosis Archive "thegnosisarchive" — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:59:13 +0000

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

After Thirty Years, A Classic, April 16, 2004

Gnosis Archive “thegnosisarchive” (Salt Lake City, UT USA) –

This review is from: The Fool’s Pilgrimage: Kabbalistic Meditations on the Tarot (Paperback)

Just released in a beautiful new edition after thirty years in print, this is truly a classic! Go see the reader reviews of the first edition, released under a slightly different title: The Royal Road: A Manual of Kabalistic Meditations on the Tarot.

This little book provides an excellent introduction both to Kabbalah and to the use of Tarot imagery in guided meditations upon the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. You will find few better introductions to Tarot or Kabbalah. Also included with this fine new edition is a CD with the author reading the Meditations. Highly Recommended!

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Comment on Gaian Tarot by Arnell Ando "Arnell"

Arnell Ando "Arnell" — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:12:41 +0000

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

An exceptionally lovely & personable deck, August 9, 2011

Arnell Ando “Arnell” (ENCINITAS, CA USA) –

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This review is from: Gaian Tarot (Paperback)

This is an exceptionally lovely & personable deck created by a sweetheart of an artist who is as deep and grounded as her work reflects. I have anxiously awaited this published version by Llewellyn (while continuing to treasure the Major Arcana special edition I received from Joanna at a Tarot gig many moons ago). This deck can communicate beautifully with the contemporary, spiritually minded artist, the Pagan Earth Goddess inclined reader, and really any sort of evolving soul who seeks a richly colorful, welcoming and inspirational environment in which to dwell and contemplate life’s mysteries. As Owls Daughter writes in the review: `It is truly a deck for our times.’ I concur! It gives life affirming, supportive answers in readings and is a gentle guide in meditation. And did I mention the artwork is exquisite?! Is is…but at the same time it is also quite relatable; and populated by people I wouldn’t mind hanging with and in natural settings that draw us in; making us feel at home and at peace. My only dilemma is that I must part with my current copy to give to an old friend that will relate to this deck like no other. I can see this being a very popular gift during holiday season. Really nice going Joanna, congratulations, we’re all the better for your great contribution!

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Comment on Gaian Tarot by Jennie Lin "OhioBlue"

Jennie Lin "OhioBlue" — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:41:27 +0000

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

Having trouble with some of the cards, September 30, 2011

Jennie Lin “OhioBlue” (Cleveland, OH USA) –

This review is from: Gaian Tarot (Paperback)

I’ve owned the self-published all-majors Gaian deck for a couple of years, and love them. With this newly published full 78-card deck, I found some problems in reading certain minor arcana and some of the court cards. I admit, when I look at a card, I want to reconcile in my mind what I already know about that card. The deck creator — a wonderful, talented artist — has changed some of the Rider-Waite icons so much, that I’m afraid I’m going through a bit of a learning curve.

For instance,

The Ten of Water depicts salmon swimming upstream in the background, with dead salmon laying at water’s edge in the foreground. Joanna’s message for that card is about the circle of life. So while the message and picture made sense, I’ve lost my card for how love conquers all and how the happiness of family is more important than material things. (Big happy family in the 10 of Cups.) The dead salmon in the foreground throw me off every time I pull this.

Going the other way, the Ten of Swords gives a very negative first impression. In the Gaian Tarot, the Ten of Air shows the most beautiful fall sky, with 10 Canada Geese flying in their typical V pattern. When I read intuitively, my first instinct is that changes are coming — good changes. So very different from the Ten of Swords!

The Guardian of Fire is described as the dependable counselor who hangs back and attends the fire, and the Guardian of Earth helps things grow. In my R-W mind (i.e. Queen of Wands and Queen of Pentacles), shouldn’t they be reversed?

The King of Wands has always been Rhett Butler to me — with his charm, his risk-taking, his ability to get things done. However, my favorite card in all the Gaian Tarot, the Elder of Fire, is definitely NOT Rhett Butler. She’s a curandera mesmerizing you with her stare. A fantastic card, but different from what I’m used to.

There are about 10 cards that are throwing me off so much that I’ve decided not to use this for my clients yet. I’m sure I’ll “find” card meanings that I’ve “lost” as I continue to get to know the Gaian Tarot. This deck is so phenomenal in every other way, I will continue to work through MY issues since I would love for this to be my primary deck.

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