Pollack's 78 Degrees of Wisdom

Elle

21-08-2003, 07:35

Many people here have given this book a good revue (title above), so I thought I should have it in my collection.

Anything specific anyone wants to point out from it? Any "target" points the author has made that have always stuck with you? I have to do a reading tonight, but I really just want to cozy up with Pollack for the evening...

Warmest,

Elle

Morganna

21-08-2003, 12:02

I just got this book from Amazon today. What I've read so far is amazing - I'm glad I got an oversized Rider-Waite deck a few years ago because I can really see the detail she goes into so thoroughly (and my eyes aren't what they used to be!)

I should have read this book years ago!

Elle

21-08-2003, 12:04

Me too. I'm up to page 58: The Lovers.

Have fun reading!

Warmest,

Elle

Morganna

23-08-2003, 08:41

I just got up to the Lovers last night. Since I have been reading with the Rider-Waite for many years now, it is really giving me a fresh perspective on it reading the "evolution" of each card (more or less).

Elle

23-08-2003, 10:28

Yeah - it is like a reawakening to each card. Pollack discusses all of the symbolism and history of each card, which is interesting. Helps you get to know even more about the cards; a deeper, richer take on them.

Warmest,

Elle

galadrielsphial

02-10-2003, 04:43

So is this book written specifically for the Rider-Waite deck, or can it be used for any deck? Wondering because I don't own R-W, but I have heard nothing but praise for this book, so I was thinking of getting it.

Thanks! :)

HudsonGray

02-10-2003, 04:46

Read it slow, you have to absorb things in this one. I skipped the first few sections after skimming them (will go back later) and went directly to the section on the majors & minors.

shy1433

03-10-2003, 00:35

Thanks for the information on the book, I am going out now and see if our book store will order it in.

Shy

MSPSYCHOMAGNET

03-10-2003, 07:24

I have read this book and I do not like it.

Ms. Pollack covers the Major Arcana in depth, however most of her intepretations and commentary are taken in light of the Kaballah, which is the collective knowledge of Jewish mysticism and occult knowlege, secondarily, she makes many connections to Biblical images and concepts. I personally, believe that learning such systems, especially as a beginner, will lend little to your talents or understanding as a reader.

As for the Minor Arcana, Ms. Pollack's treament is uneven, and I personally question some of her interpretations. Some of the minor arcana are discussed in depth, and some are barely covered at all.

IMO - she should have produced this volume covering the Major Arcana only. And worked on a second volume which covers the Minor Arcana, as I feel that her attention to the Minor Arcana is somewhat of a work in progress.

I would only recommend this book to someone after they have been practicing the tarot with success and feel that they have the fundamental concepts down pat. As far as an adjunct to one's tarot journey, it is a fine book. And if one choses to apply the Kaballah to their interpretations of the tarot, then it is fine for that purpose as well.

Otherwise, I wholeheartedly disagree with the many people who consider this the "Classic Tarot Bible".

Good Luck!

lunaperse

03-10-2003, 12:58

actually it was first published as two seperate volumes (majors and few years later minors.)

now after saying that i find i have to agree with you to an extent , i did find the minors a bit thinly covered, a good complementary book to this is Isabel Kliegman's _Tarot and the Tree of Life_ (although as the name suggests it is Qabbalistically based - i wouldn't think you'd need to know much to read this but it's heavily informed)

I don't think tarot readers should really have any bible (unless it's one they write themselves) but i do find Pollack an interesting read.

lawguy51

06-10-2003, 05:51

Originally posted by MSPSYCHOMAGNET
I have read this book and I do not like it.

Ms. Pollack covers the Major Arcana in depth, however most of her intepretations and commentary are taken in light of the Kaballah, which is the collective knowledge of Jewish mysticism and occult knowlege, secondarily, she makes many connections to Biblical images and concepts. I personally, believe that learning such systems, especially as a beginner, will lend little to your talents or understanding as a reader.

Good Luck!

This was such an overstated and basically inaccurate description that I just had to chime in. The great thing about opinions of course, is that everyone is entitled to one, but to suggest that a beginner avoid 78 Degrees because of references to the Kaballah or Biblical images is ludicrous. Firstly, biblical imagery is all over the RWS deck so it's pretty hard to avoid. As for the Kaballah, you make it sound like it's on every page with is again, misrepresentative. And besides, there's no time like the present to begin learning comparative systems. Not for beginners. Pshaw. It's the 'bible' for beginners. At least in my humble opinion ;).

Lawguy51

Asher

08-10-2003, 08:57

I most definitely agree! _78 Degrees_ is the _only_ Tarot book I would want, if I could only have one. I refer to it time and time again, and each time I read it, I pick up some new insights.

It's even more special now, after having taken some workshops with Rachel, my favorite being "An Alternate Fool's Journey". She shuffled the Majors, pulled one at random (I believe it was the Chariot)and we used that as card 0 and read the rest of the deck as The Chariot's Journey. Extremely exciting and fun!

Asher

Emily

06-11-2003, 01:37

I've only just got around to ordering the full version of this book - I've had a battered copy of the majors only for a while and only skimmed through it but sat down a couple of nights ago and started to read through. It makes for fascinating reading - so I ordered the new full version.
I've tried so hard to move away from Rider Waite symbolism, trying hard to get to know other decks but its always the same, I see a card and first thought to come into my head is the Rider Waite version. So I thought why fight it - I can read Rider Waite fairly well, the images are comfortable and this is a book that gets good reviews. :) I am also using it with the Morgan Greer.

Kether__

06-11-2003, 03:28

Could You give me the Link to Rachel Pollack´s book review on this web?

thank you

Jen

07-11-2003, 23:32

I didn't see a review for 78 degrees on this site.

I love this book. I feel it mostly works well with the standard RWS deck. I agree - If I could only have one book on the RWS - this would be it.

IMO - The interpts of the majors are pretty intense and I find I can only read two or three at a time before I start to feel overwhelmed. I was actually glad to see shorter interpts for the minors, because I can injest them more quickly and to me they're just as deep.

Pollack points out meaningful details in the RWS that I might never have noticed - details that actually improve the way I read the cards.

I never been a big fan of the RWS, but with this book and the new Radiant RWS, I just might be.

tigerlily 6563

08-11-2003, 23:22

I have recently ordered this book from my local book store. I was drawn to this book simply by the name. After reading all your opinions I can't wait to get into it.

Shade

13-11-2003, 17:11

I truly love this book, but I would validate that some people might not agree with some of her interpretations she does make some very radical statments and not everyone is comfy with that.

When I first read the book I read one major arcana card a night and got through them, often re-reading sections to make sure I got it. I started on the minors but felt that I wanted to start and complete Greer's Tarot for Yourself before attempting the minors here. I'm also going to do the majors again before attempting the minors.

There are a couple of books that I have around just to look up a specific card while doing a reading if I need more insight but taht doens't work for 78 Degrees. If I stop to look up the Page of Wands for a reading in about 2 minutes I have forgotten the reading and lose myself in the book.

When I read the book I had a "yes, this is what I think the cards are saying" moment in the same way that some peopel find a deck taht is "them". It's just going to be different books for different people.

TemperanceAngel

17-11-2003, 13:49

Fantastic book!!!

I haven't read the book from back to front (a whole lotta info to absorb, but instead have used it as I would a reference source and sometimes opening a page at random.

My husband and I constantly refer to it, Racheal Pollack adds so many insights, she's amazing!!!

XTAX

P.S.Enjoy

WalesWoman

25-11-2003, 10:01

I ordered this book a couple months ago and have not been sorry one bit. I'm fairly new to Tarot and did have a few decent books to help add to the limited (in my opinion) meanings from the companion book for the Morgan-Greer Tarot, but she really has opened up a whole new world of meanings and insights for me. I bought her Illustrated Guide to Tarot at the same time, so depending on what mood I'm in, (to get a quick take or in depth) I switch back and forth. But I have to say it has helped me understand symbology and so much more, better than anything else has at this point.

Imagemaker

16-12-2003, 10:29

I was fascinated by 78 Degrees--definite strengths and some weaknesses. There's also her newer book (Sept. 2002) called The Forest of Souls.

It's even more kabbalah oriented, very interesting but very "out there" philosophically. I enjoyed it but it's a bit tough, too.

lark

16-12-2003, 11:49

Just now on www.buy.com I found a book by Rachel Pollach due to be published in April called The Big Little Book of Tarot the Only Book You'll Ever Need.
Has anyone heard of it or have any info on it?
There was no description for it on the sight.

Pagan X

18-12-2003, 07:22

It is logical to include Kabbalistic and Christian commentary to the cards as Waite and Smith were using them.

What gripes me is that there is no mention of fact that the Kabbala is not true Hebrew Kabbala, but whatever was available to Waite, and that the traditional Kabbala of Jewish tradition has nothing to do with Tarot.

Nothing. Zip. Nada. No freakin' way.

Because Tarot, as portrayals of the human and animal figure, is a violation of the First Commandment and an abomination under Jewish law. The idea of incorporating Jewish holy teachings into a system of pictures would be as offensive as having students read texts written on the bodies of naked women.

jmd

18-12-2003, 07:55

...as an eternal student, I personally would not find the last suggestion offensive :D

firemaiden

18-12-2003, 18:53

Originally posted by Pagan X
Because Tarot, as portrayals of the human and animal figure, is a violation of the First Commandment and an abomination under Jewish law. The idea of incorporating Jewish holy teachings into a system of pictures would be as offensive as having students read texts written on the bodies of naked women.

Artwork is an abomination under Jewish Law? Did anyone tell Chagal?

Pagan X

19-12-2003, 04:47

You're mixing up your centuries, firemaiden.

Chagal wasn't studying Kabbala in the fourteenth century.

Our twentieth century Tarots contain Kabbalistic symbolism through the work of Christian occultists in the nineteenth century, not through the tradition taught by Jewish mystics.

Pollack uses stories from the mediaeval Jewish tradition and applies them to the Tarot. This is sloppy scholarship and I consider it worth criticism.

Judaism and Jewish culture have also changed in the interim, becoming more liberal with respect to such things as art.

firemaiden

19-12-2003, 05:17

The Kabbalah - Tarot connection is at least a little older than the 19th century, and I would be very surprised if there were no Jewish Mystics working together with Christian mystics ... I mean... Christian Kabbalists couldn't have evolved in a vaccuum... could they?

Anyhow, perhaps we can take this discussion on the Kabbalah-Tarot Connection over to jmd's thread in the History forum: Kabbalah and Tarot (http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18457)

Pagan X

19-12-2003, 09:09

The Christian mystics aren't mystics, but occultists; mostly the members of the Golden Dawn. Educated Brits working with Jewish manuscripts in the British Museum. They may have easily avoided any actual conversation with living Jews who are not liberal minded artists and painters.

Yes, they very easily can work without Jewish Mystics, since a) there aren't very many in England and b) they are not going to talk to middle-class British occultists. Jewish Mystics are dodging pogroms in Eastern Europe and are not going to share their maligned and persecuted religion with non-Jews; double that for female non-Jews.

Tarot, the deck and the game, was in existence for a couple of hundred years before French non-Jewish authors assigned the Hebrew letters to the major arcana. This was on the basis of the coincidence of the number 22.

Let me put it this way: of all the Tarotists here, including those interested in Kabbala, how many have entered an Orthodox synagogue and discussed Kabbalah with a Jewish mystic? And our time is much more liberal with respect to social contact between faith groups.