View Full Version : Disappointed: Tarot Card Combinations.
Hello all.
Last week I got the Tarot Card Combinations (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0877288291/aeclectictaro-21/), -book and I got soooo disappointed! There are no images in colors, and I think it's hard to find the combinations, and there are certainly not comb. for all the cards. *AAARRRRGGGHH* :( Maybe I have to study it a bit more... *pout*
~aeonx~
((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))
Poor Aeonx, maybe after your study it sturns out to beworth while
:)
Thanks Maan, I needed those hugs! It's really annoying, waiting for a tarot book for weeks, and when one finally gets it, you don't like it!! *mmmmfffrrrrr*
~aeonx~
I know the feeling! because here in Holland there are almost now good books availeble so you have to order them...:( So i now how terrible waiting is and than to be diapointed Grrrrrrr
Starfish
15-06-2002, 09:47
Oh no, you guys!
I just picked this book out earlier this week - haven't been able to read it yet (it was the last week of school for my kids and it was a really hectic one!
Aeonx, I'm hoping it will help me a bit (as a newbie). Sending you ((((hugs)))) and also hoping that you may like it better with more study.
:TQS Starfish
Houklani
15-06-2002, 14:58
I just picked up this book from the library earlier, but I haven't had time to get into it yet, though it did look a little depressing.
I hope it turns out to be worth it, aeonx!!
Smiles,
Houklani
emily2otters
15-06-2002, 18:40
i glanced at this book in a store recently, and i wasn't much impressed with it, either. however, i've been getting a pair of cards repeated in readings lately, in different orders, reversals, etc. and i was kind of wishing i had that book so i could see at least one perspective on that particular combo.
sorry the book isn't more to your liking. if you get a few key insights from the book, will it be worth the money and the wait?
That's too bad aeonx. Oh well, I think I am still going to get this book regardless.
Everyone who has it or is thinking of it, keep us updated on your impressions. This book is next on my wishlist and I'm really interested in knowing if it's really useful or not.
Ooooh, I wish I had some money! I want this book and 2 new tarot decks. *retreats grumbling about the Gill and Rohrig threads*
;) Kes
Greetings all.
Well, I haven't had the time to go more through the book, but it's not that tempting either. I'm almost addicted to books containing colors! And this book is in black-white... :(
The most annoying is the good reviews it has been getting. I usually check what other people's opinions are on decks and books, and this one got 5 out of 5 stars at amazon!! :rolleyes:
~aeonx~
Originally posted by emily2otters
however, i've been getting a pair of cards repeated in readings lately, in different orders, reversals, etc. and i was kind of wishing i had that book so i could see at least one perspective on that particular combo.
I'll be happy to check out the combinations for you in this book. Maybe I can learn something on the way as well. :)
~aeonx~
As this books is also on my wishlist for my tarot circle I'd love to know how you judge it on further inspection.
Thanks.
This book keeps coming on and off my list. I just can't tell from the reviews if it will add anything. So I second catlin's request for some more details as to who/ who it might not be helpful to. I spend so much anyway I don't want to waste money ...
Aerin
OK, folks, I'll give it a go after work, and I'll keep you posted. Hopefully I'll get back to you tomorrow. :)
~aeonx~
Kellinator
17-06-2002, 10:03
Honestly, I'm pretty skeptical about Amazon reviews... virtually every book averages 4 or 5 stars. I prefer more specific sites for reviews, like Aeclectic! :)
Back to the subject at hand. I looked through Tarot Card Combinations this weekend in a bookstore and wasn't impressed. It looked like a very cut-and-dried "this combination means this!" book without a lot of room for interpretation. I think it might appeal to beginners or very by-the-book people more than the average tarot reader. I'm not saying I wouldn't be interested to have another look, but I wouldn't pay full retail for it. Not when there's so much other stuff out there!
Kelly
Originally posted by Kellinator
Honestly, I'm pretty skeptical about Amazon reviews... virtually every book averages 4 or 5 stars. I prefer more specific sites for reviews, like Aeclectic! :)Kelly
I agree with you on this! I've also gone through a lot of DVD-reviews on Amazon, since I need this at work, and some of the worst training-DVD's I've ever seen, has gotten five stars!! :( Not very impressed by that no. And this book had gotten five stars, and the reviewer said that this was the 'best tarot book she had ever read'!
~aeonx~
1. Do not be afraid to rate it 1 star. Most folks only rate good stuff. (“Best tarot book I’ve ever read”…how many tarot books has the reviewer read?
2. I also have books that so many folks raved about, and when I got them, I thought they sucked. They get 1 star from me.
3. We have such a huge collective knowledge base here at Aeclectic, there is really no reason to buy more poor books, and support lackadaisical writers.
Originally posted by Umbrae
We have such a huge collective knowledge base here at Aeclectic, there is really no reason to buy more poor books, and support lackadaisical writers.
*ROFLMAO* now that is priceless Umbrae! Perhaps that should be our next Aeclectic project ... to write our own Tarot Book. Think about it, we have Thirteen's Basics, we have experts on historical decks, Qabalah and other, we could do a picking your first deck section and do our own recommended reading list ... plus have a message board for people to come to *LOL*. All we would need is an editor and a publisher, most of the info is already here in the threads! And we could illustrate it with cards from the Aeclectic tarot deck project!
Geenius at Wrok
17-06-2002, 18:22
Originally posted by Umbrae
We have such a huge collective knowledge base here at Aeclectic, there is really no reason to buy more poor books, and support lackadaisical writers.Of course, with our huge collective knowledge base, there's also no reason to buy more poor tarot decks and support mediocre artists.
Doesn't quite work like that, though, does it? :rolleyes:
Enthusiasm is all well and good, but one shouldn't let it dull one's ability to discriminate. Of course, every fan in every hobby occasionally lets his enthusiasm override his standards, and that's OK, as long as you actually have standards to override. :)
Houklani
17-06-2002, 23:32
Well now that I've had a chance to go through it a little more, (it was rainy all day yesterday and I was able to get a lot of reading done :D), the book isn't too bad. At first glance the black and white pictures are really depressing, but it has a lot of good information and tips, though maybe I just think that cause I'm a beginner.
Anyway, I wouldn't say that it's too terrible to buy.
Smiles,
Houklani
I've gone through it again also, and I agree, the first part of the book isn't too bad. However, it's not that good either, and I still don't recommend anyone to buy it. There's so many other great books out there I'd rather suggest. Well, that's my opinions. :)
If the author had written more in the book, it might have been much better.
~aeonx~
emily2otters
18-06-2002, 17:48
ooo, aeonx, if you don't mind looking up the combo for me, that would be great!
it was the queen of wands and the seven of cups. at first, one or the other would be reversed, then they both righted themselves and stayed upright. i was struggling with an illness at the time, which (according to louise hay) was due to my reluctance to express anger. in context, i saw the queen as my usual healthy vibrant self (ahem), and the seven as a well-spring of powerful emotions that could be strange and scary at times. i'm curious, though, what the combination stands for.
thanks in advance!
Guinevere
18-06-2002, 21:31
I, too, often find that the combinations I am looking for are not available. Alot of times they may not fit the reading in any case! But one thing you can try is something I have done using the book. If I have done a 3 card reading, as an example, I will try to find the first and second cards interpretations side by side somewhere in the book, then the second and third cards. I check the four card combinations that are in the book too as sometimes I will find two of my cards together there. Did I make ANY sense??!! :o)
emily2otters: I will try to get the combination checked tonight, and get back to you tomorrow. In the meanwhile, check out this discussion on the 7C: Seven of Cups meaning (http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=3703&highlight=seven+of+cups).
~aeonx~
Oh, I forgot!! Emily, I will try to get it done tonight instead. It's so typically me!!
~aeonx~
Jenny-Li
20-06-2002, 06:58
Originally posted by aeonx
I'm almost addicted to books containing colors! And this book is in black-white... :(
Crayons, Aeonx...? :D ;) :D
No, seriously, it's such an anticlimax to be waiting for something, and have it turn out less than you'd expected it to be... Hope you suddenly find it to be quite useful after all, at least enough to be worthwhile...
Hugs,
Jenny :)
Originally posted by Jenny-Li
Crayons, Aeonx...?
Watch it, I might try that! Um. No I wouldn't! *l* Not such a bad idéa really. :D
I can't stand books that don't contain a single color! I even 'looked inside' this book at Amazon.com, but they had only included index-pages, not the black-white pictures! First time I was disappointed by Amazon...
~aeonx~
Jenny-Li
20-06-2002, 14:04
Originally posted by aeonx
Watch it, I might try that! Um. No I wouldn't! *l* Not such a bad idéa really. :D
I can't stand books that don't contain a single color! I even 'looked inside' this book at Amazon.com, but they had only included index-pages, not the black-white pictures! First time I was disappointed by Amazon...
I know it's not a bad idea - I went through Uni with 38 differently colored pens and pencils to light up my boooooring books...!
But if you can't stand non-colored books, does that mean you stay away from Tarot-bibles like 78DW and TFY too? Not much color there... ;)
Jenny :)
Originally posted by Jenny-Li
But if you can't stand non-colored books, does that mean you stay away from Tarot-bibles like 78DW and TFY too? Not much color there... ;)
Jenny :)
:rolleyes: But that's Tarot Bibles! *lol* Let me rephrase: I can't stand books with lots of pictures in it black-white. 78DW doesn't have lots of pictures... Ehem. Yes. :D
~aeonx~
emily2otters: I couldn't find that exact combination in this book. :(
~aeonx~
Use some crayons! Honestly, if there are pictures in black and white but you need color, choose your own colors and put 'em right on in! Maybe this will make it a more fun book for you, and sort of open you up to its possibilities. Just from the discussion I'm going to have to see if my library has it (ahhh libraries...the poor man's bookstore)
napaea
Originally posted by napaea
ahhh libraries...the poor man's bookstore)
napaea
*lol* That's for sure! It's so annoying if you find a great book in the library, and you can't afford to buy it. You'll have to deliver it after a certain time, and if you want it longer, you may have to put your name on a list etc etc...
About the crayons... there are just too many cards to draw. Even I won't have the patience to sit down and color all the cards! Besides, the book isn't worth it. ;)
~aeonx~
emily2otters
29-06-2002, 19:00
<<emily2otters: I couldn't find that exact combination in this book. >>
oh, well. thanks for lookin'!
destinyawaitsme
15-07-2002, 22:28
Yeah, I was disappointed, but I wouldn't call this book trash. It has some useful ideas, but I must admit when I saw it I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. A book about card combinations!!! The way it's set up, it's hard to figure out where to find the combos you are looking for. I wish there were definitions for all card combos...but let's face it. That would make a big ass book.
midnightmerry
23-07-2002, 18:00
I've had this book for awhile and for me, it was just a jumping-off point, to get you thinking. For the complete novice, it can help (well, it did me at one point).
divinerguy
25-07-2002, 09:03
The problems with Tarot card combination books is the question of scope.
In a 10 card celtic cross, with the crossing card read as an upright, there are a vast number of possible combinations. Perhaps a mathemetician might help me out here.
At the third card, there were 1.85 million possible combinations. My calculator, at eight digits, maxed out on the fourth card.
Even with upright, two card combinations, there are over 6,000 combinations. If you add reversals, it brings that number up to 24,180 possible combinations. These combinations do not take into account issues which are specific to the querent.
With the potential variety in combinations, it makes the ability to write such a book quite problematic.
I think the real merit of the book is helping to develop a thinking system to connect cards, as a beginner I have trouble going beyond the meaning of a single card and putting together 2,3 or more cards, so maybe more advanced reader find this book below their expectations.
This book helped me understand how cards work together using a system of keywords for each card, I think those keywords are mainly for learning purposes and you can decide to use those words or your own.
Of course is impossible to have every single card combination in one single book, and if such book would exist, what is the merit to study Tarot?
I used the book that way too - helping me to connect cards, seeing how they reinforce each other - But its not a book I use often mainly because I've never had any of the combinations in it and its not a easy book to find your way around.
I did stupidly think that it would have limitless combinations lol