Tarot Books

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Feb 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

ros	11 Feb 2004
We go through many things to get our information for learning Tarot. "It's not what you get out of the books you read, it's what the books bring out of you." The books & knowledge has change my way of thinking & me as a person. Has the books changed anyone else?

lark	11 Feb 2004
Hi ros What a nice question.. When I first started to learn tarot. I got very discouraged. So many different opinions in all the books I read. I was all alone in my studies and books were all I had. I didn't have a computer back then. What a blessing that is now! I read a book that totally freed me from the bogged down feeling of " it has to be this way, it has to be that way..." I still read it at least once a year now, because it totally liberates me to use my intuition. And to trust my first instincts. I will always be greatful to Michele Morgan and her wonderful book....A Magical Course in Tarot. So it's funny because in one way books imprisoned me but it took a book to free me. Yea for Books!!!!! :D

Kiama	11 Feb 2004
I find I learn something new in nearly every book I read about Tarot these days. (Though I must admit, I don't usually buy the bog-standard "and this is what the Fool means, and this is what the Magician means" books anymore...) Often this new information gets mingled into my 'labyrinth' of Tarot in my mind, and gets remembered when its relevant. My view of things is constantly changing. Just looking through my old posts on Aeclectic shows that to me. One year I'm believing that the cards have a personality, and the next I'm not. Though it's not just me being fickle: I am sure it is some kind of 'evolution'... And mostly it comes from reading books written by quite diverse authors, on the same subject. (And also alot from Aeclectic.) Even if something that I read doesn't actually change my own ideas, I 'store' it (I don't book-learn, but somehow it all gets absorbed if I'm interested enough in it) in my mind as a "and this is what another person thinks" bit of information. Studying Philosophy trains you to do that... I understand what Lark is saying about feeling imprisoned by books, especially when you're first starting out. Every book tells you that 'this is the way it is properly done, and when you're just starting out you don't know any better, so you tend to believe it blindly and hope for the best. Then after a while, something clicks and you start looking at it from a more objective point. I find I can still read those types of books, but they don't really effect my own view. They suffer the same treatment as the 'so this is what somebody else thinks' information. I might not believe it myself, but it gets stored in recognition of the fact that others think differently to me. :D Great thread ros! Blessings, Kiama

dolphinprincess	11 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lark I read a book that totally freed me from the bogged down feeling of " it has to be this way, it has to be that way..." I still read it at least once a year now, because it totally liberates me to use my intuition. And to trust my first instincts. I will always be greatful to Michele Morgan and her wonderful book....A Magical Course in Tarot. Lark, This is my favorite Tarot book! It is definitely a book to re-read from time to time...!!! I even emailed Michele to tell her how much I loved it and got a really sweet email in response... I wish they'd make a deck out of the illustrations in that book.. they are sooo simple.. but so pretty.

lark	11 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by dolphinprincess I wish they'd make a deck out of the illustrations in that book.. they are sooo simple.. but so pretty. I always though the same thing! I've even thought of getting a blank deck and drawing and coloring them myself. Just so I could have them for my personal use.

Imagemaker	11 Feb 2004
I enjoyed Morgan's book SO much--I've thought of buying a second one and cutting out those pictures to make a deck. I like their simplicity.

ol_crazy_Legs	11 Feb 2004
I would definantly have to say yes. Im in the middle of reading 78 degrees. Its amazing! If you dont have this book. I strongly sugest you get it.

dolphinprincess	11 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lark I always though the same thing! I've even thought of getting a blank deck and drawing and coloring them myself. Just so I could have them for my personal use. Me Too!!!! I'm not the best artist in the world, but I think I could recreate most of those...!!! hmm. a new project... ;)

Phoenyx*	11 Feb 2004
I love my books, all of them, I don't know what I would do without them. :D

lark	11 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama I understand what Lark is saying about feeling imprisoned by books, especially when you're first starting out. Every book tells you that 'this is the way it is properly done, and when you're just starting out you don't know any better, so you tend to believe it blindly and hope for the best. Then after a while, something clicks and you start looking at it from a more objective point. I find I can still read those types of books, but they don't really effect my own view. They suffer the same treatment as the 'so this is what somebody else thinks' information. I might not believe it myself, but it gets stored in recognition of the fact that others think differently to me. :D Kiama, You said what I was trying to say..but you said it so much better. :)

Aerten	11 Feb 2004
My goodness! Am I the only one who was rather displeased with Ms. Morgan's book? It was what actually turned me off from tarot for about half a year!! *ducks possible fruit being chucked in this direction* It was nice to read, but after reading it, I found every reading I did so darn vague... I like to question everything, and the readings I did after being influenced by her book left me so muddled... all my readings felt like wishy-washy watercolours instead of bold oil paintings... I do love 78 DW, though, even though she does put a rather large amount of faith in the cards. But then, i guess she is Rachel Pollack. :P

lunakasha	12 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lark I read a book that totally freed me from the bogged down feeling of " it has to be this way, it has to be that way..." I still read it at least once a year now, because it totally liberates me to use my intuition. And to trust my first instincts. I will always be greatful to Michele Morgan and her wonderful book....A Magical Course in Tarot. This is probably my favorite too, Lark...she just has a wonderful way of writing, and she makes it OK for anyone, especially beginners, to feel comfortable with the tarot, and not to feel restricted by some of the "guidelines" and "recommendations" found in most tarot books. Her message is simply this: Do what makes sense to you, trust your instincts...and enjoy the journey! I have many favorite tarot books, actually...but this one stands out for me because of Ms. Morgan's liberating approach to the learning process... :) Luna

lark	12 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Aerten My goodness! Am I the only one who was rather displeased with Ms. Morgan's book? It was what actually turned me off from tarot for about half a year!! *ducks possible fruit being chucked in this direction* It was nice to read, but after reading it, I found every reading I did so darn vague ... I like to question everything, and the readings I did after being influenced by her book left me so muddled... all my readings felt like wishy-washy watercolours instead of bold oil paintings... I do love 78 DW, though, even though she does put a rather large amount of faith in the cards. But then, i guess she is Rachel Pollack. :P Oh Aerten that's OK!!!:) (Now where did I put my rotten eggs?) Just teasing, Really we are so lucky now to have all the books we do. There is something to meet everyones needs. Back in the late '60's and early '70's you were lucky if you had a Rider Waite deck and any book to go with it. If you could fine something written by Eden Grey or Alfred Douglas you were a lucky duck! You talked about Wishy Washy water color and bold oil painting. To many other opinions on the meanings make me feel wishy washy, but using my intuition opens up the bold oil paint for me... So it's just a matter of reading style. And I love 78DW too. :*

The Tarot Books thread was originally posted on 11 Feb 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.