Lwb???
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 May 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| zhahmi |
06 May 2005 |
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What does the acronym "LWB" stand for?
Light and learning,
Zhahmi
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| Lillie |
06 May 2005 |
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LWB = Little White Book.
It's the little instruction booklet you get with a deck. They are usually white.
Hope that helps!
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| zhahmi |
06 May 2005 |
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Thank you, Lillie! That was quite helpful.
Love and learning,
Zhahmi
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| NightWing |
07 May 2005 |
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I just wanted to add here that the included LWB that comes in the box with practically every tarot deck that you purchase by itself (but not deck & book sets) may or may not be good quality, as far as the information it offers. These things vary greatly, from offering just basic outlines of "meaning" for each of the cards, to really good initial info on using the deck, shuffling, spreads, history of the tarot, etc. As usual, its "buyer beware". Fortunately there are a lot of good books out there to help get started in reading tarot. Best wishes!
-NightWing
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| Rusty Neon |
07 May 2005 |
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What does the acronym "LWB" stand for?
little white booklet; little white book
... even though it could sometimes be a colour other than white and be a leaflet rather than a booklet. :)
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| Lillie |
07 May 2005 |
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I just wanted to add here that the included LWB that comes in the box with practically every tarot deck that you purchase by itself (but not deck & book sets) may or may not be good quality, as far as the information it offers. These things vary greatly, from offering just basic outlines of "meaning" for each of the cards, to really good initial info on using the deck, shuffling, spreads, history of the tarot, etc. As usual, its "buyer beware". Fortunately there are a lot of good books out there to help get started in reading tarot. Best wishes!
-NightWing
Indeed, trust it not!
However, from a 'collecting', or a pedantic view point, a deck that had a LWB but no longer does, is not complete.
So, if you are thinking of reselling a deck at some time in the future, keep that LWB! (and the box, and any 'spare' cards that came with it)
I am not happy if even the smallest and most usless bit of anything is missing.
As I am not a collector this probably means I am pedantic!
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| zhahmi |
07 May 2005 |
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Nightwing,
What would you consider to be a good comprehensive beginner's book (including the history of tarot, key players, deck information, and basic spread information)? I currently have the Rider-Waite deck.
Thanks!
Zhahmi
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| Lillie |
08 May 2005 |
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I know that question was not addressed to me, but I thought I would butt in.
Actually, you are asking quite a lot from a single book, most would just deal with one or two of the aspects you mention.
However;
If you have the RWS (Rider Waite Smith) deck then you may be interested in reading Waites book, 'The Key to The Tarot', or 'The Pictorial Key to the Tarot' if it has pictures.
There are many copies about and it can be got very cheaply.
And although I have always thought that it could have been an lot more comprehensive, it is never the less'the' book for that deck, as it was written by it's 'designer' (though not its artist.)
And Waite was a well respected occultist of his time.
It also talks a lot about the history of tarot decks (and their creators) up until the turn of the century, gives meanings and spreads.
But because of when it was written, the language is both old fashioned and wordy.
There are many other books written specifically for the RWS and I am sure other people can point you toward them, but it is always useful to have the writings of the man himself, (the fount as he may be called) even if you do not always agree with him!
Hope this helps.
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| zhahmi |
09 May 2005 |
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Thank you so much Lillie! I've been browsing this site for hours looking for any piece of information that I can get my hands on, and it never seems enough. This site is quite comprehensive, so I don't know if I will find anything *better* (not really the word I wanted to use there), but I think that it would be very information to have the books that you mentioned. Do you know if they are still in print?
Zhahmi
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| Fudugazi |
09 May 2005 |
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Hi Zhahmi! In addition to Waite's indispensable book, I would suggest Robert M Place's The Tarot: History, Symbolism, Divination - which is both learned and practical as far as reading is concerned. The second part of the book is all about the RWS deck and reading with it. It has interesting history and symbolism chapters as well - I am getting a lot out of them.
Another book - more down-to-earth that one, centred on practical divination for beginners - is John Mangiapane "It's All in the Cards".
But in the end, nothing - nothing at all - will replace you own experience, study and meditations with the cards - direct and unmediated.
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| Lillie |
09 May 2005 |
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Hi
I am sure that Waites book is still in print and can be got from normal shops or off the net.
Read about it here
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/books/pictorial-key/
If you buy it from Amazon use the link at the top of that page and AT will get a percentage of the money. (I think)
Support you Tarot Forum!
Also there are many secondhand copies floating about, You will find many on both ebay and Abe.
This will be true for many tarot books.
At the top of every AT page, in the top right corner you will see it says 'books'. click that and you can read about lots of tarot books.
And again, if you use the links to order them you will be helping support AT.
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| NightWing |
09 May 2005 |
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Zhahmi: At last I've been able to elbow my way in here! :-) There are quite a number of books out there, some of which I have found useful. Contrary to others' opinions, I wouldn't start with Waite's book; it might be enough to throw one off tarot completely! Nor do I think Place's good book a "place" to begin. Plus, there are some books that are just too superficial, or a poor value for the cost. And yes; no one book is likely to cover everything.
But below are several great suggestions!
For beginning with the RWS deck (or the Thoth), check out Susan Levitt's "Introduction to Tarot". Also available as part of "The Complete Tarot Kit", it gives a nice over-view of tarot, with decent colour illustrations. The kit, BTW, is an excellent starting point, with the Levitt book, a journal, a layout sheet, and pocket sizes of two of the most popular tarot decks, all at a very good price, if you check amazon & others.
J. Bunning's book is another good one to check out; it contains her on-line course materials, but in easy-to-take-with-you form.
Rachel Pollack has some really good books.
**The best portable little book that I have found very, very useful, and that forms part of my tarot travel kit is Annie Lionnet's "Secrets of Tarot" in the pocket DK series, but also available in a larger format as a "Tarot Directory". Both are nicely illustrated, with lots of advice on spreads, reading for others, choosing a deck, and so on. It retails for $14.95 Canadian, but can be found for considerably less. If I had to choose one little book to get rolling in tarot, it would be this.**
My conclusions to this point derive from my collection of about 80 tarot books, some of which are good, some just so-so, and some pretty bad and a waste of money, IMHO.
If you ARE buying books, please consider using the links to amazon.ca and others from Aeclectic Tarot. Follow "Support" to "Support Us", and go to #2. It helps pay for this site and doesn't cost us anything.
Best wishes in your search.
-NightWing
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The Lwb??? thread was originally posted on 06 May 2005 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.
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