jmd: Thank you. In forum searches I've noticed your thoughtful and generous posts. I am considering buying your recommend. Are only the Majors depicted? and is it more appropriate for the Christian reader? Thank you for the word bibliomancy.
Exactly.
Lunafey and Mesara: Why aren't tarot cards allowed in prison? The short answer is: for the same reason a prisoner cannot have chocolate truffles.
The sacred answer is, as the creator of the Tarot for Recovering Pagan Fanatics reminds us: A 19th century occultist said a prisoner alone in a prison cell with nothing but a pack of Tarot cards could acquire all world knowledge.
The answer according to current law is: security. Goodman vs. Snyder et al held "that the restriction on tarot cards was justified because "some decks contain symbols similar to those used by gangs or other security threat groups." " Runes are also considered contraband. Goodman is an Illinois inmate whose case claims that the use of tarot is vital to his religious practice. How interesting.
Apparently there are some state or jail systems that allow limited use of tarot although I believe they are few as I haven't found them yet. The cards may only be available under supervision such as during clergy visits, and must meet criteria such as no nudity (Stick Figure Tarot anyone?)
Of course, just reading the tarot cards in your own home in some areas of the US can land you in the pokey, where one would be further protected from the evil cards.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/divi_law.htm
Fulgour: Heh. Thank you for your last comment. I didn't mean to bring you down, just challenge you a bit. It made me think though. Most of us have been prisoners of our own construct. Breaking out is work. Have you seen the Prison card in the Psycards Deck? And then the Liberation card? If I made my own deck from personal experience, those states would be expressed in my deck.
Fulgour and Ace: Thanks for the inexpensive recommends! Given that the pics (most important in this case) may be cut out (and used as security risks one reckons) and then must be replaced, they are great suggestions
F, I like your phrase a redundancy of illustrations.
You books forum folks are a generous bunch
~willow stuffwise~
~book dowser~
~somewhere out there trying to keep you all out of jail~
Recommendations so far:
Tarot: Talisman or Taboo? Hederman
Tarot for Beginners Hollander
How to Read the Tarot Abraham
Eden Grey's books on the RWS deck