Tarot Mysteries: Rediscovering the Real Meanings of the Cards

By Jonathan Dee

Book Overview

This is a practical and accessible guide to one of the most popular divination systems. What makes this book different from the others is that it:
Provides instruction on reading both the Major and Minor ArcanaExplains why the cards are the cards, why each picture forms part of a sequence, and why they occupy a mystical place in our consciousnessGives a balanced and informative perspective on each of the cards, as well as an overview of the entire deckProvides a history of the tarotConnects the tarot to the Qabalah

Dee is a life-long tarot reader and historian. He traces the spiritual origins of the cards from Celtic mythology and Hebrew mysticism to Renaissance theatrical productions and the stars and planets of astrology. He also examines how past scholars thought about the tarot and how that thinking has changed to make the cards meaningful for today's readers. This wide-ranging primer provides readers with everything they need to know about the tarot and provides fresh insights into the cards.

An illustrated edition of this title was published by Sterling in 2003.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571747508
• ISBN13: 9781571747501
• Release Date: July 2016
• Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing Company
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

One of the Best interpretive guides

The first few chapters on the history of the Tarot, like any attempt at a "history of the Tarot," are a mixture of fact and speculation. You don't need to read these chapters; they are unimportant. The section about the Grail Hallows was completely irrelevant and sounded made-up. The real meat of this book is the individual card descriptions. The black & white illustrations of the cards are pretty atrocious, but they get the idea across ... more importantly, you get 1 to 3 pages of info about each card, describing what is traditionally depicted on it, magickal & astrological correspondences, and what the symbols are supposed to mean. He also gives a basic divinatory interpretation for each card (with a seperate interpretation for the "inversed" or upside-down card, which I use.) Dee's writing is very straightforward and easy to understand. I have checked his correspondences and his interpretations against other sources, and they are correct. In actual practice I have found Dee's interpretations to be more useful and accurate than Waite or Crowley, and thus _Tarot Mysteries_ has become THE book I turn to first if I have a question.

This is a milestone book

Tarot Mysteries is truly an eye opener. I never thought that the tarot cards could range over so many fascinating topics. An excellent and informative read.