Rachel Pollack's Tarot Wisdom: Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings

Beloved by nearly half a million tarot enthusiasts, Rachel Pollack's Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom forever transformed the study of tarot. Finally—after thirty years—the much-anticipated follow-up to this revered classic has arrived! Enhanced by author's personal insights and wisdom gained over the past three decades, Rachel Pollack's Tarot Wisdom will inspire fans and attract a new generation of tarot students.

Alive with a rich array of new ideas, yet reverent to the history and tradition of tarot, Rachel Pollack's Tarot Wisdom is a comprehensive guide for all levels. All seventy-eight cards are explored from fresh angles: tarot history, art, psychology, and a wide variety of spiritual/occult traditions. Pollack also takes tarot reading in new and exciting directions-spanning predictive, psychological, magical, and spiritual approaches. Featuring a wealth of new spreads, anecdotes from the author, and innovative ways to interpret and use tarot, this all-encompassing guide will reinvigorate your practice.

Just occasionally one stumbles across genuine hidden treasure...

As a priest I taught for many years that the greatest treasure is often discovered through the cracks and flaws of life's journey. It is as if the very act of being bruised by falling down can open us up to a deeper level of truth and wisdom. This is, of course, a common motif within the realm of myth and fairytale. Why? Well quite simply because these tales draw upon a well of deep human experiences, and make metaphors out of them.

My most recent 'stumbling across this inner treasure' occurred when a certain book fell into my hands. I have long admired the cards of the tarot, for they seem to point to and throw light on exactly the same human experiences as those I just mentioned, and (like myths) they depict them symbolically. So tarot speaks to me very powerfully.

My favourite book for years has been Rachael Pollack's awesome Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom. And, (again as a priest) I can well understand why it has been called the Tarot Bible. Well the other day, in Waterstones Bath, at my own book signing, a new gift was given to me. I have to confess that I had not sold a single book myself so I decided to have a break and pop upstairs to check out the esoteric bookshelves. And there the gift awaited my arrival. Rachel Pollack's new book Tarot Wisdom was standing out with bright lights ... 'I'm yours' the inner voice said.

I have since been entranced and amazed by the contains. The author has given the tarot fraternity another gemstone. She takes us on even deeper journeys into the long lost hidden gold which these mysterious cards points to in us.

What I adore about this book is that it is not only filled with the author's wisdom but, like all her books, it remains humble, easy to comprehend and shows YOU how to be the reader, rather simply telling you what to see or find. I whole heartedly recommend this beautiful book to all who wish to know more about their own deepest treasures.

Mark Townsend

I've had 78 Degrees of Wisdom, for a long time, and if anyone asked, I would have called that book my absolute go-to Tarot guide, for beginner, and experienced alike.

Now, 78 Degrees is my SECOND favorite, next to this one. Each of the Major Arcana has a history, detailed explanation, meanings, reverse meanings, and one or two readings focusing on the meaning of each card. Each minor has a page, within a chapter. Very in depth.

Every chapter is a journey. Every new spread she offers adds so much insight to the cards. Nevermind how much knowledge I'm getting from the book, but it's an absolute pleasure to read. It's not textbooky at all, not dry and disconnected, like some Tarot books can be. It feels like Ms. Pollack is right here, with me at my table, guiding me through the deck. The illustrations are interesting, the layout is excellent, her voice (as always) is terriffic. I love the comparisons of the cards throughout history, too. It's such an interactive book, never did I find myself passively reading. Every time I picked it up, I had to dig out a deck and mull it over, as I read.

I can't say enough good about this book, but I feel like it would be a very valuable addition to every Tarot reader's shelf.

Rachel has a way of being able to share her passion and knowledge in her books & through an esoteric osmosis you receive what you need without much effort & I have learned soooo much (this is not stereo instructions)This book is a joy to read for the novice to the seasoned reader.....It is the readers read. Thanks Again Rachel

In the introduction, Pollack describes Tarot Wisdom simply as "what I have learned about Tarot over the past forty years." Like her earlier book, Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Tarot Wisdom discusses each card in turn and offers ample information on interpreting the cards in a reading. But whereas Seventy-Eight Degrees focuses mainly on the popular Rider deck, Tarot Wisdom takes a more comparative approach. Pollack discusses the Rider meanings and images in relation to older decks and approaches, including the Visconti, Marseille, and Golden Dawn decks. She also frequently discusses how her understanding of cards informed the designs in her own Shining Tribe deck.

I usually enjoy Pollack's writing style in her Tarot books, and this book was no exception. While she consistently provides list of correspondences and historical and modern meanings for the cards, her discussions are more free-flowing, concentrating on what she finds most interesting about each card. Occasionally this left me wishing she had spent more time discussing a particular meaning or image, but it also kept the writing from becoming overly dry or tedious. I enjoyed her analysis of the Major Arcana cards, but the most informative parts of the book for me were centered around the Minors and the court cards. She goes into some detail about interpreting Marseille-style pip cards and offers both Pythagorean and Kabalistic number theories as guides. Her chapter on the court cards made these cards come alive for me in a way other books have not achieved, and made it worth including in my collection. She also includes a useful comparison of Rider and Golden Dawn titling conventions.

The book ends with some spreads and pointers for giving readings. Tarot Wisdom would serve well as an fairly detailed introduction for someone new to Tarot. If you already have some books on Tarot meanings or history, much of the material will be repetitive, but if you are interested in comparative approaches or have enjoyed Pollack's other works, Tarot Wisdom is definitely worth a look.

if you are new or want to expand your knowledge, this is you book. It's kind of heavy if you want to travel with it...but is worthy.