Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Giles, a tarot card reader and a student of Jungian psychology, views the tarot deck as a map of the archetypal realm of the imagination, a symbolic language capable of representing almost any human situation, and a therapeutic tool that operates on rational, psychic and metaphysical levels at once. But this confusing study does not effectively demonstrate how the tarot reader accomplishes any of the above. It does provide a colorful history of the tarot, however, which apparently began as a 15th-century Italian card game and later became overlaid with associations to fortune-telling, magic, alchemy, Kabbalism, Jungian theory and, more recently, to goddess-worship and shamanism. Giles examines surrealist artists' use of tarot imagery, presents woolly speculations on the ``new physics'' and includes ``quantum exercises for Tarot readers,'' a consumer's guide to tarot decks, tips on the use of tarot in self-analysis and an annotated listing of tarot-related books and periodicals. Illustrations. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
This excellent work traces the history, legends, and stories surrounding tarot cards. The origin of these cards tarot are lost. Consequently, the tarot has generated a wealth of speculation and pseudotruths. Giles, a reader, teacher, and consultant on the tarot, gives a fascinating precis of its history from the first mention in 1450 to modern times. In addition, the role of the tarot as a way of knowing is effectively examined. This is not a guide for using tarot but a literate study of the history, foundation, and uses of the cards. There is a list of the different kinds of decks available as well as a resource list. The thoroughly annotated bibliography, based on the author's personal preferences, is very good. Highly recommended.-- Gail Wood, Montgomery Coll. Lib., Germantown, Md. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
