Review: Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack.

On a scale of ‘Buy it, Borrow It or Burn it.’ I recommend: Buy It. This is the only book you’ll ever need for tarot. Well, maybe one of two.

Divination is not the only reason to read tarot cards. It helps me avoid writer’s block. Reading the cards is essentially telling a story; a story that at one time had an oral tradition. Tarot is an illustrated version of the ‘hero’s journey.’ Rachel Pollack’s book discusses useful interpretations of the cards. It’s not a bullet list posted on social media that allow the querent the ability to choose the one description they like best. Her explanations detail the meaning of the cards based on history, imagery, and symbolism.

My preferred method for reading the cards is a three card layout. Three cards in a row – the ‘first’ is the past, the ‘second’ is the present, and the ‘third’ is the future. If one is reading the cards truthfully, they will recognize their past and their present. The future outcome, if one remains on their current path, should be apparent. After I read the individual cards, I look at them as a whole like a panoramic view. I look for the similarities in the cards, which may allude to a larger meaning.

The world is full of symbols and messages, and our ancestors knew how to read them. You may want to pause and take a look.