Book Description
Facsimile edition of the Rider-Waite Tarot deck originally printed from plates that were destroyed during the bombing of London during World War II. The deck and book set comes with the Rider-Waite Tarot deck by Pamela Colman Smith with original Tudor Rose back design, Celtic Cross divinatory chart, and The Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite.
Customer Reviews:
The Original Rider Waite Tarot Pack .......2007-09-18
I have a couple other packs of tarot cards, but this pack uses pictures that are orignal to the tarot pack, in line with most books written on the subject. As for the reader the pictures are easy to understand, out of the four types of Rider Waite Tarot packs, this is the far superior to them all.
Nice additon to a tarot collection.......2007-08-08
I love the rider waite deck, I own 4 versions of it. I love to see the cards in different colors and different back designs. I have the Rider Waite, Universal rider Waite, Radiant Waite and Just got the Original version. What I like about it is that the cards a slick so you can spread them out in a line, This is good because some readers like to pull cards that way, The other waite decks do a poor job at spreading the cards out. The Back design is nice much better than the regular rider waite's Plaid. The Colors are soft, So some people bright colors are to much for the eyes, I don't have that problem but its can be nice to have a softer darker deck to work with, + Some clients may also like softer colors. The Radiant is very bright and is Full of color and the universal is light. The One thing I do not like so much is the dots on the faces of the people. But I can deal with that. This is a good starter deck, But If you want a deck with more color go with a clone deck like the universal or radient.
Cool coloring but too slick, shiny, and poor print quality........2007-06-26
I am SO disappointed in this deck! I'd seen a well worn copy of "The Original Rider Waite" and fell in love with the coloring, especially the seafoam greens in place of the water blues in the other Rider deck I have (ISBN#0-913866-13-x). I also liked the way skin is colored with red pointalistic dotting, as if to indicate blood/life in the flesh. Greys in the other deck are done in ranges of cream/beige/tan colors in the "original." Purples in the "regular" are a deeper, richer crimson in the "original." Red in the "original" is deeper, less orangey. Often color is visually textured like parchment or done in crosshatching lines of color, or tiny dotting of color, which looked great in my friends worn copy. I noticed so many more things in the images than I had in my other Rider Waite Smith deck and I liked the idea of having a deck with colors more closely resembling the original deck and symbolism. So, I could hardly wait to get this, but when it came in, my heart sunk. Another reviewer mentioned how shiny and slippery these cards were, which didn't sound good... but when I saw it for myself, it was much worse than I'd imagined. They're coated in some kind of plastic that is so shiny light glares off of it. I had to hold the cards at just so an angle to see them clearly. The upsides of the coating -may- be that it can make shuffling more slippery, which some may prefer, though I prefer cards with a more "organic" feel to them. Or maybe the plastic helps prevent moisture absorption? I haven't tested this theory out, yet, but I prefer cards that can "breathe," exchange with the elements in their environment and our hands. Perhaps the plastic coating was a way to cheap out on the paper quality and durability of the cards. It seems a little like this, when comparing the feel, weight, and flexibility of this deck with my regular Rider pack. I'm wondering if this coating will peel up from the edges... in some places it looks like there's a visible layering that could peel.
Also, the black outlining quality is unclear, blurry, compared to the other Rider deck I have. For example, it's harder to distinguish the zodiac symbols in the Charioteer's belt, nor the other glyphs of his "skirt." For analogy, if this deck had been printed on a home desktop printer, the difference between the decks would be like setting print quality to "draft" at times, and at best "standard," rather than "fine."
I'm not sure what to do with these cards... same them for emergency readings in misty, damp situations? Give them away? Try to return them? I just hope I can find a printing of the "original" colors, but less slick, shiny plastic. Maybe there was an earlier, better printing for this edition? I'm hoping my friend will tell me his deck was once so shiny and slick, but time and use will mute it. I'll follow-up if I find out.
2 stars for the coloring.
Of historical interest, but may not appeal to beginners.......2007-06-07
This was the first Waite deck I got and it just didn't appeal to me. The main problem is the blues of the original images that they reproduced for this deck have apparently all faded to a dull pale green that is very unappealing. I have since acquired the Universal Waite and find it much more pleasant to use. The Original Rider Waite is of historical interest, but I think will not appeal to many users. The packaging is well done, though Waite's Key to the Tarot booklet is less useful to a beginner than a book such as Rachel Pollack's Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom.
good beginner pack.......2007-04-11
ok so I was always interested into the occult. I always read about it, did some online versions of tarot, but I felt that I did not get the full experience. So after some research i got this pack for b/c i wanted the orginal version of the cards.
the deck overall is good, but the cards are WAY TO GLOSSY. I wanted that nice paper feel between my fingers, but all i feel is plastic. the pictures and quality are what i expected them to be, but just the way they feel was a real downer. its ok though, I am still having fun doing my own spreads and figuring out the meaning myself.
Book Description
Giant-sized version of the world's most popular tarot deck!
Customer Reviews:
The Tarot to Buy.......2007-09-22
If you're going to buy a tarot, this is the one to get--it's my favorite anyway.
The Rider Waite Tarot is the most popular deck out there. Why? because it uses traditional symbols that are easiest to learn.
And if you like a larger version of the normal Rider Waite, where you don't need to use a magnifying glass to see the details, then this is the one to get.
Beautiful, Big Graphics.......2007-04-15
I love these. Rider-Waite is the name for tarot and these cards are easy to shuffle and easy to view.
pleased recipient.......2007-02-11
this item was received in a timely fashion and the condition was perfect. Very pleased with transaction. Will shop again in the future. Thank you.
Excellent Tarot Deck.......2007-01-10
I received the Giant Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, and must say it is the best one I have had. I love the large size, and they are very easy to read and work with. Also, they are the "traditional" deck, and the most accurate to work with, in my opinion. Samantha
A true rectified gallery of the Archetypes.......2005-12-10
_I finally broke down and treated myself to this giant Rider-Waite tarot deck. I own multiple decks of the standard size and the miniature deck, but I always wanted this larger example of contemplation. I don't use them for reading, but they are perfect for contemplation of the symbolism.
_I only use the Rider-Waite deck for a very good reason. Arthur Waite saw that there had been considerable "drift" in the symbolism of the cards over the years. He took it upon himself as one of the preeminent scholars of the occult of modern times to rectify and restore the deepest archetypical meaning to the deck (including the colors.) After all, that is the meaning of the cards- it is also how they work. These are instruments that resonate with the highest archetypes in the realm of the Forms. This is also why they require contemplation- you have to internalize the deepest traditional meanings. You have to "feel" the cards through deep inner focus on what you have both read and lived. If the cards mean nothing to you, or if you are ignorant of the old meanings, then they simply won't "work." You have to establish a connection- "As above, so below." Skeptics will laugh at this, because to them these are simply pieces of card stock with no "mechanism" to them. The mechanism is in the underlying structure and currents of the cosmos.
_On a mundane note, these cards will last for decades with respectful use. I've even cleaned mine with alcohol and Windex without doing damage to the surface (I had a fool apply scotch tape to one of my decks once...)
Product Description
In 1909, artist Pamela Colman Smith, under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite, created an innovative 78-card tarot deck that would come to be recognized as revolutionary. With descriptive pictures on the 56 Minor Arcana cards, the Rider-Waite deck digressed from the tradition of tarot decks used for centuries and set the standard for nearly every tarot deck published. The world's most popular tarot deck! Card titles and instruction booklet in Spanish.
Customer Reviews:
Pop Icon now, totally different then..........2007-09-06
I was able to get my hands on a rare 1st printing of this now classic gem of Tarot. It has been the basis of all modern decks to follow. The colors are a bit more accurate in this edition. The texture is different from modern editions; less shiny and somehow more vibrant than more modern printings. The backs are unimaginitive with those horridly busy lines. Turn them over and there is a modern pop image that is recognizable to anyone that has ever seen the cards. Interestingly, this early edition from 1971 was not published by U.S Games, rather Samuel Weiser.
I remember my first encounter with these cards was in 1985. It was a little creepy looking at the then, unfamiliar images. There was not many other decks to choose from at that time. I began memorization of each card and tried my first consultation for myself. I was not put off by lurid rumors after that initial year. I would move on to other decks through the years. These cards would be referenced for many readings to come. Looking back, this was an invaluable lesson for myself.
Be all that you can be ....................2007-09-02
There are many unusual packs of Tarot cards on todays market, many apparently aimed at various deviant groups and which employ symbolism peculiar to that deviancy. The Rider-Waite deck is not applicable to such groups but rather to the majority (one hesitates to use the word 'Normal') of us who tend to share similar archetypes, or symbols.
Designed by Dr. Arthur Waite and executed by the artist Pamela Smith, the deck is crisply and carefully printed in full color by U.S. Games System Inc., recognizing normal symbology and presenting it's greatest utility to the majority of Tarot students.
For a first deck (and even perhaps your only Tarot deck) you simply cannot go wrong! Something that is not necessarily true if you wish to use the various "collector" decks.
Bill Onslow
Pretty Happy with my Cards.......2007-08-09
I received my Cards today. Unlike some,I do like the look because I do like the antique look I just wish the instructions were a little better for us beginners.One minor problem was the card box was a little bent up,But the cards were wrapped and looked great so I am not gonna complain. All in All I was very satisfied..Soon as I find more info about what the cards that have no names,(just plain) mean,then I should be happier..hehe (Thumbs Up from me and I would suggest them to others.)
LadyOnyX
Excellent.......2007-08-06
Everything I ordered was in brand new condition and was shipped in a timely manner with e-mails letting me know exactly what was going on with my order. I highly recommend this seller and will definatley look into buying from them in the future.
Great.......2007-07-06
Known as the Universal Tarot deck, I was attracted to these cards and their artwork. Beautiful and very symbolic. The cards themselves are a good size and they seem to be quite sturdy. I'm enjoying using and learning about them. I hope to use them for many years.
Product Description
This fully illustrated 78-card deck gives a new radiance and depth to the most cherished, popular tarot deck in the world. Includes booklet.
Customer Reviews:
Radiant Tarot Deck Lives up to its name!!!.......2007-02-11
This deck is beautiful! I love the color! It stays true to the original Rider-Waite Deck and is VERY eye appealing. It comes with a small set of instructions inside the deck (more of a pamphlet than a booklet and definitely not a book). The pamphlet would be somewhat helpful to someone starting off, but I would suggest getting a "how to" tarot book to companion for beginers. There is good detail for those that read intuitively, but for those that wish to stretch beyond the traditional... you may want to go for another set of cards. This deck is great for both those just starting out or for those that have been practicing for years. This is definitely added among one of my favorite tarot decks.
Mediocre At Best.......2007-02-06
I was expecting the "perfected" version of the Rider-Waite tarot deck, and in fact I was hoping that the second rate artwork of the original cards had somehow been improved and rendered less sophomoric. Such wishful thinking!
The colors are stronger on this deck, and it has better contrast as well, but the images themselves are every bit as clunky, as grade-schoolishly drawn, and as uninspired as the original deck. What a let down.
The obviously over enthusiastic reviews this deck has received are wildly inaccurate. I suspect that those same reviewers would also give five stars to a fastfood Happy Meal and call it an upscale dining experience.
Regardless, this is a mediocre deck of tarot cards, offering zero improvement over the original, artistically challenged, Rider-Waite deck (which is itself rather mediocre - and especially so in resect to the Crowly Thoth deck).
If you want a really pretty deck, that also has adequate symbolism, pick-up a B.O.T.A. deck and color it yourself.
The PERFECT RWS Deck!!.......2007-01-30
FAR superior to the Universal Waite or the "regular" RWS deck. Colors are BEAUTIFUL, VIBRANT and ENGAGING. If you're going to buy a traditional deck, THIS IS IT, look no further!!
Love this version!!.......2006-10-16
I got the Rider Waite and the Universal version. that was my fav cause it looked better to the eyes. I was not sure if I should buy the Radiant version cause I got 2 RW decks why would i need another? But I said to myself I am going to buy it, to see what it looks like, cause I love to see new versions of the RW deck. I must say the Radiant RW is amazing! The colors are bold and clear its refreashing. I am happy I bought it, If you are starting on Tarot Buy The Radiant or Universal versions they are the best.
priestess' face too hard.......2006-10-12
i love the cards, the color, even the "new book" smell--but i was terribly disappointed with the changes they made to the high priestess' face. she looks nothing like the original, mystical, youthful priestess. she looks angry, tired, lined, hard, and old, and very unhappy. that threw me off and made me doubt the entire deck--i wondered if i was imagining negative energy or what. i use the priestess as my significator whenever i do a reading for myself, and her face made me not want to even touch the cards. i also have the original priestess tattooed on my arm, so i could be a little biased.
Product Description
Miniature Rider Waite Tarot Deck is the world's most popular tarot deck! This classic deck has long been a favorite of beginners as well as tarot enthusiasts.
Customer Reviews:
Love this little deck! Highly recommend!.......2007-07-02
I am just learning to use the Tarot, and here is one of the best tips given to me by a friend with many years of experience with the Tarot. She told me to buy a second deck, tape each card of the deck onto a separate piece of notebook paper, and keep them in a 3-ring binder. In this binder I keep notes of my impressions and what I am learning about each invidivual card while getting to know the cards names and meanings. I decided this miniture deck would be perfect to tape into my notebook/journal. This has been a priceless learning tool, because I can look back and read notes I made months ago, notes I would have otherwise forgotten.
I purchased another miniature deck because the size is so portable. Now I carry the cards with me everywhere, and when I have a few free moments I'll pull them out. The smaller cards are easier to work with, and this is the deck for you if descretion is important. The prints and coloring on both of my miniature decks are just as clear and vibrant as the larger deck--no distortions whatsoever.
big disappointment.......2006-10-07
I love most Rider Waite decks but this miniature deck turned out to be a big flop. The scanning job was done poorly and some of the figures look distorted. The standard miniture deck is a lot better. Also the coloring isn't sooo special for my personal taste. I still prefer the original version light colors to Albano's or even to the Universal version.
I recently found a Lo Scarabeo edition of the 1910 version and the colors are just perfect.
Good.......2005-10-29
I had wanted the Rider Waite tarot for years. I saw it at a local mall they had a bunch of them. But at $18 I thought it wasn't worth the price for a deck that I personally could've drawn myself. I don't know about thinking up the idea for the first modern tarot and thinking up the actual pictures of the deck, but the artwork was so mediocre and not life-like and unrealistic that I personally could've drawn and painted these. Don't believe me? I got a grade of A B- in college Art 101 in the division III local school and was Art 101- painting. I just didn't think a deck with such mediocre artwork would be the same price as the much better Aleister Crowley Thoth tarot. Then one day I was looking on the wensite for a local bookstore named after a famous person. I saw a bunch of different versions of the Rider Waite tarot. I was debating between the pocket and miniature. The pocket was cool it was about the size of the small version of the Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot. I also have the larger version of the same Crowley deck. With that large of a size for a deck of cards you need a dinner table or similar just to have room for most technical spreads. The smaller one you can do readings on a shelf the size of about a laptop computer. That was the size of any tarot deck I preferred- it was much for practical because it took up less space and could be easily carried in a bigger man's pocket. After I did some measuring and thinking I decided on the miniature. I was going to get the pocket but the miniature was only $12. That's a good deal for a deck of tarot cards. Most decks of any quality are usually like 20 bucks, so about half the price for a smaller version of the same deck. The good things about this deck are: Arthur Waite was a famous occultist, writer and Golden Dawn member, - this deck was the first modern deck and became the standard, - the price was about half that of most really good decks for a smaller version, - the smaller the deck is the more practical because you don't need a family sized dinner table or the living room floor to do readings. The bad was only I estimated the size of the cards 2 by 3 inches. It was smaller than the small Crowley tarot. When I got it, I was expected a little bigger but it fit in the palm of my mind. But it's not so small as to be flimsy. They should've made it 3 by 5 like the Thoth deck. And as I stated the artwork on the cards was so mediocre I could make a reprint version of this same deck at a little lower quality only because I wasn't its creator. The Rider Waite tarot in any version is one of the only decks I'd recommend because it was made by a famous occultist who knows what their talking about. I like this deck because it is good and portable.
Good Things Come in Small Packages.......2002-12-10
These are a great deck to carry in your purse or pocket for times you can practice reading your cards. A little bit smaller than an normal deck of cards these take up much less space than other decks. Rider Waite is of course, a great starter deck and is easy to use. Great addition to your tarot card collection
Great portability.......2002-11-21
This is one of my favorite Tarot decks because of its portability. It is the miniature version of the Waite deck, and it roughly fits in the palm of my hand, which makes it very easy to shuffle. However, I just want to share a few praises and pointers that I've run across while using these cards.
On the positive side, these cards are beautiful with hints of classical and medieval themes, which makes these cards feel nostalgic and unique. Another great aspect is that there are many "Learn How to..." tarot books on the market that use this deck in their lessons. An additional asset is this deck's portability. It's truly fantastic. This deck is great for travel and it's discrete. Let's face it, how many of us want to explain why we're toting tarot decks? Unfortunately, mysticism, esoterica and tarots are still frowned upon by many.
On the challenging side, I find the very Judeo Christian imagery limiting because it's so emphatically chivalric in tone, and few modern people achieve this state. Additionally, the suit of wands--which generally symbolizes elemental passion, the ego and desire--hardly conveyed anything I would associate with these themes. Also, the gender divide is a bit awkward. We have two male archetypes, which are the King and the Night. The female archetype is the queen. Last, we have an androgynous page, which can be male, female or epicene. What this gender arrangement translates to is an older gentleman (King), a young man (knight), androgynous individual (page), and a female (Queen). So where is the maiden? How is it that all women are lumped summed under a queen? Many readers use the pages to represent young women, but I find this troubling, since the page can be a young woman, an adolescent male or female, an epicene, a child etc, and when it shows up in the answer, who do we point to? I feel that this kind of gender schema leads to confusion and makes this deck a bit dated. My last concern is that the Rider Waite tends to veil the darker and more shadowy sides of human nature and our complexities, which makes readings a bit harder to interpret because results tends to be resoundingly "good and moral," or "bad and duplicitous," and few people are so extreme. Hence, a more realistic tone would be nice, but I realize that this kind of tone would directly conflict with its medieval and chivalric picture schema.
All in all, once you get used to the pictures and its antiquated themes, you'll find this deck enchanting because it's so lovely and convenient. Other decks are about that have more modern pictorial representations for the Major and Minor Arcana--which incorporates a broader religious spectrum, which is nice--but this is still the handiest deck to tote around, and you can do it discretely.
Average customer rating:
- Interesting for the "Spin" on relating two Conflicting Tarot Decks
- A poor approach
- Good for Ordinary Practice
- Excellent First Book for Beginners
- LUCID AND ACCURATE
|
Tarot As Your Companion: A Practical Guide to the Rider-Waite and Crowley Thoth Tarot Decks
Hajo Banzhaf , and
Elisa Hemmerlein
Manufacturer: U.S. Games Systems
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Tarot: Mirror of the Soul : Handbook for the Aleister Crowley Tarot
ASIN: 1572812176 |
Book Description
Since tarot first appeared, thousands of different decks have been published. Only a few have changed the history of the cards. This book offers a side-by-side comparison of two classic tarot decks: Rider-Waite and Crowley Thoth.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting for the "Spin" on relating two Conflicting Tarot Decks.......2007-08-11
To try to "correlate" and compare two utterly different tarot decks -- with two utterly different audiences (although many collectors such as myself will delightfully have both) -- is ambitious, fraught with risk, certainly not "scholarly" and hardly authoritative. But it is fun. For those torn between these two decks -- and there's no need to be -- it's interesting to see this "spin" on interpreting the cards with both. However, it's far from a great reference in terms of practical use, except, perhaps, at that "dabbling" stage. It's just more an interesting essay or exploration, and it helped me, certainly, in researching my tarot-plotted book THE LAST TROUBADOUR. Although I use Medieval decks as my "plot pattern", one could argue that the Thoth tarot and the Waite tarot are derivative of earlier Medieval decks but which evolved in two different directions (others might argue they're not so different as advocates proclaim). This book supports this theory -- that both Crowley's Thoth Deck and Waite's deck are two interpretations of the very same root imagery. Still, it's not conclusive or authoritative, and more an entertaining spin on this theme. Credible, but not with great authority. Worthwhile, but not the last word. The word "practical" in the title's a little misleading, too. It is a practical, short hands-on book, but it's not complete or deep, and therefore I would say it's a very good companion for a tarot fan pulled by both decks, more or less at the beginning of the journey.
A poor approach.......2007-04-20
Had a "Search Inside This Book" feature been available, I would never have purchased this.
The reviews seemed (at least to me) to imply that this book doesn't go very deeply into Tarot symbolism - a fact which I figured I could deal with, in order to see how the authors approached the comparison angle. But the reality is that it doesn't go into Tarot symbolism at ALL - not one speck - and that this is intentional. The authors say it straight out in the Preface:
"This books offers the reader the opportunity to consult tarot cards without being required to learn the language of the cards."
Without learning the language? In other words, this is the Tarot equivalent of a foreign-language phrase book intended for tourists. ("Where is the bus station?" "Oo eh sta-seeyon d'ohtoh-booss...") Instead of actually giving you any small starting glimpse of the backbone of the language - the grammar, the shape and flow of it - to begin building your interpretations upon, it gives you a set of pre-packaged translations for specific situations. And the real problem with the book's focus on a single layout is that it makes it too easy to do this.
Now, this may be more a matter of taste than of necessity, but I cringe to think of "learning" Tarot this way. Good reading is as much about intuition as it is about "knowing the cards," but appoaches like this give intuition little deeper than everyday pop-psych images to build upon. The whole fascinating tangled web of interconnections with astrology, alchemy, mythology, mystical traditions, etc. is missing; substituted for it is a sort of surface-level translation of the pictures that just doesn't do it for me. (The Four of Cups as "Get over your hangover"??)
One has to at least appreciate what the authors tried to do, and it is true that the Thoth deck is extremely complicated and Crowley is very hard reading for beginners - although by that argument, the Thoth isn't really an appropriate deck for beginners (or tourists), and a travel-guide book like this one doesn't make it any more genuinely accessible, to my thinking. Some things just take time and work, period.
Of course different approaches appeal to different folks; that's what makes the world go 'round, as they used to say. I guess if all you really want to know from a tarot reading is how to get to the bus station, you might like this book just fine.
Good for Ordinary Practice.......2006-12-22
The most prominent feature of this book is its emphasis on a four-card draw called the Next Step. It goes like this: get focused on the issue you want the cards to address. Position one represents your starting point with the situation. Position two represents what not to focus on. Position three represents where to place your emphasis. Position four represents your next step.
The left side pages in the book describe each card of the major and minor arcana. The right side pages deal with their place in the next step reading. The book is a wonderful resource for this one method of reading. It has focus. What is additionally grand is the description of tarot as a symbolic language of the soul. It provides good focus for the beginner who wants a solid understanding of how tarot is useful (i.e. not for predicting the weather, but learning how to envision what's inside us and how that affects our choices.)
I use this book frequently. Its drawback is that it emphasizes information on Waite's cards and is shy of detailed information on the Crowley-Harris cards. To use the latter deck in conjunction with this book, you will need to read additional material on the Thoth Tarot.
Excellent First Book for Beginners.......2000-07-21
But not much to offer for intermediate to advanced Tarot students.
This book is a good start for beginning students, and an excellent resource for people who would like to occasionally consult the Tarot, but do not wish to study the symbolism and meanings in-depth.
The entire focus of this book is a four card spread called "The Next Step" which seems to be an effective spread for most any question. Card one shows the current situation, card two indicates what is important right now, card three shows what is not important right now, and card 4 suggests what your next step should be. Then each card from both the Thoth Deck and the Rider/Waite deck are displayed in excellent quality black and white images with the meaning of each card given depending on which position the card falls in the spread.
The general meaning given for each card is very brief and the meaning of the card in the specific position consists of one-liners. This will make it easy for the beginner to do a fairly effective first reading. However, for the intermediate or advanced Tarot student, this book does not offer any in-depth interpretations of Tarot symbolism or imagery. Given the quality and massive quantity of information and correspondences provided in Banzhaf's previous books I was disappointed that there wasn't a more intensive comparison of the two decks.
Beginners who plan to continue their study of the Tarot should follow this one up with Banzhaf's "Crowley Tarot" and/or "The Tarot Handbook". If you already have a basic knowledge of card meanings, skip this one.
LUCID AND ACCURATE.......2000-05-25
Banzhaf is a fabulous German tarot interpreter and an excellent author who has had his works translated into English. In this book, he offers a side-by-side interpretation for the Crowley and Rider-Waite decks. I have read tarot cards for over twenty-years, and still, I am always amazed at how much more there is to learn regarding the complex imagery and symbols that both decks protect and yet reveal to the seeker through their presentation of the essential truths of mysticism. Banzhaf is a gem because a beginner will find him as lucid and informative as a seasoned reader. He gets to the heart of meaning in both decks and offers practical interpretations that do not obscure the more profound underpinnings in the card's symbolism. It is his general interpretations for each card that I find useful, because sometimes a tarot reader can get lost in profundities that need to be brought back to a more general tone; especially when doing a reading for someone who has no knowledge of what the symbols mean. Too often, mystical writers get carried away and become agonizingly ambiguous in their efforts to be comprehensive, which usually just leaves the reader perplexed. Banzhaf avoids this trap. He is practical and informative, and his book functions like a handy reference. When my readings get complex, and I find myself lost in profound suggestions, I recall his simple interpretations and they put me back on track. Banzhaf's interpretations accommodate both the profound and the ordinary, but he focuses mostly on simplicity.
The comparative explanations between the Rider deck and the Crowley deck are useful in that Banzhaf focuses on the additional meanings that are present in the Crowley deck, but which are not associated with the Rider. In fact, these additional meanings, which most students and users of the Crowley deck are familiar with, is the reason why the Crowley deck is usually considered a more comprehensive symbolic structure for divination. What's nice about this book is that this is the first time I've ever seen anyone write up a comparative, but brief, analysis between the Rider and the Crowley, specifically emphasizing where these two popular decks differ in meaning.
My criticism for this book is that, unlike his other books, his explanation regarding the Secret of the High Priestess spread is omitted, which is a truly amazing and informative spread. Nonetheless, here, you will discover how to cast the Fool's spread, which is also good. Banzhaf is lucid, profound, and always clear. However, in this book, his overall presentation format is according to one of his tarot spreads, the "Next Step," which is grossly simplistic. But in all fairness, his title does state that this book is "A Practical Guide to the Rider-Waite and Crowley Tarot Decks," which indeed it is, but perhaps if he used a different presentation, he could have covered just a tad bit more ground, which would have made this book a far more valuable resource. His comparative approach in discussing these two decks is what makes this book so valuable, but his discussion is limited due to his need to adhere to the format of the "Next Step" spread. The Learned may yearn for more depth, but if this book is viewed as a valuable resource for keeping readings accessible to non-initiates, then you will find this book very helpful. Beginners will clearly have the most going for them in purchasing this book because here you have a handy and lucid first look at what distinguishes the Rider-Waite deck from the Crowley deck.
If you feel excluded from the art of divination because of the language that its writers use, then you will truly value this book. Additionally, Banzhaf explains his own tarot spreads, of which, his Path spread and the Relationship Game are EXCEPTIONAL! They are very useful and quick spreads that shed general insights. Banzhaf's other books are equally good. Banzhaf's The Tarot Handbook is excellent for the Rider-Waite deck, which he exclusively focuses on in that book. His book entitled The Crowley Tarot is the best book offered on the Crowley deck, and this book is a wealth of resource for the advanced reader, and not too hard for the beginner, although it is a book that you will derive the easiest learning experience from, if you have prior knowledge of the deck.
Book Description
Contains Rider-Waite Tarot deck and The Pocket Guide to the Tarot, by Gunter Hager.
Product Description
An academic interpretation of the Rider deck. Commentary based on the Waite-Smith deck.
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