Pocket Guide to the Tarot, Revised - (The Mindful Living Guides) by Alan Oken (Paperback)

About the Book

"When you pick up a pack of fifty-two playing cards to enjoy a round of poker, rummy, bridge, or any other the other games so familiar to us, you might not realize that the deck in your hands is actually a modern version of the Tarot. Over the course of many centuries, people have spent countless happy hours socializing and communicating through the use of these ordinary cards. Gamblers have won and lost fortunes, rulers have won and lost kingdoms, men and women have won and lost each other, tycoons have built casino mini-empires, and thousands of books have been written about spades (Swords), heart (Cups), diamonds (Pentacles), and clubs (Wands). The folklore of the American West (and a myriad of cowboy movies) would be incomplete without a climactic game of five-card draw and an Ace of Spades up the sleeve of the villain! Yet almost no one at the local bridge club, and certainly none of the boys down in Dodge City, can possibly imagine that their simple and emotionally charged pastime is steeped in ancient history and occult symbolism. After many years of familiarity with the Tarot and much research, I find that the origins of the cards are still a mystery. The symbolism they contain and the esoteric and metaphysical doctrines they represent are much easier to trace. They form part of the Wisdom Teachings, which have their roots in the mystery schools of ancient Egypt and classical Greece. The order and structure of the Major Arcana, the twenty-two most powerful cards in a Tarot deck, are based on the Hebrew system of numbers and the alphabetical sequence of its twenty-two letters. In fact, the name Tarot (pronounced "ta-roh") is closely related to the Hebrew word Torah. This word means "The Law" and is applied to the Five Books of Moses found in the Old Testament. The language of the ancient Hebrews was written without vowels. Thus both "Torah" and "Tarot" could be written simply by using the two Hebrew letters representing "TR.""--

Book Synopsis

A revised and updated, clear and useful guide to the meaning behind each of the 78 tarot cards with instructions on how to lay the cards and perform readings.

As far back as the ancient Egyptians, the Tarot has been a source of wisdom and insight into the human heart and mind. The seventy-eight cards of the Tarot deck encourage an awareness of higher consciousness, give insights on the past and present, and discern future directions. Each card in the deck is explained thoroughly, including its themes and principles, its corresponding zodiac sign, and a description of the card's meaning. With instructions on how to lay the cards and determine their significance, readers can share their new knowledge of an ancient practice. All you need to know about the Tarot is right here!

About the Author

Alan Oken is the author of a dozen titles, including Alan Oken's Complete Astrology and Soul-Centered Astrology. He is a translator, teacher, global traveler, and international tour guide who lectures and does astrological readings in multiple languages. Alan was the director of The Wisdom School in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is co-founder of the Australian Institute for the Development of Consciousness, and was director of Esoteric Studies in Lisbon. He is a member of the New Group of World Servers and a lifelong student of the work and teachings of the Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul and legacy of the Ancient Wisdom.