REVIEW: The Celtic Cross Tarot Spread by Shannon MacLeod

So what do I think of a Tarot book that claims no memorization needed? I’ll tell you!

The Celtic Cross Tarot Spread: Cutting to the Chase, by Shannon MacLeod, illustrations by Beth Seilonen from Schiffer BooksSo today I wanted to share some thoughts on a new book by Shannon MacLeod. It’s from Schiffer. Beth Seilonen illustrated it. The book is The Celtic Cross Tarot Spread: Cutting to the Chase.

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First let me say that I had some reservations about this book. I wasn’t sure it could deliver. The back starts out with “Reading the Tarot doesn’t have to be hard! The Celtic Cross spread requires no long hard hours of study, no memorization, no muss or fuss–just lay out your cards, open the book, and begin!”

That’s a pretty big claim, y’all. Still I put aside my reservations to open the book. I have to say that it delivers what it offers.

Every card is interpreted in every position. The nuances of how a card’s meaning changes depending on the position it falls in is clearly highlighted.

The writing is crisp without a lot of filler. The illustrations are simple and direct. The table of contents is easy to navigate.

All in all, a very good book.

However, the one caveat I would have is that this shouldn’t be the only book you use. I don’t think being dependent on a book is a good thing. But to use this as a jumping off point? Yes, excellent.

Think of this as a primer for Tarot language. Just as you might “see Jane. See Jane run.” here you can “see the two of Swords. See the two of Swords in the past or as the outcome” to begin refining your own language skills.

I would recommend The Celtic Cross Tarot Spread: Cutting to the Chase, by Shannon MacLeod, illustrations by Beth Seilonen.

Today’s affirmation:

Today I learn. Today I increase my skills. Learning comes easily to me because I open up to the information. I am a child of the Universe therefore I am blessed. Loved and loving, I love.

Seek joy,y’all. Pass it on.

The Celtic Cross Tarot Spread: Cutting to the Chase, Schiffer

Joy, Rachel Pollack & Workshops

I do love being a joy seeker, but there are times when it is hard. Times when I want to just wallow in feeling blue or rage against the machine that seems to run the world I have to live in. I have never claimed that being a professional joy seeker is easy. And I never will.

I will claim Continue reading “Joy, Rachel Pollack & Workshops”

REVIEW: Tarot for Magical Times

So states Rachel Pollack in her new book, Tarot for Magical Times. With insights from Johannes Fiebig & Ernst Ott, she explores a way to utilize the Tarot as a lens to view larger, societally-significant issues. Starting with the 9/11 fall of the World Trade Center, Pollack and Fiebig offer their insights on how this may have started showing up as early as August of that year.

Tarot for Magical Times
Rachel Pollack, Johannes Fiebig
U.S. Games Systems, Inc. 2011
ISBN 978-1-57281-720-3

“In this new approach I am suggesting, the Major Arcana represent the large outline of the fall Continue reading “REVIEW: Tarot for Magical Times”

REVIEW: Tarot for Life by Paul Quinn

tarot-for-life_bk-coverTarot for Life: Reading the Cards for Everyday Guidance and Growth
By Paul Quinn
Quest Books (June 2009)
$17.95/Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-8356-0879-4

There are Tarot books that are deep and mysterious—that make you study hard to learn the veiled depths. Paul Quinn’s Tarot for Life is not one of them. Instead Continue reading “REVIEW: Tarot for Life by Paul Quinn”

Interview With Mary K. Greer

Mary K Greer
Mary K Greer

Recently I asked one of the leading ladies of Tarot if she would mind doing an interview with me. I had this idea of doing a contest in conjunction with her interview. To my surprise, she said yes. I panicked. I knew what the contest was going to be (read to the end for more on that), but oh dear!

Um,now what, Arwen? You asked one of your heroines if you could ask her some questions. They better be good!

HA! Who am I fooling? This is someone I’ve wanted to talk to since I first read her book Tarot for Your Self : A Workbook for Personal Transformation Second Edition. So I decided I’d just ask her Continue reading “Interview With Mary K. Greer”