(Part 2) Best divination books according to redditors
We found 773 Reddit comments discussing the best divination books. We ranked the 355 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
Mysterious Universe did an episode on this subject laaaaast.. week? Maybe the week before. Good story.
Unfortunately, this is more of a text and slides than an actual video, no narration. Makes it a lot harder to absorb.
Edit: here's the book
And here's the episode: http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2017/09/18-09-mu-podcast/
A few disclaimers/additional info:
The full story is in the imgur album, for anyone who likes the narrative approach :)
My version of the deck does have some differences from the version presented in the DMG; I made a few aesthetic changes due to the art on the cards and what I felt was fitting for my campaign. For example, I felt the "Stars" card was more fitting as the Wish-granting card.
If any other DMs out there would like to replicate this, I used the Universal Golden Tarot deck for my cards. As you can see, the art is absolutely beautiful and the gold leaf really makes the cards pop when a player draws. I used the High Arcana portion of the deck, and I put together a list here of which Tarot cards correlate to the official DoMT. Please feel free to use this, or come up with your own versions!
For the Deeds associated with my "Throne" card, I used a variety pack of premade parchment paper from Staples. The official seals were made using wrapping ribbon and a traditional wax seal. You cannot use standard candle wax for this, use a basic kit like this one and then whatever sort of stamp you would like. I used a Crown from smartbargain on Amazon.
It was a huge joy to bring this to my table, and the reaction from the player in question really just made my week. Moments like these make DMing so worth-while.
I suggest the following:
The first half of Taking Up the Runes by Diana L. Paxson
A Pocket Guide to Runes by Ben Waggoner (full disclosure, Ben is my kindred brother/co-host on Heathen History)
Rudiments of Runelore by Stephen Pollington
I'll throw you a bone here. Diana Paxson has several books on the topic, Alaric Albertsson I believe has one on trancework in Seidhr, and I believe Kveldulf Gundarsson has one on Teutonic magic.
In case you haven't figured it out, this sub isn't exactly Wicca-friendly and citing Crowley isn't going to do you any favors either. I've read some of his stuff personally and he stands for many things that Asatru is against, namely mis-appropriating symbols and spiritual concepts with zero regard for cultural and historical context.sorry, that last was directed at /u/skull_fucked, who for some reason I mistook for OP. /u/darth_nexus, I've added links to the list above to make it easier.
I found them, thanks to another redditor below. mystic manga tarot
Most of the ones I really like are independent decks.
Tarot of the Golden Thread is more modern but the effect of the cards is simply captivating.
Raziel Tarot by Robert M Place and in his distinctive style. It's not completed yet though :,(
Revelations Tarot is a reversible deck with the reversed meanings incorporated into the illustrations.
Prisma Visions Tarot is very Van Gogh/Impressionist in style, and I love how each suit connects to be its own long mural.
I also have a tendency to lean towards decks that are more narrative in the illustrations so the Manga Tarot and Mystical Manga Tarot (to be released in Sept 2017) appeal to me as well... even if I may be showing my youth and inexperience by mentioning them.
Edit: corrected the links
> I have almost 20 decks in my collection
...
> I don't like to have a lot of decks
wat
Seriously, though, if you're into the Golden Tarot, go for it. It's a lovely deck (I'm assuming you're referring to Kat Black's deck). If you're looking for other foil stamped cards, the Golden Thread Tarot is a big hit in our deck spotlight thread this month, so obviously people are happy with their purchase. I also really like aspects of Lo Scarabeo's Golden Universal Tarot.
Not always, no. It really depends on the way you interpret it. It can mean opposite, it can mean "the bad aspects of ...", or it can mean that the energy to achieve the effects of the card is blocked. Mary Greer in her The complete book of Tarot Reversals makes a compelling argument why simply reading it as "opposite" should rarely be the case.
I'm looking forward to receiving my copy of Dame Darcy's new Alice Tarot, which I preordered and should be arriving later this month. The artist also makes the popular Mermaid Tarot, which I've always admired the artwork of...but I'm just not that into mermaids. I've been reading Alice in Wonderland in preparation, and that has been pretty fun.
Having open deck preorders (Alice Tarot and also and Mystic Mondays) on order for awhile has helped me cut back on deck purchases. Harder for me to justify buying more when I have two on order!
The Smith-Waite Centennial, the smaller tinned edition. I adore this deck. It consistently amazes and surprises me. I love the muted colors and the faux antique look of the deck. I like the tinned edition because it's smaller (about the size of a standard playing card), which makes it easy to shuffle and handle and easy to use for larger spreads when you don't have a lot of room, which I often don't. It also makes it easier when reading for other people, since I like to have them shuffle the cards a bit before the reading, and a lot of people have trouble shuffling larger cards when they aren't used to it. The metal tin makes it really easy to tote around too. I just wrap a rubber band around it and pop it in my bag without worrying about any damage to the cards. There is also a larger, standard size edition, which I would recommend over the tinned edition if size isn't a factor for you because it makes it easier to enjoy Smith's lovely artwork.
Forgot to add this - my other fave, and one I only use to read for myself at the moment, is the Druidcraft Tarot. Will Worthington's art is so lovely.
Looking to trade my Mystic Mondays deck!
Brand new (only a few readings), but it did come out of the box with some dented corners :(
I'd like to trade, cash-free, we each just pay to ship to one another!
I'm located in the US, so a domestic trade would be nice, due to cost/difficulty of international shipping. Tracked shipping is a good idea :)
I realize this is a new account (since I'm kinda in the broom closet and just recently decided to make a new account for occult subs - my main account is in the 7 year club). If you would like any assurances, let me know what I can do to assuage any concerns! I'd be happy to ship first if that helps - I'll take the trust burden first :)
Not sure what I'm looking for - Mystic Mondays read fine for me but the bright colors just don't jive with me. My other decks are much more muted, greys, pastels, etc, so I would love to see some decks in earth tones or muted colors. The glossy pop was interesting to me but when I read it feels like I'm faking it? I'm just not a bright colors person I guess :(
I'm pretty open to anything, if the jive feels right on both our sides, then I'd love to swap!!
In the spirit of one newb helping another, I suggest starting with a Rider-Waite (aka Waite-Smith) deck, or one of the many, many decks based on it, for the simple reason that most English-language books, websites, etc. gear their interpretations to it.
The best book on Tarot that I've come across is The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination by Robert M. Place. It details the history of tarot and its symbolism and includes divinatory information on each card. Place has produced a large number of well-received tarot decks (such as the Alchemical Tarot and Mystery of the Sevenfold Tarot) in the Rider-Waite tradition, so he knows what he is talking about. I have the Kindle edition, but I would suggest buying the paperback version to make it easier to flip right to entries on specific cards.
Also, Aeclectic Tarot has pictures and reviews of a large number of decks.
https://www.amazon.com/Wildwood-Tarot-Wherein-Wisdom-Resides/dp/1402781067
Yes this is an issue with the cards.
In the original system (which you still see in Marseilles decks) Justice came before Strength. A.E. Waite switched the order of the cards to better fit into his astrological correspondences, as Leo (Strength, to him) comes before Libra (Justice, to him). Aleister Crowley then reverted the order back, putting Justice before Strength, but he changed the name of Strength to "Lust."
Some decks use the original Marseilles order, and some use the RWS order. For more information on Tarot History, I recommend the book: "The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination" by Robert M Place
Ohhh! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm totally over the moon with this style. I've learned on a traditional Rider-Waite tarot deck but I've never found one that had a nicer art style I liked without changing the actual deck structure. Most of them keep the traditional medieval style art which is not really my style.
Thank you again!
Link for the others!
Whenever I saw the Mystical Manga deck at the bookstore, I would just glance at it briefly, but never felt drawn to it. Recently though, I was feeling nostalgic about youth, and someone somewhere in this sub really encouraged people to give this deck a chance. I looked up the actual cards online and BAM, I felt this instant connection to it!!! Honestly, it's such a beautiful beauuutiful deck and the answers I asked it during the interview were super accurate and interesting.
I think the outside box did not give the cards justice, but hey don't judge a book by its cover. I can't wait to use it more and it's very easy to read because it has a lot of RWC elements...but still is its own magical masterpiece without being a replica! Please give this deck a look :) Especially if you were/are into anime/manga!
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Manga-Tarot-Barbara-Moore/dp/073875353X
My favorite cards that I could look at for hours: https://imgur.com/a/4J3rcol
Here are the basic, basic decks.
The Rider-Waite-Smith Deck, on which most decks base their symbolism. Has many different versions, such as the Radiant RWS or the Universal Waite Tarot. Most decks you find will be based on this one.
The Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley, which relies much more on occultism and knowledge of the symbols to read. If you want a project that you can really lose yourself in and study for, this is probably a good deck.
The Marseille Tarot which, unlike the other decks I've listed, does not fully illustrate the Minor Arcana (Ace-10 of Cups/Swords/etc). Instead they are called "pips" and don't show a scene, so you have to rely on your knowledge of the cards to read them.
These are the three most well-known tarot traditions for symbolism upon which most other decks are based, with RWS being the most popular in the English-speaking world. Marseille, as I understand it, is very popular in non-English speaking European countries, and the Thoth is just the Thoth.
You don't have to stick to these decks though. Choose any deck that you feel speaks to you. What's most important is feeling connected with your deck, that way you don't lose interest in the cards before you've learned all you can about them.
​
If you want a 'fun' and non-intimidating tarot, but one that still closely follows the classic Rider Waite tarot patterns, I HIGHLY recommend the Halloween Tarot by Kipling West:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/157281621X/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_dkb.wb1SDA037
It looks 'kiddy' but the patterns and correspondences are there, without the overbearing Christian images in the Rider Waite. Ghosts = cups/water, Imps = wands/fire, Pumpkins = pentacles/earth, and Bats = swords/air.
lol. I actually own the Kawaii Tarot - it's super cute.
check out r/Lenormand and the book
The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook: Reading the Language and Symbols of the Cards - one of the best books about lenormand I have come across.
I am a part of that group and have been reading Lenormand for years. This looks like a petite lenormand deck. Very cool find.
That is called “the wildwood” tarot
https://www.amazon.ca/Wildwood-Tarot-Wherein-Wisdom-Resides/dp/1402781067/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2B99GHACXB0QI&keywords=wildwood+tarot&qid=1556363504&s=gateway&sprefix=wildwood&sr=8-1
I've been studying Tarot and western mysticism for over 2 decades. My recommendation is that you ignore all the fancy decks out there and pick up some version of the Rider-Waite. It isn't the prettiest, but it's the one that almost EVERY deck for the past 100 years has been based on. If you can read a Rider-Waite, then you can read anything. Someone suggested the Marseille deck (of which there were a few from the 18th c. onwards), but I wouldn't recommend starting out with an older style deck like that. Older decks (Marseille, JJ Swiss, Visconti-Sforza etc.) were designed for Game Play - NOT divination. They don't have handy titles or pictures on the minor arcana (number/suit/pip cards).
Some decks you might consider:
Standard Rider-Waite. Can't get any easier than this.
Quick and Easy Tarot. This one has the meanings printed right on the cards! Easy to learn from, and based on Rider-Waite.
Golden Dawn tarot. This one was my favorite for a while. The colors are nicer than Rider-Waite, but it's still a traditional deck, and all the cards have titles and additional symbolism (Astrological/Qabalistic) so they're easier to read and remember.
B.O.T.A. deck. This one comes in black-and-white. You're supposed to color your own cards! I've used the link that includes the book with coloring instructions/descriptions. You can buy the cards by themselves here. Following the traditional (Qabalistic) color scheme and coloring your own (with markers, colored pencils, or maybe watercolors) will help you learn and remember them better.
Regarding the influence of Qabalah on modern decks, it's VERY hard to find a modern deck without it. A.E. Waite was a member of the Golden Dawn (19th c. Hermetic order), and they're largely responsible for the popular appeal of modern Qabalah-influenced decks. They drew on several 18th-19th c. sources (Levi, Etteilla, Court de Gebelin etc.) and put it all together into the tarot we know and use today.
Some books that may be helpful:
Mystical Origins of the Tarot. This is a very good book that talks about the history of the cards, all the way back to the 14th c. Extremely insightful. You can read this on Scribd, btw.
Qabalistic Tarot. The best book on how modern tarot fits onto the Tree of Life, and how the symbolism describes states of consciousness and aspects of Qabalah. When you're ready to scratch below the surface and use your cards for meditation, this book will help you.
This may be a good book to help you get started. I haven't read it, but it gets good reviews.
Related-topic: if you enjoy playing cards, I highly recommend trying out the traditional Tarot games that make use of either modern French or German style decks (which look like modified normal playing cards with extra cards) or older decks such as the JJ Swiss, Marseille, or even Lo Scarabeo's Ancient Italian Deck. Tarot games are quite fun! You can't use a divination deck for them, though. European or Italian folk games such as Scopa and Briscola are also quite fun, and they make use of decks that are distant cousins to Tarot. This link will explain other tarot type games if you're interested.
Anyway, I hope that helps you make sense of the Tarot. Go with Rider-Waite to start, and take your time. There's a lot to learn!
I have a copy of the Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot that has a pretty solid stock and is about a centimeter wider than the standard issue RWS. The colors are more subdued, almost like the cards were treated with a tea wash, but I rather like it. Definitely look at some pictures or even watch some videos on YouTube as some people really dislike the change in color. Personally, it's the reason I got the deck in the first place. Also the card backs are a lovely teal-mint color with a white rose (the same as the one adorning the flag of the Death card).
https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Waite-Centennial-Tarot-Games-Systems/dp/1572817623/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?keywords=rider+waite+tarot+deck&qid=1573107039&sprefix=rider+&sr=8-15
Thank you! I wanted to aim for a very modern style akin to the Mystic Mondays deck, albeit with less detail (since drawing isn't my strong suit) and softer color palettes.
You were on to something with Card 2, there. Only the aces through 10 have a numeral, while the court cards don't; this one in particular is the Knight of Swords. I've been trying to figure out how to make it more immediately apparent, but at least in the game the card names are displayed on them.
The Borderless Edition Smith-Waite only has the copyright mark on the card backs, not on the fronts.
Don't know if that helps. Maybe you could trim them if you'd prefer not having the mark on the back of the cards as well.
Oh man, I have opinions lol So I've been collecting decks for about a decade now and have 13 total. I'll just unload... I hope this is helpful!
My all time favorite, the Mythic Tarot (all greek mythology), is super inaccessible though, unfortunately, but it was the one that I grew up with by some fluke of a chance and when I finally got it for myself (and for under $100 which is very rare) I about lost my mind. There's a new version of it with the same overall stories and art but the art style has greatly changed and it just can't hold a candle to the original.
My second favorite is the Wild Unknown. It's beautiful and boy oh boy is she rude. Sometimes you might notice after fiddling with a variety of decks that they'll have a bit of personality and this one pulls no punches in my experience and even for a few of my freinds who have the deck. Plus it's just a really stunning deck.
Another beautiful deck is the Linestrider. Watercolors. Like the gentle version of Wild Unknown. My Rider-Waite is the Pamela Colman Smith commemorative version and has really lovely back and vivid colors. Rider-Waite is easily the most recognizable of the decks and is very accessible. Also honorable mentions, since they're just beautiful decks: Wildwood, Mucha, Ostara (gilded edges!), and the Halloween Tarot.
* - I think these would be particularly good for a first deck
​
EDIT: If there's any these particular decks you'd like to see pictures of, let me know! I'll see what I can do. :)
They have some very nice Halloween items at Etsy (.com) can get Halloween jewelry, Halloween makeup bags or purses, decor, etc.
They have handmade and vintage items. I've been very happy with my purchases from there, but I do always check the sellers ratings (esp. on quality) before I buy anything. I've gotten a lot of Halloween gifts there over the years.
Another idea: You could check out The Halloween Tarot on Amazon, if you think she might be into that. I have it and I LOVE it. Here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Tarot-Tin-Kipling-West/dp/157281621X/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=halloween+tarot&qid=1566090905&s=gateway&sr=8-2#customerReviews
There are really only three essential books on Lenormand in English.
The Essential Lenormand by Rana George is always my go-to when I feel stuck on a card. It's my Lenormand Bible.
The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook by Caitlín Matthews is also excellent, but I had troubles with it as a beginner. I found that the difficulty level escalated very quickly. Rana's book felt much more forgiving to the beginner.
Lenormand Thirty-Six Cards by Andy Boroveshengra is the third book that everyone talks about. I haven't read it myself because I'm waiting for the revised edition to come out in print. There is an updated Kindle edition though.
I completely agree with /u/demlegs_doe about supplementing tarot with Lenormand. They complement each other phenomenally.
You might wanna check out Shadowscapes or Tarot of the Hidden Realm!
Smith-Waite Tarot Deck Borderless Edition
Same art as the centennial edition, just borderless. I'm super all about it.
You may find this interesting.
https://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Future-amazing-Amadeus-Dienach-ebook/dp/B017QPOPH0
I have three.
My first deck was the Original Rider Wait Tarot Pack.
My second and main/ favorite deck is the Morgan Greer deck. I love the colors, and full bleed on the edges.
And my newest deck that I've been working with is the Golden Universal deck. I got it second hand on ebay. I customized by coloring the edges black. Looks very sleek and elegant now!
I think the Gilded Tarot would be a great place to start.
Second this. First book on the Tarot that I read all the way through. Jodo spent years tracking down the earliest Marseilles decks and compared hundreds of them to try and recreate the most historically accurate deck he could (you can buy his deck here) . The book goes into the history of the system and symbols and his writing style makes the whole thing a really pleasant read. Reading this book was like learning Latin for tarot and has made understanding other decks much easier.
I'm willing to bet that you don't have this Kawaii Tarot on your WL. I forget how I even found it, but apparently at the end of August I stumbled upon it.
I've heard this deck, the Pamela Colman Smith Centennial Deck, is very good quality. You can buy the deck alone, or as a boxed set. Don't buy the version in a tin, it is (allegedly) a smaller deck printed on cheaper cardstock.
This is a reprint of the original Ryder-Waite deck illustrated by Pamela Smith. It is very traditional.
https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Waite-Centennial-Tarot-Games-Systems/dp/1572817623
https://www.amazon.com/Pamela-Colman-Smith-Commemorative-Set/dp/1572816392
The Centennial Edition is currently my favorite RWS version too - particularly the [borderless version] (https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Waite-Tarot-Borderless-Arthur-Edward/dp/1572818832) that was published last year.
For many years, however, I used and recommended the [Universal Waite] (https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Waite-Tarot-Stuart-Kaplan/dp/0880794968) deck, which I still think is the best deck for anyone approaching tarot for the first time - mainly because the linework and coloration make the details much clearer and easier to understand.
I started with Runes about 30 years ago, unfortunately with the inaccurate Blume. I've thankfully moved on to better materials!
Two books I would recommend by the most respected authors in these:
Taking Up the Runes:
https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Up-Runes-Complete-Divination-ebook/dp/B0070YFQFS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25193ECRZP0F0&keywords=taking+up+the+runes&qid=1571599080&sprefix=Your+Book+of+Shadows%2Caps%2C202&sr=8-1
And if you are at all interested, Ogam:
https://www.amazon.com/Ogam-Weaving-Erynn-Rowan-Laurie/dp/1905713029/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=ogham&qid=1571599122&sr=8-3
Cicero Golden Dawn Magical Tarot https://www.amazon.com/dp/0738723398/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FM.HybKCPX6S4
It's similar to the Robert Wang deck, but it's more vibrant and to me more compelling. The Cicero one is my favorite one that I've seen that is built fairly strictly on the Golden Dawn specifications.
My favorite decks are the Thoth and Dowson Hermetic Tarot
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B017QPOPH0/ref=ya_aw_dod_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I found this book a lot more interesting.
Please, please, don't take this the wrong way or be offended, but reading this made me extremely sad -- especially the part about giving up and moving to chaos theory instead.
If you want to understand the basics of the structure of the Tarot and learn some simple rituals, then I would strongly suggest this book and deck by the Ciceros.
Without a firm grasp of the basic Tarot, I feel that Crowley's Thoth deck and book will be too confusing. If you insist on learning the Thoth before the basic Tarot, then I would suggest supplementing Crowley's text with this book by Duquette.
Please don't give up... just study a lot more theory! Good luck!
P.S. PM me if you'd like and I can point you copies of these books online.
EDIT: You may also be interested in this other book by the Ciceros. I have a copy but I've only flipped through it. Don't let the cover or title turn you off. Check out the Table of Contents and you'll see it hits a lot of important topics and provides a lot of example rituals.
That story at the very end reminds me of this book https://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Future-amazing-Amadeus-Dienach-ebook/dp/B017QPOPH0
I got it from this place called attic salt but you can also find it on Amazon c:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1454929073/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6UFzDbPGFB7WD
It's a beautiful deck! I love the artwork and I've seen it on Amazon before;
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0880790903/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all
The Borderless Edition: https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Waite-Tarot-Borderless-Arthur-Edward/dp/1572818832 😉
Yes. The Halloween Tarot. I love it! It really speaks to me.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/157281621X?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
I like:
I suggest Taking Up the Runes. Paxon.
I might check out the closest Barn's and Noble to see what they have, but I was able to find a deck that caught my eye on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mystic-Mondays-Tarot-Deck-Modern/dp/1452176388/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531710891&sr=8-1&keywords=mystic+mondays+tarot+deck
Along with that deck I am going to buy a guidebook mainly to help with spreads and potentially a different card interpretation from whatever comes with the deck.
I am also hoping to be able to get this deck from Indiegogo, but I'm not 100% sure I will get the money needed to pay for it before they go out of stock: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/everfree-tarot-vol-2--2#/
Here are some Marseilles decks I've been considering, but haven't bought yet.
They are all historical reproductions, except Ben-Dov changed facial expressions. I'm not sure I like that. The Flornoy decks have to be ordered direct from France, so it's kind of a pain.
Something you want: The Wildwood Tarot
Something you need: A cat scratcher lounge thing, because my couch is looking pretty sad
Something to wear: Gloves for my poor frozen hands
Something to read: Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction, by Jeff VanderMeer
Something to watch: Season 1 of Hana Yori Dango
Something to listen to: Sonic Highways by the Foo Fighters
I can't decide between two of the items, so here's two riddle haiku (riddle-ku?).
First: Fingers hide in sleeves / But the cold makes them clumsy / Wrap them up in wool
Second: Evoking nature / Divining secret meanings / Tell me my fortune
Easy Tarot: Learn to Read the Cards Once and For All! https://www.amazon.com/dp/0738711500/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_jfF.Bb1BEVMC4
As others have said it’s the Golden Universal Tarot Deck by Lo Scarabo.
Here is the link for Amazon
I own this deck and I absolutely love it! They also have other decks that look amazing as well.
There is a book written by Terence and Dennis Mckenna that have some stuff about the I Ching
The Invisible Landscape: Mind, Hallucinogens, and the I Ching
I cant think of any other books at this moment but I would suggest watching some of Terence youtube videos on Invisible landcape/i ching/time wave zero because he often recommends books to the audience that he found informative about the i ching.
Yeah, I get that. I think one of the major successes in the 20th Century was the movement toward medicalizing mental health issues so that they were given the credit they deserve. We know these experiences are a problem, and people having them are subject to many layers of oppression and human rights violations, and psychiatry has made a lot of strides towards these issues being taken far more seriously. I do also believe that psychiatry and pharmaceuticals do help some people. It is one option, and many people find their life more manageable because they have taken that route, and that's a beautiful thing and I'm very happy for anyone who has found solace there. But it is not universally true, and one of the reasons for that is how imprecise the science actually is on what is going on with the mind, and what the drugs are actually doing. The most famous example is the notion that depression is the result of lower than usual seratonin levels in the brain, which was actually the result of an ad that was using a study that had found that more people with depression in the study had higher levels of seratonin. But they had a drug that dealt with lower seratonin levels, so that's the narrative that was created (links below). Point being, (and see The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton on this), there is no chemical test for depression because there are many potential causes, and remedies. Psychiatry and the DSM have categorized these experiences, which I agree is a necessary thing to research them, but then got fully entwined with pharma. Now policies and laws impose that one narrative onto people who are going through these experiences, even though they often get it very wrong.
There are alternatives, and the Soteria house project by Lorne Mosher was one of the most interesting, where they took people with severe schizophrenia and had a virtually drug free approach, and their results were better than the alternatives. The problem for scaling up was that it did not put people on a lifelong hook for medication. So, I guess it's not about wanting to tear it all down, but I think people should know what's up, they should be informed about all the studies done on the chemicals they are taking, what all the side affects might be, and, ideally, alternative approaches that may benefit them in the long run. I think people going through these experiences should be given the rights and power to make decisions, including whether or not they will self-identify with the DSM categories at all.
I cannot stress the following enough, the result of extensive studies by the World Health Organization, as articulated by Robert Whitaker: "Most Americans are unaware that the World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly found that long-term schizophrenia outcomes are much worse in the USA and other developed countries than in poor ones such as India and Nigeria, where relatively few patients are on anti-psychotic medications. In undeveloped countries, nearly two-thirds of schizophrenia patients are doing fairly well five years after initial diagnosis; about 40% have basically recovered. But in the USA and other developed countries, most patients become chronically ill. The outcome differences are so marked that WHO concluded that living in a developed country is a strong predictor that a patient will never fully recover."
Sources:
Lorne Mosher's resignation letter from the APA
The Icarus Project (theicarusproject.net): "We are a support network and media project by and for people who experience the world in ways that are often diagnosed as mental illness. We envision a new culture that allows the space and freedom for exploring different states of being, and recognizes that breakdown can be the entrance to breakthrough. We aim to create a language that is so vast and rich that it expresses the infinite diversity of human experiences."
Soteria: From Madness to Deliverance, by Lorne Mosher
Mad in America by Robert Whitaker
Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker
The Anti-Depressant Era by David Healy
The Invisible Landscape: Mind, Hallucinogens, and the I Ching by Terence McKenna
The Archaic Revival: Speculations on Psychedelic Mushrooms, the Amazon, Virtual Reality, UFOs, Evolution, Shamanism, the Rebirth of the Goddess, and the End of History by Terence McKenna
The point is to try and empower people to improve their lives, and since we don't know how to do that universally, giving people the power and options to be able to choose methods that work for them is a vital part of maintaining their autonomy and preserving their fundamental human rights. I find this subject is very difficult to discuss without it getting heated. Please understand I have so much sympathy for your experiences. I have tried to take care of people while they were in the midst of full psychotic breaks, I have had to call the police, I have had to participate in the forced hospitalization of people I have known, I have lost too many people to suicide. I know these things and they still hurt and I am welling up thinking about all of them. And I care about you too, and you're not alone.
Sorry re length.
Rider Waite Smith deck
Thoth deck and the Duquette book
Tarot de Marseilles and the Ben Dov book
Here is the mobile version of your link
Ok. Start with these books. And know that despite what you’ll learn, it is still 100% okay for you to enjoy Tarot without using them for divination. Lots of people do and that’s a wonderful thing.
The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination
Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot
Tarot - The Open Reading
There are a lot of used ones on Amazon for around 9.14
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0738715794/ref=tmm_pap_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=&sr=
Easy Tarot is always my go to guide. And as a bonus, it comes with a lovely deck :)
Huh, that's strange. I'm not sure what country you're in, but I believe this is the deck + book combo pack: Shadowscapes Tarot https://www.amazon.com/dp/0738715794/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aWSHAbVWC913C
https://www.smileamazon.co.uk/Shadowscapes-Tarot-card-deck-page/dp/0738715794/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=2SGACFC4NHBKW&keywords=shadowscapes+tarot&qid=1564091894&s=gateway&sprefix=shadowscapes+,aps,169&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=bloomhealing-21&linkId=96b027b8ed8d552f87ad8290fce7fd2f&language=en_GB
I have these and they are super cute. I've only recently started to learn to use them though.
I really like the traditional Marseille decks. They show the tarot as it originally developed in the culture before it was redesigned for the purposes of occultists. There are a lot of amazing historic reproductions of Marseille decks, but the easiest entry point to the world of the Marseille tarot might be the Convers Ben Dov deck. https://www.amazon.com/Cbd-Tarot-Marseille-Yoav-Ben-dov/dp/1572819049/r
Thank you!
I have Caitlin Matthews book, The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook and Andy Boroveshngra's book Lenormand Thirty Six Cards: An Introduction to the Petite Lenormand
Tarot de Marseille by Jodorowsky Cards
update: given how many people have shown an interest in tarot from this post, here's a quick rundown *(and I'm by no means an expert so don't hesitate to add or correct me if I'm wrong)*:
one of my friends did a reading on me a few months ago, and I felt more seen in those 10 minutes than I have in years of prayer and priesthood blessings — this is not going to work for everyone but if you're like me and looking for a healthy replacement for Mormonism but not too interested in organized formal religion, it's worth checking out.
for those who know nothing about tarot:
there are normally 78 cards in a deck (basically a 52-card deck but the suits are different, plus each suit has a knight as well making 56, plus 22 major arcana). each card represents a different message, and when you shuffle and arrange the cards in certain ways (called "spreads"), it spells out a story that can be used to tell the future or divine supernatural knowledge (it's believed that shuffling the cards allows supernatural forces to pull out specific cards so you get the message they want you to get), or for me it's just a nice helpful secular meditation practice that I do about once a week or so.
I bought the Smith-Waite deck (link to Amazon), which is very standard and most tarot decks are based on it — but you can get really any deck that appeals to you. they're all the same 78 cards, just different art which helps you look at the messages in the cards in different ways.
I also have Book of Tarot by Danielle Noel, which is a very helpful guide to beginners to tarot. she herself definitely believes in it as a supernatural way to access divine truth, but she also is good about allowing people to take her resource as seriously or casually as they want.
for people who are even more casual about it: the Golden Thread app (on iOS and Android) is a helpful resource, both for helping the reader understand their cards, or also for a digital reading in case the person doesn't have access to a deck.
some of the responders on my post have offered to do readings via internet — I'd rather do so in person, but if you're ever in Provo/Orem area don't hesitate to message me (I'm new to Reddit and not sure how to open my messages) and I'd love to meet up for a in-person tarot reading.
According to quiz, my arcana is Hierophant.
Though, I'm still convinced that it's actually reversed Tower after reading a certain book that contains descriptions of reversed tarot card, and not just the Major Arcana cards.
You're right I should read a little more into it.
I chose the name long ago because I read this book https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Landscape-Mind-Hallucinogens-Ching/dp/0062506358
It said something along the lines of, shamans lead the people of the tribe into the future by going outside of the known paths.
I’m trying to decide on my first deck as well! I think it’s between this deck, sun and moon deck, and the mystic monday deck. I just can’t decide!!!
I love these 2.....
This one is the best value. It's a solid deck and comes with a book and a paper tarot spread. If you bought the deck alone it would be much more than this. I recommend this one to my students. https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Tarot-Learn-Read-Cards/dp/0738711500/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2492TY300PB54&keywords=guilded+tarot+deck&qid=1557425818&s=gateway&sprefix=guilded%2Cstripbooks%2C154&sr=8-2
I also really encourage them to start here https://www.amazon.com/Rider-Tarot-Arthur-Edward-Waite/dp/091386613X/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=rider+waite&qid=1557425881&s=gateway&sr=8-2
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My last favorite that I tell them about is this one but it's a little more pricey https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Tarot-Ellen-Dugan/dp/0738728004/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=witches+tarot&qid=1557425951&s=gateway&sr=8-2
Agreed.
A little off topic but something that came to mind is the Tarot card set that Salvador Dali painted for his wife.
I use the The Wildwood Tarot
It's laid out a bit differently than the Golden Dawn / Rider and derived sets, and each card is tied to a concept, element and position on the wheel of the year. The author has spent a lot of time laying out the deck and explains his methodology in a way that was not just clear and easy to understand, it actually really helps while you're learning to read.
I really connect with the imagery and the philosophy of this deck. It's a great deck for those that resonate with more natural imagery.