Theos-Talk Archives (June 1995 Message tl00088)

Hi Liesel (and Jerry Schueler, Arthur Patterson and others who
know about Tarot), Yes, I got your 2 letters from dreamscape.
Been out of town for a bit.  You ask,

>"can you recommend a Tarot book for a beginner, just to get an
>idea?"

What I know about Tarot is beans+1, not a whole lot more than
you.  Nick Tereshchenko is a good friend and we met some years
ago because we had a mutual interest in the Gurdjieff work, were
in Gurdjieff groups, etc.  Of course, I later learned that he
also knows a lot about Tarot.  But I don't, so I am not one to
advise you.

There seem to be almost as many ways to use the Tarot as there
are users.  I don't know which are valid.  Nick does not use
Tarot for divination.  He thinks it too dangerous because of the
accuracy and because it can "firm up" potential events (make them
happen).  He seems mainly interested in the archetypal value as
do I, and he is also interested in the connection between Tarot
and Kabbalah, and about how the Golden Dawn used Tarot.  The
woman at our T.S.  Branch who facilitates our Tarot Study Group
also seems to value the archetypal approach to Tarot.

About a year ago, when Nick was visiting me, he gave a talk at
our Branch entitled "The Cosmos Tarot" which, it seems to me, is
a brief summary of his French book.  He prepared a written paper
for the talk and I have copies.  So, I am mailing one to you.  I
think it is a good introduction to Tarot, and probably more
useful to you than his book in French.

You will probably want to get the "Rider-Waite Tarot Deck" and/or
the "Tarot de Marseille." I think these are the 2 best known.
Nick says something about these decks in his paper.

I personally liked a book entitled "Jung and Tarot, an Archetypal
Journey" by Sallie Nichols.  It is well known, but may not be the
best book to recommend for a beginner.  She uses the "Tarot de
Marseille" which is about the oldest known complete Tarot deck
and therefore, also, the one that is theoretically most in the
collective unconscious of humanity.

I believe we have a couple of Tarot experts on Theos-L, in Jerry
Schueler and Arthur Patterson.  A short while ago, they both put
out a lot of information including, I think, a book list.  So, I
defer to their expertise, and think your question needs to be put
to them about recommending one book for a beginner.  I would also
be interested in their answer.

Good luck on your Esoteric Science study group.  The more I study
Itzaak Bentov, the more I am impressed with his insights.  He may
very well have given us the most accurrate picture yet of the
universe.

Cheers

Sy G.