Reprinted from New Age Retailer with permission.
The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards
Alejandro Jodorowsky & Marianne Costa
$26.95 (P), ISBN 978-159477263-4
Destiny Books
The beginning of this book reads like a sophisticated treasure-hunt adventure. It also happens to include a history of tarot cards which will be invaluable to people who are studying tarot seriously. It might, however, be a little too much information for the novice. Not to worry. Beginners can start at the end of the book, Part Five, The Reading of the Tarot. It contains detailed instructions with examples.
Those of us who came of age during the 60’s will remember Jodorowsky as the creator of the film, El Topo. He brings the same sense of mystery and magic to this book. Combining that with his skills as a psychotherapist, and with the help of his co-teacher Marianne Costa, he has created a thorough and insightful new work about tarot. As the title indicates, the message is always to seek insight and growth through the cards, and to treat them with the respect a sacred text deserves. Jodorowsky recounts that at one point he asked the Tarot “What kind of power are you able to give me?” and he heard the Tarot answer that “You should acquire only the power of helping others. An art that does not heal is not an art.” The tarot is meant to mirror and challenge and that is the approach this book takes.
It is not a book for “dabblers” but it will be a good investment for anyone seeking a reference they can go back to over and over again as they gain experience with the cards. Jodorowsky uses cards from the beautifully reconstructed Tarot of Marseille, published by Camoin Éditions (sales@camoin.com), throughout the book.
Anna Jedrziewski
Spirit Connection New York
New York, NY