My friend and Tarot goddess, Rachel Pollack, once wrote in a card to me "Happy All the End-of-the-Year Holidays." Sitting here on a beautiful August day, I would rather not think about the last months of the year, which, here in Minnesota, tend to be very long and very cold. So I am thankful that there are holidays to take my mind off the weather. No matter what path you follow, there is likely a holiday that you celebrate. And if you are an irreverent eclectic, well, you may even celebrate more than one in some form.
Amid the gathering of friends and family, rituals and traditions, food and fun, gifts are often exchanged. If you are a Tarot reader, there are lots of Tarot-related gifts you can share. You can put together a gift package for someone who wants to learn Tarot. If someone has a special interest, you could introduce them to Tarot with a deck reflective of their interest. You can create customized readings to give. You can even indulge in a gift for yourself. Llewellyn's well-rounded and exciting line can meet virtually any need. Since I love both gift giving and Tarot, I, of course, have lots of ideas to share.
Learning to Read
If you know someone who wants to learn to read Tarot, the options are many. Tailoring a beginning package can be easy, though. For people who don't delve deeply into occult subjects, something very simple is best. They probably would enjoy something that they can either learn very quickly or refer to easily. In this case, Sylvia Abraham's How To Read the Tarot coupled with Lo Scarabeo's Universal Tarot is a good bet. The Nigel Jackson Tarot and The World Spirit Tarot are minikits, which come with their own small books, and are great gifts that would allow a beginner to start reading almost immediately. If you want to add an extravagant touch to your gift, add one of our velvet Tarot bags (created to fit all our deck sizes).
For a beginner who prefers a deeper foundation in a subject, Tarot Plain and Simple and Tarot for Beginners are obvious choices. Tarot for a New Generation should not be overlooked. Particularly suited for 16 – 25 year olds, it does work well for all age groups.
Even for those who think they are not particularly interested in Tarot, there are possibilities. A kit based on a special interest might open the amazing world of Tarot to them. Whether a person has a romantic, gypsy heart (Buckland's Romani Tarot) or a penchant for mathematics (The Pythagorean Tarot), you can likely find a deck to suit. For the would be Victorians in your life, The Victoria Regina Tarot, with it's custom velvet bag, astoundingly lovely illustrations, and impressive historical research, is the penultimate gift.
For those with Celtic leanings, consider Legend: The Arthurian Tarot or The Sacred Circle Tarot. Both are incredibly beautiful and come with a wonderful book. The Celtic Dragon Tarot and The Faery Wicca Tarot, as well as Lo Scarabeo's Avalon Tarot and Celtic Tarot, will also appeal to lovers of things Celtic.
For the hagiographer, impress and delight them with the beautiful and informative Tarot of the Saints. For those with a wide interest in mythology and mysticism, Rachel Pollack's The Shining Tribe Tarot provides amazing stories and imagery. And of course, anyone familiar with The Wizard of Oz mythology will enjoy The Tarot of Oz. If you know someone with an affinity for fairies, take a look at Anna Franklin and Paul Mason's new The Fairy Ring. While not a traditional Tarot, it is a wonderful oracle. The art is stunning, the spreads inspired, and the information rich.
Many of Lo Scarabeo's decks will appeal to art lovers. They offer the Bosch Tarot, the Dante Tarot, the Giotto Tarot, Tarot Art Nouveau, Tarot of the Master (by Giovanni Vacchetta, 1893), The Golden Tsar Tarot, and The Tarot of Dürer, just to name a few. Actually, we have a special offer on selected Lo Scarabeo decks. See pages 26–29 for details.
If you know people who do not want to read for themselves, but enjoy receiving readings, you can give them a series of readings throughout the year. Christine Jette, in Tarot for All Seasons, provides readings to do at each Sabbot and Esbat. In using this book, you can give your family or friends a gift that benefits them all through the year.
As a Tarot reader, it is likely that you have friends who also readers, who are eager to expand their knowledge and practice. Any of our Special Topics in Tarot Series books would be welcome. Currently available are Mary Greer's The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals, Nina Lee Braden's Tarot for Self-Discovery, and Donald Michael Kraig's forthcoming Tarot & Magick. Rachel Pollack's new work,
The Forest of Souls, is probably one of the deepest, most unique, and exciting explorations of Tarot available. If you get yourself no other gift this year, treat yourself to this one.
Probably as well known as Rachel Pollack and Mary Greer, Brian Williams has contributed much to the world of Tarot, both artistically and scholarly. As many of you know, he died in April of this year. His final work was The Ship of Fools Tarot.
This work may be the most quintessential of Brian's career. In these images and in the text, Williams cleverly and creatively combines his love of history with the surprising workings of his postmodern mind. The resulting juxtapositions of "advice" will challenge and enchant.
Whatever gifts you give, whatever celebrations you enjoy, I wish you the best happiness and success. I'm always delighted to hear from readers. You can email me at Barbaram@llewellyn.com.
NOTE: In the July/August issue of New Worlds, I wrote about using rituals in your reading practices. Someone kindly wrote to me asking why I thought ritual was necessary. I don't think it is necessary. I do think it is helpful to some people. In case that wasn't clear, I wanted to take this opportunity to rectify that. Always do what works for you, whether it is an elaborate ritual, nothing at all, or something in between.
