Celebrating Rachel Pollack
We are deeply saddened to share the news of Rachel Pollack’s passing. Llewellyn has had the good fortune to work with Rachel on multiple books and decks over the years, all of which greatly impacted the tarot world. Rachel leaves an incredible legacy in not only the tarot community but the fiction, comic book,and science fiction/fantasy realms, as well, where she is known for her work on Doom Patrol (for which she created the first trans superhero) and was the winner of the Nebula, World Fantasy, and Arthur C. Clarke awards, and was a recommended member of PEN International.
Rachel is considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on the modern interpretation of the tarot. She published 36 books, including two award-winning novels and the tarot classic, 78 Degrees Of Wisdom, referred to by readers, teachers, and tarot professionals as “the Bible of tarot readers.” She also designed and drew The Shining Tribe Tarot.
Rachel Pollack was a member of the American Tarot Association, the International Tarot Society, and the Tarot Guild of Australia, and was conferred the title of Tarot Grand Master by the Tarot Certification Board, an independent body located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pollack held an honors degree in English from New York University, a master’s degree in English from Claremont Graduate School, and taught English at New York State University. With fellow tarot author Mary K. Greer, she taught at Omega Institute for more than 15 years.
Llewellyn Publisher Bill Krause remembers Rachel fondly: “I had the good fortune to meet Rachel when she visited Llewellyn offices in 2007. She was incredibly kind and helpful to a complete novice such as myself. Rachel leaves an incredible legacy.”
As for the tarot community, Rachel’s fingerprints are indelibly imprinted on us, where they will continue to guide students and teachers alike through her books, decks, and powerful legacy.
