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Title: Tarot As Your Companion: A Practical Guide to the Rider-Waite and Crowley Thoth Tarot Decks by Hajo Banzhaf, Elisa Hemmerlein ISBN: 1-57281-217-6 Publisher: United States Games Systems Pub. Date: April, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Excellent First Book for Beginners
Comment: But not much to offer for intermediate to advanced Tarot students.
This book is a good start for beginning students, and an excellent resource for people who would like to occasionally consult the Tarot, but do not wish to study the symbolism and meanings in-depth.
The entire focus of this book is a four card spread called "The Next Step" which seems to be an effective spread for most any question. Card one shows the current situation, card two indicates what is important right now, card three shows what is not important right now, and card 4 suggests what your next step should be. Then each card from both the Thoth Deck and the Rider/Waite deck are displayed in excellent quality black and white images with the meaning of each card given depending on which position the card falls in the spread.
The general meaning given for each card is very brief and the meaning of the card in the specific position consists of one-liners. This will make it easy for the beginner to do a fairly effective first reading. However, for the intermediate or advanced Tarot student, this book does not offer any in-depth interpretations of Tarot symbolism or imagery. Given the quality and massive quantity of information and correspondences provided in Banzhaf's previous books I was disappointed that there wasn't a more intensive comparison of the two decks.
Beginners who plan to continue their study of the Tarot should follow this one up with Banzhaf's "Crowley Tarot" and/or "The Tarot Handbook". If you already have a basic knowledge of card meanings, skip this one.
Rating: 5
Summary: LUCID AND ACCURATE
Comment: Banzhaf is a fabulous German tarot interpreter and an excellent author who has had his works translated into English. In this book, he offers a side-by-side interpretation for the Crowley and Rider-Waite decks. I have read tarot cards for over twenty-years, and still, I am always amazed at how much more there is to learn regarding the complex imagery and symbols that both decks protect and yet reveal to the seeker through their presentation of the essential truths of mysticism. Banzhaf is a gem because a beginner will find him as lucid and informative as a seasoned reader. He gets to the heart of meaning in both decks and offers practical interpretations that do not obscure the more profound underpinnings in the card's symbolism. It is his general interpretations for each card that I find useful, because sometimes a tarot reader can get lost in profundities that need to be brought back to a more general tone; especially when doing a reading for someone who has no knowledge of what the symbols mean. Too often, mystical writers get carried away and become agonizingly ambiguous in their efforts to be comprehensive, which usually just leaves the reader perplexed. Banzhaf avoids this trap. He is practical and informative, and his book functions like a handy reference. When my readings get complex, and I find myself lost in profound suggestions, I recall his simple interpretations and they put me back on track. Banzhaf's interpretations accommodate both the profound and the ordinary, but he focuses mostly on simplicity.
The comparative explanations between the Rider deck and the Crowley deck are useful in that Banzhaf focuses on the additional meanings that are present in the Crowley deck, but which are not associated with the Rider. In fact, these additional meanings, which most students and users of the Crowley deck are familiar with, is the reason why the Crowley deck is usually considered a more comprehensive symbolic structure for divination. What's nice about this book is that this is the first time I've ever seen anyone write up a comparative, but brief, analysis between the Rider and the Crowley, specifically emphasizing where these two popular decks differ in meaning.
My criticism for this book is that, unlike his other books, his explanation regarding the Secret of the High Priestess spread is omitted, which is a truly amazing and informative spread. Nonetheless, here, you will discover how to cast the Fool's spread, which is also good. Banzhaf is lucid, profound, and always clear. However, in this book, his overall presentation format is according to one of his tarot spreads, the "Next Step," which is grossly simplistic. But in all fairness, his title does state that this book is "A Practical Guide to the Rider-Waite and Crowley Tarot Decks," which indeed it is, but perhaps if he used a different presentation, he could have covered just a tad bit more ground, which would have made this book a far more valuable resource. His comparative approach in discussing these two decks is what makes this book so valuable, but his discussion is limited due to his need to adhere to the format of the "Next Step" spread. The Learned may yearn for more depth, but if this book is viewed as a valuable resource for keeping readings accessible to non-initiates, then you will find this book very helpful. Beginners will clearly have the most going for them in purchasing this book because here you have a handy and lucid first look at what distinguishes the Rider-Waite deck from the Crowley deck.
If you feel excluded from the art of divination because of the language that its writers use, then you will truly value this book. Additionally, Banzhaf explains his own tarot spreads, of which, his Path spread and the Relationship Game are EXCEPTIONAL! They are very useful and quick spreads that shed general insights. Banzhaf's other books are equally good. Banzhaf's The Tarot Handbook is excellent for the Rider-Waite deck, which he exclusively focuses on in that book. His book entitled The Crowley Tarot is the best book offered on the Crowley deck, and this book is a wealth of resource for the advanced reader, and not too hard for the beginner, although it is a book that you will derive the easiest learning experience from, if you have prior knowledge of the deck.
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Title: Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot by Lon Milo Duquette ISBN: 1578632765 Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser Pub. Date: November, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: The Crowley Tarot Handbook: The Handbook to the Cards by Akron, Hajo Banzhaf, Christine M. Grimm, Aleister Crowley, Frieda Harris ISBN: 0880797150 Publisher: United States Games Systems Pub. Date: March, 2003 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: Keywords for the Crowley Tarot by Hajo Banzhaf, Brigitte Theler ISBN: 1578631734 Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser Pub. Date: July, 2001 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Tarot: Mirror of the Soul: Handbook for the Aleister Crowley Tarot by Gerd Ziegler ISBN: 0877286833 Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser Pub. Date: November, 1988 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: The Tarot Handbook by Hajo Banzhaf ISBN: 0880795115 Publisher: United States Games Systems Pub. Date: March, 2003 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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