Experience the Mystery of Tarot

Ceremonies, Spreads, and Meditations to Deepen Your Connection to the Cards

by Katalin Jett Koda

Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. to be released December 8th 2020

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

It is important to mention that I am coming to this book with nearly 21 years of Tarot Reading experience and 5 years in the professional industry. 

One important aspect that this book covers right off the bat is that sometimes you can ask the Tarot about a certain subject (like career) and it doesn’t seem to address your topic at all (by talking about relationships, for example); the writer stresses that learning about the link is the most crucial part. I also like that the author doesn’t believe in the need for reversed cards, a point of view I’ve had since the beginning of my journey. 

The point of this book seems to be about using Tarot as a ceremonial tool for manifestations, removing blockages, etc. The author weaves ancient practices along with her own. I immediately have a bias as I believe the story painted by Tarot is enough to clear blockages and assist in manifestation, and no spellwork is necessary, but let’s read on…

“Traditionally, a master or teacher gave tarot cards to a student who was deemed ready,” – I’d like a source of this quote because it’s nonsense. There seems to be a lot of reference to ‘regulations’ for starting to use your tarot deck, which I also think is nonsense. Just pick up a deck and start working with it. This book is very “witchy” and may resonate with other people who use spells and rituals, but I personally do not believe in giving offerings to my Tarot Cards. As I’ve emphasized many times, the cards themselves are not magic, they are just a tool; you are magic. 

This book also runs through each card like a story which may be very helpful to first learners. Along with each card there is a ‘ceremony’ suggestion (eg. for The Magician, plant a seed). The descriptions are very thorough and well written. In the Minor Arcana, the author runs through the numerology and then the individual cards. The ceremonies associated with the Minor Arcana are okay, but for example, Ace of Pentacles suggests finding a stone and then asking for the stones permission to take it with you. Listen, I know we are all connected and all have energies, but I’m not asking a stone for permission to take it. A little bit of these ceremonies are too “woowoo” for my liking. 

I find the Court Cards section to be very well done and thorough which is often missed by other books.

If you like the idea of rituals and ceremonies (and have the time to do one for every card you pull every day) then you’ll love this book. If you want some detailed walkthroughs for the energies of each card, then you’ll love this book. 
Will you memorize everything after you read this book? No, you’ll always have to go back and reference it.
Would it be my go-to for Tarot? No.
Would it be something I buy? No, but only because it’s not my style to incorporate ceremonies with my tarot, as I find it unnecessary.