From: ba@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu (B.A. Davis-Howe)
Subject: Astro and Tarot Books <was: Re: hallowe'en origins>
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 19:45:56 GMT

kjturner@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Kimberley Jo Turner) writes:

[stuff deleted]

>i am interested in tarot and i have seen some of the postings on
>here recommending which decks and all that...but, which of those
>decks have books that truly explain each detail of the tarot in
>enough clarity for a novice?

I personally recommend *against* books on Tarot.  I think the best thing is to
learn by using the cards.  One does have to get some basic info on the Majors,
but the rest can be done by intuition and practice.  The *only* book I ever
suggest on the Tarot is _Tarot_ by Piers Anthony.  I recommend it because it is
fiction.  It doesn't tell you what the cards are supposed to mean, but it does 
show you someone *thinking* in Tarot symbolism.  This the the point of Tarot, 
IMO--to learn to think symbolically.

>third...

>ailsa: (if you're reading this *smilies*)  you asked about birth
>signs. mine is libra, oct. 7, 1970..i'm an air sign, and that is all
>that i know...i am also interested in learning about astrology.
>can you (or anyone else reading this) recommend a book for me to read
>on this?

IMO, the best introductory book on astrology is _The Knot of Time_.  It is 
written by two women who remove the sexism so common in astrological books.  It
covers *all* the basics.  It is a primer, however--it doesn't give you enough 
information to actually read charts.  After reading _tKoT_, I suggest getting
Debbie Kempton-Smith's _Secrets From a Stargazer's Notebooks_.  The woman is
a bitch, and hysterical at the same time.  She can point out both the good and
bad characteristics of a planetary postion, while keeping you laughing at 
yourself the whole time.  The focus of her book is describing *each* planet
in *each* of the signs.  With these two books in hand, and a willingness to
practice for a while, you can get pretty good at astrology.  _tKoT_ will give
you a solid understanding of the signs, and _SFaSN_ goes into the planets in
a depth which _tKoT_ can't do.  Both give some information on houses--with the
two of them under your belt, you'll have enough to start with.  The other major
part of natal astrology is aspects.  I don't think that a book can really give 
you that.  Those two books give some good general hints, but the interpretation
of aspects is an art, requiring flexibility and intuition.  Enjoy the quest.

[deleted]

>oh, btw, to all, *grin* i'm pregnant. since i haven't been able to post
>to here, i haven't been able to share the good news with anybody...i'm
>going to be a single mother....*smilies* anyhow...              

Congrats!

>it's good to be back adn hopefully i'll be posting in the future more
>often!

>*smilies* 

>thanks for listening to me drone on....
>julie/mortiana

Good to see you again! *HUG*


              Merry meet, merry part, merry meet again,
                               Br'anArthur

Queer, Peculiar, and Wyrd! :-)

******************************************************************************
Newage is hypoallergenic spirituality--
it's for people who are allergic to the word religion.
                                   --Jon Jay Obermark
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