From: cssam@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (Scott Minor)
Subject: Re: Astro and Tarot Books <was: Re: hallowe'en origins>
Organization: Educational Computing Network
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 20:28:42 GMT

ba@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu (B.A. Davis-Howe) writes:

>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.

*Well*   

B.A. introduced me to the tarot, but personally, I have taken a
different tact.  I have tried to read or at least scan almost any
serious ( a subjective criteria, I realize ) material on the tarot to
form my own personal synthesis.  So, from a purely personal point of
view I might recommend some of the works of Eden Gray (or is it Grey?)
for a simple introduction.  Crowley's Book of Thoth is intersting, but
veryacademic and dense, definately not for the beginner.  Also, I have
found that there are many book on the tarot specific to a particular
deck, and I'm not refering to the small pamphlet that usually comes with
the deck.  Off the top of my head I can think of at least 4 books on
specific decks.  Crowley's Book of Thoth being one of them.  Also I have
seen books or wookbooks associated with teh Motherpeace, Mythical, and
Salvador Dali Tarots.  So, it might benefit you to check it out.  I
guess I see the tarot as working with synthesis.


>>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]


I am tending to approach my study of astrology in the same manner as my
study of tarot, with mixed results.  SFaSN is wonderful, IMHO (thanks
for showing it to me, B.).  I also recommend _The Astrologer's Handbook_
by Sakoian and Acker.  They have put out a series of books which tend to
approach astrology with a list of set interpretations for planet and
house placements and aspects.  Cum grano salis, but still not bad.




>              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


Random ramblings,



Scott



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