The Secret Language of Tarot

Instead of simply giving the meanings of each card, this new book by Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone identifies the symbols that recur throughout a Tarot deck. This novel approach enables readers to translate the pictorial symbolism from one deck to another.

Each of the seven chapters covers a set of symbols that share a common theme and readers are given the mythological meanings of the symbols.

The Chapters are arranged as follows.

Chapter 1 - Crowns, Pillars and The Rose & The Lily
Chapter 2 - Paths, Mountains and Crosses
Chapter 3 - Moons, Stars and Pools
Chapter 4 - Horses, Suns and Banners
Chapter 5 - Armour, Blindfolds and Feathers
Chapter 6 - Castles, Clouds and Gardens
Chapter 7 - Rivers, Towers, Angels and Temples

The book can be used as both a reference book and as a series of meditations on the individual symbols. When read from cover to cover, The Secret Language of Tarot reveals hidden connections between the individual cards. Every chapter ends with an ‘Integration Lesson’ and a special ‘Symbol Spread’ to deepen the understanding of the cards.

The book opens with a Foreword by Mary K Greer and closes with an Afterword by Lon Milo DuQuette.

The Secret Language of Tarot would be a welcome addition to the collection of any serious Tarot reader.

The Secret Language of Tarot

By Ruth Ann & Wald Amberstone
Published by Weiser Books
ISBN 978-1-57863-416-3

-- Brian Stevenson --

Brian’s Website

Comments

[Janet Boyer]

Several years ago, I bought the teaching notes to The Tarot School's Intuition and Imagery CD series.

Imagine my surprise when, a few months ago, the publisher sent me an unbound copy of The Secret Language of the Tarot--and it was the teaching notes word for word! (Including the "Our next class..."

I was floored that the publisher didn't re-tool the notes into a readable, accessible book.

Janet

[Ferol Humphrey]

"The Secret Language of Tarot" has had my attention since the winter of 2006, as I awaited its release, and I am delighted to find this colorful volume in my hands in early April 2008. For some time now I have had the feeling that this new book by Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone, founders of The Tarot School, would take its place alongside Rachel Pollack's "78 Degrees of Wisdom" and "Forest of Souls", Mary K. Greer's "Tarot for Your Self", and Robert M. Place's "The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination", as a classic reference work of use to everyone for decades to come. Now that I have felt, seen and worked with the book, I am convinced that my intuition was accurate. This is a beautiful, highly usable, unique text on the subject of our passion, the Tarot. I particularly appreciate the fact that in focusing on the symbols of Tarot, this work opens for all of us the power of Tarot in both the RiderWaiteSmith and Thoth traditions, and all of the unique decks of the world which depart from these standards. I found Mary K. Greer's foreward beautifully written and enticing as I entered the book. For me and quite a few others I have spoken to, the best part in many ways is the sense of being included directly in a class with the Amberstones, and I like to think that in wording their work in this way, they have enabled us all to conjoin with the gestalt of the original class and its future students, learning as a group adventure from a near part of eternity ~ that, in my opinion, is EXACTLY what the esoteric tradition is all about. Lon DuQuette expresses this, and his deep confidence in the authors,in his afterward. So, thank you, Red Wheel/Weiser and Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone, for a stately, organized, powerful, and immediately useful book on the Tarot.

[Elizabeth Genco]

I too had the original notes, as I say in my blurb in the front of the book. I too was a snidge surprised that the "Our next class" wording didn't get edited out.

Other than that, though, I'm not sure we're looking at the same book. The book I hold in my hands is entirely readable and accessible. Complete sentences and everything! :P

Yes, the book reads like a live class. That's part of the charm. It is also true of just about every written work Wald & Ruth Ann put out.

Wald has a very strong written voice. His written stuff very easy to read and follow because it's just like he's speaking directly to me. It's an asset, not a detriment - the smooth vocal style makes learning easy. Once I'm in that zone, nothing jolts me out of it. And I remember what I read that way.

I just want to make it clear that this is not some disorganized jumbled mess simply because some in-class phraseology was left in. Were it me, I would have edited it out. But whatever! Were I to complain about it, I'd be picking nits.

[Janet Boyer]

Nice to see you Ferol and Elizabeth! Thanks for taking time to stop by The Tarot Channel to share your thoughts. :o)

Janet