Review by Bonnie Cehovet
James Ricklef is a Los Angeles based Certified Tarot Master, author, teacher and lecturer. His body of work includes "KnightHawk's Tarot Readings" (readings based on fictional characters, or historical figures, currently OOP, with limited copies available through the author), Tarot Tells The Tale (Llewellyn Worldwide), and Tarot, Get the Whole Story (Llewellyn Worldwide). Tarot Affirmations is a collection of re-edited affirmations based on the 78 cards of the Tarot, originally appearing in the American Tarot Association (ATA) newsletter between May of 2000 and April of 2001.
The 44 page, Vello-bound booklet presents affirmations for each of the cards, as well as James' personal thoughts and comments on each card (based on the Sacred Rose Tarot, by Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman). James indicates in his introduction that the focus of this book is to show how affirmations can be used with each of the 78 cards of the Tarot, and what place this has in an individual's journey of self-development and self-empowement.
James discusses the different techniques that can be used to access intuitive impressions of the individual Tarot cards. One of these techniques is the one that he used with the Sacred Rose Tarot, the deck that he references in this book. After meditating on the card, he proceeded to write several short statements about the card, as they came to his mind. Finally, he went back into a meditative state and allowed affirmations relating to the card he was working with to come through to him. He took these affirmations into his day to work with.
In a short discourse on the meaning of affirmations, James defines them as positive statements indicating that you already have something, or some quality that you desire. Repeating the affirmation while you visualize or meditate on an associated Tarot card empowers the affirmation via the images on the card.
The Hermit is one of the primary cards that I look at in all decks - I felt that it was part of me even before I discovered that it was one of my birth cards. In his comments on the Hermit from the Sacred Rose Tarot, James notes that the Hermits path has taken him across barren ground into a fertile land of flowering vegetation. He is depicted as searching for inner knowledge, making him both student and teacher. His path to spirituality is a uniquely individual one. One of the affirmations that James developed for this card is: "The quiet time I spend alone nourishes my soul."
Aces are interesting people, so I decided to look at the Ace of Pentacles. James notes that each Ace indicates a gift, an opportunity, a seed or a new beginning. This Ace of Pentacles shows a hand reaching out of a gold rose, holding a golden pentacle. Clustered around the bottom of the pentacle is a tangled vine bearing red berries, while in the background is a starry, indigo sky. The imagery makes very real the "golden opportunity" coming the Seeker's way. The affirmation for this card is: "The Universe provides for me with infinite grace and bounty."
I found this booklet to be well written, and very easy to work with. I remember the time when these affirmations were first coming out in the ATA newsletter - how the Tarot world was changing, and opening up. I consider this work to be on par with the affirmation work already done by Tarot wise-women Mary K. Greer (Tarot For Yourself, New Page Publishing) and Geraldine Amaral (co-author, with Nancy Brady Cunningham, of Tarot Celebrations, Weiser Books). For anyone who wishes to work with affirmations and the Tarot, this is an excellent reference.
Bonnie Cehovet is a professional Tarot reader with over ten years experience, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and is certified as a Tarot Educator with the American Board For Tarot Certification. Bonnie has served in various capacities with the American Tarot Association, is co-founder of the World Tarot Network, and Vice President (as well as Director of Certification) for the American Board For Tarot Certification. She has had articles appear in the 2004 and 2005 Llewellyn Tarot Reader.
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