Review by Bonnie Cehovet
Tarot & Magic is one of a series of "Special Topics In
Tarot" being presented by Llewellyn Publishing. I can't
say enough about this series - the books and topics
are outstanding! And there is an added bonus - each
book in this series has a forward written by the highly
knowledgeable Mary K. Greer.
Donald Michael Kraig is highly
skilled in both Tarot and
Magic, and is one of those
people that take their
studies to the next level and
work with them actively
in their lives. No - I do not
know Mr. Kraig personally,
but his writing shines with
a caring for people, and with
a sense of respect
for his subject.
Tarot & Magic is not a book to be
taken lightly, nor a
book to be simply "read". It is a
book to be experienced
- on all levels. The magic is
in the experiencing. As Mr.
Kraig points out
throughout the book, we are all doing
magic all of the time,
each day of our lives. It is simply
that we do not
recognize it. The aim of Tarot & Magic
is to "explain what
is behind the techniques of working
with the cards
...".
Mr. Kraig has chosen to use four Tarot decks to
show
how Tarot may be used in ritual and Magic: The
Golden
Dawn Magical Tarot (by Chic and Sandra
Tabitha
Cicero), is used for it' symbolism and because of
the
influence that it had on A. E. Waite and Aleister
Crowley.
In style, it reflects the Victorian era. The
Universal Tarot (by Roberto De Angelis) is used for
the
manner in which the cards are depicted - it is a
modernized version of the Rider-Waite deck. It also
reflects
the sentiment of its time - the idealizing of
the
Renaissance era. The Thoth Tarot (by Aleister Crowley,
illustrated by Lady Freida Harris), is included also for
its
rich use of symbolism. In style, it reflects the
new
ideas coming in during and after the World War II
era.
The Shadow Tarot (by Linda Falorio) is used in the
final
chapter - Tarot And Magic - Continual Evolution.
This is
an out of print deck, majors only, that deals
with "the
darker side of the psyche". (Please note:
the above
descriptions are from the book, and reflect
Mr. Kraig's
thoughts.)
As for how the scans of the
decks are used in this book
- sometimes they are
coordinated with the text,
sometimes they are grouped
together on a separate
page. I vote for interspersing the
card scans and the
text - it flows much better for
me.
I like the sequence of this book - it takes the
"simple"
subjects first, and then builds into the more complex
ones. At all times the reader, and their level of
knowledge (or lack of) is respected. I am of the school
that
isn't all that sure that "higher" knowledge belongs
in a
book. No - I don't think it needs to remain a
secret,
but I do think that personal instruction is the route
to
go. In fact, I go one step farther - let's hear it for
the
apprentice path! :)
In Chapter 1, The Tarot And Magic, Mr.
Kraig goes into
the symbolism inherent in Tarot, and
gives a very
credible explanation of what magic is and
why it works.
He also sets the groundwork for
following chapters in
his use of posing a set of questions
at the end of the
chapter. The questions are aimed at
helping the reader
to place the teachings of that chapter
into practical use,
rather than asking for a
regurgitation of the material
presented.
In Chapter 2, Tarot
Spells, we learn the how and why of
spellwork. There are
points that I disagree with - such
as the use of "day of
the week" and "astrological sign"
candles, but Mr.
Kraig does make a point of saying, in
essence, "Take
what you will and build on it." He also
does a nice
job of explaining magical tools, including
chart
presentations in regards to the use of color, its
metaphysical
properties, astrological correspondences
and correspondences
to each day of the week. In a
quiet manner he hands
the practitioner a very powerful
tool! In this chapter
we also see the groundwork or
"template", for spell
work in the presentation of spells
for love, career,
traveling and healing.
In Chapter 3, Astral Projection,
Pathworking And The
Tarot, Mr. Kraig describes methods for
accomplishing
the actual projection, as well as doing pathwork on
the
astral plane with the use of the Tree of Life. While
I
take exception to the method Mr. Kraig uses for
doing
the actual projection, I was fascinated by the
path
work that he describes. What a marvelous manner
in
which to expand ones spiritual path! I was also
very
appreciative of the correspondences that Mr. Kraig
presents,
archangels associated with the Sephira, and
the explanation
of the four worlds.
In Chapter 4, Dancing The Tarot,
Mr. Kraig references
work done by Melita Denning and
Osborne Phillips in
Llewellyn Practical Guide To The
Magick Of The Tarot.
Their work goes far beyond the
noting of postures in
the Tarot deck, or even the
intuitive work of mimicking
the postures to enter the cards.
Of great interest here
is the use of the Tree Of
Life, and of physical movement.
There is quite a good
explanation to go along with the
notations on the Tree Of Life
Chart, enabling any
practitioner to determine on their
own which paths to
work with for which
energies/issues.
In Chapter 5, Mr. Kraig brings up the work of
talismans,
amulets and ritual. He puts their use well within the
range of any serious student.
In Chapter 6, The Tarot
And Ceremonial Magic, we look
at the difference
between spell work and ceremonial
magic. Here we also
begin work with the minor arcana
and the Tree Of Life,
and delve into the use of the
Lesser Banishing Ritual
Of The Pentagram - an integral
part of any magical
(magickal to me) work.
In Chapter 7, The Tarot As Magic, we
look at
synchronicity and divination magic.
In
Chapter 8, The Tarot And Sex Magic, we look at the
raising of sexual energy, and why we would want to do
that
(other than for personal gratification). In lesser
hands
this could have been a very banal chapter, but
Mr.
Kraig has presented us with a well thought out,
well
written article, including a correspondence with
the
position of the figures in any given card and
sexual
positions.
In Chapter 9, Tarot And Magic - Continual Evolution,
we
delve into the Shadow Tarot (Linda Falorio and Fred
Fowler), and working with shadow energies. (I am not
going
to go into the background of this deck, which
Mr.
Kraig has included, but it is fascinating reading.)
I
highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to
work
with the Tarot and the Tree Of Life, with or
without
using magic to do so. There are suggestions
within these
chapters for professional Tarot readers
as to things that
they can use as "value added"
segments for their
clients. I found that a strange, yet
appropriate manner in
which to view the work that
Mr. Kraig presents here.
There are many levels of
learning to experience here -
none will fail to teach!
Bonnie Cehovet is Certified Tarot Grand Master, a professional Tarot reader with over ten years experience, a Reiki Master/Teacher and a writer. 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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