It feels like another good time to share what I’ve been reading with you. Here are four books that are enriching me, personally and professionally. I hope that they nourish you in some way, too.
Tarot Face to Face: Using the Cards in Your Everyday Life (Marcus Katz & Tali Goodwin). This practical and enjoyable text gets us using the cards right away with essential skills and methods to help us notice and interpret tarot symbols with ease. My favourite activities include dialogue with the cards (a very fluid manner of doing a reading), the finding possibilities method (very helpful for people who need a shot of hope), the telling a person’s story method (a simple yet deep way to do a two-part reading in any setting), the oracular poetry activity (creative, interactive, and surprising), and the tarot walk (a great way to personalise one’s knowledge of the cards through the “real” world). People of many levels of tarot experience will find something of value.
The Friar of Carcassonne: Revolt Against the Inquisition in the Last Days of the Cathars (Stephen O’Shea). The story of Bernard Délicieux, a Franciscan friar who denounced the inquisition’s (and the church’s) misuse of authority and abuse of power in late 13th and early 14th century Languedoc. His spiritual conviction and his dedication to his homeland are inspiring. Reading this reminds me of the dangers of any form of fundamentalism, the soullessness of any institution that craftily changes its original mission in order to simply keep perpetuating itself, and the beauty and power of living one’s authentic spirituality in our world. History that’s compelling to read.
Partner Earth: A Spiritual Ecology (Pam Montgomery). The author points out the split that exists within us and in our culture between the physical and the spiritual, then she invites us to rediscover and reaffirm our partnership with Earth and all its beings. We are introduced to devas, energy beings who are allies in healing the split. Montgomery keeps it simple, suggesting that no one needs to be “special” or “psychic” to tune in to Nature, partner with it, and engage in healing of self and world. It’s our birthright.
Intuitive Astrology: Follow Your Best Instincts to Become Who You Always Intended to Be (Elizabeth Rose Campbell). I’m actually revisiting this book, something I do every couple of years or so. The astrological birth chart is not treated as a fatalistic statement, but rather is seen and employed as a map and creative springboard for uncovering our most profound questions and our own responses to those questions. Twelve people’s real-life stories are featured to make the concepts useable and inspirational. Chapter Eight, my favourite, puts it all together. We’re guided through our astrological birth chart in order to identify and/or affirm our dreams, discover inner and outer resources and allies to support those dreams, give them a home in the world, and amp up the joy level so we can really thrive in this lifetime. A treat from cover to cover! Sadly, Campbell died of cancer in 2004 at the age of 52.
I love the way you present these soul-nourishing books. Thank you, as always.
Mary
You’re welcome, Mary. I no longer do reviews because I got sent so many books and decks with which I didn’t really connect, so now I focus on occasionally sharing what I have found valuable or enjoyable. More constructive, at least for me.
Thank you James for mentioning “Face to Face”, and I have just ordered “Intuitive Astrology” which I will look forward to reading. I’ll let you know how I find the approach as I intend to work through it.
My pleasure, Marcus. I really like the book that you and Tali have given our community. Thank you for it. “Intuitive Astrology” is possibly my favourite astrology book of all time because the person and hir creativity and resourcefulness come first instead of all that pigeon-holing one sees in so many astrological texts.
PS. I have also ordered “Becoming Animal” by David Abram as Mary recommended it as a follow-up to “Spell of the Sensuous”. Excellent books!
“Becoming Animal” is essential reading in these times, Marcus. A fabulous reminder of our place in Nature.
I liked this note in the Booklist review for Becoming Animal: “…the disastrous consequences of our increasing detachment from the living world as we funnel our attention to the cyber realm.”
This is something I became aware of a few years ago–how my computer use at one time cut me off from nature, my garden, my pets, the living world in general. I think I shall have to try and get Abram’s books on inter-library loan.
The joy of posting book titles and synopses here is that people are often united with texts that they need in their lives. Love it!