Dr. Jonn Mumford

Title:	Magical Tattwa Cards
Author:	Dr. Jonn Mumford
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN:	1-56718-472-3
Pages:	288 pages (with 26 cards) + Bibliography
Reviewer:	Mike Gleason
Contact Information:	gleason.mike@verizon.net
Category:	Oracle Cards, Magick
Review:	Where were these cards and this book thirty years ago when I was first exposed to the Tattwa system. Unfortunately for me, they were still far in the future. I was fortunate, at the start of my magickal training, to be exposed to individuals who were given their training in the Golden Dawn system. Many people who are familiar with the elemental attributions of western magick have never given any thought to the subdivision of these elements. People who have little tolerance for non-English terms will have some problems with this book, even though the author has made every effort to reduce these terms to an absolute minimum. There are simply some terms which will not translate into English from Sanskrit. If you are working basic kitchen witchery, you can give this book a pass. In fact, unless you are involved in some serious magickal workings, or want to approach divination from a totally radical angle you probably won’t find much in this book to interest you. If you are looking for alternate methods of understanding the magickal elements, on the other hand, this book and card set will be an invaluable aid. Dr. Mumford provides some basic cross-cultural comparisons (symbols and diagrams) which will help to clear up the meaning, for many novices, of some commonly used symbols. When I was introduced to the Tattwa system, I never considered that it could be used as a system of insight into decision making. I hesitate to say a system of divination because of the common confusion between divination and fortune telling." The Tattwas can give insight in the same way that the I Ching can. It offers a starting point for your own meditations. It doesn’t tell a story as the Tarot can. It doesn’t give you a simple "yes/no" like a pendulum can. It doesn’t "tell" you what to do. What it does is to inspire your consideration of the forces moving in regards to the issues involved. This is a system which is going to take some time to become proficient with. There is a recommended procedure for learning to work with the cards before you should even consider using them for gaining the insight into your situations. The only major problem I can foresee to the use of these cards in one that affects only a small percentage of the population (5% to 8%) - red/green color blindness. These colors are very prominent in half the cards in this deck (the fire and air segments). The meditation/visualization exercises are easy to understand and, with some in visualizations, should be fairly easy for even the novice to accomplish. The instructions are simple and easy to read. The goals are plainly established, and the philosophy of "fake it till you make it," is fully explained. Lest you dismiss the visualization techniques as "merely mind games," remember that all our knowledge comes through our mind (not necessarily from it). The colors are so vibrant that just glancing at them is enough to sear the images into your mind. My son, who has no magickal training at all, exclaimed, when seeing them for the first time "Aarrgh. That’s so wrong!" which is his general reaction whenever something impresses him (one way or the other). The system of Tattwas has had a place in Western magickal tradition for over one hundred years, and in the East for thousands of years. Not many people outside of magical lodge traditions here in the West will have been aware of their existence, and that is too bad. They have a lot to offer, even is they are only used to provide a point of access for the elements. The visualization techniques for astral travel are classics, taught to many students over the past hundred years. Are the results real? Depends on how you define "real" I suppose. To a nuclear physicist the structure of atomic nuclei is very real, even if the vast majority of humanity has a vague (at best) image of that "reality." Astral projection can produce expected (and unexpected) result because of controllable and uncontrollable variables you will have to decide for yourself about the reality issues. Dr. Mumford stresses, repeatedly, not to rush the exercises he prescribes. They will bear the appropriate fruits if you give them time to mature. Any attempt to force development will, most likely, be counter-productive. I found a few typos in this book. Not enough to detract from the excellent work which went into it, but just enough to stick in my consciousness. I hope they are corrected in future editions. My one difference with Dr. Mumford, based on the way I was trained, involves ending the visualization exercises. I was taught that visualization of the intensity called for creates the image on the astral level, and that we should always take time to dissolve, absorb, or in some other way dispose of our leavings on the astral (the metaphysical equivalent of the Sierra Club’s, "Take only memories, leave only footprints."). While I assume that Dr. Mumford does this, he does not specify it in the material presented to the reader. Although some may think of this as "New Age," it certainly isn’t. In fact, Dr. Mumford is adamant about taking care of physical diseases first and foremost by whatever means is appropriate; medical if that is appropriate, psychological if necessary, etc. The techniques given for stimulating and balancing the charkas will yield benefits for anyone who is willing to put in the required time and energy. It is not a panacea, nor is it a quick-fix, but it is a part of a healing path. The appendices reprint lectures and instructions from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Once again, it is information which I haven’t thought about since my early days of magickal training. It is information which many will benefit from, I am sure. Do I recommend this book and card set to the average reader? No, I don’t. Do I recommend it to anyone wanting to expand their awareness of the composition of the universe? Absolutely. Do I value it as an addition to my library? Beyond value. If you are looking to spend some quality time working on expanding your awareness, if you are looking to expand your perception of the elements, I recommend that you purchase this set. You will need to take special care of the cards, since the colors are especially vulnerable to fading, and you won’t want that to happen.
Review submitted:	21 January 2003