Rachel Pollack

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The Forest of Souls - Reviewed by Psyche
Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom - Reviewed by Psyche

Title:	The Forest of Souls
Sub-title:	A Walk Through the Tarot
Author:	Rachel Pollack
Publisher:	Llewellyn
ISBN:	1567185339
Pages:	278 pp. Including recommended reading and index
Copyright:	2003
Reviewer:	Psyche
Contact Information:	psyche[at]spiralnature[dot]com
Category:	Tarot, Divination
Review:	This is the first book by Rachel Pollack I've read, she's written a few others which have been highly acclaimed - and after reading this excellent book, I can understand why. Pollack opens with a description of the various histories and mythological guesses at the origins of the Tarot, combining it with its known history, and personal experience. Spirituality, symbols, myths and archetypes are common themes explored in this book as Pollack approaches the decks in a more spiritual rather than divinatory light. The text is beautifully accompanied by a variety of black and white illustrations of various Tarot decks, many of which I've never seen before. She examines the commonalities found within them, and explains much of the mythology and reasoning behind such images. Pollack relies heavily on the Shining Tribe Tarot she created, obviously as that symbolism resonates best with her understanding. There are methods of asking questions of the Tarot that she seems to feel others would find heretical. Coming from a chaos magick background myself, I can't quite understand why, though I've found my work enhanced by her suggestions. She expands upon the traditional spreads listed in every other book with spontaneous questions and insights of her own. Previous to reading Forest of Souls, my Tarot readings were much more ridgedly structured. Ms. Pollack has given my practice a much needed breath of fresh air, allowing for much more creativity and spontaneity in my readings. An excellent book for expanding one's thought on traditional histories and practices of Tarot, highly recommended to anyone with an interest in Tarot.
Review submitted:	11 February 2003

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Title:	Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom
Sub-title:	A Book of Tarot
Author:	Rachel Pollack
Publisher:	0722535724
ISBN:	0722535724
Pages:	354 pp (Incl. bibliography and index)
Copyright:	1980, 1983, 1997
Reviewer:	Psyche
Contact Information:	psyche[at]spiralnature[dot]com
Category:	Tarot, Divination
Review:	Previously, Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom was comprised of two volumes, one tackling the major arcana, and the second the minor; this revised edition helpfully combines them into one hefty tome. After a brief history lesson, Pollack begins to explore the major arcana in depth, guiding the reader along the Fool’s Journey. She compares and contrasts cards from several decks for many of the cards, drawing on a rich mythological background from various sources, Christian, Hindu, the quabbalah and occult significance. Brief histories of the cards are described, also giving a divinatory upright and reversed meaning for each. With the minor arcana, Pollack focuses on the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, as it was among the first to use pictures of people in the cards in addition to the weapons. She takes direction primarily from Waite’s description and interpretation of the cards, while giving upright and reversed meanings. Pollack also describes how to give a reading, outlines several spreads, including the familiar Celtic Cross, giving sample readings with each. She goes into more depth than most other works previous to it as she describes how to use Tarot, psychological readings, in meditation, spreads as mandalas, etc. With Pollack’s clear, concise manner and style, it’s not surprising her Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom is likely to be found among the books of any Tarot enthusiast – and rightly so. Whether using the Rider-Waite-Smith deck or one of it’s variations, this book is likely to be an invaluable tool to any student.
Review submitted:	5 September 2004

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