Tarot Awareness: Exploring the Spiritual Path
by: Stephen Sterling

ISBN 1-56718-676-9
Price $17.95

Usually, as soon as magic or the Tarot is taken over to the Left Brained Male side of things, involving Tree of Life/Seal of Soloman/this portal, that portal stuff, my eyes glaze over and my brain freezes up.  For me, the Tarot is magic and magic is an experiential thing, not a cerebral thing.  Although this book takes the Tree of Life avenue, it's explanations are so clear and blend so well into the context of the book, it didn't even phase me.

The meditations and visualizations given for each of the Major Arcana are absolutely lovely and lead the reader into a wonderful exploration of the energy of the card.  The interpretations for both the Major and Minor Arcana are extensive without being contradictory upon itself; each revelation about the card building on previous knowledge given.  The chapter on proximity, that is the influence of the cards upon one another, is particularly noteworthy for its concise descriptions of how the cards intermingle with one another.  Of interest is that the "significator" card that usually is to represent the seeker themselves has been replayed out by the "motif" card which is used to represent the subject being address.  I think I like this approach much better.

The book is quite large and with good reason:  an extensive exploration of each card is offered and the reader will definitely come away from this book with a more intimate understanding of the standard Tarot deck.

I give it:

5 pentacles out of 5

Review by Delena Rasbold