Book Review – Pathworking the Tarot: Spiritual Guidance & Practical Advice from the Cards by Leeza Robertson
Book Review
Pathworking the Tarot
Spiritual Guidance & Practical Advice from the Cards by Leeza Robertson
216 Pages
Pathworking the Tarot: Spiritual Guidance & Practical Advice from the Cards is created by Leeza Robertson, creator of two Tarot decks and author of two Tarot books, and published by Llewellyn Publications, a Division of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd., 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989. Pathworking the Tarot is a 5¼” by 8” book with a color soft cover with Tarot images on the front and a book description and brief author bio on the back. The interior of the book consists of 200 pages, black easy-to-read type of a nice size on white paper.
The book consists of an Introduction written by the author, followed by 5 chapters of awesomeness. Chapter 1, What is Pathwork? describes pathworking in general and then presents a description of the three methods used by the author in this book, Intentional (deliberately choosing cards), Intuitive (letting the cards choose), and Wandering (a combination of Intentional and Intuitive), followed by some instructions for choosing a pathworking deck. Chapter 2 begins the actual pathworking, starting with the Major Arcana, the segment of the Tarot traditionally used for pathworking. Each Major Arcana card gets 2 to 4 pages of text, including a description of the card itself followed by descriptions for the three pathworking methods described in Chapter 1, with information specific to the card.
Chapters 3 and 4 are where Robertson shines. Chapter 3 works with the Tarot Court, and begins with a general description of the members of the Court Cards. Robertson deals with each rank in the Tarot Court separately, which is a brilliant way to understand each rank in the Court and how they connect with each other. She has also taken traditional genders out of her descriptions and made them gender-neutral, another useful tool for understanding the sometimes-elusive Tarot Court. The chapter begins with the Pages. After describing the four Pages, we are once again given detailed pathworking instructions for the three pathworking methods with regard to the Pages, and then the chapter moves on to the next rank.
Chapter 4 deals with the Minor Arcana numbered cards in similar fashion. After a general description of the Minors, the chapter continues with the four Aces, describing each card and then offering descriptions for the three pathworking methods specific to the Aces, and then moves on to the next number.
Pathworking the Tarot ends with Chapter 5, a brief description of how to use pathworking as described in this book with multiple-card spreads.
Pathworking the Tarot may be a small book, but it is packed with valuable information. There are no card images, just lots of easy-to-understand background regarding the cards themselves and simple instructions for using the methods Robertson has created in order to go deeper into the cards, and deeper into our own Self.
I highly recommend this book. For the beginner, Robertson’s methods will enable you to get to know the personalities of each of the 78 cards in a Tarot deck and how they relate to each other. This method of learning is much easier than memorizing a list of keywords, and offers the novice a chance to personalize the interpretations of the cards in a unique way. For the more seasoned Tarot enthusiast, pathworking in general is a hugely valuable tool for learning about the inner Self, for dealing with challenges in life, and for growing and learning. Pathworking the Tarot makes that pathworking available and at our fingertips and is easy to understand, but the simple approach to pathworking does not in any way diminish its value. As I have learned from pathworking in the past, even the most basic card image has more information to give, and the methods described in Pathworking the Tarot make diving deep into the cards available to all. Here is a great way to add depth to our own daily card throws, and to add texture and valuable advice to a seeker.
This is a small book with a big payoff. Grab it while you can!
Pathworking the Tarot: Spiritual Guidance & Practical Advice from the Cards on Amazon
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About the Author:
Raushanna is a lifetime resident of New Jersey. As well as a professional Tarot Reader and Teacher, she is a practicing Wiccan (Third Degree, Sacred Mists Coven), a Usui Reiki Master/Teacher, a certified Vedic Thai-Yoga Massage Bodyworker, a 500-hr RYT Yoga Teacher specializing in chair assisted Yoga for movement disorders, and a Middle Eastern dance performer, choreographer and teacher. Raushanna bought her first Tarot deck in 2005, and was instantly captivated by the images on the cards and the vast, deep and textured messages to be gleaned from their symbols. She loves reading about, writing about, and talking about the Tarot, and anything occult, mystical, or spiritual, as well as anything connected to the human subtle body. She has published a book, “The Emerald Tablet: My 24-Day Journal to Understanding,” and is currently working on a book about the Tarot, pathworking and the Tree of Life. Raushanna documents her experiences and her daily card throws in her blog, DancingSparkles.blogspot.com, which has been in existence since 2009. She and her husband, her son and step son, and her numerous friends and large extended family can often be found on the beaches, bike paths and hiking trails of the Cape May, NJ area.
The Emerald Tablet: My 24-Day Journal to Understanding on Amazon