The Tao in the Tarot weaves together the mysteries of the I-Ching and the Major Arcana of the Tarot. Part 1 reveals an underlying synthesis of ideas and a common source of inspiration between these two methods of divination, and shows how for more than two thousand years the traditions of each would have been used and debated by travellers along the Silk Route connecting Europe and Asia. In Part 2 we journey through the cards of the Major Arcana placed in a circle and connect them with selected hexagrams from the I Ching and in so doing we are led out of the circle into a spiral. Along the way we connect with other ancient traditions such as the grail legend, the pattern of numbers, pagan gods and goddesses and the early use of stone circles, to finally discover just how relevant these ancient symbols are to us in today's world. The author's own simple but evocative Tarot pictures accompany the text of each card, and the relevant I Ching hexagrams are fully explained with coloured diagrams. Essential reading for the serious student of either the Tarot or the I Ching.

The Magician and the High Priestess are the first two cards of the Major Arcana and they mirror the initial hexagrams of the I-Ching, the Creative Spirit and the Receptive Spirit. The author has linked each Major Arcana tarot card to an I-Ching hexagram. These traditions are like two pieces of antique cloth from different parts of the world woven in the same design. In fact, both timeworn practices had a common source before our known religions developed, and travellers remembered them through games and plays performed along the Silk Road for thousands of years. At a crossroads on this trade route, stood the kingdom of Ghandara formed by Alexander the Great's camp followers, who brought with them the memory of gods and goddesses of their Greek homeland, yet embraced Buddhism. The Grail Legend also emerges as a common theme. An appendix takes us to Malta where the author identified two interlinked circles, solar and lunar, marked by medieval wayside chapels and holy springs. Each stood where the combination Major Arcana tarot cards would be in the design, forming a hexagon. No-one has identified this before, nor connected it to the Tarot.

Tarot.

A blend of Western traditions and Eastern Taoist principles, this guide offers a clear, insightful reading using the standard Rider Waite deck, suitable for beginners or experts. 79 halftones throughout.

A visual I Ching--this book and card set is a beautiful and dazzling new toolfor self-transformation, enlightenment, and personal growth using beautifullyillustrated cards that feature paintings, symbols, colors, and key words.

For the first time in English, Benebell Wen reveals the rich history and theoretical principles underlying the ancient practice of crafting Fu talismans, or magical sigils, in the Chinese Taoist tradition and gives detailed instructions for modern practitioners who would like to craft their own Fu. Fu talismans are ideograms and writings typically rendered on paper and empowered by means of invocations, ritual, and transferences of energy, or Qi. Talismans can be used for many purposes, such as strengthening or weakening personality characteristics, finding love, earning more money, or easing emotional tensions in the home. The Tao of Craft shows how metaphysical energy can be harnessed to amplify, strengthen, weaken, dispel, or block other metaphysical energy and to rectify perceived imbalances in the material plane. Supported by an abundance of detailed charts and images, this book serves as a step-by-step handbook that gives readers the knowledge and confidence to craft their own Fu talismans for personal empowerment. Wen, author of Holistic Tarot, delves into historic and cultural contexts of the Fu, from the neolithic period of Chinese history to contemporary practices of esoteric Taoism. Providing a solid foundation in the principles of Eastern spellcrafting, she highlights the blending of Taoist metaphysical practices with Western approaches to magic by pointing out eclectic, integrating, and harmonizing facets from other cultures and religions. Historically, Fu talismans were used by medieval Chinese for alleviating illness; averting misfortune, magical attacks, and curses; defending against assaults; and avoiding poverty. This book shows Western practitioners that the skill and knowledge to develop an interactive relationship with spirit realms are still available to them today, and serves as a practical handbook for accumulating Qi energy from sources in the environment and channeling it in concentrated form into their own Fu talismans.

Taoism is an ancient philosophy that emphasizes attainment of wisdom and harmony as a way to success. Throughout history it has provided guidance from personal challenges to important sovereign decisions. Now, the principles and essence of Tao are presented within one visionary system incorporating teachings from Taoist masters, the power of nature's elements, the revelations of zodiac animals, and the dynamic interactions among them. Taoist wisdom is now easily accessible to gain insight, devise strategies, and provide a glimpse of changes to come. Consult the cards when confronted with roadblocks, or pick a card to inspire and empower you. The Wisdom of Tao is complete with detailed oracles, vivid images and symbols, clear instructions, and fascinating stories of the ancient teachers and personalities chosen to guide us. Includes 45 cards and 185-page illustrated guidebook.

The enigmatic and richly illustrative tarot deck reveals a host of strange and iconic mages, such as The Tower, The Wheel of Fortune, The Hanged Man and The Fool: over which loom the terrifying figures of Death and The Devil. The 21 numbered playing cards of tarot have always exerted strong fascination, way beyond their original purpose, and the multiple resonances of the deck are ubiquitous. From T S Eliot and his 'wicked pack of cards' in "The Waste Land" to the psychic divination of Solitaire in Ian Fleming's "Live and Let Die"; and from the satanic novels of Dennis Wheatley to the deck's adoption by New Age practitioners, the cards have in modern times become inseparably connected to the occult. They are now viewed as arguably the foremost medium of prophesying and foretelling. Yet, as the author shows, originally the tarot were used as recreational playing cards by the Italian nobility in the Renaissance. It was only much later, in the 18th and 19th centuries, that the deck became associated with esotericism before evolving finally into a diagnostic tool for mind, body and spirit. This is the first book to explore the remarkably varied ways in which tarot has influenced culture. Tracing the changing patterns of the deck's use, from game to mysterious oracular device, Helen Farley examines tarot's emergence in 15th century Milan and discusses its later associations with astrology, kabbalah and the Age of Aquarius.

This full-color, profusely illustrated book provides an insightful approach to the 22 cards of the major arcana. Drawing on Jungian psychology and his own considerable knowledge of esoterica, Banzhaf clearly shows how the major arcana of the Waite tarotdeck tell the story of the hero's journey. It is the world's oldest story, residing in our collective unconscious, as women and men alike find themselves engaged in the heroic task of maturation. 126 color illustrations. Color foldout. Notes. Bibliography