Mastering the Tarot: An Advanced Personal Teaching Guide [Paperback]

A lot depends on what one is looking for, when one purchases a book. This was my first book on Tarot and that could be the reason that I was not dissapointed. But I have read quite a few books on divination, written by quite a few authors. I got the same kind of "feeling" from this book, that I got from the other books that were taught me well.

There is some kind of energy that seems to emanate from the manner in which the author communicates with her readers. It feeds knowledge to those who are receptive. It is easy to dismiss something when it doesn't give you what you expected out of it. But, read it again and employ the energy that it gives you, and you could well be on your way to forming a second opinion.

Thank you Juliet Sharman-Burke for interpreting the arcana of the tarot, perhaps in the way it was destined to be.

I was looking forward to an in depth review of the cards and instead got a very fluffy basic overview. If you've never read anything about tarot, this book is a great intro or primer. The title is very misleading. If you're going to put mastering of anything in your title certain expectations should be met. This book falls horribly short. One star for a nice looking book. Zero stars for informational content. (unless you are an absolute beginner)

In "Mastering the Tarot: An Advanced Personal Teaching Guide," Juliet Sharman-Burke, a practicing astrologer and tarot reader for over twenty years, delves into the historical symbolism depicted on seven different tarot decks and comparatively links these symbols to Jungian archetypes, alchemical processes and myths form varying cultures. If you are expecting, as the title suggests, a `mastering' of the tarot for your reading purposes, look further, perhaps at the works of Mary Greer (The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals, Tarot for Your Self : A Workbook for Personal Transformation Second Edition).

That is not to say that Sharman-Burke's book is not a good one-it would make a wonderful gift offering for someone interested in tarot and its symbolism. The presentation is lovely, featuring silky pages with colorful photos of each of the major arcana cards as well as the court cards from decks like Sharman-Burke's own "The Mythic Tarot," the beautifully rendered "Renaissance Tarot Deck" and the Celtic-themed "The Arthurian Tarot (Book & Cards)." Burke provides a chart of the numbered minor arcana cards that suffice as a good introduction but mainly details the twenty-two cards of the major arcana, each with delightful four page spreads that include a personalized meditation intended to get the reader to actually get the feel of each card from their life's perspective.

However, while Sharman-Burke does include a short student/teacher Q&A after the presentation of each Major Arcana card that at times asks the question, "How would you interpret this card in a reading?" this book is not intended to teach one how to read tarot cards. Instead, Sharman-Burke presents the tarot as it is really intended, as an intuitive tool. In fact, although Sharman-Burke includes three basic tarot spreads with example readings, she keeps it simple, not even touching upon the subject of card reversals.

The strength of this volume is in its beauty and its amalgamation of different symbolisms. For example, in the author's presentation of the Fool, she depicts the actual card from the Visconti Sforza Tarot Cards, the Oswald Wirth Tarot Deck/Ow78, the Arthurian deck and the Renaissance Tarot and describes what each card details. The Wirth deck includes the nose of a crocodile lurking in the distance in the direction the fool heads. Sharman-Burke explains that the crocodile image may reflect back to the myth of Isis and her son Horus forced to hide in the swamps of the Nile from Uncle Seth who at times took the form of the crocodile. Using the Renaissance Tarot Fool, she discusses the idea of the Greek Dionysus who was renowned for his qualities of abandon and terror, innocence and risk. The figure of Parsifal from the Arthurian Tarot suggests sticking to the Path--or seeker on a quest who must have courage in the face of adversity. On the alchemical level, the author discusses the age-old idea of turning something base like lead into something of substance like gold. Here the Fool is the ultimate first material. Throughout life he mixes with experience and is able to transmute through trial and error towards some vision of perfection. Understanding the tarot through symbolism and mythology will indeed help further you along on your own path to determine your own truth.

Bottom line? If you are looking for a book that will help detail the tagged meanings for the individual cards of the tarot, "Mastering the Tarot" by Juliet Sharman-Burke may not be your ticket. However, the book itself is a fine presentation using different decks as illustrations that will further your understanding of the archetypical symbolism and mythological significance of each card. Sharman-Burke concentrates mostly on the twenty-two cards of the Major Arcana with some explanation of the Court cards. She offers some visualization exercises that will help you on your journey to understand aspects of yourself within the imagery of the cards. Recommended for its beauty and information.
Diana Faillace Von Behren
"reneofc"