The Transparent Tarot
by Emily Carding
List Price:
Our Price: $37.39
You Save: $22.60 (38%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $36.46 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Emily CardingEdition: Misc. Supplies
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-10-28
ISBN: 0764330039
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
Book Reviews of The Transparent Tarot
Book Review: A Genuine Advance In Tarot Readng
Summary: 5 Stars
The Transparent Tarot, by introducing a new medium to tarot, has created a true shift in the ways a card spread can be interpreted. As far as I am concerned, the most amazing thing about these cards is what happens when you overlay them: POSITION becomes a huge factor in the reading. Figures face toward or away from each other; some are "stuck" in a lower corner; some move across the space; some readings form a closed pattern while others show space and a sense of options for movement. I have always tried to understand the ways cards in a reading relate to one another, but when the cards are opaque, there is always a sense of sequence to a reading. Transparency allows for a visual representation of that sense that "all times are one time" that many of us try to keep in mind. Overlaying also allows a visual sense of the "progression" of energetic or mundane motion that has occurred or is occurring in situation. I was interested to see that the more negative reviews mentioned the difficulties of reading for a client with these cards -- my clients are very apt to give a stunned gasp of recognition when, after we've gone through the cards one at a time, I sweep them together to form a single dynamic picture. Seeing may not always be believing, but the overlay creates so strong an image that it moves the querent to a whole new level of understanding. Conversely, when the "picture" is disjointed or lacking a focal point that, too, is obvious and allows us to think of what would be better questions to ask. If you do tarot counseling, it's a fairly simple matter to have the client pick a card that would "improve" the picture and look at what that card signifies.
Yes, you do have to read these cards a bit differently. Very seldom will the cards in a Celtic Cross reading form one strong picture -- there are just too many bits. What you CAN do is overlay sections to see those relationships. But on the whole, I prefer 3 -- or occasionally, 5 -- card readings with this deck. (Of course, I'm finding that the longer I read, the more I pare down the number of cards anyway.) This allows for a reading format that includes dialogue with the cards -- if one picture clearly doesn't "work," it is easy to ask, "What would be a better path?" or "What should I be asking about?" I think it is fair to say that these cards are a bit more "work," as you really need the white cloth or a light box to get the most from a reading. And because you can flip them over from side to side -- or they GET flipped in the shuffling process -- there is a second kind of "reversal" in the reading process. I use many different tarot and oracle decks for different purposes, and I prefer doing that, so I don't feel it's a detriment that this deck requires a little more time and energy -- particularly because what I get from it is so much greater than the extra bit I put into it.
I think some readers are feeling uncomfortable precisely because this deck wipes out what they may most like about their other cards: very solid, warm images with highly saturated color. I love those decks, too -- and I use them! But this deck, to me, is a very excellent visual representation of "energy" which is, after all, what we're trying to get at in many situations.
From a purely practical perspective, the cards are amazingly sturdy, and the box is very solid. I understand the reasoning behind the clear plastic top, and I would recommend keeping it but in future editions making it just a bit heavier; I had to tape the corners almost immediately. Since then, though, it has help up very well. I'm thankful the white cloth was included, as it's impossible to read these cards without it, but once unfolded, it has never quite folded back up neatly to fit in its little compartment with out an extra doubling over. I look forward to the day when I can have a space to read where I can leave the cloth laid out so I don't have to wrinkle it all the time. This is, however, a very minor issue. Redesigning the box so that the cloth could be stored rolled up might work, too.
I am all kinds of entranced by the "Big White Book." First of all , by explaining the images that she chose, Carding provides considerable insight into interpretation. She also show very penetrating views of the shades of meaning a card can represent. The book provides a rich background for truly intuition-based readings. I think it is fair to say, though, that a beginning reader might want a little more background in the range of traditional meanings and symbols. That is easily done, either by working with meanings from another deck the reader is comfortable with or by using a "general" book of tarot meanings. These cards are also wonderful to read with by overlaying them on other tarot or oracular decks, so you can gain more information in that way.
I'm inclined to say that this is perhaps not the easiest deck for a beginner, but I can't be too sure about that because I wasn't a beginner when I started using it. It might be that some first-time readers would find this far easier than some traditional decks. I will say that readings with this deck seem to me to access a very deep energetic level and repay thoughtful attention and concentration.
Summary of The Transparent Tarot
The Transparent Tarot is unlike any Tarot method you have used before! A must-have for both readers and collectors, this highly innovative deck consists of simple yet striking images displayed on clear plastic, which are designed to be read in layers. This method creates a new dimension to Tarot, revealing combinations of images that can be used to unlock intuition and help discover hidden depths as you read. The book offers in-depth definitions of the cards, original spreads, and suggestions for methods which have never before been possible. Whether a Tarot expert or total beginner, The Transparent Tarot offers a fun, original, and insightful tool for divination, meditation, brainstorming, magic, and more!Tarot Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Tarot Books
Golden Tarot of the Tsarby Lo Scarabeo
Llewellyn Publications; Published: 2002-06-08; Cards; Book
Best price: $19.77
Price in other shops:
Original Rider Waite Tarot Deckby a E Waite
Random House; Published: 1999-06-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.75
The Key to the Tarotby A.E. Waite
Rider & Co; Published: 1993; Paperback; Book
The Atavist Tarotby Sally Annett, Rowena Shepherd
Foulsham & Co Ltd; Published: 2003-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.64
Price in other shops:
The Tarotby Richard Cavendish
Crescent Books (NY); Published: 1987-09-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $86.00
Complete Illustrated Guide to Tarotby Rachel Pollack
Gramercy; Published: 2004-09-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $24.95
An Illustrated Guide to the Tarotby Jonathan Dee
Gramercy; Published: 2001-08-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $28.00
Lovely Lady (Signet Books)by Eden Gray
Signet; Published: 1969-11; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
The Tarot Readerby Nancy Shavick
Berkley; Published: 1991-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $64.98
Tarot in the Spirit of Zen: The Game of Lifeby Osho
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 2003-06-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.14
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Shadowscapes Tarotby Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, Barbara Moore
Llewellyn Publications; Published: 2010-05-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.04
Price in other shops:
Deviant Moon Tarotby Patrick Valenza
United States Games Systems; Published: 2008-06-24; Cards; Book
Best price: $12.99
Price in other shops:
Paulina Tarotby Paulina Cassidy
U.S. Games Systems Inc.; Published: 2009-01-05; Cards; Book
Best price: $10.87
Price in other shops:
Aleister Crowley Thoth Tarot Deckby Aleister Crowley
New Age; U.S. Games Systems Inc.; Published: 1972-06-01; Cards; Book
Best price: $16.46
Price in other shops:
Mystic Dreamer Tarot (Book & Cards)by Heidi Darras, Barbara Moore
New Age; Llewellyn Publications; Published: 2008-09-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.78
Price in other shops:
Sun and Moon Tarotby Vanessa Decort
New Age; United States Games Systems; Published: 2010-05-30; Cards; Book
Best price: $11.05
Price in other shops:
Shadowscapes Tarot Deckby Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, Barbara Moore
Llewellyn Publications; Published: 2011-05-08; Cards; Book
Best price: $13.19
Price in other shops:
Legacy of the Divine Tarotby Ciro Marchetti
Llewellyn Publications; Published: 2009-09-08; Cards; Book
Best price: $18.44
Price in other shops:
Joie de Vivre Tarotby Paulina Cassidy
U.S. Games Systems; Published: 2011-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.05
Price in other shops:
The Transparent Oracleby Emily Carding
Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.; Published: 2010-04-28; Cards; Book
Best price: $26.50
Price in other shops: