Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot

This book is amazing! This is the most in depth and intuitive explanation of tarot I’ve ever read. If you already get the basics but want to develop your skills and understanding further, this is a must read.

Most of the negative reviews of this book all claimed there is a strong "Anti-Christian" slant by the Author. I can day without a doubt this is entirely untrue. Rachel Pollack's messages are not anti-christian nor are they anti-jewish. She does pull quite a bit of the Kabbalah from the TAROT however there is much in the symbology which comes directly from the Kabbalah. I do not know where the one reviewer pulled that in Key 21 - The World is not an androgynous figure but in truth supposedly Jesus Christ and the four animals depicted are that of the four apostles. I have studied the TAROT for 33 years and never once heard of or was told the androgynous figure was anything other then an androgynous figure. The beauty of the TAROT is that by understanding the symbols and the esoteric meanings behind those symbols one can invariably understand any spiritual system of the world. Yes this means one can throw a bunch of Christian beliefs into the TAROT and make sense of Christianity. Yet it does not mean the TAROT was meant to add to the Bible or encourage the Christian Philosophy over any other world Philosophy.I find Rachel Pollack's information is insightful and helpful. There are times some of the symbology is covered at the wrong time for the particular key. However I have found the information useful and helpful in understanding the TAROT system and how it moves one closer to enlightenment and self-actualization with this wondrous system of archetypes and symbols.For beginners this book may "seem" over their head. However with time for meditation and understanding, they will find this book far more helpful then by just reading a list of what each of the Keys means in a reading. For the medium to advanced practitioners of the TAROT, they will find the insights and details of description profound and deeply meaningful.This book is an excellent resource for those wanting to know more about the some of the symbols found on the TAROT Keys and what those symbols mean.I gave this book four stars as I feel Rachel Pollack needs some better organization to her information and perhaps a bit more time on each of the Major Arcana.I advise spending time with all the reviews and coming to your own conclusion if this book is right for you.

This Book is a Must Have....I have been interrested in learning the cards for many years...even as a elementary school child I remember going into a little corner store gift shop and found this very generic tarot playing cards, they were very simplistic and fascinating..I gave made up readings to my mom LOL and funny she marveled at how accurate they were...but sadly they got lost in the shuffle with toy parts in the bottom of my toy box...Prior every book I would pick up I would casually glance through and put back down...maybe it overwhelmed me..I just didn't feel a connection or desire to study the book. I own angel cards, spanish playing cards ect ect but never committed to any...SO...I read Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom unbelievable on a spiritual level it spoke to me..honestly everyday it was hard for me to put down I had to read the next page, the next page...I began to have more of an awareness of how it all is connected, me, the cards, my actions, energy, the universe..it all came alive to me..and as I would read the description's of the cards they came alive to me..I thought oooh wow that is so me or yep I know a person like that..I just recently purchased my first riders deck per a friends recommendation..boy have I been so stubborn LOL actually the Radiant Rider Deck and I am so excited to receive them...This book was so spiritual so philasophical so deep..she really elaborated the meanings and gave other perspectives. I felt like I could see the card in my head with just the black and white pictures in the book.so half way thru I ordered my deck...but I already feel like I know most of them and anticipating the secrets they want to whisper to me...This is not a book u loan :) noo noo noo this is a "Bible" Tarot Bible..which I will be rereading again and again....A Must Have for the Tarot and Spiritual Development :).......If anyone could recommend any spiritual tarot books and books on symbols that are very deep and enlightening......Jenny

This book is super informative. I am currently learning tarot and this book is so helpful. Everything is split up in a way to understand it better and the cards are thoroughly explained. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to learn!

I have bought this book for the second time and I have it as an ebook. I am listening to the excellent Audible recording and annotating this copy. (Yes, it's unforgivable but it's my book, so I will personalise it if I want!)Rachel Pollack was one of the first voices I heard when I started studying Tarot in the 1970s and she is still my favourite writer on the subject. Her knowledge and wisdom is matched by her enthusiasm and clarity of writing.The book itself is a serious work, to be read - not just glanced at. It is illustrated by line drawings of the Smith-Waite deck but it is not a glossy coffee table book, it is a work of research. It has 370 pages with no wasted space. It isn't a really "New Age" text, it is an assistant to your analysis of the cards. You do not need to have faith in a god: you don't need to believe in Angels, divination or spirit guides. This book can be enjoyed and be useful whatever and point you view it from.I first had this in two volumes but this single volume is so much better, comprehensive and a good solid read.Can you tell that I really rate this book highly? If you only get one book on Tarot, this should be it. You might find it's the only one you will ever need.

I can see why this book sometimes is called the bible of RWS tarot. Rachel Pollack does a good job going through origins, meaning and spreads of the tarot. I especially like her narrative description of each major arcana, one of the best I have seen. Having said that, I also feel some things are missing, a reference list in the back would have been nice, the minor arcana especially the court cards are covered only so so, in my opinion, maybe keywords for each card would have been nice too. As a reference book I like Holistic Tarot by Wen more. However I do feel this book is among the top 10 books on the RWS deck out there.

Probably the most insightful tarot book. Even if you are not into tarot its a really interesting read, accurately and eloquently describing the spiritual psychology of the souls journey, through archetypes, social constructs, mysticism and shared human themes. Very accessible and easy to read, yet deep and meaningful. I'm a tarot novice and this book has deepened my relationship with the art of tarot but also my understanding of who we are. Love this author, talented lady.

This is a deep, sensible, and very well explained book. Wherever you open it, you find wisdom and history, symbology and meaning, as applied to modern life, and written in a clear and conversational way. The author also groups the cards into patterns and relations, so that you are never just learning 78 separate things, but seeing how the cards fit together. It took me to another level of understanding. If you are dithering, I highly recommend it.

Not far in, but really enjoying reading. Quite weighty, yet very readable and insightful. I followed the other reviews and bought it. No regrets!