It is hard to get me excited about Tarot books these days. After 21 years of reading Tarot cards and checking out books, its hard to find ‘new stuff’ or a different insight.
Well, Naomi Ozaniec has got me all excited. I was browsing through my Scribd app on my iPad looking for a juicy new book and I came across The Practical System of Self Discovery and immediately downloaded it. I have been looking for a really good book for ages that would guide me through using the Tarot cards with the system of Kabbalah (or more correctly Qabalah as it is the Western Esoteric Traditional view of the ancient Jewish spiritual system).
The book explores Hermetic philosophy which focuses on Kabbalah and the Tree of Life. Path-workings are suggested with room to discover your own unique experiences. I have always been confused by Tarot and its connection to Kabbalah and have a ton of books on both subjects. I also speak and write Hebrew so I thought that would make it easier, yet the reality is that its quite hard to find a straightforward book on Tarot and the Qabalah. I love Naomi’s book because she makes it seem so simple and ‘doable’.
Elemental Energies are looked at and I am super excited about a suggestion she made about exploring my internal functions and applying it to the four elements. The four elements (and their corresponding minor arcana suit) can be matched to the four functions of Carl Jung who was a famous psychiatrist. He felt we had four main ways of relating to the world and he called them functions. The functions match the four suits of the Minor Arcana deck in the Tarot cards.
The suit of Swords – The Function of Thinking
The suit of Cups – The Function of Feeling
The suit of Wands – The Function of Intuition
The suit of Pentacles – The Function of Sensation
You can even go one step further and complete a Myer Briggs test (CLICK HERE) based on Jung’s work. You will discover your dominant and least dominant function including whether you are an Introvert or an Extrovert. You can then apply the information to the numerous exercises of self discovery that Naomi suggests.
Naomi explores symbols, archetypes, letters, numbers, stages, paths and mandalas alongside traditional Tarot divination. She describes the psychological process of individuation and comments on Jung and Assagioli and their views on the integration of the psyche. Now this is the Tarot level that I adore and I use their teachings in my own readings for others.
This book is not just one that you can read cover to cover and walk away satisfied. This is a workbook of self discovery that I shall cherish for years to come. I need to get a special journal just for this book.
Level:
I personally believe this book is not for beginners. I would suggest getting a firm foundation in Tarot in the basics (structure of the deck etc) before picking up this book. Naomi explains the structure of the Tarot very well but total beginners may get overwhelmed by the depth this book goes to.
However, having said that, if you are a beginner I strongly advise you to get this book and have it on your shelf for the day you are ready. I consider this book essential reading for any Tarot enthusiast.
About the Author:
Naomi Ozaniec is a Priestess of Isis, writer, teacher and initiator with over 40 years of experience in the Western Esoteric Tradition. Naomi held the office of Oracle of Isis at the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago in 1993.
Naomi is offering a unique Apprenticeship Programme into Western Esotericism an you can read more about it HERE AT HER WEBSITE