Tarot and the Tree of Life: Finding Everyday Wisdom in the Minor Arcana Paperback – June 1, 1997

I came to this book because of a reference on someone's Tarot blog. I was impressed by her insightful interpretation of a card, which she said was inspired by this book, so I immediately checked it out.I own dozens of books on Tarot, and have found this to be the single most enlightening and useful book I have read on the subject. It's a slim volume, but packed with information that has me continually whispering, "wow! I never thought of that!"Let me start by saying that I do not relate to the Kabbalah at all (at least, not yet). I just don't connect to it. This book has an entire chapter on the Kabbalah, and in each of the card descriptions, the card's relationship to the Kabbalah is discussed. Kabbalah is definitely one of the foundations of this book, so if you are into the Kabbalah, you will be pleased. Yet the book offers so much more that even though I don't resonate with Kabbalah, it doesn't matter-- there is a deep well of meaning to be plumbed here for each of the Minor Arcana cards even with no knowledge of the Kabbalah whatsoever.As you read this book, you will feel as if your eyes are being opened and you are seeing the cards in a whole new way. The author, Isabel Radow Kliegman, does a masterful job of taking arcane symbolism and making it clearly apply to our everyday lives. For each card she offers several different interpretations, with examples of how these interpretations play out in real life. I can't say I agree 100 percent with every word, but I feel I see at least 50 percent more in the cards than I did prior to reading the book. She really makes the cards come to life.I don't feel this is a book for absolute beginners. I do think it is important to have a foundation in the "basic" or standard meanings of the cards, just as one needs to know the alphabet before forming words and sentences. If you have a basic understanding of each card in the deck, you will get a lot more out of this book, which begins where the standard interpretations leave off.I've heard mention of a follow-up book on the Major Arcana. I haven't seen this anywhere, but I sincerely hope that she does write one.

Your Tarot Wisdom and understanding are conveyed with a fresh and lovely brilliance that's truly inspiring. Your account within the Tree of Life is simply beautiful, and I appreciate you sharing your account. Thank you; your book is a source of inspiration!

Good book that gives you a very personal view from the author on each card of the Minor Arcana. An interesting approach, that although I didn't agree with every single analysis, it always made me think. If you are looking for a systematic compendium of the different cards this is not the book for you, but if you want to be guided to a journey of each card from someone that seems to know them well and has a personal connection to them, then this may be the right choice for you. It challenges some of the preconceived views on some of the cards, and that can sometimes be a good thing.

What a delight to read a thorough, interesting, and in-depth look at each of the Minor Arcana in the Tarot. Often overlooked in Tarot resources, the Minor Arcana offer much richness to readings. The author's text for each of the Minor Arcana is very readable, easy to understand, and comprehensive. A must for all Tarot readers!

Very few tarot books out there REALLY draw you in and make you realize that the tarot is not only about archetypes but also about everyday life. Isabel has the amazing ability to not only to bring the minors to life, but to explain them in relation to the Qabalah in a way that makes both subjects easier to understand. Each card is looked at in detail, with real life examples of how the situations play out. The opening chapters cover the Tree of Life and a brief synapsis of the Qabalah. There are separate chapters for each of the suits, and an additional one for the Court Cards. She uses the Universal Waite deck for illustating each card, but since 90% of the decks out there are based on Waites, parallels are easy to make.It really is an exceptional book. Funny, well written and very informative. I don't remember the last time I read a tarot book cover to cover in one sitting.This is one of the top five books I recommend for all my tarot students and also to all those people out there who think tarot is nothing but fortune telling.Enjoy !

This is one of my favorite tarot books and I have quite a few tarot books. I love it because of the linkage of the tarot to the Kabbalah and the depth of meaning of each suit. It is certainly not a cookie cutter tarot book. The book has an easy reading style and even for the most difficult suits, she provides interesting and empowering insights. I only wish she had a book for the Major Arcana as well.

this unique book stands out from piles of tarot books that tell you practically the same thing as they read from some other author & that some other author read from another author! this author has a true blue original style in which she tells tales that she & others have experienced & learned first hand in their life thru the 56 pips! from my heart thru my personal life experience i tell you that you have to love & live the mantic art of tarot or astrology etc to write memories of wisdom & live experiences! surprised! I'm glad I bought it & will try to cull whatever knowledge & experience I can from it! never dreamed! I have to repeat what others have said! I hope she writes another book on the trumps & of course! I will buy it!

this has much to the development of the speculative meanings of the major arcana and tries to harmonize tarot with Kabbalah's paths of the sepherothic tree. not too explanatory but interesting to interpret.