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A review by laurareads87
Cartomancy in Folk Witchcraft: Playing Cards and Marseille Tarot in Divination, Magic, and Lore by Roger J. Horne
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
<i>Cartomancy in Folk Witchcraft</i> is an introduction to working with playing cards in both divination and folk craft. Horne's method of interpretation involves reading "suit-number convergences," which he likens to alchemy [17]. He draws parallels between playing cards and the Marseille tarot lineage, and makes the case that his techniques for reading the pip cards are also applicable to the Marseille minors; he does include a chapter on patterns in the Marseille majors and also includes reference to the Knights in his discussion of court cards.
I would class this book as intermediate overall. The sections on playing cards read as fairly beginner friendly - I could easily navigate these sections as someone versed in pip tarot decks and basic numerology, but not particularly experienced with playing cards - whereas the section on the tarot majors I think would be most interesting to those already familiar with the major arcana. This is not a book I'd suggest as someone's first tarot book, or first divination book even, but it does feel approachable and for the most part doesn't presume much background knowledge. Horne notes that folk magic emerges "around what is available, what is useful, and what works best" [155] and presents ideas for workings that many could perform using only objects already present in their home. Basic folk magic concepts such as sympathy are explained clearly and concisely, and ethical and ontological questions (ex. the appropriateness of cursing, the possibility of communication with the dead) are addressed quite effectively given the book's short page count.
I really appreciate Horne's overall approach and tone. He presents cartomancy and folk craft as alive and constantly adapting, writing that "as participants in tradition, we are not confined but set free by its wisdom" [204]. He encourages readers to draw on their own lineages and traditions, and advocates for an inclusive approach to reading the cards that dispenses with some historical ideas that presumed and reinforced gender binary and gender stereotypical thinking by, for instance, associating certain cards with certain genders only. I would definitely recommend this book to an intermediate practitioner & look forward to reading more from Horne.
I would class this book as intermediate overall. The sections on playing cards read as fairly beginner friendly - I could easily navigate these sections as someone versed in pip tarot decks and basic numerology, but not particularly experienced with playing cards - whereas the section on the tarot majors I think would be most interesting to those already familiar with the major arcana. This is not a book I'd suggest as someone's first tarot book, or first divination book even, but it does feel approachable and for the most part doesn't presume much background knowledge. Horne notes that folk magic emerges "around what is available, what is useful, and what works best" [155] and presents ideas for workings that many could perform using only objects already present in their home. Basic folk magic concepts such as sympathy are explained clearly and concisely, and ethical and ontological questions (ex. the appropriateness of cursing, the possibility of communication with the dead) are addressed quite effectively given the book's short page count.
I really appreciate Horne's overall approach and tone. He presents cartomancy and folk craft as alive and constantly adapting, writing that "as participants in tradition, we are not confined but set free by its wisdom" [204]. He encourages readers to draw on their own lineages and traditions, and advocates for an inclusive approach to reading the cards that dispenses with some historical ideas that presumed and reinforced gender binary and gender stereotypical thinking by, for instance, associating certain cards with certain genders only. I would definitely recommend this book to an intermediate practitioner & look forward to reading more from Horne.