A review by laurareads87
Tarot for Transformation II: Pentacles: A journey of healing and self-growth through the minor arcana by Dreya Blume

emotional informative inspiring slow-paced

5.0

Ambitious and wide ranging, Dreya Blume’s Tarot for Transformation II: Pentacles brings fresh insight to the ‘last’ suit in the deck. The text moves through the suit, King to Ace, meandering through a blend of historical information (about symbolism and items in the cards, about Pamela Colman Smith and AE Waite) and innovative connections (to Nietzsche, to Greek and Hindu deities, to Buddhism, to Biblical stories, to ancient history). Each card’s entry is interspersed with journalling prompts inspired by the card and Blume’s analysis of it. In theme, questions range from deep and intense to lighter and more everyday. Somehow, Blume has taken the card-by-card table of contents structure that is common to many tarot texts and come out with something very new. 

The way I approached this book was to read one card’s section, then asterisk a few (generally 3-4) of the journalling questions from that section; I bought a notebook just for this book series, and wrote my reflections on the questions in there. In addition to the questions from each card that I chose, I also every single time answered the question: ‘this card has an important message for you – what is it?’ and concluded my journalling with that. So, I now have many pages of personal reflection plus a paragraph-long card meaning for each Pentacle card that I wrote myself, inspired by the reflection on my own life that the book prompted. I am grateful for this book for pulling this tarot writing out of me, truly – I feel like I’m going to end up with my own little book of tarot meanings when the series is done. This is not really a “learn to read tarot” book, but I do feel like my readings will be enriched by having read it. 

In terms of intended audience, this book is written for those most interested in using tarot as an aid to self-reflection and personal growth. The tone of the writing is welcoming, and I experienced this book as inclusive – something I get to write far too rarely in tarot reviews. 

There is, as I’m sure my review makes clear, not much I’d change about this book. I’d love if the print version had page numbers (I like quoting directly in reviews and in my notes). I’d also have appreciated a bibliography; quotes are clearly attributed to their authors in the text, but a bibliography would allow for more precision here in terms of specifying translations/editions used and indicating where particular ideas came from beyond just the author’s name. 

I am absolutely thrilled that there will be a book like this for each of the four suits, and that the recently published Swords installment is even longer than this one. 

Content warnings: As the author notes in her ‘Please Read’ section at the beginning of the book, “some of the readings and journal questions in the book may bring up strong emotions.” Themes like sexuality, class / finances, death, and (mental) health can be difficult to delve into in the ways this book invites. Take care, readers.