Okay, so I’ve been meaning to dive deeper into Tarot, and I finally decided to do a little experiment. I’ve got this “New Tarot Handbook” that I picked up a while back, and of course, I’ve been seeing “78 Degrees of Wisdom” by Rachel Pollack pop up everywhere as the go-to Tarot bible. So, I thought, why not put them head-to-head and see how they stack up for a total newbie like me?
First, I grabbed both books and just kind of flipped through them. Right away, the “New Tarot Handbook” felt more…approachable. It’s got a lot of clear, simple layouts and explanations. “78 Degrees,” on the other hand, immediately felt denser, more like a textbook you’d have to really study.
Diving into the Cards
I decided to start with a simple three-card spread – you know, past, present, future. I shuffled my deck (a classic Rider-Waite, because, basics) and pulled my cards.
- Past: The Magician
- Present: The Lovers
- Future: The Wheel of Fortune
The Handbook Experience
I opened up the “New Tarot Handbook” first. The card descriptions were pretty straightforward. For The Magician, it talked about skill, resourcefulness, and taking action. The Lovers was all about choices, relationships, and harmony (or disharmony!). The Wheel of Fortune highlighted change, cycles, and, well, fortune.
Honestly, it was easy to grasp. I could piece together a basic story from these interpretations: I’d used my skills effectively in the past, I was currently facing a significant relationship decision, and the future held some big changes, for better or worse.
78 Degrees – A Deeper Dive (or a Deeper Headache?)
Then, I turned to “78 Degrees of Wisdom.” Woah. It was a lot more information. For The Magician, Pollack went into the symbolism, the connection to mythology, and even different interpretations depending on the surrounding cards. The Lovers was a whole essay on duality, partnerships, and the challenges of commitment. The Wheel of Fortune delved into fate, karma, and the ever-turning cycle of life.
It was definitely more in-depth, but I also felt a little overwhelmed. It was like, “Okay, I get it, there’s a lot to this, but can I just get a simple answer?” It felt like I was being bombarded with information, and I wasn’t sure what to do with all of it.
My Verdict (For Now)
For a beginner, starting with these two, the “New Tarot Handbook” felt like a much gentler introduction. It gave me enough to understand the basics and start forming my own interpretations. “78 Degrees of Wisdom” felt like the next step – something to move onto once I had a better grasp of the fundamentals. I can see why people love “78 Degrees”, it’s a real treasure, I will dig into it later on.
I’m definitely going to keep practicing with both books, but I think I’ll stick with the “New Tarot Handbook” for my daily draws and simple spreads. “78 Degrees” is going to be my “study guide” for when I want to really explore the deeper meanings of the cards. Baby steps, right?
