Touchstone Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Touchstone Tarot by Kat Black, published by US Games Systems. Boxed set of cards and guidebook. £22.99

One goes on learning from this deck and enjoying studying and recognising the origin of the Baroque and Renaissance era images in museums and art galleries. At the back of the guidebook, the artwork, artist and their galleries are given. There are lots of symbols in these cards and I find the figures speak and have interesting backgrounds. You can choose a card for the day, a 3 card spread of Past Present Future, the Celtic Cross of 10 cards, of the Love Knot Spread of 8 cards. 

Tarot at a Crossroads

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Tarot at a Crossroads - The Unexpected Meeting of Tarot & Psychology by Kooch N Daniels and Victor Daniels. Published by Schiffer Books. Full colour Hardback U.K. £27.99 and US $29.99

“The whole is different from the sum of its parts.” Max Wertheimer

If you have an interest in psychology and Tarot, this is a work book to fulfil deeper levels of understanding, and will stretch you and inspire you. It provides a powerful method of conducting Tarot  readings, created with a Gestalt and psychological emphasis which produces valuable, grounded, and wise divination for clients, but can also be used for exploration and personal growth for oneself. The card images used as examples are taken from a number of different artists, but it is suggested that you work from a traditional Tarot deck, such as the Rider Waite Colman Smith Tarot deck or you can use an Oracle deck if you prefer. Which cards represent you and where you are in your life? 

The Byzantine Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Byzantine Tarot by John Matthews with artwork by Cilla Conway. Boxed set of 78 cards (3” x 5”) plus guidebook. Published by REDFeather. £33.99

"Wisdom from an ancient empire!"

"O Imperial City, City fortified, City of the great King... Queen of the queen of cities, Song of Songs, Splendour of Splendours." Niketas Choniates, 13th Century.

The founding of Byzantium was 657BC and this deck has an extraordinary ability to give us a 'spirit of place' and transport us in a reading. The instruction book provides the history and myths of Byzantium through new titles of Major Arcana cards, such as Holy Fool, Magus, Sophia, Patriarch, Diabolos and Kosmos. For each Major card, the book provides an explanation of the symbolism in 50 words, the 'Tradition' text is 300 words and a divinatory text of 200 words. For the Monors and Court Cards, the information is the same - symbolism, 'tradition' and in a reading, but will less text, approx, 30, 100 and 100 words respectively. For every card there are 5 keywords for upright readings, and 5 keywords for reversed readings.

Journey to the Goddess Realm

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Journey to the Goddess Realm Oracle Deck by Lisa Porter, published by U S Games Inc. Pack contains booklet and 39 cards.
 "The goal of spirituality is to call forth our eternal spirit back into our earthly bodies."

36 cards carry a Goddess name as a title, a number, a related concept and an image pertaining to that Goddess energy. In the booklet, each Goddess has a short write-up (100-200 words per card) with associated keywords. Though the upright energy is positive, a shadow or a dark aspect of the Goddess is mentioned for reversed meanings.

Pocket Book of Mindfulness

 Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Pocket Book of Mindfulness - Live in the Moment and Reduce Stress, published by Arcturus.

Explanations of mindfulness and how it helps us to be aware, confident and clear, in relations with others and with ourself. Using quotes from across the world and throughout all time, e.g., Barach Obama, Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hahn and other great thinkers who provide words of wisdom and kindness, proverbs, etc., about how the world is and how to survive it. Challenge what you are told! There is an exception to every rule.

Motherpeace Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Motherpeace Tarot by Karen Vogel and Vicki Nobel published by U S Games Inc. Three products in this range: The original Motherpiece Round deck, the Mini Deck, and the Guidebook and card set. 

This is a revolutionary modern deck (circa 1980) which features matriarchal cultures with an earth based spirituality. The creators searched the world for early goddess philosophy, myths, history and folklore whilst they were room-mates at Berkeley in California together. Both are life long feminists and interested in intuition, healing and the Divine Feminine. They produced these cards in the round - to be read not just as upright and reversed but with the four positions, so with innumerable potential for creative readings. The four suits of the Minor Arcana are Cups; Wands, depicted with African culture; Discs, illustrated with Navajo culture; and Swords, depicted with Greco-Roman imagery. The Court Cards are; Daughter, Son, Priestess and Shaman and many of the titles have changed, such as the Crone as the Hermit and the Hanged One as the Hanged Man.

Ethical Living Book Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Ethical Living - A Rough Guide to Low Carbon Living and Responsible Shopping by Duncan Clark.

This is a very well presented guide on how to get involved with the modern ecology movement with conservation, preservation, managing your energy use, food purchases, chemicals, clothing, money, transport, biodiversity, waste and recycling, reducing pollution, etc.

Nine Ways to Charm A Dryad

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Nine Ways to Charm a Dryad - A Magical Adventure to Connect to the Spirit of Trees by Penny Billington, 296 pages, Quality paperback £13.99 Published by Llewellyn Books.

Written by Penny Billington, Editor of the Bards, Ovates & Druids magazine, Touchstone. The author is well qualified to write this valuable workbook on connecting to trees through meditations, exercises, atunements, and creative projects. Each year, we are learning more about the intelligent life of trees, their importance to our planet and our health. With vast acres of trees under threat around the world, the knowledge in this book will help them - and us - survive and thrive. I am recommending Nine Ways to Charm a Dryad for young people to learn about the magic and beauty of trees and improve their appreciation of nature and the landscape. This is a good outdoors pursuit that everyone can take part in. The book is excellent value for money and has some lovely drawings within the text. I am also recommending it for anyone who is needing to heal from physical or psychological illness and improve their health. 

 

Gaia’s Vision Oracle Cards

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Gaia’s Vision Oracle Cards by Doris Diamond and  Susan Starr with photographic reproduction by Doris Diamond. Boxed set of 40 cards plus information book. Published by Schiffer Publishing. UK £22.99 : US $24.99

Information on what is divination and how to use your intuitive perception. Also information is provided on how the deck was created and how to use the cards, choosing a card at random for when you need a lift, or when you have a question. Notice any shapes, forms, figures, and your associations and your ideas. Use the  adds for inspiration for poetry, song, prayers, meditation, art and stories. 30 suggested questions are provided in the guidebook for when you run out of your own! 

Sample reading: Sacred Belonging: Keyword - Reverence. You lift your eyes… The wind ones dance, close enough to touch. Radiant, strong, they circle you… You are part of this magnificence. Your heart smiles. 

Oracle of Mystical Moments

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Oracle of Mystical Moments by Catrin Welz-Stein. Published by US Games Systems Inc. Boxed set of cards and guidebook. 

An attractive box with silvered scrolls, we have 52 cards and a guidebook in the pack. The artist uses vintage paintings for inspiration and she uses her imagination to create extraordinary scenes with fascinating figures and symbols, mostly of young women, so this might affect readers who read for older women or males. An inexperienced reader might not find it easy to intuit a message from these cards, so I’m suggesting experienced readers and young women for this deck. You are invited to pick a card for daily guidance on a specific question. The card provides a number, title and image and in the text there are a few keywords and 60 words that describe the image on each card.

The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception

Mind Body Soul Ezine Book Review: The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception -  by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh. 

This is the story of 800 ancient scrolls which were hidden in caves near the Dead Sea and discovered in 1940s and 50s. The two writers, since deceased, describe the convoluted and bitter battle that took place after their discovery. Rival groups of scholars included a group who concealEd access to the scrolls for 40 years incase they shed questions upon the established Vatican line and presented a new account of the earliest origins of Christianity.

Pendulum Magic

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Pendulum Magic for Beginners  -Power to Achieve All Goals by Richard Webster Paperback £13.50 288 pages Published by Llewellyn Worldwide Author website: http://www.richardwebster.co.nz/

Richard Webster has written over twenty books about psychic subjects and his experienced and comfortable style is perfect for ‘easy to understand’ books for beginners. Published by the specialist publishing house, Llewellyn Worldwide, it has all the hallmarks of the best book on the subject of pendulum dowsing on the market today.

Entity Possession

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Entity Possession - Freeing the Energy Body of Negative Influences by Samuel Sagan MD published by Destiny Books, 200 pages. Author website:
http://www.clairvision.org/

This book details Dr Sagan's formulated method, described as the 'ISIS Technique' which is used for the identification and treatment of undesirable spirit based entities. Examples are given, and types of entities, fragments and cords are described. Information about Reincarnation is provided. Taoist, Indian, Jewish, and other religious movements are honoured. Dangers of entity possession are explained, such as accidents, miscarriage, abortion, shocks, drugs, surgery, etc., including losses, possessions, black magic, etc. Clearing and cleansing is described in detail and the book acts as an instruction manual. 

Mystic Sisters Oracle Deck

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Mystic Sisters Oracle Deck by Emily Balivet, published by US Games Systems Inc. Boxed set of 51 cards and instruction booklet. 

Learn of the Mystic Sisterhood of Goddesses and mythological  archetypes. They will reveal to you powerful feminine wisdom and will asist you to meditate, sing and accept, develop relationships, and move forward in your love and power. 

Each card has a name and image, and there are a few keywords in the book for each archetype and 200 words for each sister. All images are figurative, pleasant and appeal to young women especially. Spreads suggested are: a Single Card, a Two Card, a Three Card and a Five Card Spread. 

Movement Medicine

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review : Movement Medicine - How  to Awaken, Dance and Live Your Dreams By Susannah and Ya’Acov Darling Khan Paperback £10.99 Published by Hay House
Website: http://www.schoolofmovementmedicine.com/

We have seen the paintings of the dancing girls of ancient Egypt and we know that King David danced before the Ark of the Covenant, so it is with acceptance that we take a modern journey of the dance of life that connects us with the movement of all life

9 Dimensions of the Soul

Mind Body & Soul Book Review: The 9 Dimensions of the Soul - Essence and the Enneagram by David Hey

Published by: O Books Paperback: £10.99 168 Pages

Author website: http://sbpra.com/davidhey/

This is an insightful and in-depth book by a student of Baghvan Shree Rajneesh. Along with an introduction, Core Understandings and a History of the Enneagram are provided Hey explains that the Enneagram as a symbol that has represented a way of understanding the spiritual evolution of mankind. 'Essence' is explained as 'different qualities of being' and 'our true nature'. Essence is explained as a way to look at our individuality and that what 'defines the aspects of our true nature'.  I clearly understood what the author was discussing as his words were easy to understand from both a humanistic and spiritual perspective.