A few weeks ago, I attended the 20th anniversary of the Bay Area Tarot Symposium (BATS), sponsored by the amazing Thalassa and her minions, the Daughters of Divination. It is a two-day festival celebrating all things Tarot, and offers workshops and lectures by the crème de la crème of Tarot authors and deck creators.
This year’s lineup of presenters included Mary K. Greer, Rachel Pollack, James Wanless, Joanna Powell Colbert, Ellen Lorenzi-Prince, Corrine Kenner, Barbara Moore, James Ricklef, Kooch Daniels, and many more. In addition, there was the Tarot Bazaar, where one could purchase decks, books, jewelry, leather Tarot pouches, DVDs, and artwork. Many of the presenters were also available for readings (at last year’s BATS, I had an amazing reading with Rachel Pollack).
One amazing event that I was involved in was a Tarot “throw-down”. A friend from California and I both brought our Pam-B decks to BATS. After the cocktail party on Saturday evening, we both sat down and went through our decks card by card. We compared card stock, size, color, and condition (these decks are at least 80 years old!). We had quite a group observing, too. Mary Greer and Rachel Pollack attended! Mary read selections from Waite’s Key to the Tarot and Rachel offered gens of wisdom from her many years’ experience of working with the cards. Next year, we hope to repeat the process with a Pam-A, Pam-B and Pam-C. It should be very exciting, especially to see examples of these vintage decks together in one place.
Here are four new books that I acquired at BATS this year, hot off the press, for your perusal and enjoyment.
Mary Greer needs no introduction. She has been teaching and writing about Tarot for many years. Her newest book, Who Are You in the Tarot? is a brand new, revised and expanded version of her classic book Tarot Constellations. In the book, Mary uses the principles of numerology to help us determine our birth cards, soul card, personality card, and hidden factor or shadow card. Both Major and Minor Arcana cards are used to create a personal constellation of cards for self-exploration. Mary gave a presentation at BATS based on the book that was well attended and very well received.
Another well-known Tarot author is Corrine Kenner. Her newest book Tarot and Astrology is a very well written book combining the art of tarot and the science of astrology. Using the Golden Dawn system of correspondences, Corrine weaves the two disciplines together clearly and elegantly. Both beginners and advanced Tarot practitioners will find practical knowledge in this book that will enhance their work. The book includes, diagrams, tables, spreads and is illustrated with Corrine’s own deck, the Wizards Tarot.
Another new book that I am enjoying is Bonnie Cehovet’s Tarot, Birth Cards, and You. Using the Tarot School’s method of calculating birth cards (a bit different from Mary Greer’s method), Bonnie helps us reveal our pair of birth cards. Once our cards are determined, we can read about the archetypal themes of the cards, learn the astrological associations, create affirmations, and learn to work with the gifts, abilities and challenges of our birth cards. She also includes detailed guided meditations or journeys into the cards as well as questions to ask along our journey. This is a new and unique way of working with our birth cards.
The fourth book I got was one I had not heard of until now. Written by Claudine Aegerter and Berenice Benjelloun, The Spirit of the Tarot: Numbers as Initiators of the Major Arcana is quite a tome. The book’s 523 pages cover the Major Arcana and the esoteric numerology contained therein. The authors teach at the Connaissance School of Numerology and the book is a compilation of lectures given at the school. The book is illustrated with the Oswald Wirth Tarot. This is not going to be a casual read, but an intensive study, which I enjoy.
Consider attending BATS next year, when the Symposium turns 21, and “is old enough to drink!” (Ruth Ann Amberstone). It promises to be an exciting celebration of learning and socializing and fun!
