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BOOKSHELF: Kabbalah and Tarot

KABBALAH: An introduction to the esoteric heart of Jewish mysticism. By Tim Dedopulos; SevenOaks; ISBN 1 86200 275 4 We found this a useful book for newcomers to this vast and complicated subject, with many helpful pictures and diagrams.

INTRODUCTION TO THE CABALA: Tree of Life.  By Z’ev ben Shimon Halevi; Samuel Weiser; ISBN 0-87728-816-X  A gem of a book to open up the complexities of theTree of Life in an easily digestible 200 pages.  With several other books by the same author to take you further, e.g. THE WAY OF KABBALAH

A GARDEN OF POMEGRANATES: Skrying on the Tree of Life.  By Israel Regardie, edited and annotated with new material by Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero; Llewellyn Publications; ISBN 1-56718-141-4   An introduction to the Tree of Life from a Golden Dawn perspective.

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO QABALISTIC SYMBOLISM, Volumes 1 & 2.  By Gareth Knight; Helios Book Service Ltd; ISBN 0 900448 13 X.  An in-depth look at the Sephiroth and the corresponding Paths, with Gareth Knight’s unique insights.  We’ve had these books for many years and still refer to them.  Highly recommended.

TAROT TALISMANS: Invoke the Angels of the Tarot.  By Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero; Llewellyn Publications; ISBN-13 978-0-7387-0871-3  This book would be a great help to any student of the Tarot.  Not only is it full of correspondences, particularly regarding the Angels associated with the cards, but it gives a different perspective upon how Tarot cards can be used as Talismans.

THE INNER GUIDE MEDITATION: A Spiritual Technology for the 21st century.  By Edwin C. Steinbrecher; Samuel Weiser; ISBN 978-0-87728-657-8  This book is not just a good read, it is a workbook, providing a tried and tested method of meeting with one’s personal Inner Guide as well as Tarot archetypes.    As important today as it was when it first came out, it introduced us to Inner Guide Meditation and since then we have developed it into our own personal styles.  We definitely agree with Isreal Regardie in saying, “…it is one of the most significant contributions to meditation in modern times.”  Highly recommended.

THE MAGICAL TAROT OF THE GOLDEN DAWN.  By Pat and Chris Zalewski; Aeon Books Ltd; ISBN 978-1-90465831-3  This is a must for any student of Golden Dawn Tarot.  It is a comprehensive volume, and we found it very helpful throughout the research and design of the Golden Dawn Temple Deck.

THE SECRET DOCTRINE OF THE KABBALAH: Recovering the Key to Hebraic Sacred Science.  By Leonora Leet; Inner Traditions International; ISBN 0-89281-724-0  This is a heavy-weight, and perhaps more suited for the more advanced student of the Kabbalah.  It would be particularly interesting for those who wish to understand Da’ath, as Leet’s research seems to indicate that it is in fact the centre of the Tree of Life.

SEFER YETZIRAH: The Book of Creation, In Theory and Practice.  Translated with commentary by Aryeh Kaplan; Weiser Books; ISBN 0-87728-855-0  This is a source book and an eventual must-read for the student of the Kabbalah.

KABBALAH.  By Gershom Scholem; Keter Publishing House Jerusalem Ltd; ISBN 0-88029-205-9  Scholem’s in-depth research into the history and development of the Kabbalah is a must-read for any student who feels the need to understand more deeply the minds which developed the system over the years.  Highly recommended.