A Dictionary of Symbols: The definitive edition

Introduction

While not strictly a tarot book, A Dictionary of Symbols, is a wonderful addition for those interested in understanding, and working with, the symbolism present within the tarot. However, this isn’t a quick sit down and read, or a comfortable cover-to-cover-in-a-week read. It can get a tad wordy. But, if you decided to read a few entries a day, or a week, or cherry-picked your selection I believe you would be surprised by the information you would discover.

What you’ll find inside

For example, under the entry for “Correspondences”, which spans a couple of pages, you’ll find a brief but comprehensive explanation of the theory of correspondences followed by several examples. He’s included the correspondences of plants with astrology, (oak with the Sun, walnut with the Moon, pine with Saturn) or plants with traits, (such as Oak with strength and the palm tree with victory). Other astrological correspondences mentioned are the correspondence between zodiacal signs and colours, (presented in a table along with crystal associations), and the zodiac and parts of the body, (Aries – the head, Taurus- the neck and throat, Gemini – the shoulders and arms etc).

On the same page as “Correspondences” is “Cornucopia. It is a much shorter entry:

In mythology, it was the goat Amalthea who fed the infant Jupiter with milk. Given that the general symbolism of the horn is strength, and that the goat has maternal implications, and in addition that the shape of the horn (phallic outside and hollow inside) endows it with a complex symbolism (including that of the lingam, or symbol of generation), it is easy to understand its allegorical use as the horn of abundance. Piobb points out also that the cornucopia is an expression of prosperity deriving from its association with the zodiacal sign of Capricorn.

When I look at the two cards from the Gregory Scott Tarot in line with the above information I have even more respect for this deck. If you connect the Queen of Pentacles with Capricorn and you read Gregory Scott’s take on this card as “There is never too much of a good thing” then this is a clever representation. Place it next to the Knight of Pentacles, associated with Virgo and see the goat’s horns on the devil figure trying to tempt her with riches then we see the warning not to be driven by greed, (the negative aspect of Capricornian energy), alone.

As you can see, there are some illustrations but this is a reference book rather than an illustrated book of symbols unlike The Ultimate Illustrated Guide to Dreams, Signs & Symbols. But I don’t see this as an either/or situation. Obviously, since I have both books I feel they both have merit. Used together I find they provide additional layers of information. Plus, what one doesn’t have the other might. It may seem strange to contrast one book with the other in a post like this but I feel it best showcases what this book has to offer.

I have suggested this reads more like a textbook than a sit-down-and-flick-through book of symbols, but Juan Eduardo Cirlot, the author, sees it differently. He rounded out his Introduction:

We only wish to add that we regard our work less as a reference-book than a book to be read at leisure. And that only by seeing all the symbols compiled as a whole can the reader learn anything about any one of them.

Juan Eduardo Cirlot

However, said Introduction is wordy. It spans 46 pages and when I started to read it for this post I found that initially I kept flicking to see how many more pages I had to read. Admittedly I was tired. When I slowed down and let myself stop to digest the information I was reading, I became more and more fascinated by what he had to say about symbolism itself. Soon enough I was taking notes. Reading his opening essay on symbolism has led me to view, and speak about, tarot in a slightly different way. Therefore I believe his introduction is definitely worth reading.

His daughter, Victoria Cirlot, wrote the Afterward. Here she talks about his life, his influences and what led to the creation of both the original book and its subsequent versions. This is a translated book so many of the titles listed in the Bibliography of Primary Sources are not in English. Nor are many of the books listed in the extensive Additional Bibliography. They span many languages.

The book rounds out with an Index that, whilst it doesn’t provide page numbers, does point you where to look to find entries incorporated under different titles. For example “Distillation” is not an entry in its own right but you can read about it under “Alchemy”, “Bird” and “Steps”.

About the Author

Juan Eduardo Cirlot (1916-1973) was born in Barcelona. He studied music before turning to poetry and art criticism. In 1958, he began work on the first edition of A Dictionary of Symbols. He continued to revise and add to it for the rest of his life.

A Dictionary of Symbols Contents

• Foreword – ix
• Preface to the First Edition – xi
• Preface to the Second Edition – xv
• Introduction – 3
• Dictionary – 49
• Afterword – 501
• Bibliography of Primary Sources – 511
• Additional Bibliography – 513
• Index 527

Conclusion

I have had A Dictionary of Symbols for a few years and I went through phases where I would flick through it in search of particular entries but for some reason I had never read the Introduction. Having read the Introduction I see the book very differently now and I look forward to actually reading it, (albeit it slowly), as a book. Now that’s not something that, even as a lover of words, I would generally say about dictionary.

Publishing Information

Publisher:

Published by New York Review Books in 2020

Pages:

553pp

Translators:

Jack Sage and Valerie Miles

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(Card illustrations taken from Gregory Scott Tarot published by Lo Scarabeo in 2020)