Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack

Search for a list of recommended tarot books and Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom is likely to be on the list. Author of many tarot books herself (including 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card and Understanding the Tarot Court), Mary K Greer says it “is on [her] ‘Top Ten’ list of all time Tarot Greats!” It provides a comprehensive explanation of each tarot card including reversals but it is more than just a this-card-means-this-book. It takes you on a journey through the tarot rather than considering each card in isolation. The book focuses on the Rider Waite deck however, other decks are shown occasionally for comparison and to illuminate certain symbols.

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom is divided into three parts: The Major Arcana, the Minor Arcana and a section on Readings. The information provided for each Major Arcana card is comprehensive. Here Rachel Pollack explores the mythology, the symbolism, the numerology and the psychological associations of the cards before providing a divinatory meaning for the card in both the upright and reversed position. In the Minor Arcana section the depth of information provided for each card varies. She definitely has not written page upon page on each card just to keep the format consistent; however, in some cases, for a book promoted as providing comprehensive information for the Minor Arcana, some entries feel unfinished when compared to others.

The book offers a few different spreads each presented with a sample reading. There’s the Celtic Cross, The Work Cycle, (a spread she created), and The Tree of Life. For both The Celtic Cross and The Tree of Life spreads Pollack includes information explaining the purpose of each card position. The inclusion of the sample readings offers further clarity and together these provide valuable information for people new to more complex readings.

About the Author

Rachel Pollack has an Honours Degree and a Masters in English. She is the author of 41 books including science fiction, magic realism, fairy tales and mystery fiction novels, short story collections, and comic books. She has also written nonfiction including, amongst others, many tarot books (Soul Forest: Twenty-four Tarot Writings; Seeker: The Tarot Unveiled; A Forest of Souls: A Walk in the Tarot; The Complete Illustrated Guide to the Tarot; The Haindl Tarot: A Reader’s Workbook; The Vertigo Tarot; The New Tarot; The Open Labyrinth; Teach Yourself Fortune Telling; Tarot Wisdom: Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings). She is a member of multiple tarot associations and has run many seminars.

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom Contents

This is definitely a tarot reference book rather than a conversation with a friend about all things tarot. If you are looking to read and learn about tarot then you’ll likely enjoy this book. If you’re looking for a hands-on learning tool then this is not for you.

Publishing details

Published by:

Weiser Books

Pictured version:

2007 edition

There is a newer version of this book which is now titled Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Tarot Journey to Self-Awareness published in 2019 by Weiser Books.

Pages:

354 pp.