Amberstone Ruth Ann - The secret language of tarot

"The Secret Language of Tarot is the book the tarot world has been waiting for. It's an introduction to the symbols and images of the cards-but it's also a guide to incorporating those symbols in your everyday life. Wald and Ruth Ann Amberstone are two of the world's best tarot teachers. Together, they've developed a comprehensive system for divining the true meanings of the cards. The Amberstones do more than offer a simple list of tarot symbols and definitions; instead, they illuminate the imagery of the cards, and they demonstrate their meaning in the real world. Their work takes symbolism to a whole new level. Read this book, and you'll connect with the cards in ways you couldn't imagine without the Amberstones as your guides. You'll discover new ways to read the tarot. You'll discover new ways to study the cards. And most importantly, you'll discover new ways to refine your own system of thought and analysis. This book will change the way you see the cards-and the world around you."

-CORRINE KENNER, author of TarotJournaling and Simple Fortunetelling with Tarot Cards

"My first glimpse of this important work came at The Readers Studio, the Amberstone's annual training for Tarot readers, when Wald placed a homegrown early copy of the text in my hands. My heart lept, I breathed a sigh of relief... and then I gleefully paid him about 5 times the price of the book we have now. Why? Simple: this book fills a gaping void in esoteric study, and nobody but NOBODY can work this particular magick like the Amberstones. Symbols are the vocabulary of not just Tarot, but of our lives. I've long-dreamed that Wald and Ruth Ann would write this book. It will teach you how to speak in technicolor with yourself and the world."

-ELIZABETH GENCO, writer and Tarotist

`A brilliant and engrossing book that is destined to become a classic. Everyone from the beginning tarot reader to the most experienced psychotherapist can use it to enrich their understanding of symbols. It made me look at tarot imagery with fresh eyes."

-ELINOR GREENBERG, PhD, CGP, CPTR

"The Secret Language of Tarot is the best book on tarot symbolism I have read since Sandra A. Thomsons's Pictures from the Heart. For the Tarot curious it will bring satisfaction. For the reader it will renew, inspire, and shine a light on what you already know. For those who are inspired to create their own tarot someday, it will empower you to venture beyond the RWS clone. Reading this book is a bit like having private classes with the Golden Dawn; it is not only full of useful information, there are practical exercises and meditations you will want to try out for yourself. I highly recommend this easy to comprehend book to the beginner as well as the seasoned expert."

-JULIE CUCCIA-WATTS, Tarot artist Ancestral Path, Blue Moon and MAAT Tarot

"Symbolism is one of my favourite subjects and the book The Secret Language of Tarot has increased my tarot symbolism vocabulary significantly. The metaphysical meanings concealed within the tarot images are skilfully revealed by authors Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone. Their style of educating about the tarot symbols is intelligent, deep, memorable, and practical; only experts in their field and in communication can achieve this kind of teaching with ease. The Amberstones are true teachers. They provide innovate card layouts and unique meditations for the reader to apply and integrate their superb knowledge. They sincerely love the tarot and it's symbolic wisdom, and reading their book is not a simple intellectual exercise. The book's extraordinary gift lies in the way they convey the beauty of the real heartfelt journey toward evolution that the mysterious tarot symbolizes.

-MARCIA MASINO, author of Easy Tarot Guide

WALD AMBERSTONE & RUTH ANN AMBERSTONE

For symbol lovers everywhere

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CHAPTER ONE:

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CHAPTER TWO:

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CHAPTER THREE:

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CHAPTER FOUR:

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CHAPTER FIVE:

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CHAPTER SIX:

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CHAPTER SEVEN:

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APPENDIX:

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.e offer our love and respect to the many people who have inspired and nurtured the creation of this book: our families, who awakened within us a love of symbolism; our Tarot School students, without whom there would have been no reason to develop this course; Lon Milo DuQuette and Mary K. Greer for their encouragement in presenting this material for publication, their contributions, and for marrying us (not that this was required for our writing projects but it helps!); Holly Voley for providing the scans of the very special deck used to illustrate these pages and for her fascinating background history; David Heizer for his generous and loving technical advice and assistance in preparing the manuscript and illustrations; and Brenda Knight, Amber Guetebier, Jordan Overby, Rachel Leach, Amy Grzybinski, Bonni Hamilton, Anne Hollingworth, and the rest of the staff at Red Wheel/Weiser for welcoming us with such joy and for making this book a reality.

"The Tarot is symbolism; it speaks no other language and offers no other signs."

-A. E. WAITE, The Key to the Tarot

his statement by A. E. Waite, creator, along with Pamela Colman Smith, of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck used in this book, tells us the single most important thing we need to understand when working with the Tarot. Wald and Ruth Ann Amberstone present an in-depth exploration of twenty-two symbols from this deck, which is the most influential of the last hundred years. But the Amberstones offer more than mere information. This is a course of study involving ways to deepen your understanding and appreciation of how symbols work in this and other decks and in life itself. Studying this book will teach you how to approach any symbol, unfold its potential meanings, and discover, utilizing the deceptively simple exercises and spreads, where and how it is functioning in your life.