436. Book Review; Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack

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My review for the book Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom.
Tarot Books I recommend instead of 78 Degrees:
Tarot for the Curious Spirit by Barbara Venn-Lever
Tarot 101 by Kim Huggens
Holistic Tarot by Benebell Wen
The Tarot; History, Symbolism and Divination by Robert M. Place
(anything by Robert Place is good)
Kitchen Table Tarot by Melisa Cynova
Queering the Tarot by Cassandra Snow
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[@evergreenforestwitch]

This was really helpful. I'm a total newb to tarot and I've been watching Lisa Papez' Tarot Memoirs series (which I think I heard about from another video you did awhile back) and she uses this book for the major arcana and it seemed to have some really good descriptions in it, so I added it to my Amazon list for future purchase. And, while I think Lisa with the knowlege and experience she has, probably has gotten a lot from this book, particularly the parts she shared, I'd probably do better starting with Kitchen Table Tarot (which she also references in every video). I can take the pearls of wisdom offered from the series, but I don't need to do a deep dive with it. I really appreciate your critical thinking and explanations, especially when it comes to book reviews. I'm reading Weave the Liminal now, for example :)

[@TheStitchinWitch]

LOVE Weave the Liminal!!!

[@evergreenforestwitch]

@@TheStitchinWitch that's why I bought it and you're right - it's great!

[@JPeeee]

Hi. I totally agree with you about the Celtic spread.

[@lynettelewis86]

I love your mention of not liking the Celtic cross layout. I dont like it either. I found a nice horseshoe layout that flows for me. Love it

[@julieks8029]

I've only recently found your channel but I'm so glad I did. I enjoy all your videos and share many opinions. I never got through 78 degrees. Couldn't bear it. However, LOVED Tarot 101. I think it changed my life. Holistic Tarot is a wealth of info. Not exactly an encyclopedia, but damned close! I will look into the others. Ohh...there should be a book Tarot 2021-a modern take!

[@MistycznyOgroduLilly]

Thank you 🙏

[@TheStitchinWitch]

Thank YOU!

[@Officialesotrader]

I found this review so helpful, thank you so much. getting the book Monday morning. With love from South Africa 🇿🇦

[@etherinetahn6488]

Thank you so much for reviewing this book. I’ve only heard amazing things about it. This is really enlightening. I’ll take a look at your recommends. Thank you so much for caring POC and black ppl, I appreciate that

[@etherinetahn6488]

Have you done a video dedicated to your dislike of the Celtic Cross spread? I’d love to hear what you wish it included

[@TheStitchinWitch]

I know I've mentioned it, but maybe it would be a good video idea to talk about spreads I don't like and why, and then couple it with spreads I do love, and why.

[@etherinetahn6488]

@@TheStitchinWitch that would be fantastic! If you do it pls add what you think should be added instead

[@albertoarias3325]

I just watched your video, very helpful, and I already looking for one of the books you recommended, thanks a lot

[@MistycznyOgroduLilly]

I'm really grateful for the video 🙏I found it absolutely helpful. I was going to buy the book 78 degrees, but now definitely I'll buy something else. I decided to order Holistic Tarot. Thank you.🙏 💗 Be Blessed 🌟

[@user-gj2cj1uo1k]

I love your intro 😍 it’s so aesthetic

[@JenniferPearsonJP7]

Totally agree with your take on the Celtic Cross. Thanks for this review. This deck has been stalled on my wishlist for years and I now feel that I can safely remove it.

[@AnneLien1987]

This is the first tarot book I actually really took the time to study. I loved it. The Kabbalah and the Hebrew letters were a bit confusing, also the "God" references were, for me personally, a bit too much. I love the Holistic tarot the best book on tarot ever. It's the bible :)

[@melissaclair1508]

I like this honest book review. I find myself agreeing. When I first read this book I found the layout a little confusing. There are some nice pearls of wisdom in this book, and I have started reading it again to see if I have missed any insights but I find myself wanting read other tarot books like Practical Tarot Techniques by Marcus Katz, which I am finding really interesting. I also started reading Tarot Beyond The Basics by Anthony Luis but it feels very similar to 78 Degrees of Wisdom as the author stated that he started reading the tarot around the same time as Rachel Pollack, so that is probably why. Have you read Marcus Katz Practical Tarot Techniques? If so what do you think of it?

[@TheStitchinWitch]

Not yet. I intend to at some point though.

[@frankwilder9747]

Hi, l have just acquired a golden dawn tarot deck. The minor arcana are not pictorial but not purely pip either. Which beginner book would help me with the symbology of this type of deck please?

[@TheStitchinWitch]

Go with a book that is dedicated to Marseilles-style tarot decks. If they are mostly basing off RWS symbolism, you won't find that book as helpful. Keep in mind though, that whether or not the pips are illustrated, almost any tarot book can give you insight. :)

[@hetalziendoog9484]

I wonder what u think about 'Tarot' - The Library of Esoterica from Jessica Hundley - I already know the book itself is visually worth it, it has great colored prints, quality paper and hardcover, you would expect all these kind of books should have - since it all is about the visual and the feel. Esoterica really publishes pieces of art, wonder if u see the content fit between your selection and or could it replace books like 'The Tarot, history, symbolism and divination' from Robert M. place and or Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack. Im trying to avoid overlap when buying.

[@TheStitchinWitch]

I'll have to look into that one at some point. As it stands right now though, I've got about 4 tarot books that I still haven't read yet, so I need to do that before I get anymore, lol. My to-be-read pile is so massive!

[@ravenmorningglory4774]

Thanks

[@Jo_-_-t.a]

I have to agree with your review of the book. As much as western society is Abrahamically based, broadly speaking Waite was more Catholicism Mystic based and Crowley did a lot more drugs and threw all the (appropriated sometimes offensively so) mystic symbolism at his deck and mystic order he created. Ms Pollack is part of the alphabet mafia with a well read background in Judaism. However some may argue a privileged white woman with a narrow viewpoint of the world. So it kinda makes sense her interpretation of the traditional cards. I see her very much as Hierophant figure, A holder of tradition, knowledgeable about the history of our, at often times oppressive, present day religious and societal institutions(eg.academia) and she gives solid arguments for her interpretations. However The Heirophant is a number 5, there is a disturbance in the force. Just because it was doesn't mean it should still be. So with that outlook, I take 78° of Wisdom as where we are coming from, but not necessarily where we should be going. Cause come on, 2000 yrs, who has it all served? Very few. Also the celtic cross is pants. Even Waite was like, if you can't use your own intuition then the questions in the celtic cross can help. But good luck with that.

[@shannonkavanaugh2721]

"Pollack is a transsexual woman and has written frequently on transgender issues. In Doom Patrol she introduced Coagula, a transsexual character. She has also written several essays on transsexualism, attacking the notion that it is a "sickness," instead saying that it is a passion." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Pollack Presenting as a "privileged white woman" doesn't mean a person can't have an expansive viewpoint of the world, and in this case I think Pollack has a more expansive point of view than you are giving her credit for. Can we all just stop making assumptions about people based on how they look?

[@TheStitchinWitch]

I agree, 78 Degrees is more representative of where the tarot community's head space was at when it was published, but it isn't a great one to start with now.

[@TheStitchinWitch]

I think this book is a good representation of where the tarot community was when it was first published, but I think Pollack has really expanded her views and practices since then. That's why I was hoping 78 Degrees the updated version would be better, because it would have more up to date information, and sadly, it was lacking that. As for what people look like and assuming things about them, I think not making those snap judgements is the ideal, but it's human nature TO make judgements based on certain things, so I think it's natural, and we need to politely remind people that hey, it's not all what's going on on the outside, look past that too. If that is done often enough I think the judgement will start to be less habitual, but I think expecting people to just about face and stop doing that is unrealistic.

[@Jo_-_-t.a]

@@TheStitchinWitch it was first published in 1980. Her work was very important as it helps where we are today. A woman who not only reads the tarot, can take on the symbolism just like the lodge boys of old. Especially as women have been habitually written out history. Have you seen the interview of her with Justin Michael? He is a tarot tuber.... she is very interesting. I have also the 2 books she wrote to support the Haindl tarot. Her insights into Kabbalah et al is interesting. Anyhoo, cool review and discussion. Are they usually this spirited?? 😁

[@shannonkavanaugh2721]

@@Jo_-_-t.a I want to first apologize if my comment came across as aggressive or flippant. My hundred minutes of solitude came to an abrupt end as my child woke from a nap. I hit send and instantly regretted it but didn't have the time to change anything. Full disclosure, I know next to nothing about Rachel Pollack except what I learned from a podcast interview, what other people have said about her and her books and what is in that Wikipedia article. But as I am the aforementioned privileged white woman, and I knew Pollack to be transgender, your description of her just didn't seem to fit to me. Again, I don't know much about the woman, and I haven't read any of her books, and maybe you have read her extensively and followed her career through the years and know for a fact that she doesn't care about your experiences as a black WLW. I honestly don't know because I've never read any of her books; not this one that is 40 years old, and not any of the other 50 or so books she has written. She seemed really cool on the interview I listened to, and didn't seem to have a narrow worldview despite the apparently egregious way she likes to interpret her Tarot.

[@kaushikranjanpaul5284]

Does this book deal with time framing in tarot?

[@TheStitchinWitch]

Not really, no.