Why I don't recommend Jodorowsky's "The Way of Tarot."

#nodisclaimers #booktube
My flatmate told me not to be bitchy about Jodorowsky's book. But the book itself is quite bitchy in parts...
Alejando Jodorowsky, writing with Marianne Costa, saw himself as a reformer, doing what he could to sweep away certain decadent tendencies in tarot-reading. But the book is quite problematic and not always, I think, on the level. It is famously tricksy, and I think any of us can be forgiven for feeling quite ambivalent about it. In this review I do my best to make head or tail of it...

[@grannyweatherwax8005]

I love your book reviews! I appreciate that it's obvious you've actually read the book and thought about it, which sadly I don't find is the norm online. I think people should be allowed to critique books. They are products for sale after all. People get so caught up in the author's feelings yet ignore all the people who might waste hard earned money on a book after only hearing very positive fake reviews. It doesn't seem right to ignore all the potential readers who are being misled.

[@teatarot4557]

@@grannyweatherwax8005 I totally agree!

[@rubytuesday5698]

Now I want to throw this book across the room, except that I don’t own a copy and now I never will. It sounds tiresome and exhausting. Thank you for such an honest review Robert, you’ve saved me time and money.

[@teatarot4557]

@@rubytuesday5698 Glad it was useful 👍

[@AMcG-hf6yx]

I think you were honest and not bitchy at all. I have that book and find him to be over the top in most of it but i chalked that up to his director/movie background. His films are notoriously over the top and dare say misogynistic very old school machismo imo. However there's some gem like insights in there more so that Pollocks 78 i find. I just think some people are "high on their own farts" when putting out their thoughts/art/ opinions out into the world. It never occured to me that some of his material could have been sourced while being intoxicated but my God that would explain a lot if it. Lol. Nicely done Robert. And Jacopo is adorable.

[@teatarot4557]

@@AMcG-hf6yx Yes, we have a lovely flatmate! 👍❤️

[@djh3239]

I always really appreciate your book reviews! I’m sure I’ve commented to you before that I wish more tarot tubers would be objective when reviewing tarot books or decks - please keep up with the honest reviews 👍☺️ Surely “bitchy” is when you say something deliberately mean to put someone else down? That’s never the vibe in your videos, I always find you to be fair in your reviews and give credit where it’s due. And next time I’m in Watkins, I’ll be sure to read the last 10 pages! (I wouldn’t have bought this book anyway, as I don’t read with TdM, but at least I don’t feel I’m missing out now 😁)

[@teatarot4557]

@@djh3239 Thanks for your lovely feedback. 😀

[@jaykeilai]

I absolutely would not recommend Way of Tarot as a first or even second book for learning Tarot de Marseille. This is fully a creation of Jodorowsky and one needs to be clear-eyed going into it. HOWEVER, I love this book 😂 not immediately, as I was coming into it having been recently converted to an anti-esoterist approach to tarot favored by a certain subset of Marseille readers. Jodorowsky seemed to create an alternative but similarly baroque and labyrinthine system to what the Golden Dawn did, so I put it away - this was complexity that did not help with my own readings. But when I came back to it, his trickster cheekiness and his psychoanalytic poetics charmed me. And his esoteric exposition on all the small fiddly details of lines and colors is a wonderful demonstration of deep looking, an absorption in image and following the symbolic associative trails. I don't take the book as gospel and read in a fairly different way, but I find it quite an inspiring documentation of a brilliantly creative reader's mind. It makes me see new things in the Marseille tarot and that is enough for me to appreciate it as an important addition to my library. But mostly what I've come to love about his book is how much *stranger* the tarot appears to me after reading it. It becomes a shimmering artifact dislocated from time which invites surrealism and dream logic, and not a little bit of fae-like menace. I believe that is potent and valuable.

[@teatarot4557]

@@jaykeilai That’s a very eloquent defense of the book. I agree with you that it is poetic and brilliant.

[@SoniaTheLittleWitch]

Excellent review, dear Robert! But now I am torn, as one of the tarot readers whose interpretative style I greatly admire (Amalia at Tarot Reader ASMR) has been greatly influenced by A. Jodorowsky and has recommended his writings to me. And here you are, another Great Tarot Mind, of an entirely different opinion. I guess it is a call to make up my own mind about the 'bloody' book and to read it!😁 I tell you what I found most off-putting from what you said: that it might be quite difficult to follow in places. Esoteric can be challenging, but when you combine it with English not being your first language, it can be double-plus challenging. B. Wen recommends reading Jodorowky and Crowley later down the Tarot lane; perhaps she has a point. One thing is for sure: I wish I could come across The Way of Tarot somewhere so I could check out those last 10 pages of the book.😘

[@teatarot4557]

Hi Sonia - yes that does sound like a difficult decision. But perhaps there are translations of this book into other languages? I believe it was initially written in French. M response to the book was very personal, and is coloured by the fact that I am not a Marseille reader. It does contain interesting passages that you might find inspiring. The difficulty of it is not because the language is complex (although it is sometimes very rich) but because the *thoughts* are at times wild and crazy - suggesting, as I said, a hallucinating state. Perhaps you could find a cheap second-hand copy and dive in - if you feel like it! 🙂 all best wishes, Robert

[@toadstooltarot]

So it sounds like you're suggesting that this book be sold with a large packet of salt. I've been intrigued by this book but struggle with a bias I've always held against Jodorowsky since experiencing revulsion at the human brutality depicted in his early films. I wondered how someone can separate those viewpoints from their personality as a tarot academic. I may follow your suggestion at reading only the last 10 pages. Have your read Tarot De Marseille and the Open Reading by Yoav Ben-Dov?

[@teatarot4557]

@@toadstooltarot haven’t read those books but they are definitely on my list 👍

[@jessicaway8529]

There are certain figures that people seem afraid to approach honestly, either they are deified or vilified and that is definitely how I see people respond to Jodorowsky. Thank you for doing neither of those and giving a thoughtful and helpful review. The interjection from your flatmate was hilarious, but I think in your negative reviews you artfully throw shade and explain why which I appreciate and don't see as being bitchy at all

[@teatarot4557]

@@jessicaway8529 Thank you. I appreciate that 😀

[@aturtleattacks]

Thought about a review of The Book of Thoth (the book) by the Master Therion? Would be curious to hear your thoughts (and the disclaimer 😛).

[@arcana1973]

That would be interesting

[@teatarot4557]

Yes, I have! In fact I mentioned this book in my video 7 Tarot Books I Don't recommend, and I got told off by a Crowley fan because, as he correctly pointed out, I hadn't done enough homework to be able to comment🙂 When I am strong enough I will have another look. I think with Crowley you have to not only read the book but also research the man, and that's quite a lot of work!

[@RupertRochester]

It’s books like this one that makes me feel that I should be refunded for the parts that were unreadable. A very enjoyable and interesting video, good work Robert 👍

[@teatarot4557]

@@RupertRochester Thanks Nick! I guess we won’t be refunded though … 😄

[@christinescott]

Interesting review Robert! I have not read The Way of the Tarot since it first came out. I too found it disappointing although there was a lot of hype at the time. You were not bitchy imo. As for Rachel Pollock's work, I borrowed one of her books from the library, some time back and found it disappointing. Having said that, I believe loads of people have gained a lot from her books. Thanks for the review, you have reminded me to donate my copy to charity book shop so as to create more space!❤

[@teatarot4557]

Hi Christine - ah yes, always good to create more space! Greetings from sunny Berlin. x

[@paillette2010]

This review is hilarious. Like the guy wanted a secret club so he’s making up his own rules.

[@AMcG-hf6yx]

Actually very glad Robert helped bring this book down to Earth. I got a bit down on myself that i couldn't grasp much of what Joro.. was saying. Very unnecessarily romanticized and excessively abstract in many parts. I have to dig through to find the relatable bits.

[@paillette2010]

@@AMcG-hf6yx that sounds like a depressing experience. As a rule I don’t enjoy tarot books for that reason.

[@bachelorofstuff]

A guy wanting a secret club is human history in a nutshell, or one of the nutshells.

[@Talentedtadpole]

Really good, helpful and not-bitchy-in-the-least review, thank you! Jodderz's approach to sexuality as you pinpointed it seems to exemplify IMO (as a cave owner lol/ugh), where many cis het men are in a pickle with sexuality.

[@teatarot4557]

@@Talentedtadpole I think you might be right!

[@aquamarine18]

I haven't read it; I don't think AJ *can* be non-sexist considering the violent things he's said elsewhere about women (much worse than the 'cave' comments, really), and that makes the book a firm 'no' for me. I would hate to contradict Jacopo, but I say be as harsh as you want on this one!

[@teatarot4557]

Oh dear. I was unaware of his record on women. In fact I'm not very au fait with his career. This book is certainly quite wobbly!