| Invitation
to Wonder:
Real Life
Insights Through the Tarot
Book by Jeanne Fiorini
Review by Diane Wilkes
Invitation to
Wonder: Real Life Insights Through the Tarot
is atypical of most books on the subject of tarot. There is
no list of card interpretations, no advice on how to store
or charge your deck. Instead, Jeanne Fiorini's book focuses
most on what she refers to as "case studies"--sample
readings organized by topic.
Fiorini covers the two
most popular subjects--relationships and work issues--as well
as personal growth and children. She also has examples of
her "Miracles" readings, readings that display evidence
of synchronicities that are not amazing to experienced readers,
but which might come across as startling to neophytes or "non-believers."
These examples are not
doused with the outlandish Miss Cleo gasoline that once polluted
our airwaves, but, for the most part, are rather routine--Fiorini
suggests the querent might explore meditation and it turns
out she just signed up for a group meditation class, that
kind of thing.
My favorite section, though,
is also the most unique: a sampling of readings that offer
comic pictorial "puns" that the cards can sometimes
form when answering questions. You rarely read about using
humor in conjunction with the tarot, but Fiorini writes insightfully
about doing just that:
"I take my work with
the cards seriously. I believe it is important to approach
the unconscious with care and with clear intention, and I
truly value the trust that people place in me and the reading
process. That doesn't mean, however, that it can't be fun.
Sometimes a situation is so complex that we have to laugh
over the ridiculousness of it. Often a person leaves a reading
with a lightened load, because problems have been seen from
a new perspective."
All of Fiorini's readings
are illustrated with the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot, and
the author clearly has a bias for that particular deck. In
one example, she refers to the irises found in the Temperance
card and claims that they are "depicted in most Temperance
cards, regardless of the particular deck." I doubt that
her statistics are correct, though they would apply to most
RWS variants.
The readings are wise and
sensible, and new students of the tarot could learn a lot
from her examples. I found myself in concert with the majority
of Fiorini's interpretations, and occasionally picked up some
new concepts on cards like the Five of Swords,
which the author describes as a "card of clear boundaries
and encourages one to stand clear of the influences of others."
I am, however, still puzzling over her describing the Eight
of Cups (in conjunction with the Nine of
Cups) as indicating a "sensitive, likable, "I-just-want-to-be-happy"
kind of guy...maybe too likable and fun loving?"
This self-published 133-page
book is easy-to-read, and is no re-tread of the trite-and-true.
While the readings aren't particularly in-depth, they effectively
demonstrate what the author wishes to teach. There are more
than a few typos (the bane of many self-published books, mine
included). The one that diverts me most is the author's references
to Mary Kay Greer--I keep thinking of the Lipstick and Eye-Shadow
Tarot Lady whenever I come across them.
The author is an experienced
reader who has worked intensively with the RWS Tarot and this
knowledge pervades this slight volume. I found myself agreeing
with many of her general observations about reading for others,
and seeing my own readings with new eyes when I finished Invitation
to Wonder. I recommend this book to readers
who use the RWS deck and/or those who are interested in perusing
wise, down-to-earth sample readings on a wide range of subjects.
Excerpt:
A woman comes for a reading with concerns
about her husband's prospects of returning to work after having
had a back injury. He has been out of work for several weeks
and things are getting tight financially. She pulls two cards
for the general energy around the idea of him returning to
work soon:
Four of Swords /King of Cups
This man is staying put! The Four
of Swords connotes a healing period or a time of
needed rest after some difficulty. The King of Cups
can have negative implications, as seen in previous examples,
but in this reading feels kindly. This King can be parental,
a nurturer, someone who is the emotional support the family,
regardless of gender. These two images converge to give a
picture of the husband in an apron making meals for the family,
tending to the needed household, but taking it easy physically
so that his back to heal. My comment to the client is, "He'll
probably end up being the sandwich maker!"
"I guess that would be fine with him,"
she replies, "but what is my place in that scenario?"
She pulls one card:
Emperor
The Emperor is the archetype
of the creator, the builder, and the worker in the world.
This woman has been substitute teaching, but this card makes
me think this position is apt to lead to a full-time job.
If her husband needs to rest and be at home with the family,
the challenge for her becomes to go out into the world and
earn a living. The Emperor showing itself
here states that it is not only the right time for her to
be taking this step but also that she has the experience and
skills necessary to make a success of it. Apparently she will
be the breadwinner and her husband will be the sandwich maker!
Cited text © 2002 Jeanne Fiorini
Review © 2003 Diane Wilkes
CLICK HERE TO ORDER
INVITATION TO WONDER
_____________________________________________________
|
