A Review of The Soul's Journey

The Soul's Journey: Finding Spiritual Messages in the Tarot

By James Ricklef

Knighthawk Books

Review by Christiana Gaudet

I was lucky to be asked to read an advance review copy of James Ricklef’s new book, “The Soul’s Journey.” What impressed me immediately was the wide range of material from which James drew to write this book.

In “The Soul’s Journey,” Ricklef quotes a wealth of spiritual texts, both modern and ancient and from many cultures. For each of the seventy-eight tarot cards he finds references that help us understand each card. With these references Ricklef is able to place the spiritual wisdom of each card in a context of universal spiritual truth.

My first encounter with this fabulous book inspired me to write just a few words about my impression of the book.

With this essential guide, Tarot earns its place at the grown-up table of spiritual thought. Ricklef effortlessly distills the wisdom of the Universe and shares it with us.

Now the book is published. It’s available in paperback and electronic version. As I hold the substantial paperback in my hand I’m glad I have the print version. I love my Kindle, but there is something about holding this book that just feels good.

“The Soul’s Journey” is appropriate for tarotists of all levels of experience, with this caveat. This is not a “how to read tarot” beginners’ book. This book is deep, meaty and spiritual. With a forward by Katrina Wynne and a practical introduction by the author suggesting many ways to use this book, “The Soul’s Journey” does what tarot itself does. It coalesces spiritual wisdom and makes it accessible to us.

One of Ricklef’s suggestions for using the book is to perform bibliomancy with it. That is, to simply ask a question, close your eyes, open the book and read what is presented as a message of wisdom from the Universe. That means that even people who don’t own a tarot deck can find wisdom by reading and using this book.

Ricklef by no means limits our ability to understand each card to his treatment of the cards. He gives us ways to find our own spiritual meanings for the cards.

As well as a comprehensive discussion of the spiritual meaning of each card, “The Soul’s Journey” includes a section called “Spreads for Spiritual Readings” which includes techniques and original spreads for us to use with our tarot deck.

One of my pet peeves as a spiritual tarotist is the belief, even amongst some of my peers, that tarot is merely a fortune-telling device. I have long asserted that tarot is a book of spiritual wisdom. With this brilliant new book James Ricklef proves that assertion.

“The Soul’s Journey” is a self-published work. We’ve all heard the ways in which publishing is changing; “The Soul’s Journey” is a wonderful example of what is now possible. The writing, formatting and general presentation of this book is as good as the best of what’s coming out of the big publishing houses, if not better.

“The Soul’s Journey” is a book for serious tarotists, eclectic spiritual seekers and anyone who wants to expand their wisdom and spiritual practice. You can read this book, you can divine with this book, you can learn tarot with this book, and you can expand your knowledge of tarot with this book.

Christiana Reviews "The Soul's Journey," a Book by James Ricklef

Video of Christiana Reviews "The Soul's Journey," a Book by James Ricklef

Queen of the Heavens Book Review

Queen of the Heavens
A Novel by Kingsley Guy
Published by Middle River Press
Review by Christiana Gaudet

Queen of the Heavens, a new novel by Kingsley Guy, is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

Kingsley Guy has crafted a story about Tuya, a young Egyptian girl who becomes the mother of Ramesses II, Pharaoh of Egypt.

This story works on many levels and will appeal to a great number of readers.

It is rare for a male author to truly write in a woman's voice, but Guy accomplishes this handily.  It is easy to see the world through Tuya's eyes. Queen of the Heavens is a page-turner; a story of love, family and politics.

Queen of the Heavens is more than just a great story. Readers interested in Egyptology will enjoy Guy's well-researched view of ancient Egypt.  Modern spiritual healers and metaphysicians will be thrilled with Guy's descriptions of Tuya's experiences with the Neters, the Gods and Goddesses of Egypt. Tuya's ability to heal the sick and wounded transcends culture and religion.  Her healing rituals and techniques will ring true with anyone who has studied Reiki, crystal healing or energy work.

Queen of the Heavens is in no way preachy, yet it manages to teach universal spiritual principles. For some this will be a nice reminder. For others it will be no less than transformative.

Queen of the Heavens is a first novel from a respected journalist. I'm sure it won't be his last.

You can learn more about this great book and see a slide show of ancient Egypt by visiting Kingsley Guy's extensive website.

On January 27^th at 9 pm Eastern Time Kingsley Guy will be my guest in the Artist's Corner of Christiana's Psychic Café, my new internet TV show. Tune in on the Paraencounters Network.

A Review of Tarot Foundations: 31 Days to Read Tarot with Confidence

My first thought when I read Brigit "Biddy" Esselmont's new e-book Tarot Foundations: 31 Days to Read Tarot with Confidence was "Darn! I wish I had written this!"

Biddy has produced a unique and valuable tarot treasure. Although she and I do not always agree on card meanings and reading techniques, I endorse her concise, understandable and thorough method of tarot learning.

In her introduction, Biddy mentions something that seems to be true for tarot teachers everywhere. We all discover than many students find the concept of learning tarot a wee bit daunting. While Tarot Foundations does require a great deal of work and focus, it will make the task of learning tarot easier.

I like the title of this book, "Tarot Foundations," very much. The truth is this. No one can really learn tarot in thirty-one days. I am often irritated by courses and books that offer to teach tarot in fifteen minutes, or an hour, or a weekend. But I do understand the concept. The idea is to create a foundation that gives students the confidence they need to embark on the lifelong journey of tarot study.

Tarot Foundations is self -published as an e-book. Unlike many self-published e-books, it is well-written, well-edited and beautifully formatted. All of this, along with Biddy's clear and friendly style, makes it a pleasure to read. She includes many clickable links to her own sites and products as well as other pertinent tarot websites. This gives the book a very interactive feel. Biddy has even provided readers with a free website where they can meet and converse with other tarot students who are working on their thirty-one days of tarot learning.

In the introduction, Biddy makes it clear that the student can achieve the thirty-one day goal in more or less than thirty-one actual days. In this book, a "day" equals one focused lesson and/or activity. Students can skip days, or can do more than one day's work at a time.

The book assumes no prior knowledge. In the first "days" she guides the student through the process of selecting and purchasing a tarot deck, along with two or three tarot books. She teaches the basics of cleansing the cards and bonding with the cards.

 Each day builds on the next. Students are to keep tarot journals, a practice of which I am a complete fan. The book also includes templates for creating key word charts, and clever tarot card profiles. Completing these forms is part of the lesson plan for particular days, but the finished charts and profiles will remain valuable to the student long after the thirty-one days are over.

Tarot Foundations separates itself from other beginner tarot books in that there are no actual card descriptions or instructions for interpretation beyond some key word charts in the appendix. It is the students' task to derive key words and deeper interpretations from the tarot books they read, and from their own intuition. Tarot Foundations teaches a nice mix of interpretive and intuitive reading styles. The exercises are varied accordingly.

I have very few criticisms of Tarot Foundations. Perhaps some of the finer points, such as predicting timing, are taught in an overly didactic way. My experience is that each reader needs to experiment with many techniques and traditions to figure out what works for them. To suggest there is just one way to do it and that way will be completely reliable seems disingenuous. While there is no harm in teaching students a specific tradition, I wish it were more clear that there are many traditions and techniques, especially when it comes to predictive reading.

I have taught tarot classes for years. After taking a few classes, some students really have a grasp on tarot; others less so. What is the difference? The successful students actually study every day in between classes. They do their homework.  The other students choose not to study.

Tarot Foundations is a great guide for effective tarot study. Tarot Foundations doesn't just teach students how to read tarot. It teaches students how to actually study tarot, and then put that study into action. For some students, this distinction will make all the difference. 

For more information, and to get your copy, visit Biddy's website here.