Tarot As Your Companion: A Practical Guide to the Rider-Waite and Crowley Thoth Tarot Decks Method by Hajo Banzhaf and Elia Hemmerlein

— Jennifer Cahill

Years and years of Celtic Cross readings. Who knew? I recently started using Banzhaf and Hemmerlein's innovative TARO reading method, and I've been just Wowed by the results. Four simple cards, mapping out the key things that I generally want to know, and so astonishingly "accurate" when combined with their interpretations. For querents I don't always use it, but for myself I certainly do.

This isn't a book review. I've submitted this separately, and I do highly recommend the book. I hope to give enough for Tarot enthusiasts to work out the system on their own, while encouraging them (heartily) to actually buy the book.

For daily reads, for deep guidance, or even for a quick look, it's a masterful method. Basically, you draw four cards in a layout spread of a cross or circle. The authors explain this is symbolic of TARO, the root of various combinations of important occult words: ROTA, TARO, ORAT, TORA, ATOR, which translates as "The wheel of the Tarot proclaims the law of initiation."

Direct and Companionable Feedback

In my way of working Tarot, I believe I speak to my own "Superconscious" but others might call this God, or Goddess or Angel. The advice comes in the format of feedback you can act on without abdicating responsibility for the actual decision.

• Card 1 represents the "Starting Point"
• Card 2 "This is NOT important right now."
• Card 3 "This IS important right now."
• Card 4 "This will be your next experience.

I was stunned how effective this subtle language made the system. Cards 2 and 3 became utterly brilliant advisors. The NOT important card was particularly lucid for me.

The Next Step

This is meant to be a daily read. When the card 4 "next experience" happens — and it will — you're ready for your next follow on reading. Brilliant.

Interpretations of Cards

I would suggest readers still use their own "methods" of divining card meanings. The Fool, for example, means so many things to different people, often quite contradictory things. But whatever you read the Fool as is what matters. But now, your definition is modified by NOT and IS.

So, if you read the FOOL as "New Beginnings", then in the card 2 position this would NOT be a good time for a fresh start or a new beginning. On the other hand if it was in the Card 3 position it would be very important to get a fresh start or new beginning — if this is how you interpret this card.

Banzhaf and Hemmerlein's Divination Meanings

For the most part, I found their divination meanings quite right on, and they take the trouble of defining every card in the deck for each of the four positions. While this may seem to take away the visualizing and interpreting role from the reader, it really does the opposite. I found it quite empowering and they gave enough flexibility in interpretation to make it all work beautifully.

Jennifer Cahill is a professional reader in Tampa, Florida. You can write to her care of Wise Tarot Magazine.

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