If you love mystery and drama, or exploring the worlds behind, beyond the visible world, or the familiar images of tarot presented in unique and beguilingly beautiful ways, you just might like Cirque du Tarot by Leeza Robertson and Josh Tufts. All the cards are a treat, but a special shout out to the creators for the most creative exploration of court cards that I’ve ever experienced. Have you ever heard a tarot teacher suggest throwing away the book that came with a deck? While I can see the benefits to approaching the cards with fresh eyes, I’d encourage just setting the book aside rather than tossing it out. Most books that come with a deck not only provide interesting deck

For some reason, the 2 of Swords has always been a problematic card for me. Is the person in the image refusing to face facts or is she cutting off all external input so she can apply only her logic to the dilemma? Let's see what Rachel Pollack has to say. This is from her new book, The New Tarot Handbook: Master the Meanings of the Cards (Image: a sketch for the 2 of Swords from a deck in progress) With swords held at her shoulders, a blindfolded bowman in a dress as gray as her surroundings sits on a stone bench in front of a pool of water. The theme of balance seems tentative here, as if the mind can only stay at peace by closing off options and especially communication.

On the second day of December, Tarot gave to me: The 2 of Swords from the Legacy of the Divine Tarot by Ciro Marchetti A quiet moment, the calm before the storm, the moment before a decision is made...very dramatic. This may be the moment before you decide what gift to give a loved one, what invitations to accept, or how to allocate your charitable giving. Some decisions are harder than others, the pros and cons being close to even. For these, you quiet your reasoning mind and still your emotions...your clarity will come from some other source, perhaps.