Queering the Tarot

Paperback, 224 pages

Published May 1, 2019 by Weiser Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-57863-648-8

(1 review)

Tarot is best used as a tool for self-discovery, healing, growth, empowerment, and liberation. Tarot archetypes provide the reader with a window into present circumstances and future potential. But what if that window only opened up on a world that was white, European, and heterosexual? The interpretations of the tarot that have been passed down through tradition presuppose a commonality and normalcy among humanity. At the root of card meanings are archetypes that we accept without questioning. But at what point do archetypes become stereotypes?

Humanity is diverse--culturally, spiritually, sexually. Tarot has the power to serve a greater population, with the right keys to unlock the tarot's deeper meanings. In Queering the Tarot, Cassandra Snow deconstructs the meanings of the 78 cards explaining the ways in which each card might be interpreted against the norm. Queering the Tarot explores themes of sexuality, coming out, gender and gender-queering, sources of oppression …

Tarot is best used as a tool for self-discovery, healing, growth, empowerment, and liberation. Tarot archetypes provide the reader with a window into present circumstances and future potential. But what if that window only opened up on a world that was white, European, and heterosexual? The interpretations of the tarot that have been passed down through tradition presuppose a commonality and normalcy among humanity. At the root of card meanings are archetypes that we accept without questioning. But at what point do archetypes become stereotypes?

Humanity is diverse--culturally, spiritually, sexually. Tarot has the power to serve a greater population, with the right keys to unlock the tarot's deeper meanings. In Queering the Tarot, Cassandra Snow deconstructs the meanings of the 78 cards explaining the ways in which each card might be interpreted against the norm. Queering the Tarot explores themes of sexuality, coming out, gender and gender-queering, sources of oppression and empowerment, and many other topics especially familiar to not-straight folks. Cassandra's identity-based approach speaks directly to those whose identity is either up in the air or consuming the forefront of their consciousness. It also speaks to those struggling with mental illness or the effects of trauma, all seekers looking for personal affirmation that who they are is okay.

2 editions

Naava reviewed Queering the Tarot by Cassandra Snow

Review of 'Queering the Tarot' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

An excellent read, sure to offer new insights for anyone who reads the Tarot, whether a seasoned professional or just getting their feet wet. The queerness is lacking in the traditional RWS Tarot, it's heteronormative and cisnormative and so forth - or the traditional ways of reading the cards are. But if we start to view the cards as energies and not set-in-stone "King = man" way, we're opening the door to a plethora of new interpretations, and we're not being so binary that it hurts my demiman brain.

I do disagree with Snow on some points of the book, but it's not really something that needs to be elaborated... but I found myself disagreeing so hard that it took away from my enjoyment of the book. Hence the deducted one star, although it was an issue at my end. It's unfair, deducting a star for this, but I cannot …

An excellent read, sure to offer new insights for anyone who reads the Tarot, whether a seasoned professional or just getting their feet wet. The queerness is lacking in the traditional RWS Tarot, it's heteronormative and cisnormative and so forth - or the traditional ways of reading the cards are. But if we start to view the cards as energies and not set-in-stone "King = man" way, we're opening the door to a plethora of new interpretations, and we're not being so binary that it hurts my demiman brain.

I do disagree with Snow on some points of the book, but it's not really something that needs to be elaborated... but I found myself disagreeing so hard that it took away from my enjoyment of the book. Hence the deducted one star, although it was an issue at my end. It's unfair, deducting a star for this, but I cannot help it. Blah.

(Note: this review might be changed later on as I reread the book with a deck and a notebook, thus gaining a more thorough understanding of Snow's reasoning and all that. Might pop that fifth star in there.)