Marcus Katz

This book fixates on 3 things: The Kabbalah, Aleister Crowley and his Thoth deck, and the order of the Golden Dawn. I found the studies on the Kabbalah very interesting but realize that is at least another book all on it's own. As for all the topics pretty much relating back to Aleister Crowley and the Golden Dawn, I understand that this is where we get modern Tarot and even the Rider Waite Smith tarot deck, however I think we are a little beyond that now and I would like to see more information on modern adaptations of what Aleister Crowley and the Golden Dawn began. Other than that small issue, I think it was a very good book with some great information and some really great exercises.… (altro)

Quick impressions: Though it claims to be for both beginners and advanced readers, this book is more geared to the advanced high level reader. It has concepts that it could explain and develop better, but it feels like the authors assume readers will know those concepts so they do not bother expanding. Though they offer a structure, they also say you can study the cards in your own pace and order, so to be honest, the structure is not that essential either. May work better as a reference book.

I will have a full review on my blog later.… (altro)

4.3 stars

I wish that this book was an actual master class in a university setting because there is A LOT of information here from authors that seem to have a plethora of knowledge to pull from. I was in awe of the amount of information in this book. I loved all the history that was included in this book and how each of these experts gave an analysis of the various texts terms associated with magic. It was very well done.

Again, I seriously wished that there was a class that I could take or someplace that I could meet these individuals in person and just pick their brains. Anything metaphysical always intrigues me because there is something fascinating in the unknown. Even with evidence and, sometimes lack of evidence, that it makes it intriguing of the "how" and "why" something is. There is power in discovering the things that are tangible and the things that cannot be explained. I think that if I was around these amazing experts that I might just become even more of a believer than I already am.… (altro)

Katz and Goodwin deliver a lot of good, researched information in very accessible prose. The activities and (gated) spreads are engaging--I haven't completed all of them (some are specifically time-based and some I just felt like waiting to do). While I didn't agree with all of the ideas presented in this book, I was generally inspired to follow my own path; for instance, the reader is encouraged to design their own spreads, and this text helped me figure out a way to design spreads based on poetic forms.… (altro)