It’s been a long time since I was really excited and intrigued by a new ‘how-to’ book on reading the Tarot. Dr. Yoav Ben-Dov’s Tarot—The Open Reading is a book I just have to share with you. Ben-Dov describes the Tarot as a work of art, through whose details a full range of human experiences can be revealed. First, the book features the Marseilles Tarot deck—a deck that’s gaining greater interest and appreciation among English-speaking Tarotists. This deck is pre-occultized, as the images are not modified to conform with esoteric systems. While not identical to early 15th century decks, it expresses a folk tradition that dominated for at least three hundred years (out of the nearly 600 year history of Tarot) and is still the major style found in much of Europe. Additionally, Ben-Dov has created what I believe to be the most elegant restoration of the classic Conver Marseille deck available (see below). This process aided him in his close attention to detail in the cards.
What has been notably missing in English Tarot literature are good, non-Waite-based meanings for the four suits. You need look no further. The focus here is on reading the cards through the scenarios one perceives when looking at the images. For the Majors, Ben-Dov says the possibilities are open. Nevertheless, he points out valuable interpretive perspectives derived from symbolic, historical and mythological associations, many of which I found both original and obvious (once-stated)—in other words, extremely helpful as kick-starter phrases for the cards. Through comparison and contrast of visual details he demonstrates how the cards relate to one another. Emphasis is on a therapeutic approach, rather than being predictive or proscriptive. Providing an excellent introduction to practical reading skills, he stresses developing familiarity with psychological practices, for which he specifically recommends Irvin D. Yalom’s outstanding guide to interacting effectively with clients, The Gift of Therapy.
Previous authors stressed one of three approaches to the Minor pip cards: 1) a straightforward transfer of the Waite-Smith Minor Arcana meanings to the Marseille deck, 2) a memorized meanings often derived from Etteilla, or 3) a personal synthesis of number-plus-suit meanings for each card. Ben-Dov bases his Minor Arcana explications on the work of Alejandro Jodorowsky, emphasizing visual cues in the cards along with number, which make their arrangements ‘sensible,’ and therefore easy to learn and build on. His descriptions of the thematic progression within the Major and Minor suits provide an immediate handle on each. In keeping with his therapeutic approach, the Court Cards represent attitudes and characteristics of the querent rather than other people, although there’s nothing to stop you from applying them to others. I only wish that Ben-Dov had included sample readings utilizing the Minors like he did for the Majors, as his examples were so insightful.
Spreads are kept simple, with some innovative approaches to working with both Major and Minor suit cards that are well-worth trying out. His instructions for creating your own spreads gives you an infinite palette of deeply meaningful options to choose from.
I have two pet peeves: Ben-Dov completely ignores the first two hundred years of Tarot’s history when he describes the Marseille Tarot as the ‘genuine model’, with the ‘true order’ for the cards, saying it offers, “the most faithful and accurate representation of the ancient Tarot symbols.” The oldest decks (15th century Italian) are quite different in style, and there were several different orders for the cards in its first century. It would be better to describe the Marseille-style decks as the most long-lasting, consistent design (which is not to be scoffed at). My second pet peeve involves misunderstandings of the Golden Dawn system of Tarot reading, resulting in minor errors that are not centrally relevant to this work. Personally, I think he should have left out his few Golden Dawn references or listed the differences in an appendix.
Overall, this book offers fresh, practical instructions for reading the Marseille Tarot that will give you a great appreciation for the details and special characteristics of the deck that first inspired tarot divination. Additionally you will gain lots of valuable insights into the reading process itself.
Works Mentioned:
Tarot—The Open Reading by Dr. Yoav Ben-Dov.
The CBD Tarot de Marseille deck, created by Dr. Yoav Ben-Dov.
The CBD Tarot de Marseille app for Android.
The Way of Tarot by Alejandro Jodorowsky.
Note: Yoav Ben-Dov has generously made his deck and basic interpretations freely available for use for non-commercial purposes via the Creative Commons concept – http://www.cbdtarot.com/download/
24 comments
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December 25, 2013 at 9:39 pm
childrenofthesunreadings
The book sounds wonderful. I recently “broke out” of RWS minor meanings through Gail Fairfield’s work and Rachel Pollack’s Kabbalah system. This has allowed me to really study the Visconti. Could this book help a Visconti fan like myself or is it only good for Marseilles readers?
December 26, 2013 at 12:35 pm
Clairsentient1
Reblogged this on Beacon of Aquarius.
December 26, 2013 at 3:19 pm
mkg
Merissa: This book can definitely help you with the Minor Arcana (with perhaps a few adjustments on your part). Much of the information on the Majors will also help, but more than that, it will help you approach the Majors from the pov of their visual clues. If you pay close attention to this author’s method you can apply it to any deck.
December 27, 2013 at 1:36 am
pnagy1231
Thank you, Mary for your fair and balanced review of this excellent introduction to reading the tarot of Marseille decks. I too am a fan of Yoav Ben-Dov’s Conver restoration, CBD Tarot de Marseille. It is slightly slimmer than standard decks and they feel better when I hold them and shuffle them. I would add that a good adjunct to this primer is Jodorowsky’s own The Way of the Tarot with Marianne Costa. Yoav Ben-Dov studied tarot with the Chilean artist and filmmaker in France in the 1980s, I believe.
Yoav Ben-Dov studied Physics and Philosophy of Science at Tel Aviv University, and holds a doctorate on the Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics from Paris-13 University. He taught at Tel Aviv University and other institutions. As a particle physicist he has written some lucid introductions to the history and modern physics. Some of these chapter are in English and are “intended for the general reader, presents quantum theory with its historical development, the conceptual problems that it raises, and the main solutions proposed for these problems.” See http://bendov.info/heb/books/quantum/eng/index.html
December 27, 2013 at 11:27 am
mkg
Paul – Thank you for adding this personal background on Dr. Ben-Dov. I should also say that, in addition to his obvious intelligence, I really appreciate his clear, warm interpersonal style of writing. The book really flows.
January 6, 2014 at 8:11 am
Gwynwas
Mary, (love your blog),
About Marseille interpretations: I have long used the little pamphlet that came with my “Grimaud” Marseilles deck. The thing shows no author or attribution or reference. I have never found any similar literature.
The Grimaud pamphlet has a most distinct system of interpretation that shows no influence from occultist thinking. As far as I can figure the 10 pip cards have some correspondence in meaning to the first ten trump cards, but differing by suit.
I would love to hear if anyone knows the origin and history of this system.
January 7, 2014 at 3:52 pm
mkg
Gwynwas – I don’t know where the Grimaud Marseilles deck interpretations come from. I thought they might be taken from Paul Marteau’s book on the Tarot (as he once owned Grimaud), but the meanings seem quite different.
January 9, 2014 at 7:02 pm
horoscope
Hi there,
I have a question I hope you can help.
Can we use the information gleaned from tarot and astrology to change our
Futures or is the future set in stone?
Is the future pre destined or can we change it ourselves?
Thanks
January 10, 2014 at 1:27 am
mkg
I personally believe you can change your future. Some things seem more fated as your character, history, and environment make them all too inevitable. But there are always exceptions to that.
January 11, 2014 at 7:59 am
a review by Mary K. Greer | cbdtarot.com
[…] K. Greer, one of the world’s leading authorities on Tarot, has just published a very favorable review of the CBD Tarot de Marseille cards, the new book “Tarot – the […]
February 25, 2014 at 8:49 pm
Tarot: The Open Reading by Yoav Ben-Dov | Tarot Heritage
[…] Go to Mary Greer’s review of this book. […]
March 22, 2014 at 4:05 am
AstroTarot
Cool review, tarot is indeed work of art, I will try to find book on amazon..
March 26, 2014 at 5:17 am
Paulo Pereira
Tarot cards have for centuries allowed people to peer into the past, present, and future and gain understanding. They have allowed people to get advice about there pressing problems and find solutions.
June 29, 2014 at 7:57 pm
wednesdaystarot
The Tarot de Marseille is my favorite deck and I like it better than the traditional Rider Waite. This is the deck I learned with years ago and it has always been faithful and trustworthy to me. Nice article and I’ll check out the book too. Thanks
September 17, 2014 at 8:39 am
Mariah
Great to hear about a book on the Marseilles that is accessible and readily understood. I have stuck to RWS largely because it is easier for me to grasp, but the symbolism and authenticity of the Marseille deck has always intrigued me. I hope to get a hold of this book soon!
September 17, 2014 at 10:37 am
mkg
Mariah – Let us know what you think of it.
November 2, 2014 at 11:13 pm
Yogesh mishra
Hello,
I agree completely with you, reading tarot is a art through the scenarios one perceives when looking at the images.
December 6, 2014 at 5:02 am
yesornotarot
I agree that every person or individual can change their future if you are only aware. That’s why tarot is always there to guide you.
June 22, 2016 at 5:24 pm
viva creativa
Hi there! I enjoyed your review.
My coworker gave me the Ancient Tarots of Liguria-Piedmont today, and I am looking for info on how to read them. Information I’ve found says they are based on the Tarot de Marseille. Would this book be informative Or is there another book you’d suggest? I have experience mostly reading Osho Zen Tarot and some experience with The Wild Unknown deck and The Druid Animal Oracle.
Thank you!
June 23, 2016 at 10:33 am
mkg
viva creativa –
Yes, this book would be great! There will be some differences but you’ll get the essentials and even more importantly you’ll learn ways to work intuitively with your deck. You’ll want to also check out this book by Camelia Elias: https://www.amazon.com/MARSEILLE-TAROT-TOWARDS-ART-READING/dp/8792633420/
Mary
September 29, 2016 at 3:15 am
Lisa Frideborg Eddy
Thanks for this, Mary. I’m currently reading/enjoying this book and really appreciate your insight into the minor errors found in it to keep me on the straight and narrow as far as Tarot History goes. Do you believe that the Tarot de Marseille is having a bit of a revival in the English-speaking world at the moment? Would you consider writing a book on the Tarot de Marseille?
June 8, 2017 at 5:18 pm
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October 7, 2017 at 11:25 am
Kevin Ries
I have a couple of little questions. Regarding Tarot;
The Tarot De Marseille deck from Italy. very little/cheap version.
Is there a picture guide with the figure eight card listed?
Kevin
Thank you.
October 13, 2017 at 1:56 pm
mkg
Kevin,
The Tarot de Marseille is a French deck. Card number 8 (VIII) is Justice in that deck, which is different than the Rider-Waite style decks. To see an image of the card do a google image search on Justice Tarot de Marseille.
Mary