Top Five Tarot Decks And Books For Transformation And Personal Growth This Yule
Blessed Yule, seekers of magical inspiration!
As 2024 comes to an end, we'd like to share our favorite esoteric and personal-growth books, paired with some of the best tarot decks we've worked with throughout the year.
So, brew yourself a hot beverage, light a candle, and read on!
The Stories We Live By
We start off with a book that is a must-read for everyone seeking to understand themselves and the life path they're on. The Stories We Live By is a book about understanding how your personality was shaped by key moments in your past (and especially your childhood). The book argues that we are the writer of our life story and we ourselves are choosing the genre of our book – comedy, romance, tragedy or irony.
There are exercises in the book that help you understand the particular moments and people in your life that play a significant role in your personal story. Paired with tarot, this book serves as a powerful tool to uncover some beliefs about the world and your place in it that you didn't even know you had. And as we tarot lovers know, understanding is the first step towards transformation.
The Revival Art tarot is perfect for readings about people (characters) and situations (plots) in your life, helping you reflect on and rewrite your story.
Dancing In The Flames
This profound exploration of the Black Goddess weaves together themes of chaos and creativity, destruction and rebirth. It beckons us to embrace the dark feminine and Her transformative power. As the Indian goddess Kali reminds us, destruction is often a necessary step toward creation.
This book makes a powerful pairing with the Wild Unknown tarot – showing us the void and serving as a threshold to unleash our raw and potent creative nature.
Goddesses In Everywoman
Through the lens of Greek mythology, this book explores feminine archetypes represented by Persephone, Demeter, Hera, Hestia, Athena, Artemis, and Aphrodite. The book argues that in each of us we can find one or two dominant Goddesses, and by knowing their myths we gain better understanding of ourselves – our motivations and life challenges.
For those of us who wish to deepen their relationship with deity, this book serves as a guide for personal growth, encouraging women to embrace their unique qualities and find balance among the archetypes.
The Tarot of Aphrodite has captured the essence of the Goddess perfectly and serves as a powerful tool for connecting with the feminine faces of deity.
Gods In Everyman
The counterpart to Goddesses in Everywoman, Gods in Everyman tells the myths of the power-seeking gods (Zeus and Poseidon), the gods of creativity (Apollo and Hephaestus), as well as those of Hades – God of the Underworld, Ares – God of War, and the sensual Dionysus.
Paired with Jean Payen's 1743 Tarot de Marseille, this is a match made in heaven. The Marseille system welcomes an analytical and detached approach to reading the cards, as sometimes the masculine requires.
The Canticles Of Lilith
And finally, The Canticles of Lilith is the book for you if you wish to deepen your connection with Lilith. It explores Lilith in her face of a demonic spirit, her connection to Lucifer and Satan, and her presence in astrology through the Black Moon in the 12 houses. The book delves into psychological themes such as Thanatos (the death drive) and connects them to the transformative power of Lilith.
For a deeper dive, check out the Library of Lilith's review.
No deck aligns more perfectly with the energy of Lilith than the Ritual Tarot. This powerful deck fearlessly explores the depths of the shadow self, embodying the unapologetic celebration of individuality and sexuality that Lilith represents.
We wish you a holiday season filled with magic and joy!
And if this time of year fills you with anxiety from forced proximity with people that don't match your energy, or with loneliness from the lack of connection, remember that you are not alone. Seek comfort in your favorite book, place The Hermit card on your altar, and know that in solitude there is wisdom that can be found nowhere else.
With love, Mira and Danny Keepers of Rose Sanctuary