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Tarot and the Journey of the Hero
This fullcolor, profusely illustrated book provides an insightful approach to the 22 cards of the major arcana. Drawing on Jungian psychology and his own considerable knowledge of esoterica, Banzhaf clearly shows how the major arcana of the Waite tarotdeck tell the story of the hero's journey. It is the world's oldest story, residing in our collective unconscious, as women and men alike find themselves engaged in the heroic task of maturation. 126 color illustrations. Notes. Bibliography
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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About the author
Hajo Banzhaf
49 books13 followersHajo Banzhaf, one of Europe's foremost Tarot authors, was the husband and co-author of Brigitte Theler.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 14, 2008
When I ordered this book, I scoffed a little. I thought "Oh yeah, Tarot and the Hero's Journey - we'll get some simple take on the Fool at the start and then the way the cards progress and whatever, whatever, nothing we didn't know before." (I guess this says more about me and my cynicism than anything else) But what I got was a fairly profound Jungian analysis of the journey of life. For a brief moment, I thought the book was going to turn into a reiteration of how to interpret Tarot cards - but that quickly transformed into an in depth look at the stages of life.
The fact is, I've been struggling to make sense of several events in my own life for some time now. I've been asking how it all fits in to the structure of something like Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey. In a way, I think I chose to make my current play about that BECAUSE I've been trying to make sense of it all. Nothing I've looked at so far has been able to do that for me. Nothing has been able to contextualize my current journey. Until I read this book.
Light bulb after light bulb went off as I read this. I almost wish that Tarot wasn't in the title as I fear that it probably turns away readers who might otherwise find some wisdom here.
His writing is clear and direct and evocative. It's kind of brilliant. You don't have to be into Tarot to get a lot out of this. It's just a fantastic metaphor.
The fact is, I've been struggling to make sense of several events in my own life for some time now. I've been asking how it all fits in to the structure of something like Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey. In a way, I think I chose to make my current play about that BECAUSE I've been trying to make sense of it all. Nothing I've looked at so far has been able to do that for me. Nothing has been able to contextualize my current journey. Until I read this book.
Light bulb after light bulb went off as I read this. I almost wish that Tarot wasn't in the title as I fear that it probably turns away readers who might otherwise find some wisdom here.
His writing is clear and direct and evocative. It's kind of brilliant. You don't have to be into Tarot to get a lot out of this. It's just a fantastic metaphor.
January 22, 2016
Informative, entertaining and very nicely illustrated; full color. While it is written in English – it has been translated from German, so some of the sentence constructions come off as a bit – complex. Compound sentences galore – but who cares. It has character.
The main content of the book is an exploration of each card as it is taken in a didactic progression from The Fool to The World. It is not, however, a simple process of card/explanation, card/explanation, card/expla – you get the idea – it is quite a bit deeper than that. There is a story to be told, using the Tarot, as the hero makes his journey. There is context, history and a greater familiarity with the Tarot to be gained.
Where there are cards (and they are all covered, to be sure), the examples are taken from a Rider-like deck (which is a bit unfortunate since the author does have a Thoth deck-based book in his catalog), but not all of the illustrations are of cards. There is a fair amount of detail in the history and background for the Hero’s Journey. It is an enlightening and useful book.
And, I recommend you to get the printed copy as it comes with, beyond the illustrations, a fold-out section showing a summary of the journey through time (by the way, I purposefully built that sentence in a way that would be consistent with how this book was written). As much as I like e-books – this would not be a great candidate.
The main content of the book is an exploration of each card as it is taken in a didactic progression from The Fool to The World. It is not, however, a simple process of card/explanation, card/explanation, card/expla – you get the idea – it is quite a bit deeper than that. There is a story to be told, using the Tarot, as the hero makes his journey. There is context, history and a greater familiarity with the Tarot to be gained.
Where there are cards (and they are all covered, to be sure), the examples are taken from a Rider-like deck (which is a bit unfortunate since the author does have a Thoth deck-based book in his catalog), but not all of the illustrations are of cards. There is a fair amount of detail in the history and background for the Hero’s Journey. It is an enlightening and useful book.
And, I recommend you to get the printed copy as it comes with, beyond the illustrations, a fold-out section showing a summary of the journey through time (by the way, I purposefully built that sentence in a way that would be consistent with how this book was written). As much as I like e-books – this would not be a great candidate.
November 3, 2019
Un libro muy interesante en el que Banzhaf hace un profundo análisis a los arcanos mayores (basado en el Rider Waite), siguiendo el clásico esquema del viaje del héroe, donde primero hay un camino diurno guiado por el Sol y luego uno nocturno guiado por la Luna. Hay muchísima información interesante y análisis de cada una de las representaciones, que creo lo hacen un libro imprescindible para todo aquel que se interese en estos temas.
April 7, 2021
This book it's about the journey of a Hero. The Fool ready for adventure into the world of consciousness and into the realms of the unconscious. Throughout his journey he encounters all kinds of mystical figures, ones that are there to help, some others that are there to provoke him. Once he starts, he will never be able to go back and be the same, so he has no other option but to finish and come back to life thriving and wise.
Lovely! ❤️
Lovely! ❤️
August 25, 2012
The book can be difficult to read, because it is a translation from German. At first I found it difficult to understand, but as I continued reading, I could come to see the value of this book for anyone who writes using the structure of the Hero's journey. In fact, by the time I finished the book, I decided that I need to study this book again, because it has so much to offer the writer in way of ideas for a characters journey. I bought the kindle version, but then I went out and got the print edition because it has a color pictures, and a very valuable fold out chart in the back. I was sad to find out the author passed in 2009. Great book. Well worth the read.
May 23, 2010
Tarot is a literary form to survive the Dark Ages. Take Tarot readings not for fortunetelling, but for meditation on issues we (or our characters) face. For me, The Tower has special meaning after Sept. 11.
January 5, 2020
Author Hajo Banzhaf takes us through the Fool's Journey in this book on tarot's Major Arcana. I'll admit I was a little unimpressed at first that he chose the Rider-Waite-Smith deck for this elucidation, but as I read more, I began to understand why. Mr. Banzhaf's use of this particular deck fits quite well with his deep knowledge of Jungian Psychology, which comprises much of the book's explanations of the cards—and the path of the Hero. I'll admit I put this book down for a long period of time between starting it and finishing it, but I read the latter 75% in a day, I found the information so compelling.
Why did I find this so compelling?
As a patient in therapy for many years now, a lot of what Mr. Banzhaf had to say related to a lot of my experiences as a mentally ill person stabilizing out of uncontrolled mental illness. I saw aspects of myself in this book that I was not expecting to glimpse, and that helped me come to terms with his use of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. While as a tarot reader I use many different decks, I think I will always appreciate this book. It's something I'll definitely read over and over again despite its focus on a particular tarot's Major Arcana.
This is NOT a "how to read tarot" book in the normal sense of the phrase, with definitions for the cards. Lots of those types of books exist. This book instead delves deep into the symbolism of the RWS deck's cards and uses Jungian psychology to illuminate the journey they depict. Mr. Banzhaf draws from various religions and mythologies also, to educate the reader on the journey depicted in the cards. However, the main part of his analysis uses Jungian psychology, making this book, I think, as much a psychology book as it is an occult, spirituality, new-age, or tarot book.
I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the deeper understanding of the Major Arcana that it offers.
Why did I find this so compelling?
As a patient in therapy for many years now, a lot of what Mr. Banzhaf had to say related to a lot of my experiences as a mentally ill person stabilizing out of uncontrolled mental illness. I saw aspects of myself in this book that I was not expecting to glimpse, and that helped me come to terms with his use of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. While as a tarot reader I use many different decks, I think I will always appreciate this book. It's something I'll definitely read over and over again despite its focus on a particular tarot's Major Arcana.
This is NOT a "how to read tarot" book in the normal sense of the phrase, with definitions for the cards. Lots of those types of books exist. This book instead delves deep into the symbolism of the RWS deck's cards and uses Jungian psychology to illuminate the journey they depict. Mr. Banzhaf draws from various religions and mythologies also, to educate the reader on the journey depicted in the cards. However, the main part of his analysis uses Jungian psychology, making this book, I think, as much a psychology book as it is an occult, spirituality, new-age, or tarot book.
I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the deeper understanding of the Major Arcana that it offers.
October 18, 2020
Hajo Banzhaf book covers the journey of the hero or the fool, through the major arcana of the Rider Waite Tarot. This is not a book on all thing Tarot, although you do get a short recap in keyword form on the meaning of each Major Arcanum at the end of each card chapter (Archetype, Task, Goal, Risk, Feeling in Life). Banzhaf does a good job tying in various philosophical, psychological, spiritual and religious aspects in explaining this journey. There is a particular emphasis on applying the theories by C. G. Jung. The approach is from a self development perspective. A very interesting breakdown is the authors introduction of; an "Arch of the Sun wheel" with all the Major Arcana set up sequentially and split into 3 groupings; Childhood-EgoDevelopment, Maturation-OvercomingEgo and Initiation-SelfDevelopment/Superconsciousness. The groupings split from conventional thought as I see it, I-VI, VII-XII, XIII-XVIIII where the 3 remaining cards IXX-XXI represent the goal for the fool (O). The book is lavishly illustrated and the card stock is mainly the Radiant Rider Waite by US Games in color. I liked the book, it certainly is one of the better books in explaining the Journey of the fool, which is a key aspect to understand in the Tarot. If you are thinking to buy Sallie Nichols book, than this one is certainly a contender, but this cannot be the only book on Tarot on your bookshelf.
February 2, 2023
"მოგზაურობის მიზანი იმაში არ მდგომარეობს, რომ ერთი სამყარო მეორეთი შევცვალოთ. ჩვენ რომ, მაგალითად, ცხოვრების პირველ ნახევარში ყველაფრისთვის მარჯვენა თვალით შეგვეხედა, შემდეგ კი უეცრად დავრწმუნებულიყავით, რომ მარცხენათიც შეგვიძლია ყურება, სიბრიყვე იქნებოდა, რომ ამის შემდეგ სამუდამოდ დაგვეხუჭა მარჯვენა, რათა მხოლოდ მარცხენათი გვეყურებინა სამყაროსთვის. ამიტომ, როგორც ორივე თვალით ვიყურებით იმისთვის, რომ მხედველობა მოცულობითი იყოს და ორივე ყურით ვისმენთ იმისთვის, რომ სმენა პოლიფონიური იყოს, სწორედ ასევე, ჩვენ ვცხოვრობთ როგორც ცნობიერი, ასევე არაცნობიერი ცხოვრებით, შევდგებით მამაკაცური და ქალური საწყისებისგან, შინაგანი და გარეგანი ადამიანისგან, და ვაერთიანებთ სინათლესაც და ჩრდილსაც. ამიტომაცაა მოგზაურობის მიზანი - მთლიანობის მიღწევა, სავსე ცხოვრებით ცხოვრება".
წიგნი განთავსებულია მაგმა ჯიზე.
წიგნი განთავსებულია მაგმა ჯიზე.
July 6, 2025
Essa leitura conecta os pontos e significados entre as cartas, mas contada através do mito do herói. Inclusive, o mito do herói está em tudo: nas histórias bíblicas de Jesus Cristo (organizadas pelo catolicismo), como nas histórias de Superman (organizadas pela DC). Mas sobre Superman ele não fala.
A leitura é uma viagem muito maneira. Apesar do tarot ser visto por uns como algo vulgar, ameaçador, etc., esse livro mostra duas coisas importantes: como a vida pode ser mais bonita quando interpretada por uma simbologia tão completa como a do tarot; e como uma visão mais de arquitetura sobre baralho, pode dar clareza para analisar não só o momento, mas também o que o antecede e procede.
Os padrões humanos são conhecidos, e o sistema do tarot é a prova disso (bom, mas aqui eu não tô questionando a divinação).
A leitura é uma viagem muito maneira. Apesar do tarot ser visto por uns como algo vulgar, ameaçador, etc., esse livro mostra duas coisas importantes: como a vida pode ser mais bonita quando interpretada por uma simbologia tão completa como a do tarot; e como uma visão mais de arquitetura sobre baralho, pode dar clareza para analisar não só o momento, mas também o que o antecede e procede.
Os padrões humanos são conhecidos, e o sistema do tarot é a prova disso (bom, mas aqui eu não tô questionando a divinação).
November 26, 2023
¿Ya les había dicho que me volví una nerd del tarot?
Leí este libro porque fue el texto que tratamos en el curso de tarot básico. Aquí Hajo Banzaf trata los 22 arcanos mayores de la baraja Rider Waite Smith a través de la narrativa del viaje del héroe. Banzaf descubre al lector estas 22 imagenes arquetipales abordando simbolismo, sgnificado y las caracteristicas más relevantes (a las que se llegan por conclusión de lo visto en cada arcano) para interpretarlos en una lectura.
Me parece recomendable para todo aquel que esté empezando con el tarot (mazo RWS) por la forma completa y amena en que el autor expora y descubre los arcanos.
Leí este libro porque fue el texto que tratamos en el curso de tarot básico. Aquí Hajo Banzaf trata los 22 arcanos mayores de la baraja Rider Waite Smith a través de la narrativa del viaje del héroe. Banzaf descubre al lector estas 22 imagenes arquetipales abordando simbolismo, sgnificado y las caracteristicas más relevantes (a las que se llegan por conclusión de lo visto en cada arcano) para interpretarlos en una lectura.
Me parece recomendable para todo aquel que esté empezando con el tarot (mazo RWS) por la forma completa y amena en que el autor expora y descubre los arcanos.
July 27, 2024
El libro es una exposición sencilla y memorable de la estructura del mazo de Tarot, pues encuadra la significación de los Arcanos a la correspondencia tematica con el viaje del Heroe. Es interesante, pues permite reflexionar sobre la estructura del Tarot como un sistema semiológico cerrado. En ese sentido, cabe la reflexión del Tarot como una obra abierta, mejor dicho: como un libro abierto a todos los significados según el consultante y el lector del mismo.
September 8, 2019
Had this book for many years but only now read it. This is a fantastic read and will give you a wonderful, rich background for reading the Major Arcana. Like many "modern" interpreters, Banzhaf is a Jungian - such a pain, this! But I will forgive him, this is a fun to read book with many references to many cultures, and meaningful color illustrations. Bravo.
July 28, 2020
Partiendo de las fases de lo que se conoce como El Viaje del Héroe, explica cada uno de los arcanos mayores.
Es interesante y se hace ameno de leer, aunque hay mucha disparidad entre la extensión de las explicaciones de unas cartas y otras.
Es interesante y se hace ameno de leer, aunque hay mucha disparidad entre la extensión de las explicaciones de unas cartas y otras.
January 20, 2019
O livro ideal para quem quer entender o Tarô, tanto no contexto histórico quanto das suas práticas.
August 7, 2022
Не так круто і всеохоплююче, як у Кемпбела, але було цікаво.
January 13, 2023
Великолепная книга о старших арканах таро.
March 2, 2008
As Banzhof explains in the introduction to this book, true psychological and spiritual maturity is less likely to be found in the teachings and rituals of an esoteric coterie than in a psychological investigation of symbols. This is *not* a guide for the use of Tarot cards as divination but is instead an excellent foundation for a Jungian model of psychological development symbolized and illustrated in this case by the cards of the Major Arcana. Use this book as a guide to metaphor and imagination rather than as a literal guide to fixed interpretations. Besides, it's a great thing to read before reading Foucault's Pendulum (although I didn't find this until more than a decade after I had read Foucault's Pendulum).
January 24, 2008
This book contained some very insightful information about archaic symbolism in Tarot, however it was written poorly. I discovered the author is a native German so I decided to cut him some slack. Rather dry reading for the average dilettante though...reads a lot like a textbook.
June 25, 2009
Short but very useful analysis and description of the meaning and symbolism of 22 Major Arcana cards.
November 10, 2012
My favorite book on the subject of Tarot.
December 22, 2021
Best book I ever read about the tarot.
November 2, 2014
Love it! Great book about the Journey of the Hero.
February 14, 2022
Отличная книга для изучения арканов таро. Отличная подача от Хайо Банцхафа. Материал очень понравился.
July 29, 2015
A new take of tarot.
December 28, 2017
A good introduction to the major arcana as explored through the hero's journey
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews