Marseille Tarot: Towards the Art of Reading

by Camelia Elias

Camelia Elias offers an introduction to the Marseille Tarot cards combined with readings of the cards in context. For each description there's an interpretation that combines the cunning-folk method of reading the cards - based on making logical inferences about the meaning of the cards - and the visual argument method, which relies on the subjective and individual art of perceiving. The book also features full-length readings, based on real-life tarot consultations.

Genres: Tarot, Nonfiction, Divination, Occult

197 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

http://www.cameliaelias.com/about-me-2/

Reviews

[Pixelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a few tarot books in April and this was just one of them but the one that I just had to read first. I am in love with Tarot de Marseille and this book made me love it even more.
Does she tell you the meanings of the cards, hell no! Elias tells you to listen to what the cards say, look at what they do, how they connect, transform etc. But the most important lesson is to listen to the Question.

The readings featured here are almost all 3 card readings and they either made me think 'wow, I am so clever' or 'oh my, how come I never thought about that before'?

[Marius · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marseille Tarot, Towards the Art of Reading by Camelia Elias is a book on example readings of the Tarot de Marseille. Camelia uses what she refers to as the "Cunning folk method" in deciphering the meanings of the cards. The spread in the book is mainly the 3 card spread, although example spreads of "Council of 13", "French Cross" and others are also given. This method mainly relies on looking at the image on the card and reading a context of the card as it relates to the other cards in the spread. The reading style appears to be very down to earth, practical a kin to that of the cartomancer rather than that of the tarologist. The main focus in the book is on the Major Arcana. The Major Arcana receive 3 pages each where each card is given an example reading involving that particular card. There are also a few basic keywords relating to the each card and 7 suggested meanings when in combination with other cards. The Minor Arcana meanings are described using color and numbers. The interpretation, as I see it, breaks somewhat from conventional numerology, ie. 9 are change and 5 is health? Court cards receive a very minimalistic general interpretation. The idea here, I guess, is to use the cunning folk method in reading instead of conventional meanings. The strength of this book is the large amount of example readings in it. In fact most of the book is really about just that. Although most of the readings did not resonate with me, it did however give me a fresh new perspective. I would also say that Camelia reading style is prone to be on the negative side rather than the positive generally ie. in connection with a question on character The Pope card in connection with the magician is interpreted; "..likes to preach, taking the high road, double standards.." why not a conservative and a traditionalists, who likes to engage with people? Anyways I would not recommend this book to the newcomer to TdM. Frankly there are better books out there.

This book can be purchased on amazon; https://amzn.to/3N2yiBG

[Mindy McAdams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last fall I decided to learn about the tarot. The main driver was having just read The Night Circus (see my review), in which the Tarot of Marseille plays a small but recurring role. I didn't want to get all crystals-and-magic about it. I just wanted to learn what the cards mean and how people interpret them.

For that, this book was excellent. It has full-color illustrations throughout of a very old Marseille deck, and they match up well with the modern Marseille deck I have, published by Fournier, in Spain. (Here are pictures of all the cards in my deck.) The Marseille deck is very different from the more common Rider–Waite tarot deck, and that drew me to this book. Then I saw that the author is also a professor at a university in Denmark, so I hoped that meant this book would not be just a rehash of the little booklet that comes with the tarot deck.

I was not disappointed. While the book has more errors (spelling, grammar) than I think acceptable, the writing style and the insights really delivered well. Now and then I felt the author was a bit too casual, kind of "What the heck, I do what I want!" I think she could have benefitted from a tougher editor. These are the quibbles. Around the same time I started reading this, I browsed in a few different books about the tarot and read a lot of web articles and even some journal articles (at the site of the International Playing-Card Society, no less), and this book is unique. There's quite a lot of repetition and even outright copying in texts about the origin and history of the tarot — which this book avoids.

The author covers the meanings of the cards, including the suits and the "pips" (number cards), but more interesting are her numerous examples of how she interprets them in the context of a question from a "querent" (the person for whom she is doing the reading). She gives many examples of three-card readings, and these are a lot easier to follow than the giant Celtic Cross layout with 10 cards. She does gives one example with a big spread of 13 cards near the end of the book, and it's made clear by a nice large illustration.

[Vin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I say, 'no,' and 'no,' and 'no' again. I say, 'no, that's not it. Take it or leave it.' There is a lot of reward in this type of asserting what we're doing with the cards, and for what purpose. When some decide that I've ruined their lives, and then they do something drastic, I just make a note of it. A note that confirms why I'm right. Why I'm right in insisting. Drastic measures don't impress me. They merely disclose how deeply disturbed some people are. I'm a tower of condensed coolness when I read the cards. I'm like death that doesn't warm. I'm your worst nightmare. But guess what. It's precisely in this coldness that I get to see clearly. I don't get hot tempered. I'm not interested in winning anything. I'm interested in seeing clearly. And that's about it. That's what I get my money for: seeing things clearly, not standing in people's corners, making decisions and plans on their behalf that they end up neither following nor honoring. I hold the business of reading cards in the highest regard. This practice of old is not a frilly thing made of elastic.
I'm not 'nice: I read cards. Like the Devil.

I don't enjoy or feel drawn to Elias's personal interpretations of what the cards mean in tarot and
there is some delight in that because it proves that each reader brings themselves to the cards in a way that is authentic and unique. However, her perspective and advice on the nature of reading itself, the rules and boundaries we as readers must establish and the inherent role of being a divinator is is absolutely incredible and invaluable. As being a reader becomes more of a part of my personal and professional identity hearing advice about how to navigate the world as a seer is something that has proven incredibly useful to me. I feel like I need to write her advice on a post it and look to it like a saint whenever I'm shuffling a deck for a client. Her instance that kindness is a empty lie, to present the truth as if you are paid for nothing more is an illumination. In a practice that is made up of gauzy finery it is a wonder to see someone be so direct and self-assured of who they are, what they offer, and what they believe tarot is for. An excellent book for any reader who is starting to detach from solely personal work and is thinking of exploring illuminating the future of others. 3 1/2 stars.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice contrast to Untold Tarot, which was much more reliant on historical basis.

I don’t use quite the same numerology meanings as Elias did, yet all her reading examples and suggested spreads completely make sense and are described so thoroughly (and conversationally) that you can completely get how she wound up at her conclusion.

I particularly liked the idea of thinking about the Trump’s “function”, thinking of the reading as covering thesis / antithesis and synthesis, and considering agency + gesture + gaze.

I may finally try the Councjl of 13 one of these days! We’ll see.

[viktoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more about the technique of reading than the meaning of individual cards, and I liked that. I liked that Elias tried to guide the reader towards an intuitive reading, coming from the heart, or some other place, but certainly not from learned knowledge and associations of symbols and cultural layers. A bit of extra fluff in the beginning and towards the end, but her thoughts about the cards and this particular Marseille deck are quite insightful. For some people who are not familiar with tarot and tarot reading, the introduction could prove quite useful, too.

[Starlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarot for Elias is a poet's game of chance. Tarot is a play, a dance. Never static always shifting. Each card a word, a concept, person, a chance. Quite helpful.

[Kelly Miess]

I decline to rate this book and hope to come back to it after more experience with the Marseille Tarot. I've just purchased my first Marseille deck and was looking for a beginner's book. I have some, but not a lot, of experience with RWS & Thoth decks and their derivatives. This book seems that it would be most useful to one who has at least put some time in reading with the Marseille deck. There are some real gems of advice and lovely illustrations of the extremely rare Carolus Zoya deck. I like the author's no BS voice. In general, however, I would not recommend this book for a Marseille beginner.

[Oliver Ho · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual tarot book, and an unusual author. I'll have to read this one again at some point.

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Feb. 23/18: Second read
I liked the book more the second time around. Since my first read, I’ve taken a course with the author and read a few more of her books. I’m more accustomed to her voice and her ideas seem clearer to me than on the first read.

[Nico · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find my review published in Spiral Nature Magazine here:
http://www.spiralnature.com/reviews/m...