The Power of the Pips: Courting Numbers in Cartomancy

by Camelia Elias

The Power of the Courting Numbers in Cartomancy introduces the reader to the following method of reading the pip cards of the Marseille Tarot As symbolic meaning is presented as situational, all the examples discussed highlight the importance of reading the cards in context, rather than seeing them as carriers of inherent signification. The style follows the same tone as in the companion The Power of the A Subtle Burst, whose premise is to deconstruct set cartomantic clichés. CONTENTS SMALL SEDUCTIONS / 9 A SHORT THEORY OF THE PIP CARDS / 15 A SHORT THEORY OF THE COURT CARDS / 27 WISHING WELL / 53 HUMOR ME / 59 BELIEVABLE STORIES / 65 WAIT FOR IT / 79 THE DECISIVE FACTOR / 89 BURNING BRIDGES / 101 FREE WILL / 105

Genres: Tarot, Occult

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 17, 2018

About the author

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

Reviews

[Marius · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Power of the Pips by Camelia Elias is a very short read only around 100 pages on the pip cards and court cards of the Tarot de Marseille. The book is illustrated throughout with the Noblet from 1650 in color. The tarot spread is 2 to 13 cards but read in a line, as a story from beginning to end, upper left to bottom right. What I liked about the book was description of the pip cards being "conduits, bridges, connections" for the more important Major Arcana and court cards. The expression; To drink with the cups, to transact with money, to build with batons and to stab with the swords" resonated very well with me. The interpretation style is down to earth, court cards mostly representing other people, how the images interact with each other, young/old, facing each other/facing away, which suit and so on. There are several example reads in this book. I personally did not have a problem following the line of thought as to the authors interpretation of a particular spread (although not always in agreement personally), but I can see that the tarot novice might. I think the author assumes a certain pre-knowledge. There are several things I did not like about the book however. The lack of structure in the book; each individual card is not covered separately with example reads, the divinatory method is never really broken down to its essence, rather just "this means this here and that there", there is no index in the back and no helpful key words or general divinatory guide. The book is far too short unfortunately. It is also clear that the author is fascinated by Zen buddhism and the Samurai and the author breaks away into thought tangents into this philosophy several times but unfortunately is unable to tie it back to how to read the tarot. The example reads come off as being fairly random, albeit from real life. So what do I think of the book.. Well I do not recommend this book to the novice wanting to learn how read Tarot de Marseille pip and court cards. But I think it does have some value as to presenting a different perspective, a more open reading style, practical or non esoteric style as it relates to the pip and court cards. But probably more for the advanced reader looking for a different perspective than anything else.

[Oliver Ho · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good companion to her book on the trump cards. I liked that this went into more detail about her thoughts on readings.