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The Qabalistic Tarot: A Textbook of Mystical Philosophy
NEW 2004 REVISED EDITION
Hailed by reviewers as "a masterpiece," and as "the single most profound reference of its kind," The Qabalistic Tarot has become the standard in its field, a book essential to all students of Tarot symbolism. It is both a textbook and a sourcebook for the symbols of the Western Hermetic Qabalah, a corpus of mystical ideas which have, for centuries, exerted a powerful influence on the development of Western thought. Dr. Wang explains the Tarot as an externalization of a mystical system which has evolved from approximately the third century C.E. to our own time. He traces the development of Qabalistic ideas from the Neoplatonic through the Medieval, Renaissance, and Modern periods, systematically discussing each Sephira and Path on the Tree of Life. He uses the Tarot images as a point of visual reference, and provides a thorough explanation of the symbolic intricacies of the Paths. The Qabalistic Tarot is recommended as a comprehensive textbook for individual study or for the classroom. The first and only work based on the four major decks in use today, it is the ideal companion book for the Golden Dawn Tarot , the Thoth Tarot , the Rider-Waite Tarot , or the traditional Marseilles deck.
Hailed by reviewers as "a masterpiece," and as "the single most profound reference of its kind," The Qabalistic Tarot has become the standard in its field, a book essential to all students of Tarot symbolism. It is both a textbook and a sourcebook for the symbols of the Western Hermetic Qabalah, a corpus of mystical ideas which have, for centuries, exerted a powerful influence on the development of Western thought. Dr. Wang explains the Tarot as an externalization of a mystical system which has evolved from approximately the third century C.E. to our own time. He traces the development of Qabalistic ideas from the Neoplatonic through the Medieval, Renaissance, and Modern periods, systematically discussing each Sephira and Path on the Tree of Life. He uses the Tarot images as a point of visual reference, and provides a thorough explanation of the symbolic intricacies of the Paths. The Qabalistic Tarot is recommended as a comprehensive textbook for individual study or for the classroom. The first and only work based on the four major decks in use today, it is the ideal companion book for the Golden Dawn Tarot , the Thoth Tarot , the Rider-Waite Tarot , or the traditional Marseilles deck.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 28, 2008
Robert Wang designed the Golden Dawn Tarot, and the Jungian Tarot. Although I am not fond of his artwork, The Qabalistic Tarot is a great introduction to the history and philosophy of the Tarot. Unfortunately, laymen tend to think of the Tarot only as a tool for divination, which is really the base aspect of Tarot. Its true worth is to be found as dynamic, symbolic representation of the Qabalistic Tree of Life. This book does a wonderful job of introducing the aspirant to this aspect of the Tarot.
By using four decks to compare and contrast, it exposes the reader to multiple perspectives. It also introduces the reader to the differences of the Thoth deck to the traditional attributions of some of the Tarot cards. It's a great place to start.
By using four decks to compare and contrast, it exposes the reader to multiple perspectives. It also introduces the reader to the differences of the Thoth deck to the traditional attributions of some of the Tarot cards. It's a great place to start.
September 9, 2020
Believe the hype, this book is, in my opinion, the best on the market.
I have been a tarot reader for well over 12 years now and there are few better places to garner information from than this book. Wang provides exceptionally thorough information on each card, its meanings and the Qabalistic correspondences. There are illustrations of each card for the three main tarot systems and even a glossy, coloured print of the Tree of Life. The information that he cites is well worth looking into as well, The Kybalion in particular was a life changer for me and I found it through reading this book some time ago.
That being said, I can never truly say that I've "read" this book because it's a constant reference book. It's taught me so much and continues to surprise me with the more I learn.
I have been a tarot reader for well over 12 years now and there are few better places to garner information from than this book. Wang provides exceptionally thorough information on each card, its meanings and the Qabalistic correspondences. There are illustrations of each card for the three main tarot systems and even a glossy, coloured print of the Tree of Life. The information that he cites is well worth looking into as well, The Kybalion in particular was a life changer for me and I found it through reading this book some time ago.
That being said, I can never truly say that I've "read" this book because it's a constant reference book. It's taught me so much and continues to surprise me with the more I learn.
August 8, 2019
I learned so much regarding the Tree Of Life and the Kabbalah.
July 14, 2018
If you're interested in Occultism, Tarot, and Qabalah, this is a must-read. Wang's synthesis of these topics is extremely adept (pun intended). So many "ah ha" moments and zinger sentences. This is probably not a good first book for someone new to any of the three topics mentioned above, but it is a profound, rich read. I'd buy this book for a bunch of my friends if it wasn't so expensive. The word "textbook" in the title is well-earned. What an achievement!
January 16, 2021
It seems my opinions agree with other reviewers here, so I won’t pile on his dubious artwork (just his Tarot cards, really). His research and knowledge is top-notch and his writing is clear and readable, even with such arcane subject matters. An excellent text for tarot study and it’s esoteric origins. A source I will refer back to often.
February 29, 2012
THE definitive work on Qabalistic symbolism derived from Golden Dawn & other esoteric orders. For advanced study.
December 2, 2020
Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack has been my go-to Tarot reference for nearly two decades now. After all this time, I finally found another book to match its wealth of information, becoming my second go-to -- The Qabalistic Tarot by Robert Wang.
While Pollack's book briefly highlights the history, symbolism, and some esoteric aspects of each card, Wang's book includes some of these and more -- not just Western Qabalah (different than traditional Jewish Kabbalah), but many Western Mystery Traditions, such as numerology, Gematria (Qabalistic numerology), astrology, Hermetic philosophy, elemental associations, and other associations assigned by The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. There's also some discussion about Hindu and Taoist concepts, such as chakras, mudras, I Ching, etc.
There are plenty of wonderful diagrams and reference charts to help illustrate the concepts for Qabalah beginners like me.
Book T by MacGregor Mathers is also conveniently included in the back of the book with all of the traditional Golden Dawn card interpretations.
There's even a bibliography (finally)! With sooo many ill-researched Tarot decks and books out there now with the recent resurgence of popularity, this is more important than ever.
My only complaint is that Wang tends to insert his opinion when it isn't necessary. One example is Wang writes many times that the reader might not understand the complexities of what he's trying to explain, but I was able to keep up with everything without issue. The other example is every card's section examines side-by-side comparisons of The Golden Dawn, Thoth, Rider-Waite, and traditional Marseilles decks, which is a wonderful way of showing how Tarot creators used symbols to convey complex messages to the reader. Wang viewed a card's art negatively a few times for not having an obvious connection to the Qabalah or Book T's interpretation.
While Pollack's book briefly highlights the history, symbolism, and some esoteric aspects of each card, Wang's book includes some of these and more -- not just Western Qabalah (different than traditional Jewish Kabbalah), but many Western Mystery Traditions, such as numerology, Gematria (Qabalistic numerology), astrology, Hermetic philosophy, elemental associations, and other associations assigned by The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. There's also some discussion about Hindu and Taoist concepts, such as chakras, mudras, I Ching, etc.
There are plenty of wonderful diagrams and reference charts to help illustrate the concepts for Qabalah beginners like me.
Book T by MacGregor Mathers is also conveniently included in the back of the book with all of the traditional Golden Dawn card interpretations.
There's even a bibliography (finally)! With sooo many ill-researched Tarot decks and books out there now with the recent resurgence of popularity, this is more important than ever.
My only complaint is that Wang tends to insert his opinion when it isn't necessary. One example is Wang writes many times that the reader might not understand the complexities of what he's trying to explain, but I was able to keep up with everything without issue. The other example is every card's section examines side-by-side comparisons of The Golden Dawn, Thoth, Rider-Waite, and traditional Marseilles decks, which is a wonderful way of showing how Tarot creators used symbols to convey complex messages to the reader. Wang viewed a card's art negatively a few times for not having an obvious connection to the Qabalah or Book T's interpretation.
October 29, 2020
A dense, knowledgeable, and at times overwhelming survey of the "esoteric tarot": the application of the tarot deck to the Great Work of spiritual awakening and perfection. The author speaks from a long and close involvement with the tarot, and cautions the reader more than once that what can be communicated about it in words is limited. The approach is to examine the pack, comparing the symbolism of four different versions--those of the Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley, and Arthur Waite, along with the so-called Marseille pack of the 18th century--in light of the Qabalah, the system of Jewish mysticism.
This is deep, cosmic stuff. There is a vast quantity of material to absorb and, for the serious student, to memorize. While the book contains material on the divinatory meanings of the cards, the practice of divination is treated as secondary. The emphasis is on mystical knowledge and advancement, and this book is only for the serious student.
The book contains some slipshod copy editing, but it delivers the goods in terms of providing a deep look at the tarot from the perspective of the Qabalah.
This is deep, cosmic stuff. There is a vast quantity of material to absorb and, for the serious student, to memorize. While the book contains material on the divinatory meanings of the cards, the practice of divination is treated as secondary. The emphasis is on mystical knowledge and advancement, and this book is only for the serious student.
The book contains some slipshod copy editing, but it delivers the goods in terms of providing a deep look at the tarot from the perspective of the Qabalah.
September 27, 2011
An in-depth yet very clear look at how the Hermetic Kabbalah, the Tree of Life, and parts of the Soul is intertwined with Tarot, with exploration into hermetic magic and meditation toward enlightenment. My main focus is the Tarot and Tree of Life portion. A more thorough overview than any other book on the subject I have never read--including the esoteric Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley himself, which was extremely informative yet filled with personal short-hand and therefore not particularly accessible for the beginner or even intermediate student.
This book is out-of-print, so grab it whenever you see a copy lying around. Highly recommended.
This book is out-of-print, so grab it whenever you see a copy lying around. Highly recommended.
April 25, 2021
This book is a masterpiece. It is an excellent and well-researched scholarly treatise on the Hermetic Qabalah and its application to tarot, but it was so much more than that. It is a spiritual textbook; Wang really touched on spiritual truth, and his writing at times is transcendent. This is a book I'll have to re-read to fully grasp (if that's possible), the concepts within. It has deepened my understanding of tarot and will be a cornerstone in my esoteric library. The comparison between the Marseilles, Rider Waite Smith, Thoth, and Golden Dawn tarot systems were also excellent.
I'll leave with a delightful and thought-provoking quote (one of many), by Wang:
"As we realize that the experience of Kether means the total annihilation of Self as we conceive it, we also see the irony of our attempt to grasp such refined principles from an earthly perspective. We are ... little children attempting to spell God. ... We are driven forcibly into the key principle of the Mysteries, As Above, so Below. We look into that which is 'below' as a mirror reflection of that which is 'above.'"
I'll leave with a delightful and thought-provoking quote (one of many), by Wang:
"As we realize that the experience of Kether means the total annihilation of Self as we conceive it, we also see the irony of our attempt to grasp such refined principles from an earthly perspective. We are ... little children attempting to spell God. ... We are driven forcibly into the key principle of the Mysteries, As Above, so Below. We look into that which is 'below' as a mirror reflection of that which is 'above.'"
January 6, 2023
One of the best books written on the subject. Wang has presented in-depth explanations for all of his contents, from the history as well as their function and meaning. Tarot and Qabalah are subjective realms and each circle may have an opinion varying from that of others. But his approach worked the best for me- as did his use of multiple popular tarot decks while talking about the cards.
I am also thankful for the true history he has brought to light; many of the members of the Golden Dawn have maintained an aura of mystery around some topics that aren't really that complex just need more focus than others to assimilate with old learning. Great experience, will re-read this in future for more insights.
I am also thankful for the true history he has brought to light; many of the members of the Golden Dawn have maintained an aura of mystery around some topics that aren't really that complex just need more focus than others to assimilate with old learning. Great experience, will re-read this in future for more insights.
August 5, 2008
This is a very useful and informative book that shows the utility and ingenuity of mapping Tarot cards to the Qabalistic Tree of Life, as per Western Tradition. For those with a basic grasp of Tarot symbols, this book is a wonderful guide to their inter-relationships as parts of a greater wholistic system or engine. Though the symbols, in essence, speak for themselves, it is useful to have greater context in which to hear them. I learned a lot from this book and find it to be a handy reference work.
November 17, 2020
This book is truly exceptional. It's a textbook, but for being a textbook, it is readable, comprehensive, and informative. After reading, you have a clear sense of how to do practical personal work with the Tarot and Qabalah. Highly recommend, and grateful this book exists.
March 24, 2016
Pretty great reference resource to have on the shelf. However, by the time I got around to this one, there were books I liked better on the subject.
March 12, 2018
30 years and probably 20 re-reads later, still my favorite.
May 28, 2021
This book is my go-to reference for all things Tarot and Tree of Life and will likely remain so for decades to come. An invaluable resource that belongs in every seekers Library.
June 23, 2021
I enjoy Robert Wang's writing, & have a few of his books & Tarot deck, but I am a little confused with this book.
I study this subject through the lessons of PFC & B.O.T.A., which RW speaks highly about in this book. Although a difficult subject to get the head around, RW has done a very good job, but at pages 45, 46, & 47, there seems to be amendments made & paragraphs missing? The content does not flow? I wonder if it is just the book I'm reading, or all all the copies like this?
I study this subject through the lessons of PFC & B.O.T.A., which RW speaks highly about in this book. Although a difficult subject to get the head around, RW has done a very good job, but at pages 45, 46, & 47, there seems to be amendments made & paragraphs missing? The content does not flow? I wonder if it is just the book I'm reading, or all all the copies like this?
November 12, 2017
Excellent primer for those starting out in Tarot studies. It is a tough read though, for anyone without a primary understanding of Qabalah. Most all of the work in studying Tarot doesn't come from books.
December 12, 2020
A great reference work to the system of the Qabala and how intimately related Tarot is to that. Especially of interest is the wheel in the book, which I was finally was able to turn into an online calendar.
February 25, 2018
This isn't a read cover to cover book, but is more a reference book and I use this in my study group on Qabalah.
August 8, 2019
Best book on the Qabalah and Thoth, Rider and Golden Dawn Tarot decks I've yet to read!
February 17, 2022
Good but kinda boring
February 18, 2022
One of the best references period, along with being a must-read for newbies. 10/10.
September 8, 2022
An outstanding textbook to which I will be referring again and again.
March 26, 2025
“Perfect balance is a formula so precise that the Egyptians symbolized it's delicacy as the human soul weighed against a feather” (p. 191)
October 16, 2012
Tarot was created in Italy in 15th century as a card game and is still played commonly in Europe as such.
Everything else afterwards, all the occult stuff later added to the tarot, including Qabalah, no matter how fascinating they are, were created out of thin air. The Golden Dawn made their best to put many things together like tarot, Qabalah, I Ching, etc. and create the ultimate esoteric tarot deck filled with occult stuff. This book focuses on the Qabalah part and its link to tarot and to each card.
A certain basic knowledge in both subjets, tarot and Qabalah, is necessary to really grasp the book, this is no beginner material here.
The book is really good and Wang is good at explaining complex things. I'd say this book is a must for anyone who into tarot, Qabalah, Golden Dawn tarot decks and the Thoth Tarot.
Everything else afterwards, all the occult stuff later added to the tarot, including Qabalah, no matter how fascinating they are, were created out of thin air. The Golden Dawn made their best to put many things together like tarot, Qabalah, I Ching, etc. and create the ultimate esoteric tarot deck filled with occult stuff. This book focuses on the Qabalah part and its link to tarot and to each card.
A certain basic knowledge in both subjets, tarot and Qabalah, is necessary to really grasp the book, this is no beginner material here.
The book is really good and Wang is good at explaining complex things. I'd say this book is a must for anyone who into tarot, Qabalah, Golden Dawn tarot decks and the Thoth Tarot.
May 12, 2013
I have owned the 1st paper edition of this book (Samuel Weiser 1987) for over 20 years and I am continually finding new insights into the meanings of the Keys. This is a well thought out, well organized and comprehensive text. Written in an easy-to-read style, you can choose to read it cover-to-cover or use it as a reference when a specific question arises. The author includes several decks. I use the BOTA Paul Foster Case deck, and the Waite-Coleman deck.
May 3, 2013
This book is worth it's weight in gold for the introduction alone. Extremely interesting read which explores the connection between the tarot cards and the Qabalah's Tree of Life.
January 13, 2016
Amazing book on Tarot and Qabalah, cannot recommend it enough!!
May 27, 2016
Good book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews