Discover the Secrets of the Marseille Tarot with The Way of Tarot by Alejandro Jodorowsky
Alejandro Jodorowsky: The Way of Tarot
If you are interested in tarot as a spiritual path, you may have heard of Alejandro Jodorowsky and his book The Way of Tarot. This book is not just another guide to reading the cards, but a profound study of the tarot as a symbolic language that reveals the structure of the soul and the secrets of the universe. In this article, we will explore who Alejandro Jodorowsky is, what The Way of Tarot is about, how it differs from other tarot books, what benefits it can bring you, how to read it, and where to find it online.
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Who is Alejandro Jodorowsky?
Alejandro Jodorowsky is a Chilean-French artist, filmmaker, writer, philosopher, and spiritual teacher. He was born in 1929 in Tocopilla, a coastal town in Chile. He grew up in a Jewish family that immigrated from Ukraine and Russia. He developed an interest in art, poetry, theater, and circus from an early age. He moved to Santiago de Chile in 1947, where he studied theater and mime. He also became involved in avant-garde movements such as surrealism and dadaism.
In 1953, he left Chile for Paris, where he met many influential artists and intellectuals. He joined the surrealist group led by André Breton and collaborated with Marcel Marceau, Maurice Chevalier, Jean Cocteau, and others. He also traveled to Mexico, where he founded the Panic Movement with Fernando Arrabal and Roland Topor. This movement was inspired by surrealism, existentialism, and anarchism. It aimed to create shocking and provocative performances that challenged the norms of society and art.
In 1968, he directed his first feature film, El Topo (The Mole), which became a cult classic and a pioneer of the midnight movie phenomenon. The film was a psychedelic western that mixed mysticism, violence, symbolism, and humor. It attracted the attention of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who helped finance his next film, The Holy Mountain (1973). This film was an ambitious and controversial allegory of spiritual enlightenment that depicted a group of seekers who climbed a sacred mountain to meet immortal masters.
Jodorowsky also attempted to adapt Frank Herbert's novel Dune into a film, but the project was never completed due to budgetary and creative differences. However, his vision for Dune influenced many sci-fi films that followed, such as Star Wars, Alien, Blade Runner, and The Matrix. He also wrote and directed other films such as Tusk (1980), Santa Sangre (1989), The Rainbow Thief (1990), The Dance of Reality (2013), and Endless Poetry (2016).
Besides filmmaking, Jodorowsky also explored other forms of art and expression. He wrote novels, comics, poetry, essays, and plays. He created his own tarot deck, the Tarot of Marseille, based on the original 11th-century design. He also developed his own system of psychotherapy, called psychomagic, which uses symbolic actions and rituals to heal emotional and psychological wounds. He also studied various esoteric traditions, such as alchemy, Zen Buddhism, Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and shamanism.
What is The Way of Tarot?
The Way of Tarot is a book that Jodorowsky wrote with Marianne Costa, a French writer and tarot expert. The book was first published in French in 2004 and translated into English in 2009. The book is the result of Jodorowsky's lifelong research and practice of the tarot as a spiritual path. It reveals his insights into the tarot as a powerful instrument of self-knowledge and a representation of the structure of the soul.
The book works with the original Marseille Tarot, which is the oldest and most authentic version of the tarot. The Marseille Tarot was created during a time of religious tolerance in the 11th century in southern France. It consists of 78 cards or arcana, which are divided into two groups: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana are 22 cards that depict archetypal images and symbols that represent the stages of the soul's journey from ignorance to enlightenment. The Minor Arcana are 56 cards that depict everyday situations and aspects of human life.
The Way of Tarot shows that the entire deck is structured like a temple, or a mandala, which is both an image of the world and a representation of the divine. The authors explain that the tarot is a "nomadic cathedral" whose parts should always be viewed with an awareness of the whole structure. This understanding is essential to fully grasp the tarot's hermetic symbolism.
The book also provides the key to the symbolic language of the tarot, which is based on numerology, geometry, color, anatomy, astrology, mythology, and psychology. The authors explore the secret associations behind the hierarchy of the cards and the correspondences between the suits and energies within human beings. They also reveal the hidden meanings and messages of each card in detail.
The book also transforms a simple divination tool into a vehicle for self-realization and healing. The authors use their work with Tarology, a new psychological approach that uses the symbolism and optical language of the tarot to create a mirror image of the personality. They offer a powerful tool for self-analysis, creativity, and transformation.
How does The Way of Tarot differ from other tarot books?
The Way of Tarot differs from other tarot books in several ways. First of all, it focuses on the original Marseille Tarot, which is often overlooked or misunderstood by modern tarot readers. The authors argue that this version of the tarot preserves the purest and most ancient wisdom of the Western esoteric tradition. They also restore some of the original features of the deck, such as the spelling, colors, and designs.
Secondly, it offers a holistic and integrative view of the tarot as a living system that reflects the structure of reality and consciousness. The authors show how each card is connected to every other card in a dynamic and organic way. They also demonstrate how each card can be interpreted on multiple levels: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, social, historical, and cosmic.
Thirdly, it presents a practical and experiential method for reading and working with the tarot. The authors provide clear and detailed instructions for preparing oneself for a reading, choosing a spread, shuffling and cutting the cards, laying out the cards, interpreting the cards individually and collectively, asking questions, giving feedback, and closing a reading. They also suggest various exercises and activities to deepen one's understanding and relationship with the cards.
What are the benefits of reading The Way of Tarot?
Reading The Way of Tarot can bring you many benefits on different levels. Some of them are:
It can help you discover yourself more deeply and honestly. By using the tarot as a mirror of your soul, you can access your subconscious mind and uncover your hidden motivations, desires, fears, conflicts, potentials, talents, gifts, and challenges.
It can help you develop your intuition and creativity. By using the tarot as a language of symbols, you can stimulate your imagination and activate your right brain hemisphere. You can also learn to trust your inner voice and express yourself more freely and authentically.
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Here are some common questions and answers about The Way of Tarot:
Q: Do I need to have any prior knowledge or experience with tarot to read The Way of Tarot?
A: No, you don't need to have any prior knowledge or experience with tarot to read The Way of Tarot. The book is suitable for beginners as well as advanced readers. However, you may need to have some familiarity with basic concepts such as numerology, geometry, color, anatomy, astrology, mythology, and psychology to understand some of the explanations and references in the book.
Q: Do I need to have a specific belief system or religion to read The Way of Tarot?
A: No, you don't need to have a specific belief system or religion to read The Way of Tarot. The book is not dogmatic or sectarian. It respects and integrates various esoteric traditions, such as alchemy, Zen Buddhism, Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and shamanism. However, you may need to have an open mind and a spiritual curiosity to appreciate some of the perspectives and teachings in the book.
Q: Do I need to use the Marseille Tarot deck to read The Way of Tarot?
A: Yes, you need to use the Marseille Tarot deck to read The Way of Tarot. The book is based on the original Marseille Tarot deck, which is the oldest and most authentic version of the tarot. The authors argue that this version of the tarot preserves the purest and most ancient wisdom of the Western esoteric tradition. They also restore some of the original features of the deck, such as the spelling, colors, and designs. Using any other deck that has modified or added images or meanings to the cards may distort or dilute the message and the symbolism of the book.
Q: How long does it take to read The Way of Tarot?
A: It depends on how fast you read and how much time you dedicate to reading The Way of Tarot. The book has 552 pages in total. If you read 10 pages per day, it will take you about two months to finish it. However, reading The Way of Tarot is not just about finishing it quickly. It is about studying it carefully, practicing it diligently, and revisiting it frequently. You may want to take more time to absorb and apply what you learn from each chapter.
Q: Where can I learn more about Alejandro Jodorowsky and his work?
A: You can learn more about Alejandro Jodorowsky and his work by visiting his official website: https://www.clubcultura.com/clubcine/clubcineastas/jodorowsky/. You can also watch his films, read his books and comics, listen to his interviews and podcasts, follow his social media accounts, and join his online courses and workshops.
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