PDF based tarot course

Cost: by donation (donations will be requested each five weeks for those who are able to)

Past participant feedback is shown to the right and below.
C1 took place between October 2007 and June 2008;
C2 between July 2008 and February 2009;
C3 between March and November 2009; and
C4, for 2010, has just started...

What you will need

The course assumes that you will have a copy of the Jean Noblet Tarot. These are available directly from Jean-Claude Flornoy (located in Europe) and from Tarotgarden (located in the USA). Please mention my name and fourhares.com when obtaining your deck (I do not get any funds from this, just a little kudos).

Meditations on the Tarot

Interested? Come along to any session...

Dates: 1st and 3rd Saturdays (school terms only), 4:00 - 6:00 pm.

> participant notes and calendar

Cost: $10 (Conc. $5) - per session
limit: 20 participants
          (currently: ≈15 participants)

Opened in 2010, and expected to continue until mid-2012, this course is based on the book Meditations on the Tarot. Sessions are at the Michael Centre in Warranwood (unless otherwise indicated).

Meditations on the Tarot is one of those rare books that contains a vast breadth and depth of spiritual insight, referencing not only – though predominantly – the key Western Esoteric Traditions, but also aspects from Eastern sources.

The book is divided into twenty-two letters that were published post-humously, written in the latter part of the 1960s from an ‘Unknown’ Author (UA) to his readers (‘UA’ is an appellation becoming increasingly common when referring to its author, and reminiscent of the Martinist ‘Unknown Philosopher’). Such ‘letter’ style is not unusual, and is found in some classic Russian and mediaeval Christian texts – for example The Cloud of Unknowing.

The UA clearly comes from a Christian perspective, but not one which would be expected from any exoteric church – though I have been informed that the previous Pope had a copy of the German translation of the work!

Each letter is an exegesis of one of the trumps, with the final letter making implications for the rest of the deck. Though the author clearly refers to the Marseille deck in the text, he also states (p 260):

The twenty-two Cards of the Major Arcana of the Tarot being an organism, a complete whole, it is not a question of diverse and disparate origins of particular Cards, but rather of the degrees of their evolution or transformation. For the Tarot, also, is not a wheel, a closed circle, but rather a spiral, i.e. it evolves through tradition and … reincarnation

Reading the book is certainly a journey, not so much because it takes the reader along well traveled paths (which it does, being firmly grounded in tradition) – but rather because the reader is lead far and wide to a very diverse and broad range of other authors – some well known, such as Drs Steiner or Jung, others not as well, such as Dr Carton or Prof. Mebes.

The classics are also extremely well interwoven, and relevant quotes from such important esoteric, spiritual and hermetic texts as the Kore Kosmu, the Bible, the Zohar, the Vishvasara Tantra, the Hermetica (amongst others), as well as quotes from or references to Wirth, Origen, Papus, Bergson, Goethe, Kant, Eliphas Lévi, Nietzsche, d’Olivet, Péladan, Philip de Lyons, Plato, Albertus Magnus, and Sts Anthony, Teresa, John of the Cross, Augustine, Bonaventure, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, and the Buddha (in addition to those previously mentioned, ie, Steiner et al.). Each quote or reference is carefully selected and artfully placed.

Of Tarot’s history, the UA states (ibid.):

The authors who saw in the Tarot the ‘Sacred Book of Thoth’ (Thoth = Hermes Trismegistus) were both right and wrong at the same time. They were right in so far as they traced back the history of the essence of the Tarot to antiquity, notably to ancient Egypt. And they were wrong in so far as they believed that the Tarot had been inherited from ancient Egypt, i.e. that it had been transmitted from generation to generation subject to minor iconographic changes.

This work ranks amongst the classics of mysticism, gnosis and magic – the three pathways into Hermeticism. For all serious Tarot enthusiasts, and for all aspirants walking the Occidental Spiritual paths, I would recommend it without reservation, and invite you to share with others a journey of discovery into the book’s incredible wealth.

Each session begins with a quiet time for reflection on the card image upon which the Letter is based, followed by, alternately, either a presentation introducing some of the sources used by the author of the work, or a discussion based on the content, its insights, and, when appropriate, its consequences.

To participate in this Melbourne-based event, simply come along.

> download pdf brochure (280KB)

Link for book purchase:
> Meditations on the Tarot

Comments about the courses

I have been reading Tarot 30 yrs. I have taken several Tarot courses from some of the most respected Tarot folks teaching today. JMDs course ranks up there with the very best. It is well worth the time & effort.

JMD is one of those rare teachers who takes you on the journey with him. He made the Noblet, history, art & the entire TdM come alive for me. I grew & expanded my Tarot knowledge with this course. I truly looked forward to EACH weekly lesson!»

Mac22

I found this course to be well worthwhile. Anyone who is interested in going behind and beyond the standard modern tarot interpretations will find much to learn and to do. Horizons will be broadened, vistas will be explored, inner maps will be redrawn.»

Lee Bursten - author and deck designer

I have completed the 30 weeks’ course of Tarot Studies with Jean-Michel David in 2008 and found each encounter both enriching and inspiring. My knowledge of Tarot history and the multiple aspects of each card was greatly increased and the sessions of readings inspired me to practise reading cards for both myself and some of my friends.

The many images shown from centuries of Tarot history increased my sensitivity to the possibilities hidden and revealed in the Tarot, just as my study of the Hebrew Letters has done. The wonderful connections in Kabbalah, mystical spirituality and Tarot revealed more about the esoteric aspects of my religious convictions.»

Judy Racz - artist

Its not easy to choose appropriate adjectives to describe Jean Michel David's "30 Weeks of Tarot" course... It's one of a kind experience, an enjoyable and fulfilling journey of learning and self discovery through Major Arcanum of Tarot de Marseilles. Prior to signing up for this course I thought I'd never make it, I wished all this TdM "craze" would simply go away, but in only thirty weeks Ii changed my mind and became a "TdM convert" with the accompanying the conversion zest and verve!

I wholeheartidly recommend this course not only as the best available "tool" to comprehend Tarot de Marseilles, but also as an amazing opportunity to expand the understanding and obtain a fresh view – through an unusually beautiful and mystical prism of TdM – of the ancient history, Greek thought, Western philosophy and last, but not the least, Jewish mysticism.»

Lena Ruth Stefanovic, writer, author of Archetype of Miracles and Io Triumpe, Montenegro

Just got to the end of the course. While I realised early on that it wasn't exactly what I was looking or, I enjoyed the few exercises and I will keep the Pdf files as they are a goldmine of historical information.

I would recommend anyone to participate because even if it's not exactly what's expected, at some point in the future it may be just what's needed.

Thank you JMD.»

firefrost

JMD's 30 week TDM course has been a surprising and satisfying journey into the TdM and the Tarot in general.

In 6 short pages every week, JMD's chapters are like fertilizer to anyone wanting to grow their understanding and expand their skills with these fascinating cards.

The ideas presented are offered with outside links creating the opportunity for a chain reaction of study that continues as far as the student chooses to go. A week was not always enough to follow a card. It covers history, philosophy, art, tantalizing educated speculation and opens a window into the minds of the TdM's creators.

The exercises provided many challenges that have opened new ways of seeing the cards. Play is encouraged and patterns and conversations between the cards or even within a single card, depending on the context, were very revealing and creatively stimulating. The amount of information and direction was just enough and suited me even when my attention span was, for what ever reason, shortened.

This course is not for the timid, however. An open mind and curiosity are required as well as the desire to stick with it to see the patterns and links emerge.. I plan to go back over the course again as I expect that I'll find new things revealed with each review. No question the author has put a tremendous amount of work and effort behind this course. I have never seen anything that even comes close! Highly recommended!!»

Bat_Chicken

I found the course (interrupted by some travel) well worth while.
It did not help me read with a TDM, but it solidified how I feel about Tarot, and historical cards. I explored new ideas in contemplating images, learned new areas of interest, re- read some books with a new eye, and became more structured in how I approach Tarot History. These things are invaluable.

I used the jmd's discussions/chapters on a trip around Italy, and it enriched that adventure. I knew what I was looking for, for starters. Perhaps not oddly, but what I learned in the course about reading the cards, I applied to non historical decks with excellent success for my inner eye.

I value education highly, and the educator in jmd is obvious and skillful.

One of the attitudes that I found great, was the spacing or organising of subjects each week. There was for me a structured UN- flow, so I wove through the deck without losing interest. For example- Alchemy before Temperance and the Devil was structured- but did not feel that way. Very clever!

Well done!!

As to the Noblet... Well I value it as I return to it again and again to check things out. I trimmed the corners too :) It is convenient to carry around too!»

Rosanne

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