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Tarkabarka

Tarkabarka@bookwyrm.social

Joined 2 years, 8 months ago

Storyteller, author.

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Tarkabarka's books

Currently Reading (View all 27)

Maria Minnis, Lane Smith: 78 Acts of Liberation (2024, Sounds True, Incorporated)

A new structure and a new context

I picked up this book because I was curious about how it interprets tarot cards in the context of social movements - but I got more than that. It completely rearranges the tarot, while keeping traditional symbols and numbers, into a non-linear, community-based, Justice-centered system. It also, apart from of the examples of activism, has very deep, interesting things to say about the possible menanings of each card. And I loved the examples. I learned a lot about social movements - and also the many different facets of activism, from allyship through communication to sustainability. I loved it that instead of taking cards one by one, it highlighted relationships between Majors and Minors of the same numbers, and their references to activist work as a whole. I'm a little sad the court cards didn't get more attention.

Cassandra Snow: Tarot in other words : an essential anthology by leading queer tarot writers (2025)

"This book is an essential collection of writing by leading queer tarot writers and community …

Personal journeys and tarot practice

A fascinating collection of personal essays as well as practical advice on queering the tarot. I enjoyed the different authors' points of view, and the stories of their personal journeys alongside the tarot practice. These kinds of books are much more interesting to me than the ones that solely focus on advice - and diverse voices of queerness spoke authentically about finding new ways to read tarot. Some of the essays gave me whole new perspectives on things I would like to try, such as reframing the court cards, or finally trying to read reversed cards (this speaks to how good that essay was, I never wanted to read reversed before!). My favorite essay, however, was the one on the High Priestess and identity. It was deep understanding, poetry, personal storytelling, and tarot excellence all in one.

Guido A. Sanchez, James Fenner: Queer Mythology (2024, Running Press)

Good read, but with problems

I loved the concept, and the selection of stories was good. However, I would have liked to have sources for the myths (and folktales - not all are myths), because the claim that "None of the stories retold here have been significantly changed" doesn't really stand up. Significant elements were changed in most of them (the ones I know anyway) - not in terms of queerness, but in terms of narrative and symbolism. A lovely read, but more of a creative adaptation than a retelling.