The Creative Tarot

Starred review from December 14, 2015
Tarot card readings can be a “tool for storytelling” to enhance the creative process, according to Crispin (The Dead Ladies Project), book critic and founder of the Bookslut literary blog. In this lively handbook she avoids mystical aspects of the cards, thought to originate in the Renaissance: “This is not about foretelling the future,” she writes. “This is about uncovering what you already know.” Assuming no previous knowledge, the guide answers common questions, summarizes the history of the tarot deck, and describes how artists and authors such as Italo Calvino have used it as a source of inspiration. The majority of the book is devoted to descriptions of the classic tarot cards; for each one, Crispin explores how its meanings are reflected in the creative struggles of artists, from the famous to the obscure, and provides a short but eclectic list of materials for further exploration, including books, films, paintings, photography, and music. Suggested layouts (“spreads”) and sample readings are included. Crispin presents a persuasive case for the tarot’s usefulness to writers and artists; her many insights into the creative life as well as her dazzlingly wide array of examples throughout make this a valuable reference for readers not remotely interested in the “psychic arts.”

Starred review from February 1, 2016

Crispin's (The Dead Ladies Project) stated goal is to use the tarot to assist and inspire artists and creatives in their work. Like most titles on tarot, Crispin offers a bit of history and an overview of the parts of the tarot deck, the Major and Minor Arcana's; the suits of wands, swords, cups, and coins; numbers and court cards. Unique is her use of narrative and story, art and music to render both classical and modern interpretations, suggesting resonant poems, songs, or paintings for each of the 78 cards. The cross-pollination of these cultural touchstones to the iconic imagery of the tarot may inspire creativity, but they also serve as mnemonics that can assist a beginning tarot reader's interpretation or imbue greater depth to a more seasoned practitioner. Novice and expert alike will also benefit from the five uncomplicated and mostly original spreads (how the cards are laid out for reading). VERDICT Crispin's Jungian-like message that the deck is a gateway for personal insight rather than divination opens up the tarot to a broader audience. Readers seeking creative inspiration will find this to be one of the most accessible books ever written on the subject.--Janet Tapper, Univ. of Western States Lib., Portland, OR

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2016
Crispin, founder and editor of Bookslut.com, brings the fruits of her deep and adventurous reading and immersion in the arts to this unique and fascinating approach to the tarot as a tool for overcoming obstacles to creative endeavors. She briskly covers the history of these illustrated divination cards with their swords, cups, wands, and coins; candidly shares the role the tarot plays in her life; and explains how she uses it not for predicting the future but, rather, for retelling the present with intuition and imagination. Crispin offers richly metaphorical interpretations of each card, including such figures as the Fool and the Hanged Man; demonstrates how reading the cards can be a way of creating meaning; and tells compelling true tales about how diverse artists overcame obstacles. Each card's anecdotal definition is followed by a brief, enticing list of recommended books, films, paintings, and songs by a grand spectrum of creators, including James Baldwin, David Cronenberg, Mary Cassatt, and David Bowie. Even readers with no previous interest in the tarot will be intrigued and delighted by Crispin's ardently researched, spirited, creative, and inspiring elucidation.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)