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To be human is to crave prediction, especially during frightening and destabilizing times. We turn to all sorts of things to create meaning from the mayhem; from religion, to family, to therapy, to work. But, too often, these established structures are not equipped to help us with the existential uncertainties, the greater secrets of the human experience. It is this unmet need that has always fueled the world of the occult, wherein a vast array of spiritual goods and services are on offer. Tarot has become a dominant force in this space, and in this book, sociologist and card-reader Melissa F. Lavin explores its surging popularity, and the varied roles it has come to play for both its clients and its producers.
Lavin asks how we can understand something as nebulous as tarot – is it a creative practice? Amateur psychology? A centuries-old wisdom tradition? Part of the gig economy? An entertaining gimmick? It is all these things depending on the context. Lavin compares tarot to a hydra, the many-headed mythical beast, in order to argue that despite, or precisely because of, its nebulousness, tarot does something that nothing else can do: it gives us control over the chaos. Its amalgamate nature makes it uniquely suited to meet the needs of a society fractured by relentless change, and it welcomes anyone reeling from the failures of mainstream culture.
In Greater Secrets, Lavin brings readers behind the curtain, to the incense-infused realm of the tarotists and their patrons. A world made up of card readers, deck artists, occultists, collectors, hobbyists, and seekers of answers. The work they do together is real, whether you believe in their proclamations or not. To understand tarot is not to make it ordinary; rather understanding tarot imbues sociological theories about labor, emotion, and culture with a degree of magic.
"WithGreater Secrets, Lavin has given a true gift to both the academic study of tarot and the living archive of 'tarotisti,' who have not always been the recipients of such careful listening, true curiosity, and clear affinity.Through retellings of the diverse stories she collected during her research, Lavindoescast the people and communities surrounding the tarotinto much clearer focus than I have seen elsewhere. The rigor and sensitivity with which Lavin approaches her study of the ever-twinkling Tarot Hydra is rare and surprising, andGreater Secrets is a must-read for anyone interested in the many faces of tarot." —Jessica Dore, author of Tarot for Change: Using the Cards for Self-Care, Acceptance, and Growth
"This insider ethnographic work boldly uses intuition as a tool to explore the primarily commercial work of tarot readers and deck creators in the early 21st century. Melissa F. Lavin shows how tarot in popular culture has become a noteworthy and growing source of direction among those seeking personal control amid uncertainty." —Mary K. Greer, author of Tarot for Your Self: A Workbook for Personal Transformation
"Combining careful ethnography, historical context, and an insider's understanding, Lavin brilliantly depicts the many complexities and paradoxes of Tarot. She brings the insight and patience of any great Tarot reader to her study of these very readers, revealing a wisdom and meaning the social sciences have too long ignored.Greater Secretsis a gem." —Jeffrey Guhin, author of Agents of God: Boundaries and Authority in Muslim and Christian Schools
"Melissa F. Lavin'sGreater Secretsis the first scholarly field study of Tarot readers and makers, revealing a greater depth and range of purpose, practice, and aims among this community than media or conventional opinion realizes. It is a work of social revelation amid a twenty-first-century occult boomlet." —Mitch Horowitz, author ofOccult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation
"Melissa F. Lavin's writing manages to be rich, tangible and thoughtful whilst also exploring the social, political and economic angles that ground the practice of Tarot into this reality. She exalts and celebrates Tarot whilst also level-headedly placing it into cultural context.Greater Secretsis an obvious labour of love that's been so earnestly put together with such adeep degree of consciousness and care. This book is what we've been unconsciously waiting for." —Kelly-Ann Maddox, author ofWitch in Darkness: Magick for Tough Times, Bad Days and Moments of Total Catastrophe
"Greater Secrets isn't just for scholars, it's for anyone who loves Tarot. Lavin has crafted a magical tome that provides modern insight into nearly every aspect of Tarot culture today. Artists, readers, and just plain devotees of the cards will find something new in these pages and come away with a greater appreciation for this often-underappreciated art form. There are hundreds of books on how to read Tarot, a few on Tarot history, but none that compare to Greater Secrets in scope and insights. A must for Tarot lovers." —Jason Mankey, co-author of Modern Witchcraft with the Greek Gods: History, Insights & Magickal Practice
"Melissa Lavin has written one of the most nuanced studies of contemporary tarot culture that I've read.Greater Secretshonors the diversity of today's practitioners while illuminating the rich social, historical, and spiritual worlds they inhabit. Blending careful scholarship with genuine respect for lived experience, this book is an essential resource for seekers, practitioners, and scholars alike." —Lorraine Monteagut, author ofBrujas: The Magic and Power of Witches of Color
"I traveled with Lavin into the cartomantic world and did not want to leave! Greater Secretsis a fantastic, multidimensionalcultural analysis of the tarot world that skillfully juxtaposes aspects of the tarot economy with the emotions of its patrons. Lavin is a captivating writer and an inventive sociologist." —Ranita Ray, author of Slow Violence: Confronting Dark Truths in the American Classroom
"A fascinating exploration of a relatively unexplored social world. Clearly written and carefully researched. Highly recommended for those interested in marginal associations and practices." —Clinton R. Sanders, author ofCustomizing the Body: The Art and Culture of Tattooing