Simon Kenny

A Critical Introduction to Tarot

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How does Tarot work? Why is it so popular today? Is it just for fortune tellers?

Tarot has seen a recent uptick in interest that warrants explanation. This book, however, is not another take on the cards’ meanings and how to read them. Instead, independent researcher Simon Kenny presents Tarot to the incredulous and curious and those who wish to know the basis for its continued cultural relevance.

A Critical Introduction to Tarot explains the practice in its historical and metaphysical contexts, and investigates its supporting belief structures, from witchcraft and magical practices to popular psychology. Throughout these pages, connections to politics, philosophy, psychology, numerology, astrology, Freemasonry, statistics, interpretative symbolism, self-help, social media — even the nature of truth itself — are explored.

An accessible read aimed at demystifying Tarot for those unfamiliar with its magical, occult roots and growing use as a personal development tool.

Praise:

“Simon Kenny’s engaging work approaches this very familiar terrain from an uncommon perspective…”
— Gary Lachman

“Simon’s work asks the questions any person interested in Tarot should ask … A valuable companion for the metaphysically minded Tarot reader.”
— T. Susan Chang

Chapters:

  1. Introduction
  2. Pythagoras and Kabbalah
  3. Layers of Meaning
  4. Metaphysics
  5. Jung and Psychological Mysticism
  6. The Means of Magic
  7. Randomness and Projection
  8. Politics and Witchcraft
  9. Satanism and Freemasonry
  10. The Power of Words and Symbols
  11. Tensions
  12. Conclusion

A Cultural Reader of the Tarot

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This short pamphlet continues the exploration begun in A Critical Introduction to Tarot, considering Tarot’s presence in AI, gaming, and contemporary mysticism.

Chapters:

  1. We Can Generate It for You Wholesale: Tarot and AI
  2. Playing with Fate: Tarot in Games, Games for Tarot
  3. Tarot, a Heretical Mysticism

About

Simon Kenny is an author, technologist and educator whose work combines probing questions with technical thinking. He began writing at university, where he graduated top of his class and continued to blog about technology and political philosophy.