What an amazing feast James Ricklef's third book is: readable, informative, and, most importantly, outright fun. I know little about tarot and am not a practitioner, but I am always interested in learning about other beliefs, religions, and practices. The beauty of all Ricklef's books is that they are written for novice and expert alike. There is enough explanatory material to make someone like me feel like part of the in-crowd--yet also so much insider information/references to the beliefs of famous masters that even the most experienced buffs will find new ways of thinking about an old art. In addition, Ricklef neither talks down to the novices nor bores the devotees; he finds with verve and panache that middle ground so many writers cannot.

Light a few candles, put on some low music, and pick up this delightful read.