A Review by Serena Brink of 

Tarot for the Green Witch by Ann Moura

The green (as in Nature) witch approach to tarot cards used by Ann Moura draws upon the Nature theme in witchcraft, so interpretations of the Major Arcana, in particular, relate them to the seasons, the Sabbat, witchcraft practices and rituals as well as the mythic story of the Goddess and God of Nature. As a result this book will help those who have embarked on the Wiccan way to find an approach to tarot reading that enriches their practice of Witchcraft.

Interpretations of the major arcana from the green witch perspective transform the Fool into the Greenman, the Emperor into the Horned God, the Chariot into the Battle Wagon and so on.  The traditional meanings of cards are given, so this shouldn't confuse beginners or readers who are used to a more traditional approach. This witchcraft perspective of the tarot means that any tarot pack can be used by a witch or aspirant witch, according to the author, because each card can be associated with the greater archetypes of witchcraft and this makes it a coherant system that is not affected by the variations among different tarot decks.  The system of major arcana titles used by the author differ from other Wiccan or Pagan titles I have come across, for example, Ann Moura associates the Crone with the Strength card, rather than the Hermit (as is the case in the Daughters of the Moon Tarot, for instance), but her justifications for these associations are workable, so it is up to the person using her system to decide what makes the most sense to her or him.  

This book encourages a psychic approach to tarot reading that will suit aspirant psychics as well as those who have embarked on the Wiccan way. As Ann Moura writes:

"The tarot as represented here is not a complicated structure, but a tool of psychic vision that relies on the universal symbolism recognized deep within the human spirit and released through the subconscious mind."

This method of tarot reading emphasizes psychic visions and meduimship - in which the Divine Goddess or God is invoked and becomes the source of guidance, and the reader a channel of Divine messages.  In this way the tarot becomes a focal point through which to access Divine guidance which can manifest in visions or interpretations of the influences at work in the life of the person requesting a reading, as well as guidance that can lead to change or an enriched understanding of one's life patterns and their purpose.  This is a spiritual approach to tarot reading, in which the tarot can become the doorway for messages from the Divine, and a way of divining the currents of fate and the will of the Divine in a particular matter.  It is an approach well suited to psychics and practioners of Witchcraft.  It is also an approach that can encourage the beginner to release his or her clutch on a book of interpretations and to trust personal insights and psychic perceptions of the messages conveyed by the tarot.

However, a word of caution to beginners.....the vehicle of messages from the Divine is human and as such is limited according to depth of understanding, degree of wisdom, experience and personality.  Psychics are particularly vulnerable to delusion and meduims to ego inflation.  The witchcraft tradition therefore emphasizes the importance of centering and grounding, but a certain amount of humility and common sense wouldn't go astray.  Nevertheless, it is important to trust your intuition, for visions and messages can be offered with humility rather than absolute certainty - which can encourage the querent to exercise a choice about what information to accept or reject.  Ann Moura is obviously an experienced and talented psychic and meduim and can offer her perceptions and visions with authority, but not everybody is at her stage of development.

The cards used to illustrate the text are the Robin Wood Tarot, the Sacred Circle Tarot, the Nigel Jackson Tarot, the Buckland Romani Tarot, and the Witches Tarot.  By viewing these cards, the beginner can get some idea of what kind of artwork and tarot images appeal to her or him.  The author works with a variety of different packs, but a beginner usually starts with one pack, and it is important to get a pack that speaks to you, that you are attracted to, rather than trusting that another person knows which tarot pack will evoke your intuition. 

Each card in the tarot pack is given equal treatment, in a systematic and useful way, for instance the nine of cups is introduced (description, advice and a brief interpretation), and then a summary of possible meanings, the reverse meanings and keywords are given. The place of each major arcana card within the green witchcraft tradition is briefly stated, usually at the end of the main body of interpretation in the text.  For instance, the High Priestess has been given the title 'Drawing down the Moon' because the ritual helps a witch to receive inspiration and guidance directly from the Goddess and opens a portal to wisdom.

Nearly half the book is devoted to lists of card combinations.  This is a useful resource for tarot readers who are uncertain about how to read pairs of cards. For those readers who find it difficult to read card combinations, for example the seven of wands and the Page of Swords, this book will give you some ideas on how to combine the meanings of different cards, as it gives complete summaries for paired card combinations.  As Ann Moura writes:

'By looking at pairs, the meaning of their suits, their location in the spread and how they link to the other cards in the spread, you can open the cards to your psychic intuition for a reading that flows.'

Quick Glance Charts for the Major and Minor Arcana are provided, as well as a number of tarot spreads such as the author's Tree of Life spread, the Wheel of the Year, Change, the Mystic Pyramid and the Elemental Cross spreads.  Your life pattern and annual influences can also be worked out using a clearly described method of numerology.