Overview

The 49-day mystical practice known as Counting the Omer is an ancient Jewish ritual observed between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot (also known as Pentecost). As practiced by Kabbalists, it is designed to cleanse and purify the soul in preparation for spiritual revelation and a personal connection with God. The ritual creates a spiritual inner journey that follows the path of the ancient Israelites from the moment of their physical freedom from slavery in Egypt to the establishment of their spiritual freedom forty-nine days later when they arrived at Mt. Sinai. Adeptly integrating this mystical practice with the transformative symbolism of the Tarot, Mark Horn uses the ritual of Counting the Omer as a template for a guided meditative practice that gives readers insight into their personal life journey and help in overcoming the issues that hinder their growth and spiritual awakening. Examining the correspondence of the Tarot’s minor arcana with the Sephirot of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, he shows how using the cards in connection with Counting the Omer can unlock the gates to a deep experience of the sacred. In the detailed daily practice workbook section, Horn provides day-by-day descriptions of the 49-day meditative practice of Counting the Omer. He divides the journey into seven week-long segments, which in turn are broken down into seven daily practices. For each day, he explains the related Sephirot and Tarot cards and their Kabbalistic and spiritual meanings, providing the reader with questions for daily reflection, guidance for meditation, and insight from traditional Jewish texts as well as teachings from Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim traditions. Unveiling the relationship between Tarot and the Kabbalah, Horn shows readers how uniting these two practices can open them to a deeper experience of the Divine.

Full Product Details

Author:   Mark Horn
Publisher:   Inner Traditions Bear and Company
Imprint:   Destiny Books,U.S.
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 3.60cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.649kg
ISBN:  

9781620559307

ISBN 10:   1620559307
Pages:   544
Publication Date:   06 February 2020
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

A Personal Introduction Kabbalah, Tarot Cards, and Counting the Omer-- What’s This All About? The Forty-Nine Steps of Spiritual Refinement How a Biblical Commandment Turned into a Kabbalistic Meditation The Adoption and Adaptation of Pentecost by the Early Christians The Tikkun Prayer Vigil Kabbalah, Cabala, and Qabalah The Tree of Life The Sephirot The Four Worlds The Tarot Connection Putting It All Together How to Follow the Daily Practice The Ritual Using the Cards How to Use the Key Words to Help Interpret the Cards The Meditation The Blessing: A Nontraditional Version The Prayer: A Nontraditional Version Looking Ahead to the 50th Day Week 1 Chesed Day 1: Chesed of Chesed. Starting the Journey with Love Day 2: Gevurah of Chesed. Structure and Struggle Held in Loving-kindness Day 3: Tiferet of Chesed. Holding Hurt and Pain with Love and Compassion Day 4: Netzach of Chesed. Defending Yourself without Falling Prey to Your Defenses Day 5: Hod of Chesed. Finding the Victory in Love by Surrendering the Ego Day 6: Yesod of Chesed. Shining the Light of Love into Our Darkest Places Day 7: Malchut of Chesed. Accepting Love and Being True to Who You Fully Are in Relationship Week 2 Gevurah Day 8: Chesed of Gevurah. Creating Structure without Stricture Day 9: Gevurah of Gevurah. Learning Restraint in Judgment Day 10: Tiferet of Gevurah. Seeing the Beauty in Structure Day 11: Netzach of Gevurah. Perseverance Furthers Day 12: Hod of Gevurah. Getting Yourself Out of the Way of Your Self Day 13: Yesod of Gevurah. Intimacy Can Blossom in a Strong Container Day 14: Malchut of Gevurah. Healthy Boundaries Make Healthy Relationships Week 3 Tiferet Day 15: Chesed of Tiferet. Finding Joy in Harmony Day 16: Gevurah of Tiferet. The Role of Judgment in Compassion Day 17: Tiferet of Tiferet. The Heart of the Matter Day 18: Netzach of Tiferet. Finding the Victory in Truth Day 19: Hod of Tiferet. Witness and Withness--Humility in Compassion bYesod of Tiferet. Harnessing the Passion in Compassion Day 21: Malchut of Tiferet. The Dignity in Compassionate Action Week 4 Netzach Day 22: Chesed of Netzach. Love Endures All Things Day 23: Gevurah of Netzach. Endurance Requires Discipline Day 24: Tiferet of Netzach. Finding Compassion in Victory Day 25: Netzach of Netzach. Passive Endurance vs. Active Endurance Day 26: Hod of Netzach. The Victory That Comes from Surrender Day 27: Yesod of Netzach. The Connection That Fuels Commitment Day 28: Malchut of Netzach. Nobility in Endurance Week 5 Hod Day 29: Chesed of Hod. Overflowing with Gratitude Day 30: Gevurah of Hod. Living in Awe of the Splendor of Creation Day 31: Tiferet of Hod. An Open Heart Is Always Full, but Never Full of Itself Day 32: Netzach of Hod. Finding Endurance in Humility Is Finding Victory in Humility Day 33: Hod of Hod. Glory, Glory Hallelujah Day 34: Yesod of Hod. The Connection of I-Thou Begins in Humility Day 35: Malchut of Hod. When You’re Secure in Your Dignity, Humility Comes Naturally Week 6 Yesod Day 36: Chesed of Yesod. The Secret Love Binding the World Together Day 37: Gevurah of Yesod. Setting Boundaries in Intimacy Day 38: Tiferet of Yesod. Truth Is the Foundation of Intimacy Day 39: Netzach of Yesod. The Ongoing Commitment to Intimacy Day 40: Hod of Yesod. Humility Creates the Space for Intimacy Day 41: Yesod of Yesod. Desire as the Foundation for All Spiritual Pursuits Day 42: Malchut of Yesod. Being Fully Present for Relationship Week 7 Malchut Day 43: Chesed of Malchut. Directing the Flow with Nobility Day 44: Gevurah of Malchut. Self-Discipline and Restraint Define Sovereignty Day 45: Tiferet of Malchut. Leadership Sets an Example through Compassion Day 46: Netzach of Malchut. The World in a Grain of Sand, Eternity in an Hour Day 47: Hod of Malchut. Balancing the Openness of Humility with Sovereignty Day 48: Yesod of Malchut. The Foundation of Nobility Day 49: Malchut of Malchut. Living in Integrity Is True Sovereignty Pentecost Day 50: The Gates Are Always Open Meditation Instructions Glossary A Note about God Language Notes Bibliography Acknowledgments Index

Reviews

Horn has shattered the old saying 'there's nothing new under the sun' with this unorthodox and ambitious work. Tarot and the Gates of Light presents the rare opportunity to find liberation through a serious and meaningful ancient practice refined over the centuries. Tarot and Kabbalah are wedded together as never before--in perfect harmony and beauty. * Angelo Nasios, author of Tarot: Unlocking the Arcana * Mark Horn courageously provides an autobiographical approach to teaching the Kabbalistic practice of Counting the Omer. Tarot and the Gates of Light gives Jews and Christians alike a powerful, accessible tool for advancing personal spiritual growth and development. * Rabbi Goldie Milgram, author of Reclaiming Judaism as a Spiritual Practice * Offers a spiritual practice for self-transformation, based on the tarot and the mystical practice of counting the 49 days prior to the revelation holiday of Shavuot/Pentecost. For each of the 49 days, Horn offers a combination of tarot cards as a meditative opening to growth and self-knowledge. Horn's work displays a deep appreciation of tarot as a language for the soul and applies that language to a mystical technology for daily transformation. His book will appeal to diviners and spiritual seekers, Kabbalists and New Age practitioners. The practice laid out in this book is openhearted and challenging, ecumenical and ethically astute. It has the potential to set us on the path to enlightenment. * Rabbi Jill Hammer, Ph.D., author of The Jewish Book of Days * Mark has given a profound gift and 'technology' to the serious seeker: an erudite, yet highly accessible and engaging, compendium of knowledge and wisdom teachings and, most importantly, a dedicated path of transformation--one self, one soul, one day at a time. * Professor Katherine Kurs, M.Div., Ph.D., editor of Searching for Your Soul * By using a traditional Jewish devotional system, the 49-day spiritual exercise known as Counting the Omer, and then matching each day with the appropriate tarot images, Mark Horn gives tarot readers a way into both Jewish Kabbalah and the contemporary Jewish Renewal movement and gives concrete form to some of the more abstract ideas about the Tree of Life. This book is rich in both information and practice. A valuable and innovative contribution. * Rachel Pollack, author of Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom * Spiritual disciplines are like prisms, refracting the ineffable light into radiant diversities of human imagination. This makes Tarot and the Gates of Light a prism within a prism, glittering with Mark Horn's insights, histories, wit, and wisdom. * Rabbi Jay Michaelson, author of God vs. Gay? * Perfect for those who want to follow a spiritual practice that combines tarot, Hebrew Kabbalah, and personal meditation. It is also a great way to explore the deeper meanings of the Minor Arcana. * Mary K. Greer, author of Tarot for Your Self * Mark Horn has distilled decades of study and practice into a journey of archetypes and images that is powerful, healing, and transformative. Tarot and the Gates of Light is a road map for anyone of any background to follow. So sit, read, study, and follow this step-by-step path from bondage to liberation, and you will find yourself growing into the wise, embodied soul you really are. * Andrew Ramer, author of Fragments of the Brooklyn Talmud * Mark Horn's brilliant new book opened up a new world for me. I was familiar with both fields of tarot and Kabbalah, but I had never viewed them through the larger lens Mark provides. This unique synergy offers rich psycho-spiritual insights and provides practical processes anyone can apply. May it change the lives of millions of readers. * New York Times bestselling author Gay Hendricks, Ph.D., author of The Big Leap * This is not a book you will want to part ways with after 49 days, rather it serves as a lifelong guide, emblematic talisman, and faithful companion for your ever-unfolding journey on the path of enlightenment. * Sasha Graham, author of 365 Tarot Spreads * Tarot and the Gates of Light will undoubtedly rise in ranks to become an authoritative text on Kabbalistic tarot. It is one of the most accessible guides for Counting the Omer. Tarot and the Gates of Light is itself encoded with the power to augment and deepen any tarot practice. Easily one of my favorite tarot books. * Benebell Wen, author of Holistic Tarot *

Author Information

Mark Horn has studied Kabbalah with academic, religious, and practical teachers, including Professor Elliot R. Wolfson at NYU, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi at Elat Chayyim, and Jason Shulman at A Society of Souls: Spiritual Healing School. He has studied Tarot with many of today’s leading teachers, including Rachel Pollack, Mary K. Greer, Robert Place, Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone, and Ferol Humphrey. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and Metrosource. A teacher of Kabbalistic tarot, he lives in New York City.

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