This month’s book choice is A Walk Through the Forest of Souls: A Tarot Journey to Spiritual Awakening by Rachel Pollack.

Rachel Pollack was many things -a transgender woman born into a Jewish family, an award winning sci-fi author, a feminist activist, and an absolute icon for both the LGBTQ+ and magical communities. When writing Doom Patrol for DC Comics she introduced the first transgender superhero, and her Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom is still essential reading for those learning to read tarot. This month’s book however, is suitable for both those who read (or want to read) tarot and anyone who simply wants to know more about what tarot is, it’s history, and what it means in a spiritual and magical context.

The book looks at the tarot through the lenses of myth, folklore, psychology, and Kabbalah. It was originally published under the title Forest of Souls: A Walk Through the Tarot, but we recommend you get the updated and expanded edition that came out in 2023.

The book is available from Five Leaves Bookshop for 15% off in store or online with the discount code bookgroup15

but feel free to get it elsewhere (including the library) if you’d prefer. To access the discount, email your order to bookshop@fiveleaves.co.uk or come by the shop. 

A reading group for those interested in magical practice, paganism, folklore, the history of witchcraft, and magic. The group is open to anyone who would like to discuss books from a pagan, folkloric, witchy or occult perspective, be they long-time practitioners or just curious about exploring the subject. For this book group only, it’s fine if you’re not able to read the book cover to cover, read the parts you can (or what interests you) and come ready to chat.

Book choice will be announced later in the summer.