Jung and the Xultun Tarot

The tarot is a symbolic picture of the relationship between spirit and matter. It is the giga-grandchild of DNA, its literal and symbolic ancestor, and an archetypal description of human personal and spiritual development. Spirit and matter are those ancient adversaries and lovers-opposed to each other yet they long for union. When we hold the place between matter and spirit, we can walk the path of what Jung called individuation. By drawing closer to our own nature, we leave a unique legacy that endures beyond death. Our name is written in the Book of Life. The tarot can help with this-it’s a dream that holds still.The Xultun Tarot was created by New Zealand artist Peter Balin in 1976. It is the only tarot deck where the major arcana form a complete picture. Michael Owen’s classic The Maya Book of Life: Understanding the Xultun Tarot has continued to draw interested readers over the 15 years since it was first published in 2011. Kahurangi Press has re-issued the first edition with a new title, JUNG AND THE XULTUN TAROT, that better reflects its content and intent. This new edition is not a major revision but there are additional sections on synchronicity, DNA, and readings. As before, the minor arcana are not addressed due limitations of space. The major arcana of the tarot are the big picture of our development, the compass for our journey. The minor arcana are the local maps that help us find our way through the bush. With the help of indigenous teachings and the analytical psychology of C G Jung we explore how the Xultun Tarot differs from other medieval and modern tarot decks. It also reveals the profound archetypal patterns, teachings and symbolism held within all tarot decks: The Four Stages of individuation | The Three Paths of psychological development | The Four Movements of the Book of Life | How each card, dreams, awakens, makes love with, compensates, marries and completes each of the other cards | All woven on The Loom of Time with the beauty of Maya culture and history. This is the companion book to the Kahurangi Press 2010 classic edition of the original 1976 Xultun Tarot cards, true to their original size and vibrant colours.The new edition of the Xultun Tarot is cause for celebration. The Xultun was the first 'cultural' tarot, adapting the European images and structures to a very artistic and spiritual tradition. This has become standard but it was Peter Balin’s deck that showed the way. It is fitting, therefore, that we now have Michael Owen’s deep study, using the insights and wide-ranging knowledge of Jungian studies to open the deck up further and re-connect the Mayan images and teachings to traditional tarot, psychology, alchemy, and ancient wisdom teachings. --Rachel Pollack, author of Tarot Wisdom