If you’re new to Tarot and looking for an excellent – and free – book on how to read the cards, Andrew McGregor and the Hermit’s Lamp have just the thing for you.
McGregor has written an e-book called Simply Learn Tarot and is offering it for free download from his Hermit’s Lamp website.
What a treat! It’s an excellent introduction to the cards – entertaining, encouraging, and straight to the point.
McGregor thinks reading Tarot should be fun and simple and he’s doing his best to spread the word.
As I’ve mentioned before, one of my favourite magic shops in Toronto is the Hermit’s Lamp, up on Vaughn Road, above St. Clair.
They host art shows and meet-ups, sell magic supplies, offer Tarot and psychic readings, teach workshops, and of course, sell Tarot books and decks.
Typically they’ve got a good assortment of decks and books to choose from, but this coming Saturday, November 10th, the choice is going to be even better.
Apparently, a friend of shop owner Andrew McGregor has decided to sell their personal Tarot collection, and has chosen to do so through the Hermit’s Lamp.
There will be about 120 new, or almost new decks available, and over 200 books.
Some of the decks are quite rare – Tarot of Prague, Shinning Woman Tarot, Giger Tarot, Via Tarot, Alchemical Tarot, Brotherhood Tarot, and many more.
I hope to get over there myself – I’ve always wanted a copy of the Shining Woman Tarot!
All items are first come, first serve, so if you’re interested, get there early. The store will be open from 10:00 am through 6:00 pm.
Hermeticism and the Hermetic tradition are philosophies deeply engrained in much of western magic and mysticism, including Alchemy, Qabala, Astrology, and my favourite, Tarot.
The tradition is named for Hermes Trismegistus, who’s the credited author of the Hermetica, a series of ancient spiritual texts.
It opens Thursday, June 14th at The Hermit’s Lamp and features art by Xris Kukiel, Claire Weigel, Aaron Cunningham, Elizabeth Owen, Gregg McGivern, Franklin Reeves, and Andrew McGregor himself.
And guess what? I’ll be part of it too!! Ivan Minsloff and I will be debuting our Hermit silk-screen poster print at the show.
I couldn’t be more excited about it!!!
The show will run through July 28th, but if you’re in Toronto June 14th, think about joining us at the opening night reception. I’d love to see you there.
There are fewer and fewer occult and magic shops around these days. Even in big cities, the pickings are slim.
It’s that way in Toronto too, which is too bad. I miss them. Fortunately though, they’re not all gone.
Andrew McGregor’s The Hermit’s Lamp up on Vaughn Road is a new favourite of mine, and I’ll be writing about his upcoming Hermetica Art Show some time in the next couple of weeks.
But there’s also Wonderworks down on Harbord Street, owned and operated by Rochelle Holt. The Goddess is well represented at the shop through Holt’s large selection of Wiccan and Pagan items.
She also has Tarot books and decks, incense and crystals, herbs, oils, pendulums! All the magical goods you could possibly need.
In addition to the store, Wonderworks hosts classes and art shows. I’ve been to quite a few Tarot workshops there and they’ve all been great.
Last week I stopped by The Hermit’s Lamp to visit Andrew McGregor, and to see the Tarot Art Show he has hanging in his shop.
What fun! The artwork was amazing, and chatting with Andrew about Tarot was a true joy.
His shop is full of magical products – candles, herbs, crystals, books, and of course Tarot cards. I got myself a copy of the absolutely gorgeous Mary-El deck while I was there.
I also showed off some of the cards from the deck I’ve been working on with illustrator Ivan Minsloff. You can see me here holding up our Hermit card. I can hardly wait till the deck is done.
In addition to selling magical items, Andrew does readings at the shop, teaches classes, hangs art, and hosts free Tarot meet-ups he calls Coffee with Spirit.
The next ones will be on Saturday, April 7, 10am to noon, and again on May 5th.
If you’re in Toronto, you should definitely stop by. The Hermit’s Lamp is located at 398 Vaughan Rd and open Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Through their Toronto Tarot Portal, he and James Wells do regular podcasts on a wide variety of tarot related topics. And they’re very good.
The Art of Tarot is looking towards the future of Tarot, though it’s clearly inspired by traditions of the past. The pieces are fabulous, I’d love to see them in a deck.
Most are paintings or drawings, but there’s also a sculpture, a stained glass window, and even a quilt. I’ve got to get over there and see them myself.
The show runs through the end of November, but the gallery is only open Wednesday through Saturday. Get there if you can.
And to whoever left the postcard in my front door, thank you!
