A guide to reading Tarot as a spark for community engagement and social change

“A beacon of insight and action.” —Nyasha Williams, author of Black Tarot and I Affirm Me

The cards in the Tarot deck offer seventy-eight invitations for change, not only in our inner life, but beyond. Lane Smith invites us to read each card with an eye toward the collective—how we can contribute to liberation in the world. 

Smith shares, “Behind every story about Tarot—and about the world—are power relationships which are often invisible.” 78 Acts of Liberation examines the structure, history, and components of Tarot through the lens of power, helping us better understand power dynamics in our life and in society.

After a brief history that highlights often-ignored aspects of Tarot’s past, Smith guides us through each card with reflections about clarifying our values and putting them into action. The cards are organized numerologically so that each number corresponds to a type of action, from Ones as Acts of Initiation to Tens as Acts of Generation. Every individual card offers questions for personal reflection and social consideration. Each Major Arcana card is illustrated with an example from a social movement—from the Indigenous Water Protectors to #MeToo—that illuminates how we can put the power of these timeless archetypes into action today. Every Minor Arcana card is linked to a practical and actionable term to know or skill to practice. 78 Acts of Liberation helps us explore:

• What our core values are, and how we can put them into action
• How we can be socially engaged, whatever our life circumstance—whether it’s through what we teach our children or through collective action and protest
• How to sustain ourselves over time and through challenge

As Smith explains, “Truth alone will not set us free. We have to act on it.” This guide offers inspiration for action—action that can feel joyful, hopeful, freeing, and empowering.

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