Introduction


I’m Benebell Wen, author of I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, September 2023), a guide to the history and cultural heritage of the Book of Change. The text features my English translations of the Zhouyi  in an effort to reclaim its shamanistic origins.

I’ve previously published Holistic Tarot (2015) and The Tao of Craft (2016), also through North Atlantic BooksHolistic Tarot was my debut into the Mind, Body, Spirit space, intended to be a reference book on using the tarot for decision-making and self-reflection. The Tao of Craft introduced Fu sigil and talisman crafting to a Western audience, with historical context and practical guidance.

line

FREE ONLINE COURSES is a repository of free, transformative learning materials that are self-paced video lectures, supplemental written handouts, workbooks, and downloadable guides that explore tarot, Taoist mysticism, Chinese esoteric traditions, various divination systems, and creative practice. These courses are designed to expand spiritual insight and practical skills, offered with the mission to democratize esoteric knowledge and remove economic barriers to entry.

What is the I Ching (易經, Yìjīng) Book of Changes? A VIDEO LECTURE AND WORKSHEET SERIES that brings the Book of Changes to life with guided talks on its cosmology, on traditional divination methods and interpretive frameworks rooted in Taoist metaphysics, step-by-step tutorials, and deep-dive explorations of the Lo Shu magic square, Wu Xing five dynamic elements of change, the Ba Gua eight trigrams, and the philosophical foundations of this 3,000 year old oracle. These lectures and their printable transcripts are available at no cost. Be sure to also download the printable PRACTICUM WORKSHEETS that guide you through selected Practicums excerpted from I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, 2023).

Empower Your Tarot Studies with this FREE COMPANION COURSE to Holistic Tarot, a self-paced series of video lectures and downloadable study guides for navigating tarot symbolism, deck structure, and interpretive practice, dispelling superstitions and myths, deconstructing both classical and modern approaches, and to help you build a meaningful tarot study journal. Here is quality tarot education accessible to the public and to students at any level.

Then check out SIGHTSEE THE TAROT, an immersive tour of influential tarot books, tarot spreads, reading techniques, and diverse practices with the cards. These are hands-on guided workshops that will help you to refine your tarot practice. Each video episode explores specialized methods, introduces you to established voices in the tarot community, and gives you practical exercises to try, complete with downloadable handouts and reference tables for your tarot journal. This is the course for deepening your study of the tarot, great for both the curious beginner and the seasoned practitioner.

There’s also the educational series TAROT CARD MEANINGS WITH BENEBELL, which helps you to learn the tarot card by card. This is an ongoing educational video series covering the 78 keys or cards of the tarot, showcasing the distinct attributions for four different deck systems: the Tarot de Marseilles (TdM), the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS), the Thoth deck by Crowley-Harris, and my own deck, the Spirit Keeper’s Tarot. Using audio-visual learning methods, the series facilitates reading fluency with the four listed tarot systems. The card by card primer is designed to help with memory retention in a more visually engaging way than studying them out of a book.

line

In addition to the free guided, self-paced course offerings, click on the category label “Free Download” for a DATABASE OF FREE RESOURCES.

TAROT. Download complimentary STUDY GUIDES that supplement my book Holistic Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2015) designed to cover tarot education at three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. For those looking to launch tarot reading services professionally, check out these TAROT BUSINESS & LEGAL FORMS.

I CHING. For those studying the I Ching alongside I Ching The Oracle: A Practical Guide to the Book of Changes (North Atlantic Books, 2022), you can download many of the REFERENCE TABLES & DIAGRAMS from the textbook to integrate into your grimoire, study journal, and notes. Also check out the digital files for a COMPANION ORACLE DECK.

SIGIL CRAFTING. Download REFERENCE MATERIALS for Fu sigil and talisman crafting in the Eastern esoteric traditions. While these reference materials are provided freely, please note that the full explanation for how to use them, their historical and cultural background, and the practical context can be found in my book The Tao of Craft: Fu Talismans and Casting Sigils in the Eastern Esoteric Tradition (North Atlantic Books, 2016).

line

My CURRENT OFFERINGS are the 2026 METAPHYSICIAN’S DAY PLANNER (MDP), a personalized organizer blending daily planning with astrological, tarot, I Ching, lunar-solar, and other forecasting insights to help you navigate 2026. The offering provides the PDF digital file only, with instructions on how to print out your physical spiral-bound copy via a third-party print-on-demand service. Your MDP is customized with your  birth chart and 2026 solar returns chart.

Also check out the current roster of INDEPENDENT STUDY online course offerings for learning at your own pace. These courses cover tarot, astrology, folk magic, and occult theory with expert-level depth and self-empowering practicums. Strengthen your divination skills and expand your metaphysical knowledge.

line

Here is an overview of my works-in-progress:

THE BOOK OF THOTH-HERMES

The Grand Etteilla Book of Thoth-Hermes Tarot is my current work-in-progress tarot deck inspired by the late 18th and early 19th century French Etteilla cartomancy system. I’m both the illustrator of the deck art and author of the companion guidebook. Learn more about the project and track its progress HERE.

ABOUT ETTEILLA’S BOOK OF THOT

In 1789, Jean-Baptiste Alliette, writing under the pseudonym Etteilla, creates a tarot deck based on his revelations from the Divine Pymander (or Poimandres), a foundational tract of the Corpus Hermeticum. Etteilla believes his deck reconstructs the true tarot of the Egyptian high priests from the Temple of Ptah, and is thus encoded with ancient knowledge about the creation of the cosmos and the nature of the soul. … That, or he was a business-savvy hustler with a knack for marketing and PR. Learn more about the historical Etteilla tarots HERE.

line

I have been curating metaphysics related content on this website since 2012, so there’s a lot here. From deck reviews and book reviews to handbooks and insider information for artists, nonfiction writers, and deck creators to social commentaries, to legal forms and templates in various areas of the law that might be useful to you, guided meditations, journaling workbooks, and resources for your personal grimoire. If you’re interested, there’s also a lot recorded here on my past projects.

Spirit Keeper’s Tarot

Although now out of print, the Spirit Keeper’s Tarot was my first major published art project.

The first edition was a limited print run of 1,000 decks, which were direct scans of my black and white line drawings in ink.

During the pandemic while we were sheltering in place, I taught myself digital art to produce the SKT’s third and final edition. Learn more about the deck’s premise HERE.

Cultural Integration & the Prisca Theologia

Medieval philosophers and mystics on the quest to memorialize a single, universal theology searched beyond the borderlines of their own traditions. While their doctrines were based largely in Christian and Jewish mysticism, metastasized by the integration of Platonic philosophy and Sufism, the quest for that universal theology led these thinkers to consider Hinduism, Buddhism, and even a return to unearth the deeper heritage of their own pagan roots.

Cultural integration is conceptual alchemy that blends what had been separate artistic, intuitive paths of wisdom into one unified system of evolved thought.

CONTINUE reading HERE

Disputa, or Disputation of the Holy Sacrament (1510) by Raphael. Visual allegory of the union of the Church Triumphant in heaven and the Church Militant on earth. Mystery reveals itself through faith and divine illumination. “Disputa” was the scholarly theological debate during the late medieval and Renaissance period over the mystery of transubstantiation.

line

FREE DOWNLOAD of Kuan Yin’s Great Compassion Mantra 大悲咒. You can also download the above high-res religious art print featuring the Mantra in Siddam Sanskrit, and an invocation of Kuan Yin in Traditional Chinese.

DECK REVIEWS

I get sent lots of decks and books for review from publishers and indie deck creators, and on occasion, I’ll review some of the ones I’ve been loving.

CLICK HERE to look through hundreds of tarot and oracle deck reviews.

265 thoughts on “Introduction

  1. Heather's avatar Heather

    Love the tarot cards and the informative website you made to go along. I am excited to see how many methods you have brought together, as a whole. It’s all related and relevant for giving more precise readings, to clients. Thank you, keep up the great journey of unity enlightenment. We all benefit by having a page like this to reference, bringing multiple varieties together.
    ❤ Heather

    Like

  2. I think you’re a hard working genius. Wauw I have great respect for you. I’m a writer, coach and journalist (and passionate tarot lover) and I really admire your briljant mind. I will donate tomorrow. with great love and respect Mabel van den Dungen

    Like

  3. I and my buddies were analyzing the nice information found on your site while at once came up with an awful feeling I never thanked you for those techniques. Those boys were as a result glad to see them and have in effect in actuality been tapping into them. Many thanks for getting simply considerate as well as for opting for this form of impressive issues millions of individuals are really desperate to be aware of. My honest regret for not expressing appreciation to sooner.

    Like

  4. Kathy Kerr's avatar Kathy Kerr

    Hello dear soul!
    I’m so excited you’re creating a 2nd edition of The Spirit Keepers Tarot! I would love to buy a copy. I saw on a community page there are pre orders being made, but there’s no info! How do I pre order if I may please? And where do I shop for your other creations such as your books? Is it just me or are there actual secret portals leading to you in other dimensions!!! 💞

    Fondly,
    Kathy

    Like

  5. Jeannie P's avatar Jeannie P

    Thank you so much, Benebell. For all the info you bring us and great companion, courses, guides, free things, workbooks, tarot decks and all you do! I am forever grateful! I will be ordering my deck Georgia pee order this Friday, after reading some from that last email you sent, I cannot wait! Again, thank you for all you do! I really enjoy your website since finding it and cannot wait to learn more from the information you provide.us.

    Like

  6. Hello…good afternoon,l am Jharry p Kang from tawau , Sabah , Malaysia….l just newly practicing mediumship , before that l am insurance agent… long time ago from year 2002 to 2018 ,….l also possess kuan Kung spirit,tai Shang Lau Chun and Mazu…. hopefully from your program would further enchance my mediumship….

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Carrie Best's avatar Carrie Best

    I just wanted to say thank you Benebell so much for the work you do. I think you’re a prodigious genius! I love your Holistic Tarot and refer to it regularly and am sooo excited about the Vitruvian SKT. Sending good vibes your way!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Ash's avatar Ash

    Hello !
    It’s a really great web site !
    I like the deck you have created, but I also like the deck on the cover photo.. Under the hollistic tarot book, Do you know where I can purchase it, or just the name of the deck ? It’s not the regular Waite Tarot Deck

    Like

  9. Salima Veng's avatar Salima Veng

    Hi Benebell,
    I have written to you many times on both of your mailadresses and still havn’t got an answer… Now I’m officially worried! I preordered the premium package of the Spirit Keepers Tarot a long time ago, and I have payed for it! Can you PLEASE send me a confirmation mail back on my order? -My mail-address is: bohemianspirittarot@outlook.com

    Like

    1. Hi Salima: Oh no! We’re all caught up on sending out e-mail confirmations, so you should have definitely gotten one from our e-mail account abelldelivers@gmail.com. First, check your trash or spam. Sometimes our e-mail gets stuck there. Second, did you send payment to the correct PayPal address? Best thing to do is follow up by e-mailing abelldelivers@gmail.com. Because if you’ve e-mailed us at that address already, then we should have definitely sent a response to you by now. All pre-ordered decks we have on record have received an e-mail confirmation, so if that’s not the case, something may have gone wrong. =(

      Like

  10. Erica Q Pressley's avatar Erica Q Pressley

    I love this, also I’m intuitive and amature to my gifts,, would love to correspond with you about which way to go with this gift of mine

    Like

  11. SHERREE LYNN BAILEY's avatar SHERREE LYNN BAILEY

    Thank you for the generous sharing of your time and your knowledge. I am a Unitarian Universalist Pagan who organizes free workshops, rituals, potlucks, meditations, etc. to help people become more connected to themselves and to others. Your pages are a great resource for us.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Maryam nezameddink's avatar Maryam nezameddink

    Hi.Im a Qi gong and Tao student.I want to read and have your Tao of Craft book .but beacause of my location I cant buy it .I dont have credit card.I m living in Iran.How can you help me?

    Like

  13. Marco Ignacio's avatar Marco Ignacio

    Hi, Blessed be.
    I have a daughter whose birthday is October 5, 2016, she will have her decisive age at age 15. Your advise for me as a parent? Thank you.

    Btw she is multi talented (music and dance) and an active kid.

    Like

  14. Hello,

    I tried to get in touch a few weeks ago, but didn’t get any response. I wonder if you received my message?

    My name is Dennis Perpetua and I’m the Blog Outreach manager at qualityguestposts.com. I saw your blog and decided to get in touch. I think that a lot of my clients will be interested in regular article placements, either paid guest posts (we provide an article) or sponsored content (you/your team write it for us).

    This could potentially bring some good regular income for you or you business.

    Would you be interested?

    P.S.: If you don’t want me to get in touch again, please let me know.

    Kind Regards,

    Dennis Perpetua
    Blogger Outreach Manager,
    QualityGuestPosts.com

    Like

  15. Unknown's avatar CJ

    Any chance you might release the 2020 calendar early? I’m already planing into 2020 and would love to start preparing for next year.

    Like

  16. Hi Benebell! I was wondering if “The Tao of Craft” is available for purchase through any other service? I’m eager to support you and even more eager to get the book, but for ethical reasons I don’t like to purchase directly from Amazon.

    Like

  17. Pingback: Episode 16: The Tarot Gateway with Benebell Wen – That Witch Life

  18. James A Byrd's avatar James A Byrd

    Please , be understanding I can make a great offering if we can help one another I need to tap into my inner power yet my head trauma injury slowing me down . Will buy book Tao of Craft yet first hand will be most beneficial as I need a Spiritual guide at my age forty five . It is a need for chi force to fix what a Western doctor has done illegally from the U.S. Army(1992). Would like a witness and record. ,Please!

    Like

  19. Achello's avatar Achello

    Greetings.
    I have been learning much from you in all ways Tarot. Purchased The Holistic tarot last year. Your insights are amazing!

    I ‘fooled’ around and missed the purchase of the SKT decks and tbh, I wasn’t that attracted to the First Edition. There was just too much there and I missed the colors. They also sold out so quickly!

    I have recently been studying the deck images on your website and reading the incredible ton of information. The Second Edition is much more appealing to me as there are various shades of color, which makes the images pop.

    I just wanted to thank you for your tireless service to all of us! I love your wit and your sarcasm and of course your willingness to share your boundless knowledge and insights!
    Thank you!
    Achello

    Like

    1. Hello, my name is James in English. my original I do not use in U.S. Lee Wu Chan, also I was excited to know and find your youtube vlog thank you so much for your service to the Chinese community .
      I wish we could work together first hand very important my belief in The Tao has great possibilities. Hope to hear and sometime see in Person .

      Like

  20. I’m very happy that you published the book of tao of craft….as I’m English educated that will benefit of my practice…as I’m not Chinese educated.i hope I can learn more and benefited it to help people and I hope I can personally meet you as a gratitude of thanks for your help and. Learn more from you

    Like

  21. Bill Nelson's avatar Bill Nelson

    You had me at “Although some believe that the tarot can be used for fortunetelling, I don’t believe in fortunetelling.”
    I don’t see how anyone thinks their future is already set in stone for them when it hasn’t happened yet. Revisiting some “now” thinking would be in order, in my opinion.
    Forgive the pontificating. I haven’t had coffee yet!
    Keep up the excellent work.
    NAMASTE

    Like

  22. Ines Knotts's avatar Ines Knotts

    Hello,

    My name is Ines Knotts, I want to know if: You Need Leads, Sales, Conversions, Traffic for your site benebellwen.com ?

    I will Find Leads that Buy From You !

    I will Promote Your Business In Any Country To Any Niche !

    SEE FOR YOURSELF==> http://bit.ly/Promote_Very_Efficiently

    Do not forget to read Review to convince you, is already being tested by many people who have trusted it !!

    Kind Regards,
    Ines Knotts

    UNSUBSCRIBE==> http://bit.ly/Unsubscribe_Sales

    Like

  23. Ay how do i get a direct li e you witch??
    Lmao sorry jk
    … You tell me..
    Ight yep..
    Call me witch…
    19167419007
    I postulate upone you’re inqureury.. And more

    Like

  24. Sorry again.. A thoudand appoligies please… I have to say you are amazing yet… There is another side to the coin girl.. Please.. Much love.. Lmfao… Jk hahaha

    Like

  25. Hey i do i dont know what time zone your in but… I want to reach out to… I see youre time witch.. Please contact me 19167419007 text pleaae soon… I know you are real and not a robot.. Samuel stupid right.. You see it is real.. No jk

    Like

  26. Hey i do i dont know what time zone your in but… I want to reach out to you… I see you’re time witch.. Please contact me 19167419007 text please soon… I know you are real and not a robot.. Many thanks,,,,
    stupid right.. You see it is real.. No jk have questions still… Jk hahahaha

    Like

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.