While it may seem apropos, as an Oklahoman I was drawn to Mystic Glyphs because of its Native American symbols. Yet my resulting pleasure had more to do with the simplicity of the book and oracle deck. Even the name felt good rolling off my tongue.
According to the author’s brief introduction, “Petroglyphs are symbols that Native Americans either chipped or ground into stones.” Her analogy between present-day information centers and the paths that the natives of America traveled using information carved in rocks made sense to me. After all, didn’t I stop at several tourist information centers during my recent vacation?
Rogers’ view is that: “Native American petroglyphs speak to the mind as a story from the past, what one might expect in the land of which they are told, the life paths and spirituality of our ancestors…” Using petroglyphs of the Anasazi, A.D. 300-1300, 72 common symbols without hierarchy were chosen from Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. Although most of the names of the cards were obvious by the crude drawing, the Unmarried and Spirit of Ancestors cards raised my eyebrow in wonder what my Cherokee ancestors might have named them.
The square three-inch cards are comfortable to handle (or slip in your pocket). The layouts ranged from simple to complex. Similar to tarot cards that can have a reversed meaning, some petroglyphs can have as many as four meanings depending on the direction the card faces. Those new to oracle cards or tarot will find the Daily or Four Winds readings the most enjoyable.
Whether you are on a Native American path or not Mystic Glyphs can be an enlightening tool for your journey to self-discovery.
~review by Denise Bell
Author: Barb Rogers
Red Wheel Publishing, 2003
pp. 82, $22.95
