Tarot Lesson 1 – Tarot Books List Review

 

Welcome everyone to my new Tarot Course- Lesson 1.

First of all I should mention that my course is not intended for someone that wants to know the tarot basics to earn a quick buck as a tarot reader.

This course has as target audience anyone aged 18 to 99 who is passionate about tarot and wants to learn more about it. Yeah it is meant as a tarot fan club where blog readers can post questions on the comments section and initiate further discussions based on the tarot lesson presented. I am open to all opinions and I am ready to develop new lessons based on blog readers specific interests.

Today I am going to start with a list of few books I find interesting to read and that I own in my library. And no, I do not earn commissions on the sale of any of the books I am presenting here. 

#1 Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner

This book was first published back in 2009, but I own the 2021 print edit

I love this book, because it is an excellent guidebook to the Universal Tarot deck by Roberto De Angelis. In short, the Universal Tarot deck is the classical Rider Waite Smith tarot deck re-interpreted by Roberto De Angelis.

The book is intended for creative writers that want to learn and use tarot (exclusively in part II of the book), but has a large section (section III) with the deep interpretation of all tarot cards based on the Universal Tarot deck. I am not a creative writer and based on what I read in her book I do not think I would be able to produce a novel, but as I already mentioned I found part III of the book with the interpretations of the tarot cards an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn to read tarot.

 

#2 The Original Rider Waite- The Pictorial Key To The Tarot- An Illustrated Guide by A.E Waite

This book was firstly published in 1910, but I have the 2021 edition.

This is a MUST have book in any tarot enthusiast library. Please be advised this is not a book to be read cover to cover, it is a reference book as it has a full interpretation of all tarot cards and also includes methods of reading the tarot cards, and the recurrence of cards in dealing. Some of the meanings of the cards may seem inadequate and outdated, nevertheless I found most card interpretations on this book most meaningful.

 

#3 Tarot for YourSelf- A Workbook For Personal Transformation by Mary K. Greer

I own the second edition of this book, the 2002 edition and I bought this book on a visit to London back in 2011 while doing the occult London trail. For more info on this trail you can consult: Occult London by Merlin Coverly.

This book it is a good book also, I enjoyed very much, but at first I found it very difficult to follow. It took me several attempts at this book to actually understand it. I do not recommend this book to an absolute tarot novice. Also, I did not like about this book that Greer kind of takes the magick/ the prophesy out of the tarot cards and makes them more like tools for self-exploration than fortune telling.

The book has 12 chapters in total but I strongly recommend reading chapter 2- The Tarot Journal, because I find that journaling is key in learning the cards for yourself and their interpretation fits into your life.

 

#4 Tarot Made Easy by Kim Arnold

This book was first published in 2014 by Hay House UK Ltd

Kim Arnold is the founder of the prestigious UK Tarot Conference, www.tarotconference.co.uk

I am connected via Facebook to this group and I am familiar with the conference, however never got a chance to attended it.

Kim’s book is a guide, again not a book to be read cover to cover. In the guide she offers very straight forward, modern interpretations of all tarot cards.

I consider this a tarot novice recommended book.

 

#5 The Antiquarian Tarot Companion Guidebook by Maree Bento

I own the 2016 edition of the guide together with the self -published Antiquarian Tarot deck. The guidebook is easy to follow and has full explanation of all the tarot cards. All Minor Arcana cards (except the aces, 36 pip cards) include the planets in signs glyphs on the tarot cards, and all the Major Arcana (22) cards include the either the astrological sign or the planet it represents.

She is a cabbalist following the Hermetic Qabalah, not to be confused with the Jewish Kabbalah.

Her tarot cards have wonderful antique pictures and illustrations as she is both a writer an illustrator. Unfortunately the cards are not durable and after not too long they wear down visibly around the edges.

Her website I totally recommend you visit is www.divineMuses.net

On the website she sells different editions of the Antiquarian Tarot book and deck as well as Lenormand Cards and Oracle book and cards set.

Please note I place an order with her from Europe and it took me about 2-months to receive my order, and that was before Co-vid 19. The order I received was in a lovely packaging and everything was in good order.

I do not have any deal with her to promote her site or any her products. I included it Maree in my list solely based on the quality of work.

Please note at the top is the pouch that comes with the Antiquarian Tarot deck.