The Tarot Bible: The Definitive Guide to the Cards and Spreads

by Sarah Bartlett

Starting with the basics—choosing the best pack, understanding the deck and its structure, asking the right questions—this comprehensive guide to working with Tarot provides all the information needed to do a full reading. On colorfully, sumptuously illustrated pages unfold the mysteries of each card’s symbolic meaning. From the Magician to the Fool, the Lovers to the Hermit, every beautifully presented entry features a picture of the card, as well as keywords and phrases, astrological affinities, and a full interpretation. In-depth advice on laying out spreads for every day, relationships, revelations, and destiny help unlock the secrets of the past, present, and future. With everything from historical background to smart tips for developing skills and knowledge, this truly is the Tarot bible newcomers can depend on!

Genres: Tarot, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Reference, Witchcraft, Occult, Divination

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Sarah Bartlett (D.Psych Astrol) is the author of international best-selling books including The Tarot Bible, The Little Book of Practical Magic, The Witch's Spellbook and National Geographic's Guide to Supernatural Places. As contributing astrologer to media such as Cosmopolitan, She, Spirit & Destiny, the London Evening Standard and BBC Radio 2, Sarah now practices and teaches tarot, natural magic, astrology and other esoteric arts. She lives in the countryside.

Reviews

[Clouds · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well rounded primer.

I've promised to give colleagues at work 'free' Tarot readings in exchange for sponsoring me to jump out a plane. If I raise enough money, they will even let me have a parachute. Thought I should refresh my Tarot 101 so they don't ask for a refund...

I've shelved this as art for lack of a better place to put it.

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like tarot cards or want to learn more about the cards and their meanings, then this book is a great resource. It has excellent descriptions of all the cards, some general types of spreads for different types of readings, and some ideas for further study and reflection. I use this book as a great reference when doing readings for myself and others.

[Célia Loureiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Útil e muito esclarecedor, oferece muitas abordagens diferentes a esta arte.

[Sylvain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellente source d'informations pour quiconque s'intéresse au Tarot.

[Marius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well to be fair this is not the ultimate Tarot bible. This is more of a beginner´s book on Tarot. Bartlett gives here an easy reference guide to a RWS based deck, simple keywords and interpretations for each card. Nicely colored illustrations. Some basic introduction to Tarot, symbolism, spreads and different techniques and approaches. Quite a lot of material covered albeit shallowly. Basic reference index in the back of the book. Very short and easy to digest for a beginner, who is not looking to dwell too much into the Tarot universe. A handy book.

This book can be purchased on Amazon; https://amzn.to/3WFi58I

[Bete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me parece un muy buen libro para adentrarse en el mundo del tarot (y esoterismo en general). Te da información tanto general como detallada de los temas relacionados al tarot: desde sus orígenes, versiones, significados y lecturas de las cartas y un largo etcétera.
La autora pone mucho énfasis en que es un mundo muy íntimo, personal e intrínsecamente relacionado con tu intuición; por lo que te invita a seguir investigando y aventurándote por otros senderos para poder expandir tus conocimientos y relación personal con el tarot.

Un libro que debería estar en todas las estanterías de quienes forman parte de este mundo o sólo tienen curiosidad y desean satisfacer su curiosidad.

[iisabellllle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great beginners guide to tarot with simple & easy descriptions and suggestions for interpretations.

[taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thorough - wouldn't recommend necessarily for newbies. I used this in conjunction with The Modern Witchcraft Book of Tarot: Your Complete Guide to Understanding the Tarot to help explore cards I didn't understand initially as well as to get better interpretations. I also loved the amount of spreads included at the back of the book.

[des · Rating 5 out of 5]

buenisimo para empezar con eso de todo lo esotérico porque aparte de darte el significado de las cartas y tiradas, tmb te da una perspectiva más general, como por ejemplo la historia y el origen del tarot, lo disfruté muchísimo todo el aprendizaje, creo q es el esencial para principiantes pq es muy accesible y fácil de comprender!!!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty well rounded book. I, however couldn't get on with it. Plenty of information, I just found it hard to digest.

[Thehighpriestessreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read for those wanting to get an overview of the tarot. It includes a range of tarot spreads which are easy to practice with and some useful advice as to how to use your intuition when giving a tarot reading. However, the interpretations included don't accurately represent the meanings that Arthur Waite had intended them to be and the book doesn't cover the meanings of the cards when reversed.With that said, I would still recommend this for anyone starting out, but further research and reading is definitely needed!

[Emilija · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good basic overview for someone who's getting started.

[Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Te enseña muy bien todo lo del tarot, bien explicado con buenos consejos y prácticas.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todos los libros de ésta editorial son muy atrayentes por su edición y estilo de presentación, tipo fichas magníficamente ilustradas y altamente llamativas, con colorido y definición gráfica. Además, la obra se desglosa básicamente en tres grandes apartados. El primero es el previo a la práctica. Ahí la introducción sobre la historia del Tarot (con sus máximos exponentes y creadores de cartas míticas), la técnicas para barajar, su utilidad, entre otros. El aspecto positivo en éste gran bloque es el intento de concienciación para que el no iniciado estudie su baraja y deduzca su propia simbología orientadora para la lectura, más allá de lo establecido, además de la desposesión de toda subjetividad para su realización. En el aspecto negativo, encontramos una propuesta arriesgada ( La tirada del día) que puede crear adicción al Tarot; no es broma. Opino que esto se trata con demasiada ligereza; no debe estar nuestro destino regido por unas cartas a diario. Otro es el estimulación acerca de leerse las cartas uno mismo, la cual cosa es casi un tabú en los introducidos en el arte adivinatorio cartomántico.
En el apartado central, se nos explica toda la baraja por palos, numeraciones mayores y menores, mediante fichas muy completas y de fácil asimilación. Resultan explicaciones perfectamente complementadas con las ilustraciones del Tarot universal (no siendo el más bonito ni aclamado por los estudiosos del tema), que habla pro sí solo. Es el mejor apartado del libro, sin duda, aunque lamentablemente se prioriza en las estética frente a la practicidad para su estudio y / consulta. El libro en su conjunto es demasiado grueso y de tamaño pequeño, por lo tanto sus hojas están bastante apiladas.
El tercer gran apartado o sección es el de la práctica, con diferentes tiradas, separadas por temática. Así que en el de las cotidianas, por ejemplo, veremos teorías interesantes y fáciles. Es interesante, didáctico para los Neo y atrayente para todo consultante que se ponga delante. En el referente a tiradas de relación, se aporta la numerología como principio integrador en una serie de tiradas para realizar en pareja, con mayor o menor extensión dentro de la complejidad del tema. Quizá es el más flojo y perfectamente sustituible por otras tiradas dentro de la obra. El de Revelación es el más completo y útil a varios niveles. Por último, el de destino contiene las clásicas e indispensables para todo Tarotista.
Ésta particular biblia te completementa con algo de análisis y enseñanza adicional acerca de numerología, proyección de los cristales en la tirada, cábala, arquetipos y glosario. Introducido de modo algo superficial y bastante resumido. Es preferible escoger otras obras para el refuerzo de éstos temas, si bien no es necesario.

En resumen, una guía atractiva y armoniosa, bastante asimilable en su parte central y más importante, la de las fichas de la baraja. Pero demasiado excesiva en alguna de sus explicaciones y confección gráfica, que aguan su recurrente consulta, además de contener relleno carente de información vital o propia deducción por parte del lector. Buena para la introducción en el Tarot y su interpretación, pero mala para su consulta y libro de cabecera.

[Kayleigh Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to say… this book helped me understand tarot alittle too much. Specifically the Rider-Waite deck and that specific decks origins. I am not interested in anything the Order of The Golden Dawn has to offer, which includes the Rider-Waite deck, due to their history. Also, in this book, instead of directly giving credit to the Romani people while explaining some possible tarot origins, they proceed to call them only by a racist label that was meant to demonize, oppress, and fit them into a stereotypical category. To the author: the Order of The Golden Dawn would be so proud of you, especially since their practices were rooted in racism as well. Not to mention sexism, cultural appropriation since they saw non-European practices as something to conquer and make their own. But, I digress.
Please do your research in your craft. Research terms and topics authors use in their books when reading because this books ratings and reviews are wayyyy too high. Yes, the actual information in the book is helpful, but that doesn’t take away from the actual principle.

[Sarah Alma Angelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish we could add 1/2 stars in our reviews! I haven't "properly" finished this yet since it's a guide I'll be referring to throughout my future practice, but this is a must for anyone interested in tarot. The only reason I did not give it a full 5 stars is that this edition is nearly 20 years old, and our understanding of tarot has evolved since then. A friend recommended it to me, and I am glad they did. It's great as a refresher and quick to refer to when adding some nuance to your readings.

[Heidi *Bookwyrm Babe, Voyeur of Covers, Caresser of Spines, Unashamed Smut Slut, the Always Sleepy Wyrm of the Stacks, and Drinker of Tea and Wine* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative, this book shows the many ways that you can divine with tarot. Each card, both Major and Minor Arcana, has a page dedicated to explaining meanings. Very easy to read and I tend to look back on this particular book when I feel stuck while using tarot (at least the Rider-Waite tarot and spin-off decks). I also like the many tarot spreads, the examples and break downs of each make it easy to use any spread.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pra mim é um livro cujo status de leitura está permanentemente "em processo". Isso porque eu o consulto demais, principalmente sendo novata nas artes do tarot. O texto é muito claro e o que eu mais gosto nele é a estrutura dos parágrafos, que direcionam exatamente para as interpretações que você precisa no momento. O livro conta também com diversos modelos de tiragens e, enfim, é uma obra que eu gostei muito de ter adquirido pois me ajuda muito a entender o tarot. Recomendo.

[Kasandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this early this year, I can follow the meanings well most of the time, though at times I don't quite feel like the meaning resonates with me.
It's a good tool though, has a history of tarot and ways to incorporate astrology and other use of crystals.

[Alejandra Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

El libro o manual más completo que he leído respecto a tarot. Indispensable si estás empezando o si llevas un tiempo... Tiene muchas tiradas y bien explicadas, los significados fáciles de memorizar, con las cartas ilustradas y consejos. Sencillo para aprender. Muy práctico.

[Rosie Kerensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

sick beginner guide its very useful as a reference tool :) finding the tips on how to understand ur deck fully and becoming familiar with the cards so handy and the general interpretations are great guidance too

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first books I got about tarot, and still use it today for its accessibility and interpretations. I also love all the different spreads which are well explained with example interpretations. A great beginner's tarot classic guide.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far one of the best beginner books for tarot I have come across. I would highly recommend it to any novice.

[Bug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for beginners to tarot or advanced readers who just want a reference sometimes.

[Mariea Coady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Handy little book to have around 😉

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, thorough, and amazing stock photos.

[Josephine Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives a pretty detailed overview of tarot reading.

[Hollie Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book very helpful and has most definitely expanded my knowledge and given me exercises to help with my practice :)

[Elizabeth Hogg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The interpretations of the cards did not jive with how I interpret them but the spreads provided are interesting and help with accurate readings.

[Ryker Strode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative reference book