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Unlocking the Tarot: Create Your Own Keys
Behind every tarot card lies a single, expansive keyword you can use to unlock profound insights. This beginner-friendly book teaches you how to turn that one keyword into a full interpretation you'll remember without needing to consult a book. Sharing detailed explanations of the keywords, card combinations, and tarot spreads, Lisa Papez helps you build associations for each card that can be traced back to just one word.
Unlocking the Tarot provides a primary keyword per card as well as similar examples to help determine which one is best for you. This book makes it easy to expand your keyword into a meaningful sentence, and then into a full story of that card. By building your own set of keywords, every tarot deck will feel like it was tailor-made for you.
Unlocking the Tarot provides a primary keyword per card as well as similar examples to help determine which one is best for you. This book makes it easy to expand your keyword into a meaningful sentence, and then into a full story of that card. By building your own set of keywords, every tarot deck will feel like it was tailor-made for you.
296 pages, Paperback
Published October 8, 2024
43 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 10, 2024
As someone who’s been reading tarot for the last 7 years or so, I wasn’t certain how much value this book would hold for me. Let me tell you, I was more than pleasantly surprised.
From the jump, Papez’s authorial voice both set me at ease and piqued my interest. I found her reflections on each card to be engrossing and enlightening. Even after reading tarot for years, I was able to take away several new and nuanced angles for certain cards thanks to Lisa. What’s more, her method for choosing keywords is both simple and engaging, making this book (and this process) incredibly difficult to put down.
Another thing that impressed me was the manner in which she addresses the court cards - it was brilliant! Even the introduction chapter was a wonderful read, as Lisa not only shares her personal tarot origin story therein, but also takes time to debunk and explain several tarot myths (the origin of tarot, never buy your own first deck, always wrap a deck in silk, etc). Finally, there’s an incredibly helpful portion toward the end of the book where Lisa helps the reader differentiate between cards that often cause confusion due to how similar they are.
If you’re looking for a Tarot book for beginners, you won’t find one better than Unlocking the Tarot. And if you’re a seasoned reader who just happens to be curious, you’ll find something wonderful here as well.
From the jump, Papez’s authorial voice both set me at ease and piqued my interest. I found her reflections on each card to be engrossing and enlightening. Even after reading tarot for years, I was able to take away several new and nuanced angles for certain cards thanks to Lisa. What’s more, her method for choosing keywords is both simple and engaging, making this book (and this process) incredibly difficult to put down.
Another thing that impressed me was the manner in which she addresses the court cards - it was brilliant! Even the introduction chapter was a wonderful read, as Lisa not only shares her personal tarot origin story therein, but also takes time to debunk and explain several tarot myths (the origin of tarot, never buy your own first deck, always wrap a deck in silk, etc). Finally, there’s an incredibly helpful portion toward the end of the book where Lisa helps the reader differentiate between cards that often cause confusion due to how similar they are.
If you’re looking for a Tarot book for beginners, you won’t find one better than Unlocking the Tarot. And if you’re a seasoned reader who just happens to be curious, you’ll find something wonderful here as well.
October 10, 2024
READ THIS BOOK!
Pardon my bluntness but after reading and teaching Tarot for over three decades I thought I’d pretty much seen and heard everything so you will excuse me if I shy away from subtleties when I find a book that is finally original… and in a GOOD WAY!
It’s no secret that Lisa Papez knows Tarot but what knocked my socks off was how well she knows Tarot Readers (where’s the Italics on this thing?).
We (the Readers) may learn about numerology, we may master the concepts of Alchemy without singeing our eyelashes and we may even dabble in Kabbalah but no academic knowledge of this discipline is ever complete without gaining insight into how to connect with People!
In this wonderful book Lisa leads us down a fascinating path into what truly makes our hearts sing when Tarot becomes a way (OUR way) to create Meaningful Connections with the world and with our own true selves!
That’s what makes reading this book a thoroughly fascinating and more importantly NEW experience.
The laughs and the tears and the relatable one-liners (“Can we talk for a minute about breaking the rules?” YES please Lisa, let’s!) and the constant feeling that as long as we have a deck of cards in our hands we will never be truly lost, never completely alone, but ultimately vibing together in this enchanting and at times daunting world.
So, do yourself a favor and READ this! You won’t regret it.
Pardon my bluntness but after reading and teaching Tarot for over three decades I thought I’d pretty much seen and heard everything so you will excuse me if I shy away from subtleties when I find a book that is finally original… and in a GOOD WAY!
It’s no secret that Lisa Papez knows Tarot but what knocked my socks off was how well she knows Tarot Readers (where’s the Italics on this thing?).
We (the Readers) may learn about numerology, we may master the concepts of Alchemy without singeing our eyelashes and we may even dabble in Kabbalah but no academic knowledge of this discipline is ever complete without gaining insight into how to connect with People!
In this wonderful book Lisa leads us down a fascinating path into what truly makes our hearts sing when Tarot becomes a way (OUR way) to create Meaningful Connections with the world and with our own true selves!
That’s what makes reading this book a thoroughly fascinating and more importantly NEW experience.
The laughs and the tears and the relatable one-liners (“Can we talk for a minute about breaking the rules?” YES please Lisa, let’s!) and the constant feeling that as long as we have a deck of cards in our hands we will never be truly lost, never completely alone, but ultimately vibing together in this enchanting and at times daunting world.
So, do yourself a favor and READ this! You won’t regret it.
August 29, 2024
The way Lisa can provide us, as readers, with so much information within one book, while still remaining cohesive and approachable, is a true testament to her skill and knowledge. What I have always admired about Lisa is her adventurous nature. Her willingness to try new things and create discussion around tarot always makes us as the viewer feel like peers rather than strictly students. I think, at least in the realm of tarot, this is such an enriching approach. It shows us that no step we take is a wrong step, and that no matter what there’s always farther to go. If you’re familiar with Lisa through YouTube, you can expect your reading experience to feel just like you’re watching one of her videos. The conversational style in which Lisa writes makes this book completely approachable, and honestly just downright fun!
February 27, 2025
Lisa Papez you are my tarot hero. A couple of years ago I followed your "Tarot with Training Wheels (Tarot for beginners) and it helped me on my tarot journey. But I was missing something and I couldn't figure out what it was. Even though I've read quite a few tarot books it still didn't click for me.
Until your book landed in my hands in november 2024. Then it all clicked. I've been working with it since it's arrival on and off and wow that has been a real life changing experience for me. You've made it so easy to learn tarot and every beginner should buy, read and work with this book. Actually everybody should have your book on their bookshelf because it's one of those books that will become a must have for tarot readers. The book is amazing, well written and down to earth. You know exactly how to teach us how to unlock the tarot using keywords and I'm flabbergasted with admiration for the work you must have done to write such a fantastic book.
Thank you Lisa.
P.S.
Have you noticed that the white sphinx in The Chariot is holding on to a stone-like object?
That's what I noticed a couple of days ago when I was looking at the card very closely while reading about all of the symbols in the card and couldn't find a reference to it.
Until your book landed in my hands in november 2024. Then it all clicked. I've been working with it since it's arrival on and off and wow that has been a real life changing experience for me. You've made it so easy to learn tarot and every beginner should buy, read and work with this book. Actually everybody should have your book on their bookshelf because it's one of those books that will become a must have for tarot readers. The book is amazing, well written and down to earth. You know exactly how to teach us how to unlock the tarot using keywords and I'm flabbergasted with admiration for the work you must have done to write such a fantastic book.
Thank you Lisa.
P.S.
Have you noticed that the white sphinx in The Chariot is holding on to a stone-like object?
That's what I noticed a couple of days ago when I was looking at the card very closely while reading about all of the symbols in the card and couldn't find a reference to it.
December 12, 2024
It got really repetitive after a while. Good general advice, love how non spiritual this is. Couldve been done in half the page count.
December 26, 2024
This is a great guide. The author teaches you to learn tarot your way - with a series of keywords of your own design. She also has a creative and user-friendly way to memorize court cards. There are many good tarot guides, but I suggest you start with this one
October 9, 2024
When I first grew interested in Tarot, I came across Lisa Papez's Youtube channel, where she reviews new tarot decks, discusses books on tarot, and even explains each card in detail. It was through her that I began to grasp the meaning behind tarot as well as ways that I could apply my own interpretations.
She is an incredible teacher and this book turned out to be a fantastic distillation of knowledge on the Tarot, laid out in the most direct and helpful way possible. She demystifies several areas that are often quite confusing to those new to tarot, such as how to grasp the court cards and identifying the differences between cards that appear similar at a glance (such as the Judgement and Justice cards). She also encourages a keyword system to help those new to tarot to develop their own ways to remember the meanings behind each card. The exercises and spreads included in this book are also incredibly helpful for those who wish to actively engage in studying the tarot. Everything is quite direct and easy to wrap one's head around.
The audiobook version narrated by Coleen Marlo is stellar -- her voice is clear and easy to understand. Though, I would recommend the print version as well as this is a fantastic reference book to return to often for both new and accustomed tarot readers.
She is an incredible teacher and this book turned out to be a fantastic distillation of knowledge on the Tarot, laid out in the most direct and helpful way possible. She demystifies several areas that are often quite confusing to those new to tarot, such as how to grasp the court cards and identifying the differences between cards that appear similar at a glance (such as the Judgement and Justice cards). She also encourages a keyword system to help those new to tarot to develop their own ways to remember the meanings behind each card. The exercises and spreads included in this book are also incredibly helpful for those who wish to actively engage in studying the tarot. Everything is quite direct and easy to wrap one's head around.
The audiobook version narrated by Coleen Marlo is stellar -- her voice is clear and easy to understand. Though, I would recommend the print version as well as this is a fantastic reference book to return to often for both new and accustomed tarot readers.
December 19, 2024
What a fantastic read. I have been reading Tarot for a while now. I would not consider myself an absolute professional, but I do know my cards and regularly read for myself. In the past I owned many books about the Tarot, the cards' meanings and ways of interpreting them. I can honestly say that I don't need any of them anymore after having read "Unlocking the Tarot".
This book is such an easy read and considering Tarot being quite multifaceted and a bit intimidating, especially for beginners, this book does a great job at explaining the meanings of the cards. Lisa is a very good teacher. She is not out of touch with reality and her approach feels so grounded and practical. She gets straight to the point and offers the wisdom she has gained over the decades in a form that is accessible to everybody.
I thought that the keyword method was great. Here and there I chose some other keywords for myself, but as stated in the book: It's okay!
If you want to add a great tarot book for beginners and for more advanced readers to your collection and library, this is a great one to own! I will definitely reference it regularly in the future.
This book is such an easy read and considering Tarot being quite multifaceted and a bit intimidating, especially for beginners, this book does a great job at explaining the meanings of the cards. Lisa is a very good teacher. She is not out of touch with reality and her approach feels so grounded and practical. She gets straight to the point and offers the wisdom she has gained over the decades in a form that is accessible to everybody.
I thought that the keyword method was great. Here and there I chose some other keywords for myself, but as stated in the book: It's okay!
If you want to add a great tarot book for beginners and for more advanced readers to your collection and library, this is a great one to own! I will definitely reference it regularly in the future.
April 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I follow Lisa on YouTube. she did a video series on how to use this system a couple of years ago. That series is how I learned to read tarot cards. This book is a wonderful extension of that series. I enjoyed how she wrote the book, talking about the major arcane, then the minor arcana, and then the court cards. This is a good book to sit down with a note book, because you will want to take notes to refer back to later.
December 21, 2024
Will be rereading again in the new year with an original RWS in front of me.
August 25, 2025
I'm new to learning to read tarot, and I've taken two in-person classes, one online class, and I've read this book. I do keep a journal (in pencil), as I find it much easier to add, remove, or adjust keywords and interpretations. What I learned on this book has helped me flesh out my journal and the meanings even more. This was a fast read for me and easy to comprehend and digest. My (owned) copy is now highlighted, underlined, and dog-eared! And I wouldn't have it any other way. I highly recommend this book, and I'll keep it close to refer back to when needed.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews