Tarot Disassembled Guidebook: Deconstructing the Symbols of the Major and Minor Arcana

by Jennifer Cooper Steidley, Theresa Reed (foreword)

This guide shows the traditional symbolism of the tarot in bold graphics, allowing readers to connect intuitively to the deeper aspects of the cards.

The Tarot Disassembled Guidebook provides fresh insight into interpreting the traditional symbolism found in the tarot. In this companion book to the Tarot Disassembled card deck, author and creator Jennifer Cooper Steidley has deconstructed the symbolism, presenting it in bold graphics, allowing the user to connect with the tarot in a completely intuitive way—free from any pictorial narrative around gender, skin color, age, size, ability, or any other human constructs.

Sometimes we need to take something apart in order to appreciate what’s in it. The same is true for the ingredients of the tarot: the individual symbols that make up the complex picture of a tarot card. There is potential for deep understanding that comes with the act of disassembling, and this guidebook deconstructs each of the seventy-eight cards. The Fool card is shown as a satchel, a dog, the sun, a feather, a flower, a mountain. Each card remains undeniably recognizable. The deconstructed simplicity allows tarot’s rich symbolism to become clear, and readers can see how the symbols wind their way through each card in the deck.

Tarot Disassembled is based on the symbology of the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot—arguably the most iconic and widely used deck in the world. Once the disassembling of tarot symbols is fully understood, you can begin to apply this deconstructing technique to other decks to find the inner patterns. This unique and innovative guidebook includes keywords, astrological and planetary associations, and elemental associations for each tarot card. It can be used with any deck based on the Rider-Waite system or as a companion to the Tarot Disassembled card deck, sold separately.

Genres: Paranormal

280 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2025

Reviews

[Jaclyn Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It’s said that the shuffling of the cards is the earth, and the pattering of the cards is the rain, and the beating of the cards is the wind, and the pointing of the cards is the fire. That’s of the four suits. But the Greater Trumps, it’s said, are the meaning of all process and the measure of the everlasting dance."

Charles Williams

Tarot is an art form.
Like all Art, it requires practice.

More importantly it requires intuition.

It requires the reader to have the ability to see beyond "yes" or "no" questions and read the nuance of the question being asked; the situation, the people, the overall energy, etc.

You must look at the larger picture.

The what?

Symbolism.

Tarot is a Science of Symbols.

'Tarot Disassembled' by Jennifer Cooper Steidley is an entire deconstruction of Tarot AND everything you think you know about Tarot.

I met the cards at aged 12, just about to turn 13. They have been a guide ever since and I see them in an entirely new light.

Between this book and Tarot for the Hard Work - An Archetypal Journey to Confront Racism and Inspire Collective Healing by Maria Minnis my Tarot relationship has been completely, radically transformed.

I see the card's messages in an entirely new light.

The Guidebook is thorough in each breakdown of the symbols. It is chock full of information and the infinite ways the cards can be interpreted with their SYMBOLS.

When you begin to look at the message through symbolism you begin to understand an entirely new depth of Divination.

The Author takes the traditional Waite-Smith system and breaks it all down.

Smashes it.

Absolutely demolishes it.

Respectfully.

Then introduces a way to build a relationship with the cards that is based off the depth and wisdom they hold.

Tarot can be daunting. Initially, this book and deck are, too. Or, they feel like it.

Read. Let your intuition guide you. But, seriously, just read the book. Look at the cards. Feel them. Listen to them. They are talking in more ways than one.

Many could argue that Tarot is already about symbolism, or should be taken as such.

I know many readers who do not know this.

They take the cards too literally or too nonchalantly. They seek the cards for yes or no answers, and the cards can provide that, but they can also provide so much more.

Often we're looking to the present or future instead of looking at the present AND future.

This deck will reinvent how you look at Tarot.

You will feel armed with all the possible symbols and meanings without hesitation or doubt.

Cooper Steidley walks the reader through the crumbled debris of her own making and brings you to a place where the Sages go (and grow).

She brings you to a place seeping with wisdom.

I'm grateful for her take on this sacred system.

Whether you are new or old to the cards, grab this deck + book.

It will change your life, and practice.

And, that is not an understatement.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a good beginner's guide to tarot. I felt the introduction was nice and informative. When it came down to the individual card reads, I like how all the symbols are explained. I think for myself, I really liked the "quick takes" and "reverse" reads.

I want to say that I did win this in a giveaway and then a friend bought me tarot cards so I could use them in tandem. I am very happy with both.
Thank you to Jennifer Steidley and Weiser Books for sending it to me.