The Tarot Companion: A Portable Guide to Reading the Cards for Yourself and Others

by Liz Dean

A full-color quick-reference guide to understanding and reading the Tarot.

Genres: Tarot, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Witchcraft, Divination, Ebooks, Metaphysics

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2018

About the author

I'm an author and an intuitive, writing primarily about tarot, creativity and manifesting. My latest project, HBO's Game of Thrones Tarot, was published in March 2018, along with The Ultimate Guide to Divination in April. I practise and teach tarot at Psychic Sisters within Selfridges, London; Crystal Moon Emporium in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear; and privately, via Skype. This August, 3-5, I teach at The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York.

My background is in illustrated book publishing, commissioning authors (so I know what it's iike to be on both sides of the industry); and I co-edited Kindred Spirit magazine for a year or two. I've also worked as a copy-writer for publishers and the BBC, and work as a ghostwriter.

I hope you enjoy my books and I look forward to hearing from you.

Reviews

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautifully illustrated, accessibly laid out, and concise guide to reading tarot cards. The introduction covered basic card layouts as well as particulars on how to cleanse your cards of energy, acclimatise them to your being etc. The largest focus of the book was dominated by an overview of both the major and minor arcana, each accompanied by full-page artwork, illustrating the card in question. As a tarot novice, I found this to be a thoroughly helpful guide that gave an adequate overview for me to begin my practise.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Liz Dean, and the publisher, Fair Winds Press, for this opportunity.

[Sammie Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great guide to tarot, really helpful and a gorgeous hardcover!

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and wonderfully illustrated guide to Tarot reading. It's really useful for clarification on the meaning of cards and help me to discover things I didn't knew.
Highly recommended to people who want to discover to beginner and advanced Tarot users.
Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a tarot reader myself, I quite enjoyed this companion, especially because it is a companion. You could easily put it into your pocket alongside your cards.

It is a good reference book, especially if you haven't been reading the cards for long and need a little help with the interpretation of the Major and Minor Arcana in a certain layout.

[Sosanna Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, as many of my regular readers know, you can lose me in the cover of a book. Some of those suede feeling books just get on my nerves. I have to say that this traveling companion is perfect. It is a hard cover and slightly smaller in height to a normal book. This means you can toss it in a bag or tote and not worry about damaging the cover, bending pages and the like. I really like that about this book. Strong start for me, just on the cover alone. If it is a traveling companion it should travel well and this one fits the bill.

The beginning of the book addresses learning to read the cards. How to attune the deck, cleansing and protecting the deck as well as how to create a space for your readings. I attempted many years ago to learn the tarot and frankly I was so confused by the upside down, right side up meanings and having to learn all the card - YIKES. I like the way this author addresses this directly by suggesting new readers only work with the Major Arcana first and simply right the reversed cards until the feel more confident working with the cards.

The art work in the book is fantastic. Each card is placed on a full page and the description on the next page. Giving the reader the opportunity to read the description and view the imagery simultaneously.

The author three pages to layouts, the basic three card (past, present and future) layout, the week ahead and the Celtic Cross are included.

This author offers a free Tarot Course as well as a free tarot e-book on her website.

Overall I think it is a great book for not only the beginner but for the on the go reader who would like to have a bit of reference material. This is a great way to learn the craft and make yourself feel more confident about your interpretations of the cards.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource book for beginners or people who want to refine/refresh their knowledge. Liz Dean not only explains general card meanings, but gives examples and insights for what the cards may signify in different scenarios, readings, and people.

*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Ela Merit · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know those books that you know you have read but you can't remember anything about them? I feel like this about The Tarot Companion. So I guess there was no eye opening information for me in it (because then I would remember that info) but it wasn't cringe worthy as well? Because then I would remember getting worked up over stuff. So. Maybe try it if you're totally new to tarot. Totally-totally I guess?

ARC provieded via NetGalley. Thank you.

[Mali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great guide to further understand the tarot card meanings, both upright and upside down! I loved the illustrations and found all of the information included to be helpful and easy to use. Definitely would recommend! The cards used for the explanations are following the Rider Waite tarot.

*I received a copy from Net-galley in exchange for my honest opinion.*

[Tracy Marrs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautifully Illustrated and detailed book that anyone interested in learning tarot should have. The Tarot companion guides you through various tarot spreads and a detailed meaning for each and every card in each position. I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley and the review is voluntary.

[JoJoClassicComeBack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this tarot companion! I have been using this with my tarot reading for months! Each card has its own featured page with all the details about the card. I have used it like a notebook adding notes in the margins.

Highly recommend this “portable guide” — an incredibly useful tool.

[Janice Lombardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice detail for anyone who is interested or even already schooled in tarot reading. More detailed than any books I have read on the subject! Easy to use yet very comprehensive. "Key meanings" assist in gaining quick access to information!!!


RECOMMEND!


Many thanks to both the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to view this book!

[Marie Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for a quick reference guide to a standard RWS tarot deck.

[Stephanie Bruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite tarot book I’ve used. Getting more in to tarot cards and this is the most insightful yet straight forward guide I’ve used.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overall good guide to the tarot cards. Very clear meanings on the individual cards. I really liked the breakdown on the minor arcana into people. you and influence. #TheTarotCompanion #NetGalley

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tarot Companion by Liz Dean
A Portable Guide to Reading the Cards for Yourself and Others

Originally published 2015
Fair Winds Press
The Ultimate Guide to Tarot by Liz Dean

April 2018 republished
Quarto Publishing
Nonfiction, spiritual, self help

I received this digital copy from Quarto Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book is the perfect companion to those interested in learning how to read tarot cards. I personally have no knowledge about tarot cards and found the book interesting. It was well organized with lovely illustrations of each card. It explained the meaning of each card as it might relate to a person. It is very thorough going over every card. Since I have no experience with tarot reading it intrigues me to want to learn more about it.

Clearly, this book isn’t for everyone. It’s a great start for those spiritually inclined and wanting to learn without having to “dive in”.

Www.bookwormreviewblo.blogspot.com

[M.R. Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nifty little summary. Very concise.

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been interested in tarot cards; I have a fascination with how people use their spirituality. I have always wanted to know the whys and how of the practice. The Tarot Companion doesn't really give much background on the history and why tarot cards work. But it's a lovely walk through the Arcana and what the cards mean. I really enjoyed that because tarot often shows up in movies and video games so now UI understand more about the Persona games.
While this is a great reference for getting started, I am going to continue to my research on the history of the process.

I received an ARC from NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

[B.D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good guide for people who want to study the meaning of tarot cards and to use it to help them during their readings. For actually learning more about tarot, it's not the best for that. The first chapter, has very little information on starting tarot, and also wasted page space of where content could've been. But the rest is good, and it's essentially just a card meaning dictionary with good meanings and each card has their own page.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t read this cover-to-cover but did use it for my first guide as I started to learn tarot. (Just for myself.)

I ended up buying her larger version because I liked this one so much and was ready to expand my base knowledge.

I recommend! It’s very nicely bound and takes well to being carried around

[Alan D.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to Tarot matters, easy to follow with an attractive desing, although I would have liked to have more content besides just the meaning of the cards. Good enough for starters, I suppose.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informational, easy to understand with pictures too!

I've always wanted to learn how to read Tarot cards, some of the previous reads I've picked up weren't the best at explaining the process to a layman. After this, I feel confident enough to try it on my own.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent as far as a practical introduction goes. You’re not going to learn the more esoteric ins and outs of every card, but there’s certainly enough information to help interpret a reading. I plan to keep it around as a quick reference.

[Val~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent quality, thick glossy pages in full color. Foiled hardcover. Quick portable solution, specially for newbies. I would have loved more spiritual or evolutionary meanings though, but one can manage.

[Catherine R Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this, out of all my tarot companions and guides, this one is simple and to the point.

[Sonee Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and easy reference guide for basic meaning of each Tarot card in the Rider-Waite deck, including reverse meanings.

[Nicole Joliada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this companion. It really cuts to the chase and makes it less confusing when learning to read tarot.

[Nat Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good beginners guide to Tarot. Clear, to the point, and easy to navigate. I’d recommend it.

[Krystine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely not my favorite book to reference information about tarot. While there were decent bits of information I took from this…I do not find myself coming back to this very often.

[Hannah Springfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Tarot guide for any user easy to understand and well laid out!!

[Cielo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect if you are learning about the tarot. It uses the Rider deck and talks about the upright and reverse meanings.