Mary K. Greer's 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card

by Mary K. Greer

Drawing on nearly forty years of tarot experience, Mary K. Greer has developed a new energizing approach-made up of twenty-one stimulating techniques to interpret or deepen your understanding of each card. Just as the twenty-six letters of the alphabet can be combined to form billions of words, Greer's twenty-one methods can be used in any combination for gaining amazing new insights and perspectives.

Emphasizing both traditional and personal methods of interpretation, Greer's techniques involve storytelling, sketching, symbols, metaphors, dialogues, acting, and other imaginative exercises. Designed to bring about interaction, transformation, and empowerment, this twenty-one-pronged approach to tarot can help readers expand standard interpretations and evolve new ways of connecting to the cards.

COVR Award Winner for Best Divination Book

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

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Mary K. Greer is a scholar, writer, teacher and professional tarot consultant. With more than forty years experience in tarot as an author and teacher, she advocates a revolutionary approach to learning and using the cards that emphasizes personal insight and creativity. As an expert tarot reader, she works as a ‘midwife of the soul,’ using techniques that are interactive, transformational and empowering.

Mary is the founder of Tools and Rites of Transformation (T.A.R.O.T.) and is a member of many international tarot organizations. She is a featured speaker at tarot conferences and symposia around the world.

The author of nine books on tarot and a biography of four female magicians, Mary’s latest book is Who Are You in the Tarot? (RedWheel/Weiser, 2011). Her previous book, 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card (Llewellyn, 2008) won the COVR award for best divination book.

Mary is the proud recipient of the 2007 International Tarot Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2006 Mercury Award from the Mary Redman Foundation for “excellence in communication in the metaphysical field.”

With an M.A. in English literature, Mary was a faculty member and administrator of a college in San Francisco for eleven years. She is an Arch-Priestess/Hierophant in the Fellowship of Isis. As a world traveler, she has lived in Japan, Germany, England, Mexico, six states in the U.S., and currently resides in Northern California.

Reviews

[Marius · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book on how to interpret the tarot cards. This is not a book for all things tarot. Greer does an excellent job listing different approaches to the cards. She lists 21 ways of interpreting the cards ie.; by image, with emotions, with numerology, applying the elements and so on. She has some interesting appendices to help the reader too; list of emotions, numerological meanings, suits, element combos, archetype descriptions, reading styles. There is a glossary and index as well in the back. All in all a very practical book and very approachable for the novice swell as the advanced reader.

This book can be purchased on amazon; https://amzn.to/3MEHB9b

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of my all time favorite tarot books. It provides so many different outlooks & explains how to intuitively trust your interpretations.

[Beth Gea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo que más me ha gustado del libro es que es una guía práctica para conocer y conectarnos más con las cartas del tarot a nuestra manera. Ofrece 21 ejercicios diferentes para que conectemos con las cartas desde nuestra subjetividad, desde lo que las cartas significan para nosotras, hablando con ellas y estableciendo una relación de confianza.

A pesar de que alguna de las maneras de leer ya las practicaba, otras ni siquiera se me habían pasado por la cabeza y sé que voy a experimentar.

No es un libro para nada dogmático y es algo que me gusta, porque a pesar de que las cartas tienen unos significado más o menos aceptados en general, no todo significa lo mismo para todo el mundo, así que me gusta la filosofía de la autora de que, basándonos en lo que hay, añadamos nuestra sabiduría y nuestra experiencia al significado de las cartas.

Es una guía práctica a la que voy a volver muchas veces en mi viaje por el Tarot.

Súper recomendable para aquellas personas que conozcan por encima un poco el significado de las cartas y quieran profundizar de una manera más personal en ellas.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, this is a Workbook! There are plenty of exercises expected to be completed by Ms Greer. About 1/3rd of the book is basic/obvious, 1/3rd you have probably come across if you've read a handful of Tarot books, and 1/3rd expands upon the aforementioned topics. A decent book for the Tarot novice, but not necessary for the intermediate student or master.

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these 21 ways were helpful but others just seemed like common sense. Very beginner friendly, but I wouldn't recommend for an experienced reader.

[Tabitha Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's easy to see why after ten years this book is still one of the most go to books in the tarot community. It's easy and open manner makes it an easy read. The exercises and journal work gives the reader tools to see tarot cards in different ways. Allowing them to tap into the entire potential of each card. It is also highly personal as it brings forth a great deal of yourself with each exercise that you complete. While it starts out light, if you're using this book properly it's going to go a great deal deeper than you expected or wanted it too. Awesome book for both beginners and advanced readers.

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some interesting exercises in this book. I only found about half of the activities useful, but of those I found a couple incredibly creative and inspiring. A lot of material I'd seen before, but also some wonderfully fresh ideas I hadn't expected. A good recommendation for an intermediate-level tarot reader.

[Putu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically, the information given is easy to understand. But, it is better if your tarot is one of the three tarots illustrated on the front cover.

[daemyra, the realm's delight · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 4 for solidarity but a 3 if I am being honest.

I love you Mary K. Greer but if I had to choose an intro to reading tarot, I'd have to go with Tarot for your Self, which was my first tarot book purchase that remains a fundamental influence in my approach to tarot.

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card suffers aesthetically. I really think they should have gone with a different cover as well as a different lay-out for the information. It reminds me a lot of Rachel Pollack's Tarot Wisdom book, as they are both appear identical in terms of the actual book dimensions and the design lay-out within, down to the black-and-white cards.

To new beginners to tarot, this would be a good book if you will do the activities, but I would recommend getting a group together to work on the activities together and then discuss. To a tarot reader who enjoys tarot books, this is not a must-read. The best thing about this book would probably be its appendices, particularly the tables that show different tarot systems all in one comparative table.

I really enjoy books on tarot reading, as someone who reads for themselves and offers tarot readings to the public, so I am not expecting really paradigm-shaking takes or even hot take perspectives. I am just hoping for another way to think of an idea.

I enjoyed some steps like numbers, dignities, and archetypes but most of it I flipped through fast.

[Miss Syreena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worked through the book with a study group and it was a fantastic experience! Highly recommended for folks at any level of tarot study. Plenty of activities that can be done alone or with a group to deepen your understanding of a card.

[Nguyễn Sơn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bản Tiếng Việt: "21 Cách Giải Nghĩa Lá Bài Tarot"
• Sách có kết cấu hơi khó tiếp cận và dịch cũng chưa mượt, nhiều bài tập thực hành quá nên cũng cần phải nghiền ngẫm kỹ.

[Ivonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro es ideal para todo aquel que quiera hacer una práctica del tarot más exhaustiva y concienzuda. Me encato su abordaje holístico de la práctica, así como cada capítulo brinda una manera distinta de acercarse a las cartas. Creo que todo el que empiece a aprender la disciplina debería tener este libro como su compañero infaltable, sin duda resuelve muchas dudas y entrega información valiosa sobre los números, cómo relacionarse con las cartas e involucrar la intuición.
Mi favorito, de referencia personal siempre!

[Durgadas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful intermediate level book on performing readings. Many wonderful suggestions for enriching readings and connecting with the cards in different ways. I think this would be an excellent book for people after they've gotten to know the cards a fair amount and want to expand their Tarot horizons in a performing readings way, as opposed to an Occult philosophy/symbolism way.

[Sun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really useful, although my biggest takeaways as a newbie are that mirroring the body language on a card really helps understand it, and that reading for another person is a very different thing than reading for yourself!

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't really love this book, I had a hard time connecting to it. I guess I'm just not really a fan of Mary Greer?

[Mel Salvador · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the introduction states, “21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card is full of techniques for gaining insights into tarot readings”, and it doesn’t disappoint. Working with a single card in 21 different ways definitely expands both your ways of working with your cards and your personal insights. The idea isn’t to utilise every method every time however. Rather, one of the goals of the book is to help you “evolve an individualized reading style or technique.” I love that it’s a how-to book that keeps you very much in charge of how you ultimately work with your cards.

Each of the twenty-one sections offers two different levels of exploration. There are exercises for both the apprentice and the adept. This has nothing to do with your skill level. Instead the way of the apprentice provides an overview while the adept exercises delve more deeply into the concepts and offers additional variations you can explore once you’ve completed your apprenticeship.

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card is definitely a book you can keep returning to. For example, Step 16 asks you to draw your chosen card. And no, you don’t have to have amazing drawing skills to gain the benefits. I used XXI The World from the Chrysalis Tarot deck and there is no way I could come close to creating anything nearly as beautiful, but it really didn’t matter. I was amazed by how many additional details I discovered during my attempts. This exercise alone is definitely worth revisiting over and over again as are so many of the others. I am glad this book is part of my collection.

About the Author
Mary K Greer is a tarot scholar, teacher and reader who has published many tarot books. (Understanding the Tarot Court, The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals, Women of the Golden Dawn, The Essence of Magic, Tarot Mirrors, Tarot Constellations, Tarot for Your Self and her latest, Who are you in the Tarot). She has over 40 years of tarot experience – and it shows.

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card Contents

Introduction
How to Use this Book
Step 0 Stepping Out
Step 1 Name
Step 2 Description
Step 3 Emotion
Step 4 Story
Step 5 Number
Step 6 Mode, Suit, Element
Step 7 Synthesis
Step 8 Metaphor
Step 9 Query & Snapshot
Step 10 Meanings
Step 11 Range
Step 12 Modification
Step 13 Symbols
Step 14 Dignity & Theme
Step 15 Dialogs
Step 16 Drawing
Step 17 Embodiment
Step 18 Imagination
Step 19 Myth & Archetypes
Step 20 Deck Comparison
Step 21 The Possible Self
Step 00 Full Circle
Appendices
Emotions List
Number & Rank Keywords
Mode, Suit, Element Keywords
Elemental Dignity Combinations
The Empress Vision
Archetypal Motifs Chart
Reading Styles
Traps & Solutions in R.I.T.E
21 Ways Worksheet
Glossary
Bibliography

As you can see this book offers a lot. It’s conversational style makes it easy and enjoyable to read. I don’t know what Mary K Greer sounds like, but I felt during the reading of this book that I was sitting in a casual “classroom” being given lots and lots of tips designed to encourage me to develop my own personal reading style and I loved it. I would thoroughly recommend this book to tarot enthusiasts of all levels.

[Sylvia Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary K. Greer’s 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card is one of those rare books that manages to be both practical and profoundly transformative. Greer doesn’t just present a list of techniques—she guides you through an experience, offering readers a chance to see the Tarot from entirely new angles. Her methods range from the analytical to the imaginative, so whether you’re inclined to take notes or dive into a more intuitive approach, there’s something here that will challenge and inspire.

Each of the 21 ways feels like a different facet of the same gem. One of my favorites is her focus on dialogue with the cards. It’s not about what the card means traditionally, but about what it has to say to you in that moment. Greer’s exercises gently nudge you to break free from rigid interpretations and engage with the cards as active participants in a conversation. The storytelling and metaphor methods are particularly engaging, helping you move beyond simple symbolism and into a more fluid, nuanced understanding.

What makes 21 Ways truly valuable is that it’s less about definitive answers and more about deepening your relationship with the Tarot. You won’t find set meanings here; instead, you’ll learn how to listen to the cards and let them reveal their layers. Greer’s book isn’t just a toolkit—it’s a guide for anyone ready to let go of “right” and “wrong” readings and embrace the complexities of intuitive interpretation.

For anyone serious about exploring the full potential of the Tarot, this book is a game-changer. Greer’s experience and depth of knowledge shine through on every page, but it’s her encouragement to trust your own instincts that makes this work feel so empowering. 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card isn’t just a how-to—it’s an invitation to create your own unique, evolving language with the cards.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good content, lots of useful information references but also practical advice and examples. I did not know how flexible and subjective tarot reading could be. I appreciate a seasoned and respected tarot expert like Greer publishing a book like this that teaches the basics and the not so basics. And it really felt so much more exciting that I’ll get to develop my personal style, learn to lean into my intuitions and evolve on it.

[Mariam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5. I found the first two-thirds of this book insightful and instructive and then it got redundant and too psychobabbly for my taste. I skimmed over steps 15 through 18 and didn't think much of the ones after either though 19 (Myths & Archetypes) could have been very interesting if done well. Didn't the editor have anything to say about phrases like "midwife of the soul"?

[Thao Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Là một cuốn sách cần thiết cho những người vừa bắt đầu học Tarot. Tác giả giới thiệu 21 cách để đọc và giải 1 lá bài/1 trải bài bên cạnh cách đọc ý nghĩa và nhớ keyword truyền thống. Ngoài lý thuyết, mỗi step tác giả còn hướng dẫn các bước thực hành cụ thể giúp người đọc có thể hiểu và làm theo.

[Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really into this! It's the tarot theory I've been wanting. Advanced and thorough and I don't understand it all, but that's great.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just read the beginner parts but seemed very comprehensive and inclusive.

[Sandra Tesch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to understand...almost too much information

[Wynona · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's more of an Activity Book. It may possibly be a little confusing for a beginner, due to no meanings behind each tarot card.

[Dana Mitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a medium-level tarot reader and found this set of ways to approach the deck to be very novel. And helpful at the same time of a way to deepen understanding in a conceptual way. Great in terms of themes across cards and ways top bring ones own experiences and intuition into the deck.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good series of Tarot explorations, with something to offer everyone from beginner to advanced. This book includes lots of experiential exercises (which are very good - and you'll get WAY more out of the book if you actually do them rather than just reading them!) but also quite a bit of detail about number, elemental, and archetypal symbolism, very concisely described. I really like the approach of using open-ended questions and asking the querent to take a more active role by describing what they see, making up a story about it, etc. rather than focusing on your own interpretation. I hope to re-read and re-use this book many times as there's a wealth of information, and the exercises could be super beneficial if repeated with a variety of cards.

[Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all, the book really helped me out. I think that some suggestions found in it can help people in their everyday lives and not only when reading tarot cards.
A few months back, I fell in love with tarot and it was wonderful to expand my knowledge of it (which I will continue to do). Of course, the book included techniques that I didn't find appealing, but then again, there were some ideas that I plan to use whenever I can. :) Thank you Ms Greer! :D

[Revshemsu Nefretnubti · Rating 3 out of 5]

very good for 'self' reading and teaching a method on how to have a person read for themselves. Its like a relaxed form of psychotherapy and very useful breaking through the stigma of not being able to read for one self. She also includes good explanations and definitions of which are essential to learning card meanings - though she doesn't stress that as much as self symbolism and self exploration.

[Alia Makki · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are two ways to learn the intuitive way of reading cards - that I know of:
1) spend a decade reading the cards
2) Memorize and apply the 21 ways of reading the cards as described here.

And even then, when you're reading for yourself, and the cards are acting out on you (or you're not really in a state that facilitates an easy reading), it's still all the wiser to keep a reference book nearby, especially one that is also by Mary K. Greer, Tarot of Reversals.

[Sock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! I love the focus on each individual's interpretation of the cards rather than a transpersonal "true" meaning. I appreciate the many exercises using different modalities of expression and interpretation. I have used some of them as insight tools for myself and with clients, and I will again!