Tarot Plain and Simple

by Anthony Louis

At its essence the Tarot deals with archetypal symbols of the human situation. By studying the Tarot, we connect ourselves with the mythical underpinnings of our lives; we contact the gods within. This book presents the Tarot in language that is plain and simple, devoid of extraneous philosophical, or metaphysical musings, for those who wish to learn an easy and reliable method of reading for themselves and for others.

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

322 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

Reviews

[Amit · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there is one book.and only book you need to.learn Tarot, then this is it. Though this was my seventh book on the subject but just the way we pick cards while doing tarot..this is the book we pick when we are stuck....great reference meanings for both upright and reversed cards, no complicated jargon or heavy diificult interpretation. The best part of the book.is that the meaning associated with the cards are 99% accurate, the other books on tarot hardly deliver 60-70%. The only thing i didnt like was the use of Robinhood deck in the imagery, as I am a rider-waite reader & love the visuals of the deck. But anyways, this is a one stop book.that you must pick if you are a tarot fanatic.No matter what level in Tarot you are, this is one and only book for a beginner to most advanced practitioners. Coz it makes complicated Tarot system really plain and simple. And yes...I highly recommend it for its simplicity and accuracy.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have had a quick re-read of this one today. It's a great book for beginners as well as those more advanced in Tarot. I really like the way the book is laid out with the Major Arcana first then the minors are done in numerical order... it's helpful to see all the Aces together to compare and contrast differences. There are some interesting interpretations here and Louis also is thorough in his explanation for reversed cards. Highly recommended.

[Jace · Rating 5 out of 5]

TAROT PLAIN & SIMPLE was my first Tarot book, and I'm convinced it's the only one I'll ever need. In addition to providing a great introduction to the basics of Tarot, this book also provides detailed analysis of each card. And for those who don't wish to approach Tarot solely from the mystical angle, this book also explores the psychological/meditative/therapeutic properties of a Tarot reading.

TAROT PLAIN & SIMPLE features the lush and detailed illustrations of artist Robin Wood. For anyone considering purchasing a new Tarot deck, I would also highly recommend the ROBIN WOOD TAROT. As companion pieces, these two items have generated countless hours of intriguing insight, deep conversation, and sustained enjoyment. I can't laud them highly enough.

[gudetamama · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first tarot guides I read, and while I thought it was pretty good at the time, after reading many others, and then revisiting this, I have come to appreciate it more.

Some reviews complain that this doesn't go in-depth the symbolism. Have you read the title? It's tarot "plain and simple". If you want to dive deep into the history and symbols, look elsewhere. I for one just wanted a quick guide so I could start reading for myself from the get-go. For now, I don't need all the Jungian and Golden Dawn and Qabbalah info, and this sets me up nicely. I know those are good to learn eventually, but I think too much info at the start and one can just feel confused and overwhelmed. This makes tarot feel accessible and like just another topic that one can learn, with enough diligence and practice.

If you want the personality of the author to shine through, you're looking for cool, witchy vibes, nope, this is not it. Yes, the author is male, and sometimes his terms are dated and can be off-putting to the non-binary sensibility. But his intentions are good, and I as an "ethnic" female take no offense. I find his tone to be very friendly, patient and kindly. The text is to the point (my issue with many other tarot books lately is that they are half loosely edited personal essay), and on point.

This is a very good no-frills beginner book.

[Shelbi Pekas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was torn on this rating because while this has become my go-to tarot book and the only one I use now, some of the language is outdated and unnecessary. This book gets into the history of tarot, breaks down the upright and downward positions of the cards, color correspondences, spreads, and includes personal antidotes that speak on the authors experience with the cards which all amount to a very informative read for both before and during your tarot journey. Alternatively, I found absolutely no reason to include hair and eye colors and compare them to the card suits OR include language such as “ethnic” and “swarthy.” That whole section can be omitted completely and really left a sour taste in my mouth that had me questioning if I should have even bought the book in the first place. I would love to see an updated version.

[K Kriesel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent basic, simple book on Tarot. Louis elaborates on the history of Tarot, different ways it can be used, how to evaluate both individual cards and entire spreads, and the meanings of cards, suits, and numbers.

But he repeatedly refers to certain cards as references to homosexuality and/or bisexuality.
Any sexuality is both too complex and too personal to be simplified into a Tarot card. To assign any sexuality to any Tarot card is both inappropriate and disrespectful.
He also claims that each suit could represent a person in someone's life, and provides "visual markers." Wands means a pasty blonde person for example. And then Pentacles mean someone "ethnic." Not Black, not dark. "Ethnic."

Again, great book on Tarot. But clearly written for straight white people.

[Karen (EarthAngel2911) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A terrific reference, but not the best for beginners. The keywords given for each card are so encompassing that if you were just getting to know Tarot, it would be difficult to narrow down which meanings applied to your reading.

[Kristal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the one I always return to- simple to reference, yet detailed enough to get to the meat of each card. It can be a little old fashioned in regards to gender, but I've never found it to be restrictive since multiple card interpretations are always included. If you get one Tarot reference, I recommend this.

[Marina Mo]

I have read first Tarot beyond the basics and thought I won't need to read this book. However, I am glad I bought it. It is excellent. Louis is happy to share the knowledge without calculations. On simple way readers can learn a lot. While being a long time in astrology I found it very useful to make connections with tarot through his explanations. The book is - must have.

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick impression. For a reference book on Tarot, this is very good and straightforward. Good book to look card meanings up as needed. As a learning tool, not so much as it is a pretty dry text. I own this, and I am OK having it on my shelf as a reference book, but for beginners and learners there are better selections.

(full review on my blog later)

[Nicki Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book!! It's a "history of tarot" as well as a "textbook" to learn to read the corresponding deck.
I had a blast doing the short 3 and 5 card reads for my friends over Zoom during this quarantine!
I do know that it would take me forever to memorize this book. This will be a well worn copy in no time!! =)

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is in my top 5 favorite Tarot books. Anthony Louis goes beyond the basic meanings and really adds layers to each card. He goes in-depth on numerology, the suits, and what each card means. He provides extensive keywords for each card which helps you think outside the box. I truly love this book and I hope Llewellyn NEVER STOPS PUBLISHING IT<3.

[Nicole C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book I read about tarot, Tarot Plain and Simple was a fine introduction with some helpful frameworks. That said, the card illustrations and a number of descriptions didn't resonate with me. I also found the language rather dated. I've since started reading Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom and I already prefer that over this one.

[Patricia Puckett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tried to read this just through and through, and for my ADHD self, it was no easy task. However, this book is exactly as advertised, and is easily made to be referenced back to while practicing Tarot--something I more than intend to do with it. Very easy to understand, very clear in its meanings.

[Ben Lawrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have companion for those interested in the Tarot.
Includes a history of the cards, different usable spreads and meanings and interpretations of the cards (major and minor arcana).

This is suitable for beginners and experts. Would highly recommend!

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://bloodygranuaile.dreamwidth.or...

[John Majerle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to this fascinating hobby. Get started tarot reading right away!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a good book with lots of jumping off points for interpretations of various cards. :)

[Elisabet · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best introductory books on the topic. Highly recommended for those starting out.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure I agree with a number of interpretations in this book.

[Zineb Sassi]

; v;: fffff; lcv ;flmd;;;;vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvffffv;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;vfvfvfdcvvvvvvv

[Aisling Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a beginner to Tarot, this book was incredible! It gives just the right amount of clear information so that you’re not overwhelmed. It seems like a great starting point for a beginner!

[Adria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the best interpretations I've come across are in this book. I've had it since I started reading YEARS ago. You will keep it on your shelf, guaranteed.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most straightforward tarot guides out there. It is perfect for beginners. I love the way the interpretations for each card are laid out.

[Nancy OHare · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 25 years this book remains my primary reference for readings. It is filled with many notes and additional info pasted inside its covers from the days I was seriously studying. Besides my Mother Peace book from the 80's, this is the only tarot guide on my shelves currently. Many more tarot books are packed away in storage but this one is my go-to for beginners, experienced readers, and rusty readers like me.

[Lois Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay

[Lee L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why bother with Tarot? In the words of Anthony Louis, "The Tarot awakens our intuitive abilities." You will find nothing could be truer. Mr. Louis then explains that after a certain amount of experience with the cards, using intuition, the cards and their positions in a spread will suggest meanings outside the textbooks. This is what any good Tarot teacher wants his students to work toward. This book is a good place to begin that journey.

Mr. Louis uses the The Robin Wood Tarot for illustrations, which is absolutely my favorite deck and number one reading deck. The Robin Wood is intuitively drawn, colorful, lively, and encourages unique interpretation for each individual. Mr. Louis has a fresh, new approach to presenting the cards, which I like very much. Rather than grouping all of a suit together, which most books do, he gathers all Aces, all twos, all threes, etc. It's a different way of looking at the cards, and is very insightful. He includes a short introduction to each group of numbers. If you get a disproportionate group of one number in your spread, this will give you a feel for what that particular number is telling you. Also, I like that he includes the "Fool's Journey," which will help you get acquainted with each of the Major Arcana.

Mr. Louis includes advice on how to spread the cards. I absolutely love his "theme and variations" spread, which I use to tell a story that will play out over time. This spread is a great place to start. It is simple enough for a beginner, but still detailed enough to receive helpful insight. Also, his suggestion to master the Celtic Cross, which I have found to be my most helpful spread, is good advice. This, I feel, is a natural progression from the "theme and variations." If you practice it, it will become second nature.

I would highly recommend you take his advice to keep a Tarot journal. I have devised a system of color-coded shorthand for each card so I can easily record the spreads. Looking back over past spreads, you may come to see how spreads played out over time, enabling you to gain an even deeper understanding of what each card means to you.

After you have been working with your deck for some time, go back and reread the beginning chapters and the Fool's Journey. You will find they have both deeper meaning and different advice for you. You will notice things that slipped by the first time. With this book, you will be well on your way into the world of Tarot!

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is excellent for both beginners and more experienced Tarot readers. It covers the history of Tarot, explains the Jungian archetypal journey and provides a detailed breakdown of the upright and reversed positions of the cards. The book also explores color correspondences, numerology, and astrology in Tarot, offers spreads with interpretation examples, and includes personal anecdotes from the author that reflect their experience with the cards. All of this makes it an informative and engaging read for anyone starting or continuing their Tarot journey.

What I particularly appreciated was that the author went beyond typical Western astrology correspondences. The book also includes Vedic astrology and alternative astrological associations commonly used in South America. Each card is thoroughly analyzed, starting with its main meaning, followed by key words and phrases, then situations and advice, and finally the types of people the card can represent. This is done for both upright and reversed positions. You will not find more possible keywords for each card in any other book. This is the kind of book you return to whenever you feel stuck.

However, the author does not use the popular Rider-Waite-Smith deck, which is what most beginners start with. Instead, the book uses and illustrates the Robin Wood deck, though all the illustrations are in black and white.

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro · Rating 2 out of 5]

While ilthe writing was plain and the concepts simple, no greater understanding was communicated, making this 300 pages worth of assembled keywords, some of which ("Luke Skywalker") were rather strange, incoherent and wihout any link to real life.
Many ideas were repeated over and over in as many words as the other could think of, while more obscure ideas remained unexplained till the end, leaving me clueless as to why this particular card should refer to homosexuality, or Frodo.
Also, the reversed meanings listed were usually just the exact opposite of the card meaning, making such a wholesome listing rather redundant.
The sheer amount of keywords, which weren't fitted in a text but just listed, sometimes not even in whole sentences, confused the core meaning of the cards (if they had any). No distinctions in priority of certain keywords as opposed to others were made.
The two sections about Astrology and Numerology were pretty useless and held less information than a wilipedia article on the same subject.
In short,this book offers no new insights, no new approach and certainly not a "simple" way to learn the meanings of each card, unless you mean to learn a bunch of unconnected keywords by heart.

[katie luisa borgesius · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is basically a list of card interpretations for the major and minor arcanas. It has brief sections describing a few common card spreads and some suggestions on how to understand what's presented to you, as well as a few example readings and brief appendixes on astrology and numerology. Nothing is contextualized; no reasons are given for anything and the symbolism is left wholly unjustified. Rather than teaching you how the tarot came to be and why it's understood as it is, this book will give you a base upon which to make a game of free-association, matching given interpretations with whatever it is you're playing the cards for. In short, this is a barebones system which you can use out of the box with a tarot deck.

This is, to me, about the most uninteresting book that could be written on such a fascinating subject. It might be a good primer if you're just looking to have some fun with the cards. For in-depth information, look elsewhere.