What do you think?
Rate this book
Llewellyn's Little Books #8
Llewellyn's Little Book of Tarot
Discover fun and easy ways to use the tarot cards with this hardcover, full-color guide. Llewellyn's Little Book of Tarot is an ideal introduction to using the 78 cards to enhance your life and build a successful divination practice. You'll find an impressive collection of activities, tips, and prompts that allow you to go at your own pace and explore what reading style works best. Tarot expert Barbara Moore provides a thorough interpretation of each card, explaining the most important elements of it. She also presents sample cards from a variety of decks, helping you understand how tarot symbols and imagery appear in different artists' work. You'll even delve into divination techniques outside the cards, such as bibliomancy, meditation, and more.
248 pages, Hardcover
Published May 8, 2019
18 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Moore
183 books141 followersThe tarot has been a part of my personal and professional life for nearly twenty years. I first discovered the Tarot in college. Right from the start, the tarot intrigued me with its marvelous blending of mythology, psychology, art, history mystery, and magic.
My education in the tarot has been and continues to be broad and enlightening. I am grateful to have been blessed with the opportunity to study under renowned tarot scholars Mary K. Greer and Rachel Pollack. I have also had the privilege to share the wonders of the tarot with all manner of wide-eyed, would-be tarot readers.
I enjoy giving a voice to tarot cards by writing the books that accompany decks. I have had the good fortune to write books and booklets for several decks, including A Guide to Mystic Faerie Tarot (Llewellyn, July 2007), The Gilded Tarot Companion (Llewellyn, September 2004), The Enchanted Oracle (Llewellyn, September 2008), The Mystic Dreamer Tarot (Llewellyn, September 2008), and Shadowscapes Tarot (Llewellyn, May 2010). Recently, I finished writing a new edition of Tarot for Beginners (Llewellyn, November 2010).
My articles on the tarot have appeared in several tarot publications and in Llewellyn's New Worlds of Mind and Spirit.
Over the years, I have been very active in the tarot community. I am a founding member of the Minnesota Area Tarot Symposium and have spoken at tarot conferences around the United States. In July of 2010, I had the pleasure of attending the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI) Annual Conference as keynote speaker.
In addition to teaching tarot classes and providing personal readings, I currently work as a consultant for tarot publishers Llewellyn Worldwide and Lo Scarabeo. I also contribute bi-weekly posts to Llewellyn's Tarot Pathways blog. I am very excited to be working on designing several forthcoming tarot decks as well as another book for tarot newbies on spread design.
My education in the tarot has been and continues to be broad and enlightening. I am grateful to have been blessed with the opportunity to study under renowned tarot scholars Mary K. Greer and Rachel Pollack. I have also had the privilege to share the wonders of the tarot with all manner of wide-eyed, would-be tarot readers.
I enjoy giving a voice to tarot cards by writing the books that accompany decks. I have had the good fortune to write books and booklets for several decks, including A Guide to Mystic Faerie Tarot (Llewellyn, July 2007), The Gilded Tarot Companion (Llewellyn, September 2004), The Enchanted Oracle (Llewellyn, September 2008), The Mystic Dreamer Tarot (Llewellyn, September 2008), and Shadowscapes Tarot (Llewellyn, May 2010). Recently, I finished writing a new edition of Tarot for Beginners (Llewellyn, November 2010).
My articles on the tarot have appeared in several tarot publications and in Llewellyn's New Worlds of Mind and Spirit.
Over the years, I have been very active in the tarot community. I am a founding member of the Minnesota Area Tarot Symposium and have spoken at tarot conferences around the United States. In July of 2010, I had the pleasure of attending the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI) Annual Conference as keynote speaker.
In addition to teaching tarot classes and providing personal readings, I currently work as a consultant for tarot publishers Llewellyn Worldwide and Lo Scarabeo. I also contribute bi-weekly posts to Llewellyn's Tarot Pathways blog. I am very excited to be working on designing several forthcoming tarot decks as well as another book for tarot newbies on spread design.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 12, 2019
Thank you Netgalley and Llewellynn for the ARC.
Little Book of Tarot is an excellent book for beginners, covering the bare basics of the tarot in very easy to follow language.
It starts with a clear and simple introduction explaining the Major and Minor Arcana, the Suits, the Courts and most used tarot terms.
We then jump into the cards themselves. Each card is introduced by its image, each one taken from a different deck, which is a great way to explore the diversity in art.
The explanation of the cards is brief of course, this is after all a little book! But if you just start out, it has enough for you to chew on: a few keywords, a short description, symbolism or a journal prompt, followed by an instant answer. I especially liked those.
Here are some examples:
Judgement:
Your future self is calling. Don't let it go to voicemail.
Five of Wands:
Check your ego at the door and keep your goal in mind.
Eight of Cups:
You might not know what you are looking for. Don't worry, your heart will let you know when your eyes see it.
Nine of Swords:
It's always darkest before dawn. Things will look better in the morning.
King of Pentacles:
Be ridiculously generous.
After this fun bit the book covers the interpretation of spreads and some basic examples, before moving on to meditation. The added creative projects are great for exploring your cards and work your journal.
Finally there is a list of recommended reading and a list of all the wonderful decks used for the images.
All in all a lot of useful information brought together in a fast paced read. I'm not a beginner, but I did gain a few new insights and thoroughly enjoyed the writing style.
Live and learn!
Little Book of Tarot is an excellent book for beginners, covering the bare basics of the tarot in very easy to follow language.
It starts with a clear and simple introduction explaining the Major and Minor Arcana, the Suits, the Courts and most used tarot terms.
We then jump into the cards themselves. Each card is introduced by its image, each one taken from a different deck, which is a great way to explore the diversity in art.
The explanation of the cards is brief of course, this is after all a little book! But if you just start out, it has enough for you to chew on: a few keywords, a short description, symbolism or a journal prompt, followed by an instant answer. I especially liked those.
Here are some examples:
Judgement:
Your future self is calling. Don't let it go to voicemail.
Five of Wands:
Check your ego at the door and keep your goal in mind.
Eight of Cups:
You might not know what you are looking for. Don't worry, your heart will let you know when your eyes see it.
Nine of Swords:
It's always darkest before dawn. Things will look better in the morning.
King of Pentacles:
Be ridiculously generous.
After this fun bit the book covers the interpretation of spreads and some basic examples, before moving on to meditation. The added creative projects are great for exploring your cards and work your journal.
Finally there is a list of recommended reading and a list of all the wonderful decks used for the images.
All in all a lot of useful information brought together in a fast paced read. I'm not a beginner, but I did gain a few new insights and thoroughly enjoyed the writing style.
Live and learn!
March 9, 2019
A good little reference book. A good starting off point, to test the waters of tarot. If you like Barbara Moore, this is one to add to your shelf, I find her knowledgable.
March 12, 2019
*Thanks to NetGalley for this title in exchange for an honest review*
This is a book that is perfect to just throw into your purse for on the go, it's got basic meanings for every single card in the tarot, along with nifty little tips and some cool journal prompts. It also had some quotes that really just hit me hard and had me thinking long after finishing the book. If you're looking for something that is direct and to the point, this is for you! If you travel a lot and don't want to carry around one of those huge tarot books, this is for you! If you're like me and just love anything to do with tarot, this is also for you! Overall, this book is worth the price. I love it.
"Romanticizing a past experience will make it harder for any present experience to measure up."
This is a book that is perfect to just throw into your purse for on the go, it's got basic meanings for every single card in the tarot, along with nifty little tips and some cool journal prompts. It also had some quotes that really just hit me hard and had me thinking long after finishing the book. If you're looking for something that is direct and to the point, this is for you! If you travel a lot and don't want to carry around one of those huge tarot books, this is for you! If you're like me and just love anything to do with tarot, this is also for you! Overall, this book is worth the price. I love it.
"Romanticizing a past experience will make it harder for any present experience to measure up."
May 12, 2019
This small book is a fun introduction that gets you thinking about tarot in different ways, whether you're a novice or more experienced. Its structure is simple, much like you would believe, with early sections on the history of the tarot as well as structure and symbolism. The bulk of the book is about the cards themselves, a page for each, naturally divided into the major and minor arcana. The book ends with a section on how to do readings and layouts and is followed by one about other activities you can do with them. The book has a fantastic further reading section, listing both classic and newer books on tarot, where she not only gives the book title and author but also a sentence about the book's topic. The table of contents is helpful because it gives the page numbers of all the different extra information in the book, like the tips, prompts, and exercises.
For each of the card pages, there is a picture from a contemporary tarot deck and keywords with a paragraph or two about the card in general followed by either an exercise, tarot tips, information about symbolism, or a journal prompt. Each page about a card ends with a line or two that will give you an instant answer if you use the book for bibliomancy, where you flip open to a random page of a book for an answer to a simple question. There are eight exercises altogether, including the bibliomancy mentioned above, figuring out your birth card, choosing a card of the day, journaling with tarot, and creating affirmations. There are 41 tarot tips scattered throughout the book. The topics range widely, as you might imagine from the number of them. Sometimes she talks about groups of cards, like the court cards; other times, she discusses working with the tarot, like what to do when cards are confusing or working with reversals (if you choose) and negative meanings. The symbolism tips sometimes focus on a very specific element in a specific card, like the Fool’s dog, or a specific card’s symbolism more in-depth. The symbolism of abstract notions like grief or justice is also addressed. The journal prompts are, as you might imagine, based on the particular card it is attached to, like mother issues for the Empress and rebirth for Judgment.
I really liked having exposure to so many contemporary tarot decks. While I own quite a few, as I've studied the tarot for over 30 years, I'm not as familiar with what's currently available as I might be. Some of these decks are quite beautiful, and I might have to research a few to add to my collection. Having worked with the tarot for so long, I was surprised that this little book actually had me thinking about my work with the cards differently at times. Some concepts were wholly new to me, like using different decks for different types of questions or readings. I might have to try that. I liked her brief descriptions of the cards; it is clear the author has studied tarot wide and deep, and her viewpoint on it is very open and uplifting. I will definitely be incorporating some of her ideas into how I use my cards.
In all, I found this to be a delightful little book that will spark many an idea and insight into my work with the tarot.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, but that did not affect my review.
For each of the card pages, there is a picture from a contemporary tarot deck and keywords with a paragraph or two about the card in general followed by either an exercise, tarot tips, information about symbolism, or a journal prompt. Each page about a card ends with a line or two that will give you an instant answer if you use the book for bibliomancy, where you flip open to a random page of a book for an answer to a simple question. There are eight exercises altogether, including the bibliomancy mentioned above, figuring out your birth card, choosing a card of the day, journaling with tarot, and creating affirmations. There are 41 tarot tips scattered throughout the book. The topics range widely, as you might imagine from the number of them. Sometimes she talks about groups of cards, like the court cards; other times, she discusses working with the tarot, like what to do when cards are confusing or working with reversals (if you choose) and negative meanings. The symbolism tips sometimes focus on a very specific element in a specific card, like the Fool’s dog, or a specific card’s symbolism more in-depth. The symbolism of abstract notions like grief or justice is also addressed. The journal prompts are, as you might imagine, based on the particular card it is attached to, like mother issues for the Empress and rebirth for Judgment.
I really liked having exposure to so many contemporary tarot decks. While I own quite a few, as I've studied the tarot for over 30 years, I'm not as familiar with what's currently available as I might be. Some of these decks are quite beautiful, and I might have to research a few to add to my collection. Having worked with the tarot for so long, I was surprised that this little book actually had me thinking about my work with the cards differently at times. Some concepts were wholly new to me, like using different decks for different types of questions or readings. I might have to try that. I liked her brief descriptions of the cards; it is clear the author has studied tarot wide and deep, and her viewpoint on it is very open and uplifting. I will definitely be incorporating some of her ideas into how I use my cards.
In all, I found this to be a delightful little book that will spark many an idea and insight into my work with the tarot.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, but that did not affect my review.
March 8, 2019
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book*
If you're new to Tarot card reading, or just want to know more about it, Llewellyn's Little Book of Tarot is a great read. There are thorough explanations of the cards in a Tarot deck, including alternate names for the suits (Pentacles = Coins, for example).
There are also a few things in here that are new compared to other Tarot books I've read, like Birth Cards and Biliomancy. I really enjoyed finding my Birth Cards (The Tower/The Chariot) and finding out where my strengths and weaknesses were.
With that said, my favorite aspect of this book was the fact that each card was shown by a different deck in the book. That is extremely helpful for someone who may be looking to purchase their first deck or even another one. They can see which cards speak to them, get the name of the deck, and look up where to purchase it. I'm going to enjoy just looking through all the gorgeous artwork all of these different decks have to offer.
If you're new to Tarot card reading, or just want to know more about it, Llewellyn's Little Book of Tarot is a great read. There are thorough explanations of the cards in a Tarot deck, including alternate names for the suits (Pentacles = Coins, for example).
There are also a few things in here that are new compared to other Tarot books I've read, like Birth Cards and Biliomancy. I really enjoyed finding my Birth Cards (The Tower/The Chariot) and finding out where my strengths and weaknesses were.
With that said, my favorite aspect of this book was the fact that each card was shown by a different deck in the book. That is extremely helpful for someone who may be looking to purchase their first deck or even another one. They can see which cards speak to them, get the name of the deck, and look up where to purchase it. I'm going to enjoy just looking through all the gorgeous artwork all of these different decks have to offer.
May 11, 2019
I think everyone is curious about the possibility of knowing the future and this book gives great insight into the reading of Tarot cards. This is book 8 in Llewellyn's Little book series and is certainly stand alone. Lots of good illustration and easy to follow steps when using various layouts. The book is very basic and very much written for beginners. It gives a little history and art lesson also. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 10, 2019
I absolutely loved Llewellyn's Little Book of Tarot! It is a wonderful introduction to tarot with no need for a physical tarot deck to learn as there is a full set contained within the pages of the book. Each tarot card page has the card illustration on one side and informations and details about he card on the other side. There is so much wonder and information contained with in the pages of this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who is curious about tarot or wants to learn more.
February 18, 2022
I found this book to be what I was looking for after reading a few other tarot books. This guide went into more meanings of the cards, rather than how they may connect to me. I far prefer that kind of detail than just the interpretation according to me. The history presented with each card was also very interesting to learn about. I also liked the different activities that the author suggested you could do with your cards if you didn't want to exclusively do readings.
December 30, 2022
I read this as a bit of a foray into Tarot, partly for work purposes and partly for curiosity. I was able to pair the card explanations with a few decks of differently themed Tarot cards, which gave me some background to the cards, how to read them, and the different artistic takes that are available for people to read! This was a simple and easy to follow introduction to this topic that I'd recommend for curious beginners.
July 29, 2023
No, I am not personally starting to perform divination. But tarot cards come up often in books, TV, comics, and movies. And since I didn't know anything about them, I felt like I was missing some of the meaning in these stories. This little book was perfect for giving me a solid overview of the history and common meanings of the cards. It also has exercises for anyone seeking to get started with divination, as well as some lovely journal prompts good for anyone.
June 15, 2019
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Llewellyn for free in exchange for an honest review.
I know that I can count on Llewellyn to publish books that are informative and useful and easy to read. The Little Book of Tarot was no exception.
I enjoyed the clear explanations of the cards. This book is an excellent primer to add to a person's body of knowledge about Tarot.
I know that I can count on Llewellyn to publish books that are informative and useful and easy to read. The Little Book of Tarot was no exception.
I enjoyed the clear explanations of the cards. This book is an excellent primer to add to a person's body of knowledge about Tarot.
June 16, 2023
This is a handy guide to the tarot. For the beginner, this is a must. I absolutely love the author included “instant answers” for each card because, let’s be honest, that’s what most beginners are looking for. A quick check for what the answer is to our question. Definitely a book worth buying if you’re starting into the study of tarot.
August 20, 2019
Excellent pocket book for beginner tarot. I personally have experience with tarot, but found myself learning a few new things. It will be an excellent start for someone just getting into reading, and also a great refresher for experienced folks.
November 2, 2021
What a delightful and instruction book - Llewellyn's Little Book of Tarot is the kind of book everyone should own if they are interested in learning about the tarot.
It includes a full-color guide on how to use the 78-card deck. Great tips and activities make this a must-have!
It includes a full-color guide on how to use the 78-card deck. Great tips and activities make this a must-have!
July 2, 2019
I'm a newbie to tarot but have always been interested. This book was a great introduction.
August 1, 2022
A wonderful guide for beginners .. it gives a simple introduction to each card and types of tarot readings . Also love the way it’s written so uplifting and encouraging.
August 15, 2022
Very concise guide.
September 24, 2022
A great starter book! Filled with great bits of information; while it is no longer my favorite tarot book to reference at one point it definitely was!
November 13, 2022
Fabulous. Love the cover and size of the thing. The pages are a nice weight too and the information is clearly communicated.
Read
June 23, 2024Super great tarot guide! I loved that Moore breaks down the different symbolism on the card. This is really easy to read, never boring, and super helpful.
June 25, 2024
Excellent overview and provides a quick and dirty look at each card. I like that it has cards from different decks.
October 28, 2024
It is a great book to get into tarot as a beginner, it is full of practical exercises to start on your tarot journey. Loved it!
January 12, 2025
Such a good introduction to tarot and for a quick reference even with experience
January 26, 2019
The Little Book of Tarot is another amazing book by Llewellyn's Publishing written by Barbara Moore. It is easy to follow and understand. You should trust yourself when using your cards. there's a chapter on how you can use your artistic talents to make your own cards, put more than one card together with another. Use a notebook to jot down what you are learning. I really liked that it wasn't " you have to do this or it won't work, follow the book exactly or it will be wrong". You are given license to follow your instincts. I recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in Tarot. It's a great book to take with you on trips or anytime you can read. I received this book from Net Galley and Llewellyn Publishing for a honest review. The opinions are my own.
February 5, 2019
This book may be "little" but it packs a powerful punch. What a treasure this book is, perfect for beginners too! I enjoyed this book very much. I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 12, 2019
This is a great book for beginners in tarot reading. It was simple to read and had some great information for the beginner.
March 15, 2019
An interesting and useful book about Tarot. It can be helpful for those who start or people who are more experienced.
A very good reference, highly recommended!
Many thanks to Llewellyn Worldwide and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine.
A very good reference, highly recommended!
Many thanks to Llewellyn Worldwide and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine.
March 25, 2019
I simply loved this book. A lovely introduction to the history of tarot that was short and sweet. I confess that I almost skipped it, as I was most interested in getting to the juicy part of the many meanings of each tarot card. But since I was planning to write a review, I made myself read everything so I could base my review in the whole book, not just parts from it. And I have to say that I am happy that I didn't skip anything.
All the illustrations in the book are fun and lovely. Each new tarot card has a different illustration from a different deck. Some were from the traditional Raiders tarot, others from Manga Tarot, witches tarot, and many more.
I've been reading tarot for years to friends and family, and even when I already knew the meaning of the card, I kept learning new ways of interpreting the various elements of individual tarot cards.
The "quick answer" included for every card is particularly helpful. I find it really nice to focus on them for quick learning, or quick readings. Is much easier to memorize quick meanings, and then build up your knowledge with time and practice.
But there is still more information included in this book. You will find some basic spreads, and although if you're no beginner, I'm sure you're familiar with many spreads, but one can never have too many resources as is so fun to practice with new spreads and to see what readings work best for yourself.
The spreads included in this book are the very famous 3 card spread, the horseshoe spread, and the Celtic cross.
8 exercises are also included. They are great ways to use your tarot cards and knowledge beyond the traditional reading.
Finally, no good book is complete without a "further reading" list. And this little treasure has plenty of books to consider for your next reading.
This book is a great addition to someone's library. That is interested in Tarot of course.
All the illustrations in the book are fun and lovely. Each new tarot card has a different illustration from a different deck. Some were from the traditional Raiders tarot, others from Manga Tarot, witches tarot, and many more.
I've been reading tarot for years to friends and family, and even when I already knew the meaning of the card, I kept learning new ways of interpreting the various elements of individual tarot cards.
The "quick answer" included for every card is particularly helpful. I find it really nice to focus on them for quick learning, or quick readings. Is much easier to memorize quick meanings, and then build up your knowledge with time and practice.
But there is still more information included in this book. You will find some basic spreads, and although if you're no beginner, I'm sure you're familiar with many spreads, but one can never have too many resources as is so fun to practice with new spreads and to see what readings work best for yourself.
The spreads included in this book are the very famous 3 card spread, the horseshoe spread, and the Celtic cross.
8 exercises are also included. They are great ways to use your tarot cards and knowledge beyond the traditional reading.
Finally, no good book is complete without a "further reading" list. And this little treasure has plenty of books to consider for your next reading.
This book is a great addition to someone's library. That is interested in Tarot of course.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews