Advanced Tarot: An In-Depth Guide to Practical & Intuitive Tarot Reading

by Paul Fenton-Smith

Featuring detailed card interpretations, reversed meanings, a variety of card layouts, tips for reading under pressure, and full-color illustrations, this comprehensive book is a one-stop resource for everyone from beginners to those who want to read professionally. Drawing on decades of experience, Paul Fenton-Smith presents a deep dive into the symbols and meanings of all 78 cards. Explore new ways to combine traditional interpretations with your intuitive impressions. Learn how to answer questions with confidence and accuracy. This must-have book also provides charts and correspondences as well as guidance on matters of career, health, relationships, and more.

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

556 pages, Paperback

Published April 8, 2021

Reviews

[Cal]

This is a comprehensive book that will replace many of my classic tarot reference books. Even though it is packed full of information it reads like Paul is sitting with you as a mentor talking over a cup of tea. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to people at any stage of their tarot journey.

[Trish]

I really liked the way the book was organized, going through the minor arcana numerically rather than by suit. It is hard to make the connections between the suits when most books present each suit individually; ace through king. This method brought a unified view and gives an additional perspective when reading (like what it means if a bunch of fives show up in a reading).

I also loved the explanation of reversals. This was the first book that made sense and now I'm not afraid when reversed cards turn up in a reading.

However, I think it missed the mark in the Major Arcana section. The interpretations of the cards felt too mundane - the major arcana is major for a reason. Some of his interpretations even left out common readings of cards; such as the possible role of addiction when the Devil card appears.

Anyway, overall, this is a good reference and has improved my reading skills. I recommend it to other students of tarot.

[Marius]

This by book by Paul Fenton-Smith is a terrific book on how to read with the Rider Waite tarot. It offers comprehensive upright and reverse meanings for each card. 3-4 pages are allocated to each card. The book starts out with all the cards listed in color, a series of chapters on how to read with the cards, intuition, understanding, limitations, cleansing etc, written by a tarot reader who offers example readings. The reading examples are down to earth, in fact nothing in this book is really "advanced" it is just a thorough hands-on book on reading with the cards. This book has replaced Brigit Esselmonts book for me. I recommend this book highly.

You can buy this book on amazon:
https://amzn.to/3TLTdN2

[Julie Todaro]

what an invaluable resource! this book was recommended to me by one of the best readers I’ve ever witnessed. so thankful to her! it’s a really wonderful reference to consult in more niche meanings of cards like the body parts they relate to. in the back he even offers potential meanings for card combos and explains them. it has already given me the most wonderful a-ha moment in that recently when I’ve read on a specific topic I kept inappropriately pulling the heirophant…well, in the heirophant section he goes on to explain this can simply be a Taurean energy and then suddenly all of my prior reads clicked. this book moves past the literal meanings of cards into symbolism and archetype. it’s really beautifully done as well.

[Britt Laux]

I am not loving how this book is set up...at all. It's not a good reference guide to use during a reading, as you'll be flipping through pages trying to figure out the organization. That was disappointing right off the bat.

And, as other reviewers have said, there are way too many personal stories and useless extra words that distract from the information...which isn't advanced at all.

I can't say there wasn't a lot of thought and research put into this book, but it's not at all what I expected or needed. If you want to read a thick book on one person's experience with tarot and their interpretations, as well as a fairly solid history section, then you'll enjoy this much more.

[Megan Kidd]

The best tarot book I’ve read so far. Exactly what I’ve been looking for for the longest time and I was lucky enough to find it at my library.

Paul Fenton-smith breaks down each section of cards beautifully by separating the suit cards by each numbers corresponding theme, and combining the 4 elements to each theme.

He teaches you how to relate the cards to each other and read into each situation, truly knowing their meanings rather than keeping your nose in a book filled with vague generic descriptions to each card.

Finally with this book I have a decent understanding of tarot after years of half-assed study. I got my own copy now and will be referring to it plenty in the future.

[Mic]

This is by far the most practical guide to develop intuitive psychic reading at multi dimentional level. I learnt the white books by Liz Dean, Theresa Reed. Since I started my daily practice, it is truely amazing. You felt Paul was just next to you to guide you through.

Highly recommend usinng this one + Tarot for yourself (Mary Greer) = you are going another level very very quickly. Meditation is also great (tips from the Tarot Lady's No question asked). Thank you for pot of gold.

[Joanna Rowden]

Such a good book and cute story. A fun way to explore tarot if you already understand the card meanings. Could be confusing for newer readers if they don’t fully understand the minor arcana, but otherwise a useful resource!

[Document Of Books]

An in-depth and fascinating glance into tarot card reading. The chapters are detailed and well organised, the art work and illustrations are beautiful, and the writing is easy to understand with plenty of real world examples of card reading.

[Leifer]

For as long as I read Tarot, I will keep this biblical tome near to me.

[Colleen Kulikowski-Irwin]

I was really excited to get my hands on this book. It really is great full of information, but it covers a lot of basics which I wanted to move beyond.

[Shweta]

Nice

[sb]

This book has lived on my desk since the day it was gifted to me. I am never not reading it. Incredible and comprehensive guide for any reader who wants to advance in their practice.