The Tarot Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Discovering the Wisdom of the Cards

by Nevill Drury

The Tarot, a western mystical tradition of divination, meditation, and visualization, has attracted devoted followers for centuries. In The Tarot Workbook we find a fascinating overview of the Tarot including its history, the meaning of the individual cards of the Major and Minor Arcana, the symbolism of the four Fire, Water, Air and Earth, and the special qualities of the four Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. This illustrated exploration also delves into the connections between the Tarot and the mystical Kabbalah and explains how to deal and read the cards in well-known formats like the Celtic Cross, the Gypsy spread, the Three Aces spread, and the Seven-card spread. The Tarot Workbook is appropriate for beginners but also rich enough for devotees wishing to expand their knowledge of the subject.

Genres: Tarot, Paganism, Divination

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Nevill Drury PhD is an independent historical researcher whose specialist interests include modern Western magic, shamanism, transpersonal psychology and visionary art. His most recent publications include The Varieties of Magical Experience (co-authored with Lynne Hume; Praeger, January 2013), Dark Spirits: The Magical Art of Rosaleen Norton and Austin Osman Spare (Salamander, 2012); Stealing Fire from Heaven: the Rise of Modern Western Magic (Oxford University Press 2011); Homage to Pan (Creation Oneiros 2009), The Dictionary of Magic (Watkins 2005) and The New Age: the History of a Movement (Thames & Hudson 2004). He received his Ph.D from the University of Newcastle in 2008 for a dissertation on the visionary art and magical beliefs of Rosaleen Norton (awarded 'Best Humanities Ph.D'. in that year).

Born in England in 1947 but resident in Australia since 1963, Nevill has worked as an international art-book publisher, lecturer and magazine editor and is now a full-time writer. He is the author/co-author/editor of seventy books covering a range of subjects like contemporary art (Images in Contemporary Australian Painting, New Sculpture, Australian Painting Now, Fire and Shadow: Spirituality in Contemporary Australian Art), Aboriginal culture (Wisdom from the Earth), holistic health (The Healing Power, Inner Health) and the magical traditions (Dark Spirits; Stealing Fire from Heaven: Sacred Encounters; Homage to Pan, Inner Visions). He is also the author of a work of mythic fiction, The Shaman's Quest, which was described by Publisher's Weekly as a 'poetic' book that 'could become a classic'. His work has been published in 26 countries and 19 languages.

Reviews

[Cormac Zoso · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Tarot Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Discovering the Wisdom of the Cards" by Nevill Drury is one of the very best tarot book I've read (and I've read perhaps fifty over the years I've dabbled in Tarot). This book would rank in the Top 5 along with some of the classic titles of the subject. I am not an expert in Tarot by any means and have had a tidal drift in interest and study of it for the some fifteen years since I first started reading about it but this is the book that I always have within arm's reach when working with the Tarot.

This is not a 'workbook' as those of us who came up through the American school system would think of when we hear the word -- you don't read and write down answers in the book. It is a book and there are some exercises the author recommends the reader complete as thye move along through the book but really this is no different than other books I've read on Tarot. Every author recommends 'practice' and certain exercises just like in any subject one studies.

But this book, more than too-many others, is laid out in a clear, well-organized fashion that makes the Tarot spring to life, even for the rank beginner. Working with this book and your favorite deck (though the book uses the Waite-Rider style for examples but in most cases I think a user can make a variety of decks workable with Drury's explanations since he does such a good job) will bring you a quick resolution to many foggy areas you are certain to encounter. It really is the first book one should have and it will be one of the books you will always carry with you if you are a Tarot disciple. As far as I have read and other more advanced Tarotists have recommended to me and others in message board discussions, the Rider-Waite deck is a good place to start on the Tarot journey. There is a plethora of material out there on the deck ... although, of course, that doesn't mean it's all quality material. This book would be your best place imho to start and the Rider-Waite deck is less 'artsy' and vague with some of its portrayals of the scenes. Further, some decks only have the Minor Arcana represented as if they were simple playing cards. Playing cards are used for some some card divination and there are parallels with playing card decks and Tarot decks but I think most Tarotists would recommend a more straightforward deck such as the Rider-Waite for a person to start with ... from there, once they gain confidnece and knowledge then they can look for a specific deck that "speaks to them" for later use.

The layout of the book is also top notch. Each card has been broken down into the same categories of definition without fail or variance. For example, the Major Arcana have the categories of the Hebrew Path; Ruling Planet; Description (of the card's images, etc); Spiritual Interpretation; In A Tarot Spread; Reverse Meaning; and a Self-Development Lesson;. Then there is a couple Workbook Exercises one can do to further enhance the knowledge just obtained. Each card has all of these categories ... there are none neglected, placed in a different order, or added as you continue on. Consistency in the presentation of information like this makes it so much easier to retain since it is already organized for your brain and you don't have to struggle through the process yourself ... so many other books are very haphazard about this type of layout and it shows either a lack or organization on the author's or editor's part or simply laziness. This only leads to confusion and one has to wonder why they couldn't keep up with the same division and categories. First, it leads me to believe it wasn't very well thought out to begin with and secondly, that you should be able to get the definitions to these categories for each card. There should be a consistency and Drury has given it his all to present the material in a very accessible manner.

Drury has overcome these shortcomings from other books in fine form and when we get to the Minor Arcana, each card has a page devoted to it (the Major Arcana have two pages each) and the following categories: Description, Interpretation, Reverse Meaning, Self-Development Lesson, and then a couple Workbook Exercises to help reinforce your new knowledge.

My copy is so well-used it is in some pieces I'm afraid. This however makes it easy to lay out flat without having to use one hand to hold the book open and the other to manipulate the deck ... but I have to be careful to make sure I have it all together in the cover once I am finished. This is not at all meant nor should ever in any way be construed as to be the fault of the author, of course, but books such as this would best be spiral bound rather than the traditional (and I assume much cheaper) gluing method ... the 1950s heavy-stitched binding that is used on this book (not quite as heavy as the old days but it works) thankfully is what is holding this Tarot tome together as the cover is completely detached ... a publisher should use this stitching at least when choosing something other than the spiral method. This is a side comment and again is not meant to cast dispersion on the work or the author in any way, shape, or form.

I can't recommend "The Tarot Workbook" enough and I think most level of Tarot readers, except perhaps for the grandmaster level, will draw new insights and angles on the cards from Drury's work.

[Lauren Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It provides a good, insightful overview of the tarot. Susinct enough for those new to the subject yet still interesting enough for those familiar with the tarot.

[Danielle Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really adore this book. The questions and exercises are comprehensive and really help your natural intuition begin to flourish. I like that it's not just a book with card meanings and spreads, but rather an introspective journey that aims for and succeeds at creating a bond between you and the cards, and helps you get an in depth understand of tarot as a divination. Highly recommended!