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Tarot Therapy
Learn how to use the wisdom of tarot to bring connection and purpose to your life with Leona Nichole Black's Tarot Therapy…
Hardcover
Published July 7, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
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November 11, 2022this book is written beautifully with a charm from the author that i particularly like. the way she mixes up the big arcana, her own biography and lessons she has learned together is not only enjoyable but also relieving and witty. not only written for people who own a deck, but for those who do, i consider myself an amateur when it comes to reading cards and still i am learning new perspectives and other ways unlike my own which i very much enjoy hearing about and using in practice.
i have read the chapter HEALING first and i want to write a review about every single one since i am gonna work through them distinctively.
in this chapter the interpretations about "the charriot" have changed my perspective not only about this card itself but about the way i do my readings. it is very well rounded and i think in this part i have learned a lot about myself and the situation i am in right now.
additionally the question in "the lovers" section surprised me and even though i haven't started to actively think about it yet, i think until now it is my favorite one and i wanna share it with you. Leona Nichole Black asks you to discuss with yourself how you are a pleasure to be around for others. even without tarot cards you can take these questions that appear in every chapter multiple times to heart and think about them, discuss them, etc.
I will be happy to read more about the cards of the big arcana and the new ways of interpretations of the author to open my eyes and guide me through my literal journal!
i have read the chapter HEALING first and i want to write a review about every single one since i am gonna work through them distinctively.
in this chapter the interpretations about "the charriot" have changed my perspective not only about this card itself but about the way i do my readings. it is very well rounded and i think in this part i have learned a lot about myself and the situation i am in right now.
additionally the question in "the lovers" section surprised me and even though i haven't started to actively think about it yet, i think until now it is my favorite one and i wanna share it with you. Leona Nichole Black asks you to discuss with yourself how you are a pleasure to be around for others. even without tarot cards you can take these questions that appear in every chapter multiple times to heart and think about them, discuss them, etc.
I will be happy to read more about the cards of the big arcana and the new ways of interpretations of the author to open my eyes and guide me through my literal journal!
March 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Essentials for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’m relatively new to tarot cards, and have been reading a few books to familiarize myself with this art, and learn more about the cards and their meanings. While there are no shortage of books that can explain how to do a spread and what each of the cards mean, Black offers a whole new perspective on the art.
The first thing that I noticed while reading this book is that it is so much more than simply a book explaining cards. The author relates cards from the major arcana to emotions, and shares experiences from her own life, often painful experiences, but also plenty of joyful experiences, that she’s gotten to with the help of therapy and tarot. I especially liked how she related the way that tarot cards assisted her in moving through obstacles and getting through various experiences, whether they involved making changes, in relationships, or in processing emotions.
Black explores each card in depth, explaining how they relate to different emotions that are commonly experienced, and how we can process them. I’ve never quite seen the cards explained this way, but it all seemed to make a lot of sense when laid out this way. Throughout each of the chapters, readers are offered in-depth emotional and life-oriented questions to think about and pull three tarot cards to journal about and then discuss with friends or a therapist. It allows readers to put the principles practiced in the text into practice, and really view how tarot therapy can occur in real-time.
This was my first experience reading a book about tarot that was written by a Black woman, or even a person of color, and I loved the diverse perspective that was offered. The author talks about her experience of processing feelings such as anger, which is very different from the white experience of processing anger, especially when viewed through a societal and historical lens. Through her practice of sharing life experiences, she also discussed the influences that her family and religion has had on her later life and how she processes emotions, and I loved the idea of incorporating therapeutic principles with tarot. She also includes a quick reference guide of the minor arcana at the end of the book, along with a matrix to follow when completing an exercise that she provides at the completion of the last chapter.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. It’s incredibly informative, and I can already tell that I’ll be referring back to this book often. The questions posed throughout the text aren’t the kind that you ask once and are finished with, but can be asked over and over again, and will have different responses at different points in my life. And it opens a whole new world of opportunities for the use of tarot.
I’m relatively new to tarot cards, and have been reading a few books to familiarize myself with this art, and learn more about the cards and their meanings. While there are no shortage of books that can explain how to do a spread and what each of the cards mean, Black offers a whole new perspective on the art.
The first thing that I noticed while reading this book is that it is so much more than simply a book explaining cards. The author relates cards from the major arcana to emotions, and shares experiences from her own life, often painful experiences, but also plenty of joyful experiences, that she’s gotten to with the help of therapy and tarot. I especially liked how she related the way that tarot cards assisted her in moving through obstacles and getting through various experiences, whether they involved making changes, in relationships, or in processing emotions.
Black explores each card in depth, explaining how they relate to different emotions that are commonly experienced, and how we can process them. I’ve never quite seen the cards explained this way, but it all seemed to make a lot of sense when laid out this way. Throughout each of the chapters, readers are offered in-depth emotional and life-oriented questions to think about and pull three tarot cards to journal about and then discuss with friends or a therapist. It allows readers to put the principles practiced in the text into practice, and really view how tarot therapy can occur in real-time.
This was my first experience reading a book about tarot that was written by a Black woman, or even a person of color, and I loved the diverse perspective that was offered. The author talks about her experience of processing feelings such as anger, which is very different from the white experience of processing anger, especially when viewed through a societal and historical lens. Through her practice of sharing life experiences, she also discussed the influences that her family and religion has had on her later life and how she processes emotions, and I loved the idea of incorporating therapeutic principles with tarot. She also includes a quick reference guide of the minor arcana at the end of the book, along with a matrix to follow when completing an exercise that she provides at the completion of the last chapter.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. It’s incredibly informative, and I can already tell that I’ll be referring back to this book often. The questions posed throughout the text aren’t the kind that you ask once and are finished with, but can be asked over and over again, and will have different responses at different points in my life. And it opens a whole new world of opportunities for the use of tarot.
July 1, 2023
3/5 Stars
This was just okay. I wouldn't recommend this for someone just learning tarot, as you still have to have some general or basic understanding of the cards. But I do think this would be a great tool to help incorporate into some self-care or daily use. I think the Author brought up some great points about the different ways tarot can be used. I also really enjoyed the aspects of healing and that this isn't and end-all be-all solution for actual talk therapy.
This was just okay. I wouldn't recommend this for someone just learning tarot, as you still have to have some general or basic understanding of the cards. But I do think this would be a great tool to help incorporate into some self-care or daily use. I think the Author brought up some great points about the different ways tarot can be used. I also really enjoyed the aspects of healing and that this isn't and end-all be-all solution for actual talk therapy.
September 11, 2022
Beautiful book to help understand tarot and guide you.
February 25, 2023
I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
tl;dr A fantastic read that really challenges you. The author invites you to engage deeply with yourself, including stepping into those dark and uncomfortable places. I loved the semi-autobiographical nature. Not only was it interesting and relatable at times, but also sets the mood for each themed chapter. I'd say this book is friendly to both secular and spiritual readers, as well as to those who do not use tarot. The discussion questions in each chapter can easily be done without a deck. (As the author mentions in the book, you can work alongside this with your therapist!)
The book covers eight themes and includes discussions of three major arcana each, apart from the last chapter which is just the Magician. In each chapter, you follow the author on their life journey as you reflect on your own.
I was disappointed that the second to last chapter was what it was. As a book about self-care and therapy, to suddenly read an entire chapter of the author ranting about the industry and discussing building a career around tarot reading, it felt entirely out of left-field and irrelevant to the point of the book, that it was jarring to see it there and read through it. For this reason, I rated the book 4/5 stars. Otherwise was a fantastic book.
Not tl;dr My thoughts as I read the book:
I really resonated with this book. Despite the author mentioning she, nowadays, has a more spiritual approach, the book itself is very approachable and friendly for secular users. And even non-tarot users, as the book itself's focus is more on the topic if therapy, self care/love, and healing. You do not need a deck nor need to be into tarot to get value from this book.
It was actually wildly fascinating to read the author's history with tarot. As a black woman, she has a unique perspective I don't hear from often in this community, which I appreciated. Reading through her journey of self-discovery, her explorations with her faith, her motivations and passions, along with her struggles, was engaging and touching. Effectively all the books I've read on tarot so far do include some bits of the author's personal experiences with tarot, but here, it goes so much deeper than that. I felt I could relate a lot to several of the author's experiences, and seeing those experiences tied with tarot was a unique and special factor that made me think a lot about my own life and experiences, and how tarot has affected them.
While I'm not a spiritual reader, nor a Pagan in much any sense, I did still find it interesting to hear from the perspective of someone who grabbled with their religious upbringing (something I have also done), going through a phase of questioning and confusion, and ultimately finding their own unique path. It also opened me up to a deeper sympathy of the spiritual side, something I still respected, but found difficult to relate to myself personally, but the way things were described here gave me more to consider. Common things you may hear in tarot circles are 'lunar cycles' or 'Mercury retrograde'. Terms that I have come to understand, but found no use for me in my life. But as the author put it, "Using a Mercury retrograde as a period of time to review, edit, or change plans. Or using tarot and astrology to give particular time periods a specific purpose. For example, pulling cards for the theme of the month," is something easily transferable to secular readings, and also makes me feel more in touch with fellow spiritual readers.
Also their constant bashing of capitalism was actually really relieving to see, haha. As someone fairly deeply involved and passionate about politics, it was interesting to see someone overlap the two, but I have no doubt the author's personal life experiences lead those two things to be so intertwined. A black woman, even in the UK, and not just the States, has so much to deal with, and I'm grateful tarot is there to be an outlet for them and their community.
Honestly this book was very therapeutic to read, not to make any pun on the title. But the questions asked in each (thematic) chapter were very deep and blunt. The author did not hold back when getting you to confront parts of yourself that are not easy, but are important, to confront.
There are many instances in this book where, through the lens of someone else, see much more into the cards and their imagery and meanings than I have previously. That's part of why I love reading such a variety of tarot books, to learn from so many different perspectives. (I especially loved The Emperor in this book!) It gives me a lot to think about and consider for when I read these cards myself in the future. It opens a lot more doors into my interpretations, and how things may apply to the questions or situations being inquired about. It can give much more depth and opportunity to explore my mind, finding answers I might not have thought of otherwise. In mixing up the order of the cards, organizing them uniquely by the themes of the author's making, also gave me a new perspective in how the cards and ideas behind them connect or relate to each other.
I'm not gonna lie, this I got emotional several times reading this. Not just from empathizing with her story, but also in analyzing mine. This books is a difficult one to get through, because it asks you to look deep within yourself in places you normally prefer to avoid. But like with therapy, that's its purpose. Because leaving these things unaddressed is why we hurt and keep searching for answers.
That said, as much as I was gushing about how great this book is to my partner, I seemed to have hit a road block with it:
The chapter 'Intuition' deals more so with the spiritual side, and despite my secular use of the cards, I still like to learn and pay respects to the spiritual community, not the least of which because they are the primary users of tarot. However, I still found this to be the weakest chapter, I think due to much of it coming off more like a rant that would be better suited for a blog post. For how amazing the previous chapters were, I suppose my expectations were already very high for the rest of the book. For a chapter on intuition, I wish it covered more of that topic specifically, and not just the author's preferences for how and when tarot should be used. The reflection questions subsequently were not in-depth or engaging, nor really even on the topic of intuition either. This didn't feel like 'therapy', as it did the author expressing displeasure with social media and modern uses of the cards. Very little, if anything, had anything to do with intuition as a topic.
Needless to say, I was very disappointed in this chapter, especially since I was very much looking forward to how the author was going to utilize the Devil card, which ended up just reading very bitter and negative. Perhaps have a section like this at the end of the book, if the author really felt the need to complain about the tarot industry, but this chapter was otherwise a waste of time and not at all directed toward nor productive for readers looking for more of what the rest of the book, up until this point, had to offer. I docked a star because of this chapter. Otherwise would've been an easy 5/5 star book for me.
To note: this isn't to say I necessarily disagree with what the author says in this chapter, but the discussions of these topics have nothing to do with the theme of the book or the built up expectations up until this point. Why discuss, for example, making money and building a career from tarot when the entire book is supposed to be about self-care and therapy through tarot? It's irrelevant. That's what bothered me.
I was so thrown off by that chapter, that when reading the next, where we finally get back on topic, took me a bit before I got back into the swing of things. Once again, we're back to the therapy aspect of the book, and the content I was interested in reading. It was a good chapter to close off the book too.
As an aside: The end of the book includes a chart with a keyword for each tarot card. Which was nice :)
I can definitely see this as a book to revisit now and again, especially to compare how you answer your reflection questions over time, see what has, or hasn't, changed. (Albeit, just skipping chapter seven.) I think overall this book was extremely well done, and I'm super grateful to have been given a copy. I wish the intuition chapter was thematically relevant to the rest of the book, but apart from that, I'm very glad I read this book and I very much enjoyed it.
tl;dr A fantastic read that really challenges you. The author invites you to engage deeply with yourself, including stepping into those dark and uncomfortable places. I loved the semi-autobiographical nature. Not only was it interesting and relatable at times, but also sets the mood for each themed chapter. I'd say this book is friendly to both secular and spiritual readers, as well as to those who do not use tarot. The discussion questions in each chapter can easily be done without a deck. (As the author mentions in the book, you can work alongside this with your therapist!)
The book covers eight themes and includes discussions of three major arcana each, apart from the last chapter which is just the Magician. In each chapter, you follow the author on their life journey as you reflect on your own.
I was disappointed that the second to last chapter was what it was. As a book about self-care and therapy, to suddenly read an entire chapter of the author ranting about the industry and discussing building a career around tarot reading, it felt entirely out of left-field and irrelevant to the point of the book, that it was jarring to see it there and read through it. For this reason, I rated the book 4/5 stars. Otherwise was a fantastic book.
Not tl;dr My thoughts as I read the book:
A few weeks ago it took me thirty minutes to re-box and pack away all the cards that were sprawled across the living room floor as I sought to coach myself through a difficult weekend. Picking cards and laying them out in spreads like a math equation, giving my stress and my questions a place to go. Now I can't imagine ever again struggling through the challenges of life disoriented, confused, and alone. I can't imagine not having a perspective to root my hope in. I can't imagine not having the cryptic empathy of seeing my mental and emotional state unfold as a story in front of me one card at a time. I can't imagine not living with the peace that comes from the wise counsel of a Tarot Therapy practice.
I really resonated with this book. Despite the author mentioning she, nowadays, has a more spiritual approach, the book itself is very approachable and friendly for secular users. And even non-tarot users, as the book itself's focus is more on the topic if therapy, self care/love, and healing. You do not need a deck nor need to be into tarot to get value from this book.
It was actually wildly fascinating to read the author's history with tarot. As a black woman, she has a unique perspective I don't hear from often in this community, which I appreciated. Reading through her journey of self-discovery, her explorations with her faith, her motivations and passions, along with her struggles, was engaging and touching. Effectively all the books I've read on tarot so far do include some bits of the author's personal experiences with tarot, but here, it goes so much deeper than that. I felt I could relate a lot to several of the author's experiences, and seeing those experiences tied with tarot was a unique and special factor that made me think a lot about my own life and experiences, and how tarot has affected them.
While I'm not a spiritual reader, nor a Pagan in much any sense, I did still find it interesting to hear from the perspective of someone who grabbled with their religious upbringing (something I have also done), going through a phase of questioning and confusion, and ultimately finding their own unique path. It also opened me up to a deeper sympathy of the spiritual side, something I still respected, but found difficult to relate to myself personally, but the way things were described here gave me more to consider. Common things you may hear in tarot circles are 'lunar cycles' or 'Mercury retrograde'. Terms that I have come to understand, but found no use for me in my life. But as the author put it, "Using a Mercury retrograde as a period of time to review, edit, or change plans. Or using tarot and astrology to give particular time periods a specific purpose. For example, pulling cards for the theme of the month," is something easily transferable to secular readings, and also makes me feel more in touch with fellow spiritual readers.
Also their constant bashing of capitalism was actually really relieving to see, haha. As someone fairly deeply involved and passionate about politics, it was interesting to see someone overlap the two, but I have no doubt the author's personal life experiences lead those two things to be so intertwined. A black woman, even in the UK, and not just the States, has so much to deal with, and I'm grateful tarot is there to be an outlet for them and their community.
Honestly this book was very therapeutic to read, not to make any pun on the title. But the questions asked in each (thematic) chapter were very deep and blunt. The author did not hold back when getting you to confront parts of yourself that are not easy, but are important, to confront.
The Tower is a force of destruction. But the lightning as the alarming instrument of the divine does not directly hit the people--it could, but it decisively hits the building instead, showing that The Tower is a force of liberation.
There are many instances in this book where, through the lens of someone else, see much more into the cards and their imagery and meanings than I have previously. That's part of why I love reading such a variety of tarot books, to learn from so many different perspectives. (I especially loved The Emperor in this book!) It gives me a lot to think about and consider for when I read these cards myself in the future. It opens a lot more doors into my interpretations, and how things may apply to the questions or situations being inquired about. It can give much more depth and opportunity to explore my mind, finding answers I might not have thought of otherwise. In mixing up the order of the cards, organizing them uniquely by the themes of the author's making, also gave me a new perspective in how the cards and ideas behind them connect or relate to each other.
We can be hopeful and sad, hopeful and worried, hopeful and angry.
I'm not gonna lie, this I got emotional several times reading this. Not just from empathizing with her story, but also in analyzing mine. This books is a difficult one to get through, because it asks you to look deep within yourself in places you normally prefer to avoid. But like with therapy, that's its purpose. Because leaving these things unaddressed is why we hurt and keep searching for answers.
That said, as much as I was gushing about how great this book is to my partner, I seemed to have hit a road block with it:
The chapter 'Intuition' deals more so with the spiritual side, and despite my secular use of the cards, I still like to learn and pay respects to the spiritual community, not the least of which because they are the primary users of tarot. However, I still found this to be the weakest chapter, I think due to much of it coming off more like a rant that would be better suited for a blog post. For how amazing the previous chapters were, I suppose my expectations were already very high for the rest of the book. For a chapter on intuition, I wish it covered more of that topic specifically, and not just the author's preferences for how and when tarot should be used. The reflection questions subsequently were not in-depth or engaging, nor really even on the topic of intuition either. This didn't feel like 'therapy', as it did the author expressing displeasure with social media and modern uses of the cards. Very little, if anything, had anything to do with intuition as a topic.
Needless to say, I was very disappointed in this chapter, especially since I was very much looking forward to how the author was going to utilize the Devil card, which ended up just reading very bitter and negative. Perhaps have a section like this at the end of the book, if the author really felt the need to complain about the tarot industry, but this chapter was otherwise a waste of time and not at all directed toward nor productive for readers looking for more of what the rest of the book, up until this point, had to offer. I docked a star because of this chapter. Otherwise would've been an easy 5/5 star book for me.
To note: this isn't to say I necessarily disagree with what the author says in this chapter, but the discussions of these topics have nothing to do with the theme of the book or the built up expectations up until this point. Why discuss, for example, making money and building a career from tarot when the entire book is supposed to be about self-care and therapy through tarot? It's irrelevant. That's what bothered me.
I was so thrown off by that chapter, that when reading the next, where we finally get back on topic, took me a bit before I got back into the swing of things. Once again, we're back to the therapy aspect of the book, and the content I was interested in reading. It was a good chapter to close off the book too.
As an aside: The end of the book includes a chart with a keyword for each tarot card. Which was nice :)
I can definitely see this as a book to revisit now and again, especially to compare how you answer your reflection questions over time, see what has, or hasn't, changed. (Albeit, just skipping chapter seven.) I think overall this book was extremely well done, and I'm super grateful to have been given a copy. I wish the intuition chapter was thematically relevant to the rest of the book, but apart from that, I'm very glad I read this book and I very much enjoyed it.
June 16, 2023
Thank you to Goodreads and St. Martin’s for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am JUST getting into tarot, so I don't know how much the themes of this book differ from most other instructional tarot books out there, but I loved the author's approach. Even if you never touch a tarot deck, there's something in this book for you. I copied all the tarot reflection questions from the book into my journal. Questions like "What life changes am I struggling to accept" or "Do I prioritize myself as the main character in my life story?" are good for anyone to ask themselves, whether on their own or with a therapist, or yes, through the tarot.
I am JUST getting into tarot, so I don't know how much the themes of this book differ from most other instructional tarot books out there, but I loved the author's approach. Even if you never touch a tarot deck, there's something in this book for you. I copied all the tarot reflection questions from the book into my journal. Questions like "What life changes am I struggling to accept" or "Do I prioritize myself as the main character in my life story?" are good for anyone to ask themselves, whether on their own or with a therapist, or yes, through the tarot.
April 15, 2023
As a long-time student of Tarot, this book caught my eye. What I found between the pages is a fresh new look at the practical everyday use of tarot cards presented in a truly profound way. I love that the book is divided into eight sections.
Starting with Love, the author shares a deeply personal story and journey. The following sections, Purpose, Healing, Change, Truth, and Hope, give the reader a detailed look at ways to utilize the major arcana in a tarot deck to help flesh out the answers to these universal questions. I found the writing to be superb and easy to read and follow.
The final section, The Modern World of Tarot, takes everything shared earlier in the book and gives practical applications that anyone could find helpful and inspiring.
The book is put together in such a way that it does not require linear reading. I love that about it. I went to the sections that appealed to me on my personal journey and found exactly what I needed to find in each segment. This book is a great tool for anyone just starting out with reading tarot cards as well as the seasoned reader as it offers a different approach to enhancing daily life.
I will be purchasing the paperback format of this book to add to my library.
Starting with Love, the author shares a deeply personal story and journey. The following sections, Purpose, Healing, Change, Truth, and Hope, give the reader a detailed look at ways to utilize the major arcana in a tarot deck to help flesh out the answers to these universal questions. I found the writing to be superb and easy to read and follow.
The final section, The Modern World of Tarot, takes everything shared earlier in the book and gives practical applications that anyone could find helpful and inspiring.
The book is put together in such a way that it does not require linear reading. I love that about it. I went to the sections that appealed to me on my personal journey and found exactly what I needed to find in each segment. This book is a great tool for anyone just starting out with reading tarot cards as well as the seasoned reader as it offers a different approach to enhancing daily life.
I will be purchasing the paperback format of this book to add to my library.
Read
June 13, 2023Tarot Therapy: Harnessing the Healing Power of the Deck is a book that immediately caught my attention as a seasoned tarot enthusiast. Upon diving into its pages, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a fresh perspective on the practical applications of tarot cards in everyday life. Black's approach is both insightful and transformative, offering readers a unique take on the power of tarot to heal and guide. Whether you're a seasoned tarot reader or a curious beginner, Tarot Therapy is a must-read for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of this ancient art. Black's writing style is engaging with insights into the therapeutic benefits of tarot that are both practical and profound, providing readers with a wealth of knowledge and tools to enhance their personal growth and healing.
February 21, 2023
If you are into tarot this could really be an interesting book to look into. The idea is basically to use the cards as a way to explore your life psychologically instead of to tell the future. Throughout the book, Black gives you questions and then you shuffle and pull three cards. The questions are all deep, introspective questions. Then she discusses ways to read the cards in relation to questions like these. She also mixes in quite a lot of personal history and thoughts.
This could be a good tool even if you don’t believe in tarot, as pulling the cards and thinking of them regarding these questions can help you think in new ways. It’s a bit rambling at times but certainly an interesting take on tarot.
I read a temporary digital arc of this book via NetGalley.
This could be a good tool even if you don’t believe in tarot, as pulling the cards and thinking of them regarding these questions can help you think in new ways. It’s a bit rambling at times but certainly an interesting take on tarot.
I read a temporary digital arc of this book via NetGalley.
May 9, 2023
I received this as an arc for an honest review. The first thing I noticed upon receiving is the wonderful look and feel of the book. I enjoyed the layout of the chapters and major arcana card sets that helps you see them in a different way. I had a few "ah ha!" moments while reading, especially with The Emperor card. I feel this book would be beneficial to anyone interested in delving deeper into tarot, self reflection and improvement or who is wanting to add another layer to traditional talk therapy. If you are a tarot reader, energy worker, holistic healer or traditional therapist looking to widen your views and gain new techniques and insights into your patients this book is worth checking out.
October 21, 2023
As someone who is new to Tarot, I found this book to be informative. In addition to relating to Tarot cards, the author suggested using some of the prompts for journaling. As someone who goes to therapy, I found these extremely helpful in addition to my sessions. Although she doesn't go into detail regarding all of the cards, the main ones are explained. I feel I will use this reference book many times in the future as I go on my Tarot journey.
Thank you to St. Martins Press and #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to St. Martins Press and #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Read
March 17, 2023Read this book through NetGalley and so glad I did. Reading Tarot Therapy helped me see the major arcana in a much clearer way. This is not the typical go through each card with definitions etc. book. There are keywords to every card in the end of the book for quick reference. The author shares some of her painful life experiences and dives into the major cards. Short book but it’s good! Thank you for this Leona. I absolutely loved it and definitely recommend!
March 19, 2023
Without being dramatic, this was a life-altering read. The book was like a long conversation with a friend. The way the author weaves together her personal experiences with the lessons taught by the cards gives real fresh insight and food for thought. I thoroughly enjoyed this and can see it being a book I come back to again and again.
May 7, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I found this to be a wonderful and fresh perspective on the Tarot. Leona Nichole Black brings new depth to the use of Tarot as therapeutic tool. I found the prompts to be insightful and extremely helpful. I will definitely be integrating many of these ideas into my tarot practice and therapy journey.
June 8, 2023
Offering a modern spin on tarot card reading as a means of psychological and emotional clarity, Leona Nichole Black, a self described educator and tarot therapist, provides detailed examples and explanations on each card in the Tarot’s Major and Minor Arcana, along with suggested guided questions to initiate tarot therapy in her book “Tarot Therapy: Harness the Healing Power of the Deck.”
July 2, 2023
As someone who is learning Tarot for the first time I found this book very helpful. She explains wonderfully the history on Tarot Cards and how to read them and understand them in your own way. Recommend for anyone rather you are a professional Tarot reader or a beginner like me this is the book for you.
January 21, 2023
Interesting point of view of interpreting the traditional Tarot deck and using it as a form of therapy for yourself and for others. Each chapter looks at a different life theme and offers some thought-provoking questions in relation to the symbolism of the Tarot.
did-not-finish
September 28, 2022dnf about halfway through. not a bad book by any means, i just wasn't getting a lot out of it.
May 22, 2023
Thank you to Net Galley for the eARC!
I have slowly been tipping my toes into Tarot the last couple of years. I am by no means a master on the subject, but I loved how this went about explaining the tarot in its relation to the emotions of the cards. The prompts for card pulls were wonderful exercises to work/write through.
I have slowly been tipping my toes into Tarot the last couple of years. I am by no means a master on the subject, but I loved how this went about explaining the tarot in its relation to the emotions of the cards. The prompts for card pulls were wonderful exercises to work/write through.
June 25, 2025
An excellent, but not essential, add to a tarot library, and honestly the best part was the tarot selfie exercise that took up the last 2-3 pages.
Want to read
July 21, 2023Right away, I can tell this book is different from most tarot books out there and valuable in its contribution to tarot discourse. I pretty much immediately requested it for our library's collection! From page one, Leona Nichole Black's voice is inviting and in no way gatekeepy. Her approach to the cards is clearly "TAROT IS FOR EVERYBODY." And I love that—because it is. Anyone can pick up a deck, pull some cards, and take away something meaningful from what they see before them.
While folks new to tarot can certainly begin their journey with this book (and maybe should?), readers need to know that this text is not a card-by-card reference tool designed to teach you how to interpret all 78 cards in a deck. There are handy reference tables in the back for at-a-glance interpretations, but if you're looking for in-depth descriptions for all the cards and a prescriptive approach for how to read them, this ain't it.
Instead, Black offers a series of thematic explorations that are anchored in three (or in one case, just one) of the 22 major arcana cards of the tarot. These themes are love, purpose, healing, change, truth, hope, intuition, and creativity, and Black provides example questions to help the reader explore these themes with tarot. It is an unconventional approach in that it only deals directly with the majors (though minor arcana cards show up in examples), and it is not a 0-21 linear path. Rather, the author bucks the system to provide a more organic, less alienatingly rigid introduction to reading tarot. By design, this book gives its reader more questions than answers.
One particularly interesting aspect of this book is that Black emphasizes that her recommended questions do not have to be used with a tarot deck. Instead, these introspective questions can be used as journal prompts on your own or as discussion questions with a group. It's clear that the author wants the approach she lays out to be as accessible as possible—which is pretty much the opposite of "real" therapy, with mental health services being inaccessible to much of the population.
I look forward to using this book in my own practice, as I really do resonate with the author's style of writing and her approach the cards. (All hail the three-card spread!)
Thanks to St. Martin's Essentials and NetGalley for this ARC! Tarot Therapy by Leona Nichole Black came out on June 13, 2023.
While folks new to tarot can certainly begin their journey with this book (and maybe should?), readers need to know that this text is not a card-by-card reference tool designed to teach you how to interpret all 78 cards in a deck. There are handy reference tables in the back for at-a-glance interpretations, but if you're looking for in-depth descriptions for all the cards and a prescriptive approach for how to read them, this ain't it.
Instead, Black offers a series of thematic explorations that are anchored in three (or in one case, just one) of the 22 major arcana cards of the tarot. These themes are love, purpose, healing, change, truth, hope, intuition, and creativity, and Black provides example questions to help the reader explore these themes with tarot. It is an unconventional approach in that it only deals directly with the majors (though minor arcana cards show up in examples), and it is not a 0-21 linear path. Rather, the author bucks the system to provide a more organic, less alienatingly rigid introduction to reading tarot. By design, this book gives its reader more questions than answers.
One particularly interesting aspect of this book is that Black emphasizes that her recommended questions do not have to be used with a tarot deck. Instead, these introspective questions can be used as journal prompts on your own or as discussion questions with a group. It's clear that the author wants the approach she lays out to be as accessible as possible—which is pretty much the opposite of "real" therapy, with mental health services being inaccessible to much of the population.
I look forward to using this book in my own practice, as I really do resonate with the author's style of writing and her approach the cards. (All hail the three-card spread!)
Thanks to St. Martin's Essentials and NetGalley for this ARC! Tarot Therapy by Leona Nichole Black came out on June 13, 2023.
July 31, 2023
Since I’m all about reading diverse books, obviously I was quick to request and wish for this read on NetGalley. Tarot Therapy by Leona Nichole Black was my first time reading a tarot book written by a Black woman and I am here for the diverse perspective offered. This is such an interesting read for people who are into reading tarot cards! Black has a unique way of combining arcana with emotions, lessons learned, and biography. It has both wit and charm that is unmatched.
I’m relatively new to reading tarot cards and have been trying to read all I can to familiarize myself with the art. While there is no shortage of books to explain and learn from, I found Tarot Therapy spoke to me in a way the others didn’t. It was really the way the incorporated therapeutic principals to tarot. The chapters explores each card in-depth, explaining how they relate to commonly experienced emotions and how we can process them. It made sense when laid out like this. Readers are offered three-card-pulls along with questions to journal and discuss with a trusted person.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. Incredibly informative, I can tell I will be referring back to this book often. The questions posed throughout the text can be asked over-and-over again, giving me the feeling the cards will have different responses at different points in my life. I found Black opened a new world of opportunities for the use of tarot with this book. I highly recommend adding it to your bookshelf. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I’m relatively new to reading tarot cards and have been trying to read all I can to familiarize myself with the art. While there is no shortage of books to explain and learn from, I found Tarot Therapy spoke to me in a way the others didn’t. It was really the way the incorporated therapeutic principals to tarot. The chapters explores each card in-depth, explaining how they relate to commonly experienced emotions and how we can process them. It made sense when laid out like this. Readers are offered three-card-pulls along with questions to journal and discuss with a trusted person.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. Incredibly informative, I can tell I will be referring back to this book often. The questions posed throughout the text can be asked over-and-over again, giving me the feeling the cards will have different responses at different points in my life. I found Black opened a new world of opportunities for the use of tarot with this book. I highly recommend adding it to your bookshelf. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 12, 2023
TAROT THERAPY by Leona Nichole Black, is TRUE THERAPY! I found this book very helpful in learning more about the cards. Not many books focus just on the major arcana. I really like the way this book is laid out, because It's is very user friendly. You can jump to the section you want to focus on in any order. Tarot Therapy is clear without without being too wordy. After using this book I learned a lot more about the cards, but what surprised me the most was how much I learned about myself by doing the exercises in this book. There is a lot of truth, help and hope in the cards!
November 25, 2023
This is a combination between a self help and a learning tarot book. It takes you through different topics like love, purpose and healing. It teaches you how to read the cards and how to ask the questions to learn the answers from yourself. It has you do different card pulls and goes in depth on what each card means. It was very informative. I would also recommend that you don't just use this book. Going to therapy and using this book together can be very helpful.
March 14, 2023
Tarot therapy by Leona Nichole Black is a wonderful introspective tool and guide allowing the reader to connect the tarot to their present moment and past experiences.
This book will be a delightful read and useful tool for those with some familiarity with using tarot as a divination tool looking to expand their application of and relationship to their knowledge of the cards .
This book will be a delightful read and useful tool for those with some familiarity with using tarot as a divination tool looking to expand their application of and relationship to their knowledge of the cards .
May 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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