Tarot for Beginners: An Easy Guide to Understanding & Interpreting the Tarot

by P. Scott Hollander

The Tarot is a powerful tool that you can use for just about anything, from everyday concerns to spiritual revelations. Whether you're seeking guidance and clarity, practical answers to life's questions, or hope and inspiration, a Tarot deck opens the door to endless possibilities. Tarot for Beginners is a clear, concise guide designed to get you reading the cards right away. Ideal for use with any Tarot card deck, this friendly book will help you tap into the power and wisdom of the cards. • In-depth interpretations of all 78 cards
• Three common card layouts
• Easy-to-follow instructions for arriving at insightful Tarot readings  

Genres: Tarot, Nonfiction, Divination, Magic, Spirituality, Religion, Reference

384 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

Reviews

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of three Tarot books I borrowed and perused while reading Gilbert Sorrentino's Crystal Vision, stories based on Tarot cards. This one is exactly as subtitled. A short synopsis for each card is followed by a paragraph each on description and meaning, this book is arranged by suit.

The other two books were:

It's All in the Cards: Tarot Reading Made Easy by John Mangiapane would be the book I'd pick if I wanted to actually interpret the cards in a reading (which I don't) but I found the descriptions concise and easy to understand. Includes how they could be interpreted as related to work, love, money and future. Arranged by rank.

Rachel Pollack's Complete Illustrated Guide to Tarot is the most coffee table-ish, with at least two colorful illustrations of each Tarot card, and a description of the artwork thereon. This offers good information about the artwork and history of the illustrations with minor information about the meaning and symbolism of the pictures. Ranks are described with the suits combined, e.g. all the tens, Kings, Aces, etc. are compared on the same page spread.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me this is the best handbook for learning the Tarot. Everybody has their favorite book they recommend on the subject and this is mine.

Each card has several examples pictured from different decks. Along with a a key word type sentence that explains the divination meaning in short. Then an extended description of symbolism common to the card across many decks. Then a meditative explanation of the card and how to meditate upon it. And finally an extended divinatory meaning and definition for the card including on the card as a whole, upright, and reversed. However, delightfully, the book does not demand you read reversals, it simply states it is one option.

Also included are basic spreads and other informational chapters on the tarot.

Many books come with it's own book, which is super. I still recommend this alongside as to often the books included with even the best of decks fall short.

[Paweł Kwiatkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bardzo sprawnie napisana książka, która świetnie wprowadza w świat Tarota. Bije z niej pasja do obranego tematu i autentycznie zaraża nią swego czytelnika. Oczywiście o zakupie kart samemu zadecydowałem, ale to ta książka sprawiła, że w pełni dałem się oczarować Tarotem, który jest niezwykle fascynującą sprawą.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to Tarot cards and how to interpret meanings from them as well as using the Major Arcana as a self-development tool. Second read for me.

[Nirce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading plenty of Tarot books trying to understand the meaning of the cards. So far, this is the one in which I felt a total disconnection (including the images).

[Deidre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed very descriptive history of tarot card imagery, I felt his evaluation of the minor arcana cards meaning tended toward overly negative versus other tarot books. A bit dark for my taste.

[Tubbertonsfatround Hugeberface · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about the Tarot, as an exploration of the self. Highly reccommend.

[To Ni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minor arcana depicted quite negative... but still a good source to learn.

[Wholayo Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best book's to get on learning the mystery of the tarot. I still use the book from time to time.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book just made me more confused.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed and offers several different examples for each card. Fun read. :)

[Utena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review can be found at the The Book Review.