The Original Tarot and You

by Richard Roberts

This classic book on tarot, in print since 1971, was the first to provide transcriptions of actual tarot readings recorded by the author. Through them, Richard Roberts shows you how to read tarot cards using his interactive method of free association and feedback flowing between the reader and the client, allowing the cards to be accessed directly, free from occult or assigned meaning. Roberts uses 7 different tarot spreads: 5-card Yes-No spread, The Magic Seven spread, The 21-card Pyramid, The Three Sevens spread, The 64-card Astrological spread, The Grand Experiment, The 22-card Jungian spread, Roberts' unique creation, which he uses in a reading given for legendary mythologist Joseph Campbell.

Genres: Tarot

310 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 1972

Reviews

[A.J. Franks · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the fourth book I have read on tarot, and I despised it. Though it is from the 1970s, I still can't forgive the author stating that homosexuals are "unbalanced," and for stating to a woman in a reading that once she finds her male counterpart, she will fulfill her feminine duties (paraphrased). He also informs one female client to be careful, because the 10 of swords may suggest she will be (sexually) assaulted. The author states he does not rely on traditional occult meanings of the cards, but there are multiple instances where he defaults to the occult meanings when the client isn't resonating with his initial reading and interpretations. There are many grammatical errors, undoubtedly a result of this being self-published, and the introduction reads like a toddler ranting about how the rights to his book were initially stolen and misused by the original publisher. (Which is why he self-published this version.) I try to find at least one good takeaway even from books that don't resonate with me, but this proved even more difficult than it was for the author to perform a reading without referencing Carl Jung every other page. I cannot recommend this.