Teach Yourself Tarot

Teach Yourself Tarot is obviously written by someone who really knows their subject matter. There's the obligatory chapter about the various possible origins of the Tarot - but with a few insights that usually are only found in much more expensive Tarot books. Then there's a chapter on Approaching the Tarot. In the beginning, the reader is compared to the first card of the Majors - The Fool - but not in a bad way. The fool can represent the beginning of a journey. I loved the imagery of the festival parade having various floats to represent the Major Arcana. This is followed by an exercise to help you understand both the surface and deeper meanings of the "first" of the majors - the Magician. The next chapter deals with the "way" of the Tarot. You are taken on a journey thru the various symbols of Tarot and how they apply to the cards. This is followed by a chapter on the elemental foundations of Tarot - which the author refers to as Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and "Akasa" or Spirit. She uses the Majors to represent the realm of spirit, and the four suits to correspond to their usual places in the cards. Then there's a separate chapter on the court cards - an area I've often thought was overlooked in some Tarot books. There's a separate section on each court card. Following that is a section on the "oracles" of the Tarot - the suit cards, which the author knowingly says correspond to the famous "Tree of Life" layout - a layout I use myself. There's some good information here for those wishing to link Tarot cards to Astrology. A chapter on the major arcana follows, followed by a chapter on using the cards for divination, and a final chapter on using the cards to help you change your own life for the better. Considering that this book is marketed as a "beginners" guide, I found much here for even those already experienced with Tarot. This guide truly is a godsend for those wanting to teach themselves Tarot. I believe it should be in every Tarot reader's library.

Uniquely written for beginners who are learning Tarot or advancing beyond just playing the game. Helped the most to understand the cards and the symbols rather then just memorizing the phrases associated with each card. A recommended read!

Teach Yourself Tarot, by Naomi Ozaniec, is an insightful and thorough introduction to the use of the tarot deck as a tool for profound introspection and spiritual growth. The beautiful meditations provided for each of the cards of the major arcana are an inspiration in themselves. This single chapter is worth the price of the book, as it guides the reader to experience the Fool's Journey from the perspective of each trump. Although previous knowledge of the tarot is not necessary to benefit from study of this book, I believe that even experienced tarot enthusiasts will find it moving and enlightening.