Frustrated Beginner...Need Help Buying A Book

[kiwisoup]

Other that the LWB that came with my Rider-Waite deck, which just throws random contradicting keywords at you, I have read two books previous to this:

"Secrets of Tarot": This book's card descriptions were just too short and general for me...didn't really make references to symbolism and gave completely different multiple meanings for some cards without really any explaination. The book also never really progressed past basic teachings.

"The Pictoral Key to the Tarot": This book just didn't have a very warm or inviting feel, and I spent most of my time fubling through history, philosophies, and forewards to actually find any meanings. Which when I found were confusing and often used difficult words.

The few things I have read in books and online is forgotten as easily as me reading them. The more sources I read the more interpretations I got, which in most cases the authors didn't agree on what they meant. Up until recently I had taken the court cards out and avoided reversals...because everything I had read about them told you to interpret them differently. I finally saw some hope when I read the meanings on this site by Thirteen, which I loved! I liked how they put a story in your head to connect to the card and gave an explaination and when it could mean something different they told you why. I also liked how the suits and numbers were explained as a whole before it went into detail with each specific card and how it tied some of the major cards to the minors. Unfortunately it didn't advance past the basics and I'm still longing to learn more and expand my skills.

So basically I'm looking for a book that isn't confusing or over my head, yet doesn't stop after just teaching you the basics. That explains what it's telling you in a way that will stick and dedicates more than a couple sentences for each card. Here are a few I was considering:

-Learning the Tarot: A Beginner's Guide to Tarot: Is this exactly the same as the course online at learntarot.com? Because if it is it is definatley good, but it could have been better I feel.

-The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot (Second Edition): I love the Idiot's book and I heard this one was better that the Dummies one. But I can't find that much information on this book. There isn't even a Review for it on this site, and nobody here has seemed to read it.

-Tarot for Yourself: I see that this is highly recommended, and I feel a workbook would definately help me remember things better, but I read that this is more suited as a supplement for another teaching book and that it tells you other books to read to learn things.

If you have any better suggestions, I'm more than happy to listen. I also saw that "78 Degrees of Wisdom" is supposed to be good, but just the title makes me feel like it might be a little too advanced.

[Simone]

Hello and welcome to Aeclectic tarot, kiwisoup!

I understand your frustration with books - and it is normal that every book gives a different interpretation as there is no universally applicable truth for each card, for each spread, for each reading, but I'd like to say - although I myself do not have many and do not use any - that when buying a book, one has to remember that:

- it cannot contain everything in one book, that would be impossible, as there are sooo many possible interpretations for each card.

- it always is written more or less from the personal point of view of the author.

To learn the tarot, it would be best to combine the knowledge of several books (thus also combining several points of view) - and to practice to find out your own personal meanings of the cards.

Maybe you could start a personal reading journal (as suggested so many times on this forum) where you write what you found out about the cards, your thoughts, questions, answers, reflections etc and make it your own tarot book?

I am aware that this might not be helpful to you, but maybe you could give it a thought?

Love
Simone

[brenmck]

From the POV of a fellow Newbie, the tarot journal is really an excellent way to begin a relationship with the cards. I do a daily three to five-card spread, write each card and position in my notebook, write my very first impressions, then look them up in one of the references to make comparisons. I get a whole lot out of "Pictures From the Heart: A Tarot Dictionary" by Sandra A. Thomson, as she also defines symbols that you may not catch at first sight as well as card definitions in the context of different decks. I really don't think you'd find "78 Degrees" too advanced once you get comfortable with it; she has insights that I've not seen anywhere else. And I like Joan Bunning's books better than her on-line course, there's more info and I like to have the book "in hand," the same way I need to handle the cards. It's pleasantly surprising how soon you start "seeing" the cards if you meet with them on a daily basis.

brenmck

[Milfoil]

Personally I think you can learn a great deal from Joan Bunning's course

http://www.learntarot.com

By teaching the fundamentals (majors, minors, suits etc) in an intuative way, she has opened up the way we learn something as complex as the Tarot.

Why not order a few books on your list, from your local library and 'try before you buy' so to speak?

[kiwisoup]

Thanks for the suggestions. I actually started a Tarot Journal where I do a daily 3 card spread...each position representing in order morning, afternoon, and night. I then write down what I think they could possibly mean, then at the end of the day, I look to see if I was write or if there were any ways I may have missed that the card could have been interpreted.

I have a more specific question now...If I were to buy 2 books that contrasted each other well, which ones would you recommend. I was thinking maybe Tarot for Yourself for sure combined with either 78 Degrees of Wisdom or Learning Tarot. Could someone tell me the differences between these two books? Also, Does the Tarot for Yourself just a handbook to come up with your own meanings and a personal relationship with the cards...or does it actually teach you meanings and how to read them?

I recently ordered the Tarot of Dreams Deck and can't wait to get it. I searched the database on this site for a week til I decided on this one. I really liked the style or the images and the way it portrayed the meanings in a different yet familiar enough way. Maybe the companion CD will help me a little.

The fact that previous to this I had bought botht the Thoth and Tarot of the Witches didn't exactly help my situation...I should have done more research.

[Guiding Cauldron]

The Book entiteled TAROT TIPS, its a quick read and very easy to asimilate and covers I would say the A-Z of new stuff to have a base grow on in Tarot. I'm sure your journey will strengthen you :)

[elviefae]

I would like to suggest "Living the Tarot" by Amber Jayanti. This book focuses on just the Major Arcana. It has really nice full long descriptions of the cards. Speaks in modern terms so that you can really apply what you learn to your everyday life. Each Major Arcana card has its own chapter. First gives all the traditional and historical meanings of each of the Major Arcana. Has her personal and student experiences of all the cards. Has suggestions for how to study each individual card and apply the meaning to your life..including some fun playful things to do so that you can really incorporate what you are learning. This was the most useful book to me.

Even tho the Minors aren't covered here I still consider it a beginners book because its just that useful (a book for anyone really). You'll go back to it again and again.

The copy I have was copyright 1993..not sure if its still out there but should be on eBay. Its softcover, 345 pages, published by Llewellyn.

[memries]

I have "The Everything Tarot Book" by M.J. Abadie. It is in the book stores now. For sure I am not beyond that book yet, if ever. Easy, plain to read and search in. I am having trouble linking the readings together as in how come one reading had three swords and three pentacles. Why ? That kind of thing so will have to find another book or source but still and all it has helped me immensely.

[Sophie]

The books I used while I was learning, in order of importance, were:

- one tarot pack. I spent most time just my cards and I. No other book - the tarot is already a book.
- 78 Degrees of Wisdom - it's not above you, it's wonderful, full of myth & exciting ideas & ways of approaching the cards.
- Tarot for yourself - great exercises, especially when you feel like playing games with your cards; good for jump-starting you when you feel stuck.

The two books supplemental to the tarot complement each other very well. I still use them, 8 years on, but they are good for beginners as well.

But the key is - spend time with your cards. A lot of time. Journal and love them, read with them for yourself & friends - and for your pets, for Julius Caesar, the tower of Pisa or Mickey Mouse - become friends with them - and enjoy them. Love helps you learn.

[rainwolf]

I agree that "pictures from the heart" is a good book to look at for help on symbolism, and an analysis of each card and its element/number.

My first book was "The complete idiots guide to tarot" and I thought the author made a lighthearted and warm approach to learning tarot. She gives you some reason behind her interpretations, while not flooding you with interpretations which can be daunting. Part of the beginning of the book is filled with exercises to help you look more in detail and work on intuition.

A lot of the idiots guide in new age subjects have had pretty good reviews by others which tells me that they are not as generic as they look.

[Catwomyn]

I would suggest the Complete Tarot Reader by Teresa Michelson. She helps you work out your own meanings based on any tarot deck you have on hand.

Start out by adopting say - the meanings from the Learn Tarot site. Work with them for a while. As you read, see what meanings work for you and what don't. Keep notes on your readings and go back over them in 6 months, a year, two years. Gradually you will build a set of meanings that are unique to yourself.

Look at the cards. Can you see the book meaning in the symbols and colours of the card? If not, make up your own story. Adopt the posture of the various figures on the card. What feelings does this evoke? Create a mask based on a card. Create a movement or a dance.

Look at two or three cards together - make up a story. While studying and booklearning are very useful, being willing to just play and act like a child can help you understand on a more visceral level.

Just some suggestions that have worked for me.

[sunflowr]

My favorite book of all is "A Magical Course in Tarot" by Michele Morgan. Great insight into reading the cards, and really focusing on the image.