Indeed welcome to Aeclectic, lionrhod.
As so often happens when someone is being discussed, and we just don't have the information, contacting the author is helpful.
I therefore contacting Dean, and asked him about what the contents of his tapes might be, and which approach he uses, providing a link to this thread.
I presume lionrhod has shared in this query with Dean, and wonderfully responded with the appropriate links and personal experience.
As usual, Lee has a great knack at providing a succinct and important review of the material at hand. As mentioned in both his comments and on the site linked above, the RWCS is suggested.
For the pips, though he uses a numerological system, and an elemental attribution, it is more than he just (quite legitimately and rightfully) outlines his own system.
What I do not agree with is his comment to 'stick to his system, one can always change later if one disagrees' [obviously here paraphrased].
As he would know as a hypnotherapist, once one has made specific associations, and a particular system is worked with and deemed accurate, it becomes extremely difficult to open oneself to possible other ways of working. Hence why I personally think it is important to work with the elements, with numerology, and with yet other systems (whether Kabalistic or astrological)
independently at first, and to also work with a deck which does
NOT scenically depict its pips. As one develops
various possible attributions, one then begins to see how they may be applied to various cards, and why one does so.
In this perspective, I run pedagogically counter the views of the GD and many others: investigate each area, without assuming one is 'the correct' one, or the only one to use; use
multiple possible allocations - including, with different authors, Swords being allocated to Fire, to Air, to Water, and to Earth (yes, each has been so allocated within various books, decks, or traditions).
Dean also mentions that the Fool is at times numbered one. I presume this is a typographical error, and should read 'twenty-one' (it preceded the comment that the World is variously numbered twenty-one or twenty-two).
Overall, I personally prefer the visual written approach to the recorded voice - though the spoken voice in a lecture or discussion style is better still. I personally would not use the tapes, even if a beginner.
It is worth pointing out, by the way, and in addition to lionrhod's comment, that Dean mentions in his e.mail that he makes 'about half of [his] living as a professional reader ... in Orlando Florida'.
As an experienced Tarot practitioner, he will thus be describing and talking from experience. As a trained hypnotherapist, he will have his own approach and style. As a person who runs other workshops, he again will have developed his own style.
He also mentions, incidentally, that he grew up in a family in which the usage of the cards was commonplace. Here we at least share one aspect - even if I happen to personally disagree with others...
The tapes are bound to suit some individuals. I just personally wish he would not
fix either the numerology or the suit-elemental allocations for the beginner, who may be better served by seeing how each suit may reflect each element...
... as to the order of the Major Arcana, I won't comment here
