What books should be in your Tarot library?
There are hundreds of books out there on Tarot and Tarot readings. People often ask me which ones I’d recommend, so here are four that make my must-have list.
Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack
An absolute classic, this is one of those gorgeous textbooks that slips down as easily as a fabulous novel. It is one of the best places to start if you’re new to Tarot and Tarot readings, so don’t be daunted if you’re a total beginner. Even if you think you’ll never get it, you’ll be astonished at how much you can take from this book. And if you’ve been working with Tarot cards or Tarot readings for a while you can still learn something from these pages.
Jung and the Tarot: an Archetypal Journey by Sallie Nichols
Not any easy read but well worth it. Carl Jung was the Swiss psychologist who first talked about synchronicity. After working with hundreds of people, he put out the idea that powerful archetypes download from the web of psychic energy that links us all and influence our psyches. Archetypes include The Wise Old Man or Woman, or the Mother. The Major Arcana draw on Archetypes (such as The Empress, who is the mother of all things). If you’re comfortable with the Tarot and want to embark on a journey into the deeper symbolic meanings of the cards, this is a good book to help you on your way.
Confession first – I haven’t read this one. But I have interviewed the fabulous Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone of the incredible New York Tarot School (pop over to Inspire Your Soul if you want to see those clips). A friend of mine has, however, and she says it’s informative and easy to read. It covers loads of questions you might want to ask if you’re starting out from scratch, choosing decks and wondering about how to go about giving a Tarot reading. Ruth Ann and Wald are living Tarot legends.
Mary K. Greer’s 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card by Mary K Greer
This is another book that I haven’t personally read but I think is well worth reading purely because Mary is another legendary figure in the modern Tarot pantheon. Here, she outlines a number of exercises that really help you connect with each card. They’re fun and enlightening to boot, so you’ve got nothing to lose and loads to gain!
All of these books are absolute treasures and come with a caveat. There’s been a lot written and said about Tarot readings and not all of the experts agree on everything about them. That can be puzzling at first, if two Tarot idols take up different positions on any one particular question you might have. But always remember that it’s all about developing your own intuition and connection to the cards themselves. Information is useful, but the connection you have is priceless.
Now it’s over to you – have you read any of these books, and if so, what do you think? Are there others you feel should be on the list? Post your responses below!
Loads of love,
Michele x
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