Did not finish this book, was super disappointed when I started and got to preparation of the deck. Use of white sage is a closed practice, not for everyone. Did not continue after that.

I’ve been learning about Tarot cards for a while, and I always have an eye open for learning more about it to improve my knowledge and skill. There’s nearly always something that I can pick up from a book about Tarot, and I had high hopes for this one.

Fortunately, this book exceeded my hopes. It’s a joint effort between Leanna and Beleta Greenaway, two experienced professional Tarot readers. The book starts out with a history of Tarot and any items you may need in your ‘Tarot toolbox.’ I like how the authors touch on so many different things that are associated with Tarot, even if it’s peripheral things.

The first thing that I noticed was the focus on learning the cards, through handling them, practicing with them, but also by providing both detailed descriptions of what each card means, but also a few handy phrases to remember, as well as the associated number in the deck, crystals, herbs, and any keywords or a phrase. I especially liked that it isn’t just focused on the Rider-Waite interpretation, but also for the One World deck, and the reversed meaning of both. But what really caught my attention in this book, and that I haven’t seen anywhere else, is the different meanings that can be ascertained with that card when specific other cards appear with it in the reading.

One small addition to this book really set it apart from all the other books that I’ve read so far, and makes this a great option for not only beginners, but more experienced readers of Tarot as well. Later on in the book, there’s an entire chapter devoted to various groupings that you might see in the cards, another chapter for different spreads to use and the various situations in which these spreads might be best used. It’s clear that the authors have been professional Tarot readers for a long time, because they also provide situations that Tarot readers commonly face, and a chapter on Tarot as a profession. Finally, there’s one last chapter on Tarot magic, and it was so interesting.

Overall, this was a fantastic read. I clearly still have a lot to learn, but books like this give me a lot of hope that I’ll be able to memorize meanings using a more focused approach and clearer, short phrases to remember. But I’m most excited to see these meanings that come from multiple cards appearing together in a reading. Everything is presented clearly and in an easy-to-understand way, with accurate and beautiful renderings of the cards. It’s simple to navigate through the book, and this is one that I’ll be referring to often. It’s also one that I can highly recommend if you have any interest in tarot.

Learning Tarots

The authors provides a brief history of tarots, stating that tarot or card reading is “cartomancy,” and a practitioner is referred to as a cartomancer. They state that the history of Tarot is sketchy, but it is known to have Italian roots, and that through the ages, tarot reading has been an aid for divination and stimuli for psychic information.

The authors state that before experimenting with specialized tarot cards, that it’s best to learn the basics with a traditional tarot deck such as the Rider-Waite, the Morgan-Greer, the 1JJ Swiss Tarot, or the Hanson-Roberts decks. (Mary Hanson-Roberts). Additionally, they discuss the steps in choosing, welcoming, preparing, and energizing your tarot cards.

They discuss the basic care, learning the meanings of each card for the Major and Minor Arcana. The authors explain each card for both deck in a very simple and easy to understand manner. This is a very good book for beginners and I highly recommend it.

Very informative and interesting book. I highly write recommend it. Very educational. Very enjoyable

I am new to Tarot and this will be a fabulous resource. I love to learn the history of things and the first chapter provided that, which was very interesting. I will continue to use this book as a resource to dig into understanding the cards and learning how to do different readings. While I have no interest in doing this as a profession, it is fascinating to learn about that as well.

Thank you for the ARC!

This book is much more thorough than I was expecting! I am casually interested in Tarot, so personally the history and situations chapters were the most interesting to me. I am not planning on picking up the practice myself. However, if someone were to choose to, this book would be an excellent reference tool!

Note: If using this book as a serious tarot practitioner, I would recommend a physical copy of the book. The Kindle edition is pretty basic visually. I can imagine that it would be handy to have your own physical copy.

"The Magic of Tarot" provides a comprehensive and detailed reference for the art of reading Tarot, for both the beginner and experienced practitioner. A good portion of the book focuses on the meanings behind each card in both the Major and Minor Arcana, complete with key descriptions to memorize, crystal and herb associations, and reverse meanings. The reader is given explanations of each card in reference to both the traditional Rider-Waite deck, and the more modern The One World deck. As a beginner to Tarot myself, I particularly enjoyed the examples given of various readings with interpretations, as well as the exercises for the reader to interpret random groupings. The authors took care to fully explain every aspect of reading Tarot, and I felt like it was done in a way that was engaging and easy to follow. The later part of the book focused on how to read Tarot professionally, which was quite intriguing. Even with no plans of reading professionally myself, I felt like I was still able to take away quite a bit of information from this. While I did find this book overall very informative, I did have a couple issues with it. My biggest issue was the content in some of the "case studies" that were provided. Almost every single one of these studies should have come with a trigger warning. There was one in particular that was EXTREMELY dark. I also found myself not being able to connect to the "spiritual lessons", which is more of a personal thing, but it prevented me from being fully immersed nonetheless. All in all, I think this is an excellent guide to learning Tarot and plan to reference it again in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Magic of Tarot, by Leanna Greenaway is a very helpful guide how to use the cards. The author did a great job explaining the cards upside down meanings. I really liked that because a lot of books don't cover this information. The book is based on the traditional Rider Waite deck as well as One World. The only thing I wished this book had is color illustrations. This would be a great book for your library!

I’ve gotten really interested in tarot decks solely for the artwork, and have yet to really learn the meaning of the cards. This book goes beyond that, and includes information for the moment you take the cards out of their box or remove their plastic wrap—delving into crystals, your setup for using the cards, etc. It can be a bit overwhelming, as the focus is on reading for clients (advertising and pricing!). I really appreciated the quick summary for each card, including what you should focus on memorizing—though I admit that I was expecting color artwork and felt a bit let down. I also was not fond of the case studies, particularly the ones in chapter 7. Overall, a good reference/teaching resource.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Oh man, lemme tell y’all, if you have any interest in tarot, you NEED this book. From the history of tarot, to cleansing and boosting power, to reading the cards, to picking the right deck, and EVERYTHING in between…you’ll find it in this book.

This is a one stop resource for everything tarot. I’ve always been intimidated by all the choices. The authors break down different decks wonderfully. They break down how to cleanse and amplify messages. How to read the cards regular and in reverse. The history is fascinating and the modern usage is interesting.

I will be buying this one for my new age shelves because it’s a fantastic source to have on hand.

#NetGalley #TheMagicOfTarot

I love the section where the author gives examples as to how to promote your tarot readings while keeping morality of potential clients. The explanations of each card are geared towards novice and beginners rather than readers who has some tarot reading experiences.

This book is a good book for beginning tarot readers. It gives ideas on meanings to memorize so you can start to read for yourself and others.

The Magic of Tarot by Leaana and Beleta Greenaway
I recieved an eBook ARC of this book in order to read and give my honest opinion/review on.

There is a lot good about this book. It's detailed, and as someone who consideres themselves proficent in Tarot reading, not a beginner, it kept my attention. It's defintely worth a read for the beginner, but also for people like myself with some history with the Tarot cards.

The authors take the time to give some fairly in depth information regarding the cards. It's worth your while to read and use.

My problem with the book comes at Chapter 8-9. In partiular the font and the way the "subheadings" are done. Thewordsallruntogetherlikethis. with the subheadings. Making it next to impossible to read those subheadings. I STONGLY urger the publisher/author/editor to reconsider doing this. Please put the subheadings to right.

Despite the format problem explained above, I do believe this book is worth the time and effort to read.

"The Magic of Tarot" by Leanna Greenaway is a comprehensive and engaging guide that caters to both newcomers and seasoned practitioners of the ancient art of Tarot. Covering a spectrum from traditional to modern interpretations, the book delves into diverse aspects of life, including romance, marriage, health, careers, and more. The authors not only provide historical insights into the origins of Tarot but also demonstrate how this mystical practice is evolving with contemporary times.

The book is a treasure trove of practical tips, ranging from unleashing the power of the cards to maintaining and cleansing your decks. With various card layouts tailored to different situations, readers receive detailed descriptions and explanations for each of the 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards. The inclusion of illustrations from both the modern One World deck and the traditional Rider Waite deck adds visual depth to the learning experience.

What sets "The Magic of Tarot" apart is its thoughtful comparison of modern and traditional interpretations, bridging the gap between Tarot's historical roots and its relevance in today's world. The authors guide readers through magic-enhancing techniques, such as the use of crystals, pendulums, affirmations, and spirit guide communication.

Whether you're a novice seeking to unlock the mysteries of Tarot or an experienced practitioner looking to elevate your skills, "The Magic of Tarot" promises to be an invaluable companion on your journey. It skillfully blends ancient wisdom with contemporary insights, offering a holistic approach to creating a magical life through the art of card reading.

I have started to get more into learning about tarot and this book has been very informative. I am definitely going to be getting this book to keep with my tarot cards so when I do readings and practice so that I can learn what the cards mean until I can get it memorized.

What an engrossing book! I learned so much more than I've ever on Tarot. I read it twice and took notes. It should be a Tarot encyclopedia! If Tarot is something you would like to explore, this should be the first book to read. I also recommend it if you just want to understand Tarot. Well-written and so indepth. Thanking the authors for enlightening me.

This book is very informative for a beginner who wants to learn more about tarot. The info is well written and i found myself reading and taking in the knowledge easily and everything is not long winded or wordy.

Thank you, St. Martin Press, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own: I have loved the book; I believe it is perfect for beginners in tarot readings or for people who have no knowledge of tarot at all – it would be a good first approach. I particularly enjoyed the section on Card Groupings & Techniques and the section on spreads because it present case studies with the author's experiences in her readings. I think this is essential in every tarot book (which is not often seen nowadays) because it explains how to handle the reading and the meaning of the cards for that specific situation. Learning tarot is not just about memorizing the meanings of the cards but also about the experiences gained from readings. The more you read for people, the easier it becomes to understand the message of the cards.

Without a doubt, I will recommend this book to people who want to start learning because it will help them take the first steps in understanding tarot in a concise and understandable way. I believe this book may not be of much help for intermediate and advanced tarot readers. However, it could be useful as a bibliographic reference for tarot readers who are teaching beginners. Personally, I loved it, and I highly recommend the book, especially if this is your first time wanting to learn how to read tarot and you're unsure if it's for you or not. The book will give you a good start and valuable knowledge to help you make that decision.

Me ha encantado el libro; creo que es perfecto para principiantes en lecturas de tarot o para personas que no tienen conocimiento en tarot. Sería un buen primer acercamiento. Me gustó mucho la sección de "Card Groupings & Techniques" y la sección de tiradas porque presentan casos de estudio con experiencias que ha tenido la autora en sus lecturas. Creo que esto es esencial en cada libro de tarot (lo cual no se ve mucho hoy en día) porque te explica cómo manejar la lectura y el significado de las cartas para esa situación en específico. El tarot no solo se aprende memorizando el significado de las cartas, sino también a través de la experiencia con lecturas. Mientras más lecturas de tarot hagas, más fácil se te hará entender el mensaje de las cartas. Sin duda, recomendaré este libro a personas que quieran iniciar en el aprendizaje, porque les facilitará, de forma resumida y entendible, dar los primeros pasos para entender el tarot. Creo que este libro no sería de mucha ayuda para los lectores de tarot intermedios y avanzados. Sin embargo, podría ser útil como referencia bibliográfica para los lectores de tarot que estén dando cursos a principiantes. A mí, me ha encantado y sí te recomiendo el libro, especialmente si es la primera vez que quieres aprender a leer tarot y aún no sabes si es lo tuyo o no. El libro te dará un buen inicio y conocimientos valiosos para ayudarte a tomar esa decisión.

Super informative and helpful for both beginning and advanced Tarot readers alike. I love books like this. Very grateful to have a copy!

Learn the Tarot to Understand Why Theology Is Also a Fiction

Back in high school, I was temporarily interested in researching and performing Tarot readings. However, most on whom I performed readings seemed to be mostly frightened by them as some kind of a demonic practice. And once I tried to ask for a job as a Tarot reader in Los Angeles, and was met with a chuckle by a girl who assumed I had come into her shop to pay for a reading. These experiences generally convinced me that this was a silly pursuit and that I had learned all there was to understand about it. Such mystical interests were more mainstream back in Russia, where in one camp one of my roommates openly described being abducted and probed by aliens, while we looked at strange lights in the night sky that she said were the spaceship that had previously abducted her. I realize in retrospect that she was spinning a fiction, and that Tarot cards and other New Age items are just scams that profit from the ignorance of the young and hopeful. But these subjects remain more popular than hard sciences, so it is important to review new releases in this field on occasion.
Unlike myself, the authors of this work have apparently succeeded in finding employment in Tarot reading to have “amassed over seventy years of Tarot knowledge”. One new thing I learned in “1: A Brief History” is that Tarot card reading is called “cartomancy”. It is curious that they note that the “history of Tarot is sketchy, but we know it has Italian roots”. Whenever such histories are sketchy, it is likely its roots are in fact relatively modern and were artificially created by profit-minded marketers. They note that the claim is that the first Tarot deck was created in Italy in 1392, but no archival evidence of this survives. Then supposedly the full deck was drawn and grew in popularity, but no actual “history” is offered for the archival surviving decks and for how they are related to the design of modern decks. Instead, this chapter dives into “psychic” tactics, such as: “Sit quietly, holding” the cards “for at least five minutes.” What I wish this section included is the psychology for how the narratives Tarot readings inspire tend to be accepted as true because of how general they are and applicable to most people. It would also be helpful if there was an explanation of what tricks Tarot readers use to convince people to pay so much money for telling them a little fiction. And the instructions here are very theological, as I recall the books that I read in high school being less preachy. These instructions ask for users to chant: “Magical Tarot, I bless thee, unite with me, predict for me.” It is unclear why this chant does not end with an exclamation point. It is also curious how reliant these instructions are on superstitions and stereotypical meanings, such as the belief in specific magical powers of colors: “Green is more nature-based, so witches might like to wrap their cards in this color to channel their psychic flow and tune into the meridian levels of the planet.”
It is troubling to consider why I was so interested in studying this stuff in my youth. This background has helped me to become a rational atheist in adulthood due to the general philosophy of not being fooled more than once. If I had not researched this and other mystical subjects I might also have been more easily fooled by propaganda or by marketing sales-pitches. The tricks used to manipulate minds towards believing in the supernatural are psychologically similar to those used in other fields. Thus, it is a good idea for youths to explore books about magic in parallel with explorations of theological books as both are selling fictions, but the first time is just not qualified for tax exemptions.