The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Arlene Tognetti (Author), Lisa Lenard (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: July 1, 2003

Now updated and revised, this guide to how a Tarot deck is used to reveal one's destiny is an informative overview for longtime practitioners and a clear introduction for New Age explorers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Arlene Tognetti has been studying Tarot and astrology since the 1970s and started her own practice in 1980. She began teaching the Tarot at the University of Washington in the Experimental College in 1982 and currently teaches the Tarot at Pierce College in Tacoma.

Lisa Lenard is the author of five novels and ten trade nonfiction books, including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astrology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 2 edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592570666
• ISBN-13: 978-1592570669
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #351,119 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intuitive And Traditional, January 6, 2004

By 

Theia (Carrboro, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

What I love about this book is that it discusses ways to connect with the cards intuitively and gives detailed descriptions of the traditional meanings. The intuitive treatment of the major arcana is especially good. It includes excerises in studying the imagery as well as excerises in studying the archetypes presented using familiar Greek and Roman myths and more modern movie epics like Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz.

The traditional meaning part of the book is among the best I have seen. Each card is pictured (using the Rider-Waite Deck) and a paragraph or two is written on the imagery and it's meaning. Next the card's interpretation is presented. The interpretations presented in the book are open-ended enough to apply to various questions, decks, layout positions, etc. but not so open-ended you feel like their just trying to write something that pleases everyone. The upright intpretation is followed by an interpretation of the reversed meaning, again, paired with imagery, only now they discuss the reversed imagery - a great way to look at the reversed meanings. Above each card there is a title that sums up the cards meaning. This helps me not lose the forest for the trees.

You may be asking why I have only given the book four stars when I have so much praise. The reason is that the information on the minors (ouside the traditional meanings) is lacking, and a "complete" guide should have everything. The explaination of the suits is not bad, but doesn't go beyond what students of tarot learn in the first few weeks. The description of the numbers is absolutely pitiful. Begining students are advised to pair studying this book with another book on minors.

Overall a great addition to any tarot readers collection!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I always wanted to learn Tarot but..., April 27, 2004

By 

Joanna Korneluk "Shiloh Clancey" (Vancouver Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

After many years of memory development, working with imagination, creativity I checked this book in order to learn few things and trry my memory abilities on that...
What was amazing for me, that this book is so easy and well written that there was no need to use memory systems tu understand Tarot, learn card's meanings, spreads.
I have read it with great pleasure. Tarot is not difficult to learn when you get this book and start reading.
Highly professional advice in easy language!
With that book you will explore more than only card's meanings. You will explore yourself, you will find pleasure in Tarot readings because exaplanations make Tarot really 'user friendly" tool.

If I knew this book few years ago...

Shilo Clancey
Memory Development Specialist

also great fan of "The Rainbow Butterfly" book available at amazon.com

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Aid, May 17, 2005

By 

Felix Major (Upstate, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot has proven a wonderful resource for me. I would caution those learning the Tarot from racing through this book. A thoughtful study of the Tarot takes time. In addition to this book seek out communities such as Aeclectic Tarot and ask for advice at these sources, or find a Tarot Master to assist you in your studies.

Take your time with the exercises which are presented in the early chapters of the book. These exercises encourage you to read the story that the card's picture tells, and eventually to start putting stories together into a larger story. We call this reading the cards intuitively. Once you get into the proscribed definitions of each card, you're no longer a virgin to the cards, and you're understanding of the card will forever be held back by your reading.

I also find that the book takes too long to present some understanding of the imagery in the Tarot. Color/Fauna/Flora associations could, and in my opinion, should, be dealt with earlier in the book.

Ultimately, this book is excellent for the beginner, provided that she can take her time and use the exercises provided in the early chapters until she has associated personal meanings to each card in the deck.

If you're purchasing this book, you may also wish to consider a journal which inspires you to keep notes of your progress in the Tarot. Card meanings, drawings/spreads which you have done, random thoughts, et cetera. It is a valuable resource to have a written copy of your thoughts and the particulars of a drawing so that you might recreate the particulars or simply give further consideration in the future. It's also a wonderful way to document your reactions to each card as you're introduced, and I would suggest that you try to fill a page for each card before you move on to reading the "established meanings" of each card (78 cards in the typical Tarot deck).

I hope that you find your journey into the Tarot to be a pleasant one. May the cards enlighten you.