Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot and Fortune-Telling

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I found this book to be an excellent reference and learning tool. It is useful to anyone at any level of understanding of tarot, from the newest novice to the practitioner. The authors provide a historical understanding of the use and symbols of tarot. They then go on to show how to use the tarot to increase your self understanding or to answer questions for yourself or others. It is not a "cookbook", giving quick recipes for using the cards. Instead it is a guide to using your own intuition and ability to understand the symbols on the cards. Those looking for a black/white easy answer cook book may be disappointed. But those who are looking for an easy to understand guide to learning to read tarot on their own will find this book a must for their library. The authors combine practical use with a sense of spirituality. It is an engaging combination and it makes this a delightful and useful book.

This is hands-down the best book on the Tarot I've ever read. I'll admit, I was incredibly skeptical because it's one of the "Dummies, Idiots and Others Who Need Cliff's Notes on Life" books, but I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong! I have already learned so much from it and given myself two of the clearest, most on-target readings I've had. My ONLY criticism is that it's so much information, I wish it could have tabs or page markers so the reader can quickly access the various sections. Nothing a little dog-earing hasn't helped! Thanks so much for this book - I recommend it for both beginners and those who have been using other books for some time.

Tarot has always been something I've been interested in. I loved the rich imagery and the way a reading would flow. The way a good reading touched aspects of my life that I'd been missing, or pieces of a puzzle that I couldn't fit together. I had always looked at the Complete Idiots Guides as books for the rest of us, not lectures passed down from on high. Here was a book that I could read and see how to open up to my intuition, and trust it! Arlene and Lisa have written a readable guide, adding humor and wit to tell a true story. Each card is defined with a figure I can relate too, and given relevance to my daily life. There are a variety of methods to read Tarot in the book and each one has clear instructions on how to read them. I especially like the side bars and quotes from Arlene's Classes. I would recommend you buy this book if you are interested in Tarot or Fortune-Telling. The guide has helped me to learn Tarot and calmed my anxiety over the year 2000.

I love the tarot. It is very complex and full of interpretation. Nothing worse than getting your first tarot deck and then having to buy a book written by some "tarot expert" so they can tell you the meanings of every card. Unfortunately Tarot doesnt work that way. What I love the most about this book is it teaches you how to interpret each card by allowing your innate intuitive abilities to come forth and to tell you what the cards mean. The book has you work through each card in the Major and Minor Arcana one by one and allows you to paint your own portrait of what is going on in the card and what it translates to in someone's lives. There is nothing "idiotic" about this book. If you have always wanted to "custom-make" your own tarot readings and meanings, this is the book for you.

One of the better books on Tarot currently available. I found the descriptions of the imagery used in the Universal Waite deck to be very useful, and the spreads included were fun to use, not just the same old spreads found in every book. I did find the organization to be counter-intuitive, however, what with the court cards coming before the pips. Also, I would have appreciated it if some of the examples of readings shown were more realistic--apparently, the people the authors read for have ideal lives and nothing ahead but great things, which is not generally the case for me and those for whom I read.

This book is fantastic and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how to read the tarot. I have studied tarot for a couple of years and am always looking at tarot books; this book has the most up to date, comprehensive information that I have found. It takes you through a logical path of learning and has excellent exercises to help you tune into your intuition, learn the meanings of the cards, and learn to read the story the cards are trying to tell you.

I have a few books on Tarot, and to be honest with you, this has to be my most favorite book on the subject. The meanings are easy enough for novice, and note worthy for the experienced Tarot reader. You will get excellent descriptions of each card, both major and minor. As well as excellent interpretations of the meanings for both upright and upside down cards. I found this book to be excellent, and whenever I need references, I turn to it, as I am never disappointed. I highly recommend this book.

The book is very well written and offers many tidbits for easier understanding. It does not goes too deep into the religious meanings and heavy symbology, it goes straight to the point. I also bought another book in this same topic and it was good too but it was heavy reading sometimes needing several reads in order to get the point. With this book all it takes is one read in order to understand the meaning of the cards.

I found this book very useful to crosscheck meanings with other books when I read for myself or to others. Sometimes the meanings this book gives me are easier to understand or make more sense than other books.

I would recommend it to anyone starting out in Tarot.

I always say, you can't go wrong with an Idiot's Guide, and this book is proof! The authors do a great job in not only providing card interpretations but creating a structure for the reader to expand on those interpretations and come up with their own system of divination. Each card is explored in a logical progression, with upright and reversed meanings as well as worksheets for the reader and hints on relating the card to the everyday environment. Then there's the famous Idiot's Guide hints on each page about the information covered. Tips for different spreads and for designing your own spread are also included.

The additional information on different fortune telling systems seemed like an afterthought to me, but that hardly diminishes the book's usefulness.

In a word: Thorough. This book covers all the basics, and then some. I was perfectly comfortable with all the information that these two wonderful authors provided. They made the Tarot interesting and I felt like, "yes, this is something I would like to do." My questions were answered from "What is the Tarot?" to "What types of spreads can I perform?" This book is a great way to get started; a great reference as well. This would be the first book that I'd recommend to anyone who has a desire to get in touch with their inner spirit.