Customer Reviews

Tarot For Dummies

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After reading a few of the other highly-touted tarot books, I still didn't "get it." It wasn't until I read this one that I finally "got it." Amber Jayanti's approach is great for the beginner. Her approach at looking at the basic symbolism of each card opened a whole new world for me; it all finally made sense. After learning what the symbols could suggest, each page for each card has a list of possible questions to connect with the ideas put forth on each card. I highly recommend this book for the beginner.

Amber Jayanti delivers again!

Authoress of the classic "Living the Tarot", when Amber writes a book on Tarot, we know to expect great things. In TFD, she not only lives up to our excited expectations but far exceeds them. You must see for yourself just how much information is packed in this book.

With her usual expert writing skill, Amber gives us a strong examination of a wide range of Tarot aspects, that will be useful to all levels of the reader's expertise. With sensitivity she maintains her gentle sense of fun and humor, giving her views in a non-threatening way that is especially valuable to her beginner readers. In giving concise, thorough explanations, this work becomes valuable to her intermediate and advanced readers.

It is truly no wonder and with much deserved credit, that Amber's books bring rave reviews, with use of such words as `compassionate', `knowledgeable', and `insightful'. Her work itself proclaims these attributes loud an clear. She will without doubt, be a historical figure in the Tarot World with such books as these.

In this work we are getting Amber's views which while influenced by her Qabalistic leanings, does not demand that her reader have such knowledge. There are 22 sections to this book... beginning with the Introduction we are started off with some `behind the scenes' thoughts. Making Friends with Tarot, covers pictures, archetypes, and making the Tarot personal. Who Uses the Tarot and Why, contains examples of how Tarot can be put to use. Let's Go Shopping, is a discussion on many of the popular decks and the choices available to you. History and Mystery, is a fascinating look at the historical aspects of Tarot. Mystery School Tradition, looks at what such groups are and are not, as well as what they teach or not.

A Magic Mirror, contains excellent advice and opinions on how to handle reversal cards. The 22 Major Arcana, describes each of these cards then asks pertinent matching questions. Strength, Death, and Moon have some of the best descriptions I've ever seen in print. Minor Arcana, shows different ordering choices for the suits and then the individual numbered cards of the suits. The 16 Court Cards, gives us different ways to view these cards, with examples and excellent thoughts to consider before then covering each card individually. I thought the Queen of Wands was especially good!

Experiencing the Tarot, covers finding your Soul and Personality Cards but also has an excellent article on linking cards to historical events. Handling Mixing Interpreting, is detailed thoughts for setting the proper `stage' of respect and spiritual mood, without the usual foolishness some people get into. More importantly in this section, Amber covers situations that a person may get from their client but are better left to the experts (for example a doctor) and proper questioning methods. Meditating With Tarot, gives various ideas on this useful practice as well as covers that interesting aspect of color usage. Tarot Spreads, is insightful and ethical guidance for when dealing with others. Be sure to check out Amber's own spread! Help Wanted, covers becoming a professional in realistic and legal manner.

Several important, related sub-topics are covered. Following are sections that are easy to comprehend, as Amber shows us how to connect Tarot to Qabala, Astrology, Numerology, and the philosophy of Alchemy.

We then have the Top 10 Tarot Misconceptions and The 10 Cards Most Likely To Cause A Freak-Out, which are both wonderfully covered with good choices of cards dealt with. I was especially impressed with Additional Resources, as this section is covered with a firm grip on the reality, that different people need different books and teachers. We then come to a comprehensive, complete, and most importantly accurate, Index.

Amber's strength is in not just handing out answers, but in making her reader think for themselves. She aids them to decide how they, as an individual, feel about each card. Emphasis is always on doing what feels right for the individual, rather than dictating some personal dogma as many writers do. You never get the impression of, "it's my way or the highway!" with Amber.

Now, what didn't I like? I read through this book twice and only found one thing that bothered me... page 76 on the Fool entry; Amber didn't cover the symbolism of the little dog. That's it. Otherwise, I can only repeat two words over and over-- "excellent! wonderful!"

Be sure to check out her book, "Principles of the Tarot" too.

This book is Fantastic! Everything in broken down so it is easily understood. If you want to understand yourself more, this is the book for you. Amber makes you feel real at ease with the Tarot cards and learning them without feeling overwhelmed. Her ideas on reading for others are wonderful. If you are just getting started or just want to know more about the Tarot, I recommend this book.

Ms. Jayanti is big on the history of tarot cards and obviously a psychology buff. She interprets the cards as a psychologist might see Rohrschach ink blots. "I don't work with the tarot to predict the future," she says.

Tarot is a great teaching tool for substance-abuse counselors, according to this author. She lets the client do the interpreting of the cards as pretty pictures, much as a psychiatrist might ask a patient to interpret ink blots.

This author calls it a "fallacy" that some think tarot readings help you find out about your future. To her, the cards are merely a symbol system that can assist you in understanding yourself -- and you can forget about predictive readings for others. "Lighting candles or saying prayers" to her is "just plain ignorant."

I'll take a book that tells me how to read the cards. If I want psychoanalysis, I'll go to a psychiatrist.

Tarot for Dummies is a clear, comprehensive and fun book to read whether you're a beginner or an intermediate as it has all the information you need from choosing your first deck to linking the cards to other divination systems such as astrology, meditating with colour, numerology, Qabalistic Tree of Life, The Chakras, musical notation, etc.. Not only that, there is even an entire chapter devoted to exploring the Tarot card reading as a profession -- who does it and how you can do it too.

What I am most impressed with is how all this wealth of information is organised adding to the clarity and concisiveness of how most "Dummies" books are organised. I especially like how a lot of the information is put into columns and charts making it easy to reference whenever I need to.

The only thing I find lacking, like in most tarot books nowadays is the discussion on tarot reversals. Furthermore, the author seems to avoid writing anything unpleasant even though the card clearly shows the situation is undesirable to disasterous. I find that a middle ground approach would have been more helpful.

But all in all, Tarot for Dummies is an excellent wealth of information for starters and intermediates alike. It is an excellent book to start one off on the right track to reading Tarot cards.

I have been working with the tarot for 40 years and was looking for a book to recommend to my students. So many books on the tarot are limited in scope,(focusing only on the major arcana or the minor arcana) or geared toward readings with one-line interpretations that are less than accurate.

The author has captured the essence of perennial philosophy and ancient mystical traditions (including kabbalah, numerology, astrology, colors, and mythic images) in an easy to read concise fashion to give you tools for unlimited exploration and personal growth.

Instead of 'quick fix' answers, this book teaches students to understand symbols and to discover personally meaningful answers that give a person not only guidance about one's life, but also award the reader with insights into one's inner strengths, in order to make good choices and deal with life in positive ways. I put this book on par with Angeles Arrien's The Tarot Handbook which is based on the Thoth Deck.

If you already know some basics of Tarot or are interested on a more deeper occult level this book is not for you. But if you are a total DUMMIE on the subject, you should read it! You should also read it when you are interested in various kinds of tarot-decks wich are covered extensively in this book or have no basic idea about tarot interpretation. Be not deluded however to place tarot in such a microscopic level as Jayanti does. One should not forget that tarot is a philosophical machine wich can postulate metaphysical mechanics. This book has a somewhat "materialist" approach.

its very basic gives you the history of tarot, its users and uses today and of course card interpretation all the way down to proper care of your deck

Learning to read the Tarot Deck can be a bit intimidating but this book really helps explain the meanings and tells the story of the cards in a simple way. Of course, you take those meanings and combine with your own intuition to discern the cards pulled but the book is great for beginners.

I really, really tried to. I just couldn't get into it. The author was kinda preachy for my taste. There was a lot of information on Qabala and mystery schools, which I didn't think went well with a book for begining tarot readers. She doesn't really believe or care that much about card reversals. Is this to save the space or was it too hard to explain to us "dummies"? I read the whole book, but it took forever because I couldn't get into it. I've read many other tarot books, and I would reccommend any of them over this one. If you feel you have to read it, please check it out of the library or borrow from someone else. I found very little useful information here, and all that I did find was available in better books.