Tarot Tells the Tale: Explore Three Card Readings Through Familiar Stories [Paperback]

James Ricklef (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 2003

Peer over the shoulder of a Tarot master as he demonstrates the art of using three-card spreads to answer a variety of client questions. Through sample readings for famous characters from history, myth, and fiction, you will discover different ways to interpret personal cards, read reversed cards, construct a good question, and even rephrase less-than-ideal questions. You will find that your own readings will become more cohesive and coherent.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you read this book, you can't help but become a better tarot reader." -- Mary K. Greer

"This is a Tarot book--a course in Tarot, actually--like no other." -- Rachel Pollack

From the Publisher

2004 C.O.V.R. Award First Runner Up

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (November 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738702722
• ISBN-13: 978-0738702728
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #568,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tarot Tells a Fascinating and Fun Tale, December 7, 2003

By 

Michael A. Buzzelli "Mike" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tarot Tells the Tale: Explore Three Card Readings Through Familiar Stories (Paperback)

I just read "Tarot Tells the Tale" and it's a blast. This book not only helped me construct traditional Tarot card spreads, it did it in a fun, interesting way. The author has taught me how to interpret the cards and their meanings.
As a novice card reader, the book's whimsical breezy style put me at ease, and I saw relationships and patterns in the cards that I've never seen before. But it's the NightHawk readings that are the most fun. Imagine...what if Dorothy had sought the Tarot for advice on how to get off the farm? Or what if Dr. Jekyll sought advice on how to get rid of Mr. Hyde? It stirs your imagination, and, I'm learning, imagination is the key you need to unlock insight on your own Tarot deck. It's how you see the cards and their meanings to you that is the most important lesson.
The author presented the information in a such fun and fresh way...that it was a total delight to read.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for anyone who seriously wants to read Tarot!!, December 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Tarot Tells the Tale: Explore Three Card Readings Through Familiar Stories (Paperback)

This book has really helped me read the Tarot better. This book is much much more than a book of card definitions. Rickleff does readings for characters like Cinderella, Joan of Arc, George Baily from the movie "It's a Wonderful Life".

By doing readings for familiar characters Rickleff gives us wonderful examples of how the cards come into play in a reading. This has given me a deeper understanding of the tarot and how to do my own Tarot readings.

Another great thing about this book is the section on reversals. I have found his approach on how to use reversals extremely helpful and usable.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Tarot Book!, January 17, 2006

By 

Janet Boyer "Author, Blogger, Radio Host" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tarot Tells the Tale: Explore Three Card Readings Through Familiar Stories (Paperback)

"But whatever you consciously know about a card is only a finger pointing toward its true meaning within a specific reading. Each card in a reading has a story to tell-one that has never been told before exactly the same way-and it is a delicately intuitive process to hear that tale and to understand what it means." - From the book

For most Tarot enthusiasts, learning the cards by memorizing key words is the first step towards making sense of a reading. However, interpreting Tarot cards in the context of spreads-layout positions with assigned meanings-gets a bit tricky. For example, how would you read a traditionally positive card like the 2 of Cups when it lands in a position like "what's working against you"? Or how would you read the 10 of Swords in the "what's working for you" position?

Another challenge for many readers is interpreting a spread in terms of how the cards weave together to tell a unique story. No card is an island, and context is a crucial element to reading the Tarot effectively and accurately when interpreting a spread.

In his book Tarot Tells the Tale: Explore Three Card Readings Through Familiar Stories, Tarot master and author James Ricklef allows readers to peek over his shoulder as he demonstrates the art of using 3-card spreads to answer a variety of client questions. Using his popular "Ask KnightHawk" format, Ricklef poses hypothetical questions from famous mythological, historical, and fictional characters and then answers them using a 3-card reading. While the author could have "cheated"-drawing appropriate cards based on hindsight or knowledge of a story-he instead deals random cards and interprets them in light of the posed question.

Using a variety of decks-including the Universal Waite, Sacred Rose, Hanson-Roberts, Spiral, and Aquarian Tarot-Ricklef's alter-ego KnightHawk compassionately and insightfully answers questions posed by Thomas Jefferson, Dorothy (Wizard of Oz), Joan of Arc, Pygmalion, Marja Sklodowska (Marie Curie), Hamlet, Dr. Henry Jekyll (Jekyll and Hyde), Albert Einstein, The Prodigal Son, Cinderella, Psyche, and many more. In addition to relaying the interpretation to the "client" as if it were a "real" reading, Ricklef provides in-depth commentary on the cards that show up and why he interprets them as he does.

For example, it's downright uncanny how the Magician shows up in Cinderella's reading (can you say "Fairy Godmother"?) or how the reversed Queen of Wands shows up in the reading for Marie Curie (a brilliant physicist and chemist who definitely had "problems with radiance" since she died from leukemia caused by radiation exposure).

Believing that clients are ultimately seeking hope from a reading, Ricklef skillfully demonstrates how even "difficult" cards can impart advice, encouragement and hope. Countering the idea that this approach is Pollyannaish, he asserts that it is really "a reflection of the balance of life, as well as a choice to find a meaningful lesson in every experience."

Although the bulk of Tarot Tells the Tale is the 3-card Ask KnightHawk readings, there is an abundance of additional information included in this book, including:

* How to construct a good question or re-phrase a less-than-ideal question
* The many permutations of the basic 3-card spread
* How to break down the Celtic Cross into mini-spreads
* The "5 D's" of reading reversals
* How to create your own spreads for specific needs
* Numerological and elemental associations
* Ethical considerations
* Comments and advice for each of the 78 cards

The "Ask KnightHawk" template is not only a unique way to demonstrate how 3-card spreads can be created and interpreted, but also amazingly instructive for both Tarot beginners and seasoned readers. Written with engaging prose, Tarot Tells the Tale is a fascinating book showing the depth and breadth of 3-card readings, as well as the art of constructing and interpreting client-specific spreads. You'll not only become a better Tarot reader after reading Tarot Tells the Tale, but also gain additional insight into the cards themselves. For example, it never occurred to me that while the Hermit withdraws from society, The Hanged Man withdraws from *activity*. The difference is distinctive, and is but one of the many helpful tidbits you'll find in Tarot Tells the Tale.