Tarot Tips (Special Topics in Tarot Series) [Paperback]

Ruth Ann Amberstone (Author), Wald Amberstone (Author)

Book Description

Series: Special Topics in Tarot Series | Publication Date: December 8, 2003

Learning to read the Tarot is a continuous process of change and growth. Even experienced Tarot readers often find surprising insights in a reading or notice a detail in a Tarot card that had never seemed significant before. Sometimes it may even seem that Tarot cards raise more questions than they answer.

Tarot Tips is a compendium of sage advice and practical Tarot wisdom from two respected teachers with decades of Tarot experience. Divided into six sections, the seventy-eight “tips” cover common questions of interest to beginning and advanced students alike, including choosing and cleansing a new deck, different interpretation systems and card combinations, clarifying the question, Tarot reading ethics, and designing your own custom Tarot spreads.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-The cofounders of the Tarot School in New York offer a "simple, direct, practical" approach to what is usually presented as an esoteric topic. Drawn from the school's e-mail newsletter, the content here reflects questions asked by students. Tips are grouped into six chapters dealing with types of decks and their care and handling; interpretation and meaning of cards; reading techniques; types of spreads and layout design; other uses of Tarot (for example, in meditation); and ethical concerns that a practitioner might encounter. The writing is clear, light, and literate. Whatever their level of knowledge and expertise, students will feel that they are in the company of friendly, down-to-earth mentors and colleagues. Those who are simply curious about the subject will find an accessible view of today's eclectic Tarot as it is experienced by real people. This engaging and useful book provides a unique and valuable contribution to the subject.
Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone are co-founders of The Tarot School in New York City, offering Tarot lessons in several formats: live, online, telephone, tarot classes, teleclasses, correspondence courses, audio tapes, and as a degree program. Their Readers Studio offers continuing education for Tarot professionals.

Together the Amberstones teach, write and publish about Tarot on all levels from divination to psychology to esotericism and magical practice. They are perpetual pioneers of new Tarot techniques and remain lifelong Tarot students. Between them, Ruth Ann and Wald have amassed more than seventy years of experience as Tarot practitioners. Ruth Ann began her career as a reader in 1974, and Wald began his Tarot studies in 1959.

More than a thousand students have taken live classes at The Tarot School since it opened its doors in 1995. Hundreds more from around the world have participated in Tarot Teleclasses and Telecourses, have purchased tapes from The Tarot School AudioTape Series, and study The Tarot School Correspondence Course. "Tarot Tips", the Tarot School's e-mail newsletter, has thousands of subscribers worldwide.
Ruth Ann and Wald are also involved in The New York Tarot Festival and the Readers Studio. They are available for private readings in person or by telephone [phone]).

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (December 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738702161
• ISBN-13: 978-0738702162
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #809,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best and Most Practical Book on Tarot Reading, March 22, 2004

By 

E. Palladino "epalladino" (Bronx, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tarot Tips (Special Topics in Tarot Series) (Paperback)

With this book you won't get just another Tarot book with pages and pages of card interpretations and just a few inadequate pages of instructions on how to conduct a reading. This book is basically concerned with the how, whys, and wherefores of conducting readings. It was created from real questions from real people looking for practical advice on dealing with the cards. These questions, with the very practical advice given in answer, are then arranged according to topics laid out in the table of contents.

This is one of the best references that any person interested in Tarot, from the seasoned reader to the neophyte, could invest their money in. The work not only stands alone as a great reference, but would work together with many works on Tarot that have great card interpretations but little practical information on how to conduct a reading.

I've read this book several times and have incorporated in my own readings much of its advice. I've been privileged to be able to attend Wald and Ruth Ann's Monday evening classes in their NYC Tarot School and have obtained a degree from them. I now count them among my close friends and am working toward a second degree. For me this book was a great adjunct to these classes and a great reminder of much of what I had learned from them. However, as with any class, you can only cover just so much and this book is packed with more information than any class on Tarot could fit in.

For those of you who would never be able to take a class at Wald and Ruth Ann's Tarot School this book is a blessing. In it you get the benefit of being able to pick the brains of two of the Tarot world's great instructors. (...)

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Belongs On The Shelf Of Both Beginners And Experts, May 22, 2005

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 Tips (Special Topics in Tarot Series) (Paperback)

"In small pieces, easy to grasp and digest, one technique after another is laid out before you. At a leisurely pace, but rather quickly for all that, the small ignorances and awkwardnesses of the apprentice are overcome and disappear. If you are an experienced reader, you will find neat formulations and well-stated answers to difficult questions that you can pass on to your own students. In the process, a considerable portion of the vast practical lore of the Tarot reader is organized and preserved." -Wald Amberstone

Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone-founders of the Tarot School and Readers Studio-combine two lifetimes worth of experience in their book Tarot Tips. What started out in 1998 as a free email Newsletter has snowballed into one of the major newsletters of its kind, answering queries from readers around the world. Mirroring the 78 cards found in a Tarot deck, the authors provide 78 practical tips in an engaging question and answer format.

Refreshingly absent of dogma and pontification, Tarot Tips addresses questions most every Tarot user asks at some point, as well as clever reading techniques not found elsewhere. Various esoteric and astrological correlations are highlighted, as well as spreads answering yes/no questions and other queries.

For example, "The Voice in the Card" is a technique where you draw a card and allow your eyes to wonder over the images. Eventually, you'll be drawn to a small detail in the picture, and this will hold a message for the querent-one most likely to have nothing to do with the traditional meaning. A student of Ruth's did a one-card reading via this method in the attempt to answer her question "How long will I be on jury duty?" Drawing the 10 of Pentacles, the student was draw to two greyhounds near the bottom of the scene. He then predicted that she would serve only two days. Navigating the labyrinth of jury duty, she ended up serving only two days.

Regarding health readings, the authors provide some examples of physical symptoms and card correlations. For instance, the 10 of Wands could indicate overwork, headaches and tension in the shoulder and neck. The 2 of Cups could indicate venereal disease while The Devil may point to chain-smoking and substance abuse.

Tarot Tips also provides intriguing methods for Tarot contemplation and meditation, determining birth cards, coping with the Tarot, and creating a Tarot Prayer Mandala. The practical aspects of ethical reading, creating spreads, choosing and cleansing a deck, reading "pop-outs", and much more are also covered. In addition to the wealth of personal insights shared by the Amberstones, they also offer resources such as books, websites, and deck publishers.

This book is a wonderful resource that belongs on the shelf of both beginners and experts. The Amberstones deliver divinatory depth in a deceptively simple, practical, and non-threatening manner making the Tarot a user-friendly tool for all.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Reading!, August 20, 2008

By 

Mad Ethyl Flint (St Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tarot Tips (Special Topics in Tarot Series) (Paperback)

While the other reviews go into great detail about this book, I feel that I would give you my impression of it and what I got from it.

First of all, this book is written in a question/answer format. While in the beginning I found it a bit annoying, I found that these questions and answers cover some of what I myself would ask.

I somewhat disagree with the review who says this is for beginners. I've been studying Tarot for years... off and on and still found little jewels of wisdom contained in these pages. I learned that the spread itself has a lot to do with the reading. One does seem to get stuck on the Celtic Cross. Why? Because everyone else seems to do it. I now feel more secure in doing other spreads or making up my own.

The book does stress focusing on the person you are reading for, and addresses what to do when you draw a blank. Feed back is essential for a good reading as well as paying careful attention to what your querent is asking and/or feeling. To try to get to the root of the question in order to get a specific answer.

Anyway, I thought this book was well worth the read, and I will be checking out the Tarot School website. These authors seem to want to update and add info in a timely manner.

Thank you to the Amberstones for giving me a new and different perspective.
MEF