As a Tarot Expert, who's been reading and studying the Tarot since 1973, two of the questions I am often asked are "What is a Tarot Professional?" and "What is a Tarot Expert?" After searching the Internet, I immediately understood the reason why I was being asked these questions because of the many untruths floating around about what a Tarot Professional or Tarot Expert really is and what it isn't. Since the misinformation is so prevalent, I think it is wise to arm yourself with the facts: a Tarot Professional is an experienced Tarot reader who actually makes their living by reading Tarot cards. In other words, they are compensated for their services just like any other professional. I have included examples of what a Tarot Professional isn't so you can easily tell the difference.
A Tarot Professional is definitely not just anyone who can: 1. Write/publish Tarot books. 2. Create Tarot decks. 3. Take a Tarot class or course. 4. Write Tarot articles. 5. Write reviews of Tarot decks or books. 6. Get their work published in a magazine, ezine, newspaper, etc.
The reason why the aforementioned will never make someone a Tarot Professional (or a Tarot Expert) is because the truth is anyone can write books and publish them, create decks, take a class or course, write articles, review books or decks, or manage to have their work published without having any prior qualifications. These methods are also missing the key components necessary that really make someone a Tarot Professional: a thorough knowledge of the cards, very accurate reading ability and actual professional Tarot reading experience. Becoming a Tarot Professional takes years because to be successful at it a person must know the Tarot well enough that reading the cards becomes second nature to them. This means having the experience and ability to do a reading almost mindlessly yet still be very accurate. There is no substitute for experience: it takes years to acquire, develop and master the skills necessary to be proficient enough to be able to read Tarot at the professional level. Joseph Martin created this popular Tarot deck: The Quest Tarot (Book & Card Pack). Mr. Martin reads professionally so he is a Tarot Professional. He also wrote the accompanying book to this deck.
Are you now wondering what the difference is between a Tarot Professional and a Tarot Expert? Honestly, it really is quite simple. We already know that a Tarot Professional is an experienced Tarot reader who reads Tarot cards for a living. A Tarot Expert is someone who has an extensive knowledge of the Tarot, both in theory and practice because they have spent most of their life studying and reading it. A Tarot Expert does not always have to be a professional Tarot reader but most are or have been at one time. A Tarot Expert can and often does continue to read professionally while sharing their wisdom with others in a multitude of ways. A Tarot Expert can also be retired from their professional reading life and instead focus on sharing their wisdom by teaching Tarot classes, authoring books, making decks, etc. Mary K. Greer has written many books about Tarot like this one: Tarot for Your Self : A Workbook for Personal Transformation Second Edition. She is considered to be one of the foremost authorities on Tarot so she is a Tarot Expert. She also wrote these excellent books: The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals, Tarot Mirrors: Reflections of Personal Meaning, and Understanding the Tarot Court (Columbia Classics). Robert Place is recognized as a historical and philosophical Tarot Expert. His well-researched book The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination is a must for anyone who wants to know about the origins of Tarot. You might also enjoy his Tarot of the Saints, The Buddha Tarot and its companion book The Buddha Tarot Companion: A Mandala of Cards.
A new question being asked of me since I wrote this guide is, "How can I tell if the Tarot deck or Tarot book I'm buying was really made or written by a Tarot Professional or a Tarot Expert?" A very reliable way to tell that someone who created a Tarot deck or wrote a book about Tarot is neither a Tarot Professional nor a Tarot Expert is to read the artists' or authors' biography. This should be included within the book or deck, usually on the back cover of a Tarot book, and in the little white book (LWB) or the companion book of a Tarot deck/book set. Nonexistent bios, bios that fail to mention any Tarot experience (just mentions art schools attended or art awards won), or bios that are very vague about the person's actual Tarot experience (obscure mention of writing/publishing Tarot articles but no unambiguous Tarot experience or qualifications are ever stated), are telltale signs that the artist or author in question is neither a Tarot Professional nor a Tarot Expert. An authentic Tarot Professional or Tarot Expert is not vague about their Tarot experience or qualifications and includes them in their decks or books. If you find you are still in doubt, checking their bio from previous work(s) tends to reveal the answer.
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by A. E. Waite is another good first Tarot book and the The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck was my first deck. Technically, Mr. Waite did not actually draw this deck himself, Pamela Colman Smith did, but I felt it should be included since it is one of the most well known decks. You might also enjoy The Original Rider Waite Tarot Pack.
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. Mr. Martin reads professionally so he is a Tarot Professional. He also wrote the accompanying book to this deck.
