Hi all,
Here are some resources to get started with learning tarot. This is all I used; please feel free to add your own recommendations below.
Books
- Holistic Tarot (Benebell Wenn)
- Tarot Shadow Work (Christine Sette)
Videos
Free Courses
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I was reading that at one point, and then I read the author saying that divination is not possible, that you cannot predict the future. That is not what stopped me from reading the book further, but it certainly is interesting to see the attitude of modern authors.
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I found the book to be very helpful. I still use it. I don’t always agree with everything my favourite authors write, but happily take what is useful to me.
It’s also helpful for when you want to practice tarot by giving readings to people who don’t consciously practice magick. My colleagues are scientists and her approach provides a paradigm that they are comfortable with.
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If you’re a total beginner with no clue where to start you can always check out
The Complete Guide to the Tarot: Determine Your Destiny! Predict Your Own Future!
I think the Isbn# is 9780553277524
Just look for it in a store in your own country as that link might go to Amazon Canada you might even find it in second hand stores or at a yard sale or your local library (it’s a pretty common starter’s book)
It is a pretty good starter book for those without any experience in tarot divination (of course it doesn’t cover all decks but) it will give you a general overview and idea what the cards mean and how to do a basic reading.
I think it’s one of 2 or 3 books I started with (I can’t remember the others unfortunately (one of the other books had a red cover).
Anyways it’s a pretty good book to start with.
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The Tarot - The Origins, Meaning and Uses of the Cards by Alfred Douglas. One of the very best (cheap paperback) books on the subject. Douglas was a member of an interesting Magickal group.
That stated- lay out the Major Arcana cards in three lines:
I - VII
VIII-XIV
XV-XXI
Work through the cards both horizontally and vertically. Workout the relationships such an arrangement gives. Notice any repeats in symbolism? And always remember - the cards represent energies (even the Court cards) and each energy affects the others in a spread. I tend to use the septenary Tree of Wyrd spread.
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Learn Tarot dot com is my go to, very simple
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She clarifies this point a bit more in the video below. She distinguishes between fortune telling and divination. For her, fortune telling comes from the reader’s own abilities and refers to fixed fates. Their words exert direct influence over the seeker. Divination comes from the practicioner’s connection with the divine and provides opportunities to influence events before they come to pass. The reader conveys sacred messages completely at the discretion of the divine. She prefers divination to fortune telling and sees no wisdom in the later. I believe this opinion comes from her roots in Buddhism, Daoism, and mysticism.
*32:40
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Very interesting. I will have to read Holistic Tarot again sometime. From what I recall the book seemed especially… secular, let’s say, which put me off. Although, I know in any case I can benefit from the book, so perhaps it’s more simply that I haven’t gotten to it. But this does refresh it in my mind and makes me more interested. Thanks for remembering this post and taking the time to reply!
But interesting view still. In the Western sort of line of thought, it is believed that divination either comes from spirits, or from the Soul and it’s harmony with the entire cosmos (See, The Geomancie of Meister Christopher Cattan, Book I, Page 2, for one common view in those days). So, also something divine! Even when it is done through “tools” rather than pure intuition.
In the Western traditions, it has long been debated as to how changeable fate is. In Platonism and Hermeticism, as far as I’ve seen, it is believe that one can move beyond fate through Theurgy. Astrologically, Aphorism V of the Centiloquium attributed to Ptolemy says this:
"A skilful person, acquainted with the nature of the stars, is enabled to avert many of their effects, and to prepare himself for those effects before they arrive. " (JM Ashmand translation, Centiloquy Ptolemei)
However, at other times those in the Medieval Ages and the Renaissance seemed to have considered fate to be more fixed, except that there is nothing beyond the power of the Almighty Creator, and so the Creator is able to change anyone’s fate.
But with it being more fixed, generally even a good astrological election can’t change a person’s fate if it was destined to be so at birth or the Revolution of the World:
“But Note that if the ascendent and its Lord be unfortunate in your radix, or the Revolution of the world, there is no Election can be made any wise to advantage the body or the party for whom you would elect an advantagious time; and so consider and understand of any Election whatsoever, viz. If the chief significator of any businesse be unfortunate in the radix, there can be no time Elected to prevent the mischief threatned; for whom the Lord hath ordained to destruction or punishment, either by inclination or casualty (according to his Divine wil and preordination and the harmonious concordancy of Astrology with Divinity &c) that it might come to pass; (and so on the contrary for a mans happiness, but this comes to pass through repentance) for I have ever found men in this condition either to go on still in their ways without reproof, or being reproved, will take so small notice thereof, as that they will hardly believe it, or have an inclination to study amendment or prevention of evil, wherefore these particular things in Elections ought to have their dependancy on the generall fates.” (William Ramesey, Astrologia Restaurata, Book III Page 122)
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Hear! Hear!
What’s the point if you can’t take action to at least ameliorate bad fortune? Why engage in divination if nothing can be done? What a tragically stagnant paradigm. Such views are not Magickal.
Al.
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