The absolute best Tarot books to help you dramatically elevate your Tarot practice by Avalon Cameron
Hello Tarot lovers, Cardslinger and Cartomancy Mystics,
You have asked for it and I have created it. Here is your list of The absolute best Tarot books to help you dramatically elevate your Tarot practice. As a professional tarot reader, author and deck creator (and collector), I am oftentimes approached with a variety of questions from tarot lovers and students. about tarot book recommendations. The most asked questions for the Tarot community across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook & TikTok are as follows:
What is a really good tarot book for a tarot beginner?
What is a great book for a more intermediate tarot student?
What book would you recommend to a more advanced tarot reader?
So with these and other commonly asked questions in mind, I have put together a comprehensive tarot book list which I have broken down into three sections or skill levels.
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced.
I have also added yet another shorter recommendation to help to refine things just that little bit more. Sometimes a book can be suited to the beginner but not the absolute beginner. So I have purposefully created a short line in bold to explain the recommendation further, for example: For absolute beginners and more advanced beginners or For more advanced intermediate tarot students and so on.
Each title on this rather comprehensive tarot book list is available in mass-market formats from Amazon and other major book retailers. Some titles are also available in kindle and audiobook formats for those of you who prefer digital rather than hardcopy or who simply do not have the space on their bookshelves, I’ve been there, so I feel you.
Let’s get into it.
Beginner tarot book recommendations
The following titles are suited to the absolute beginner and also the more developed beginner. Each book on this list offers something different from the other and combined, makes one hell of a solid tarot foundation of learning. When It comes to tarot, possessing a good foundation where the basics are concerned will take you far. So let’s get into it.
Around the Tarot in 78 Days: A Personal Journey Through the Cards by Marcus Katz & Tali Goodwin
This book is a fantastic resource for the absolute beginner. This is a tarot workbook that you can move through at your own pace. You will get to spend a reasonable amount of time with each of the cards in the Tarot system which provides you with ample opportunity to get to know each card really well. Around the tarot in 78 days is a powerhouse resource that will take you from absolute beginner status to competent beginner in no time at all.
HOT TIP! You are going to want page tabs and a dedicated notebook for this one.
For absolute beginners and more advanced beginners.
Tarot 101 by Kim Huggens
Tarot 101 is not just a beginner-friendly book but an opportunity to invite some of your tarot-curious friends to join in on the fun. This book doesn’t just cover the basics, it also offers group learning activities that will have you and your friends laughing and learning all at the same time. Huggens know’s her stuff, so you can’t go wrong with this one.
For absolute beginners & groups
Kitchen Table Tarot by Melissa Cynova
Kitchen Table Tarot is your total tarot taster for the absolute tarot beginner. If you are a beginner wanting a basic introduction to the tarot with a little something extra, then this is the book for you. Kitchen Table Tarot is written in an easy-to-understand way and will effortlessly address some of the bigger tarot misconceptions that impact beginner tarot students. You can think of this book as a Tarot taster.
For absolute Beginners.
The New Tarot Handbook by Rachel Pollack
The New Tarot Handbook is your beginner tarot reference book. This is the type of book that you can flick through when you need a little help deciphering a card or are in need of a quick keyword. This book makes a great substitute for an absent or weak Little White Book (LWB) and will provide you with alternatives to your Tarot companion books. Plus, it’s a Rachel Pollack book, so you know it will be good.
For beginners to more advanced beginners.
Advanced Tarot: An In-Depth Guide to Practical & Intuitive Tarot Reading by Paul Fenton-Smith
Don’t let the title fool you, this is a beginner to intermediate book to be sure. That said, it is a popular book known by many with some even saying that this is the only tarot book you will ever need, I respectfully disagree however. Advanced Tarot features detailed card interpretations, reversed meanings, a variety of card layouts, tips for reading under pressure, and more, this book will see you through. from beginner to intermediate.
For more advanced beginner tarot students.
Tarot Interactions: Become More Intuitive, Psychic & Skilled at Reading Cards by Deborah Lipp
This is a book that will really help to round out your tarot learning. Learn how to take what you have already learned about the tarot and add depth and nuance to your reading style. Designed for both beginners and advanced students, Tarot Interactions shows how to interact with the cards in a synergistic way, leading to more dynamic readings with any deck or oracle.
With accessible lessons on patterns and layouts, card pairs, using language and storytelling to deepen a reading, techniques for interacting with querents, and developing or utilizing psychic ability. Explore simple yet effective exercises on topics from pathworking to meditation, as well as tarot experiments and games.
For the more established tarot beginner and beyond.
Intermediate Tarot Books
The following list of books is perfect for those transitioning from their beginner tarot studies and into more intermediate tarot studies. There are some titles on this list that are specific to a well-established intermediate tarot student and not a student transitioning from beginner to intermediate. tarot studies
In case you are wondering, an intermediate tarot student is a person who has cemented the basics and is looking to build on what they know. These individuals have a good understanding of all 78 cards in the tarot and possess a good grasp of tarot symbolism. An intermediate tarot student also possesses a variety of keywords for each tarot card as well as a small repertoire of Tarot spreads.
An intermediate tarot student will also be fueled with a strong desire to learn more about intersecting subjects and so, I have chosen books that will be suited to just that.
36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot by T. Susan Chang
36 Secrets looks more closely at the cards within the minor arcana of the tarot. Chang uses the lens of Astrology to add further meanings to the Minor Arcana. The minor arcana of the tarot has an astrological secret: 36 of them, in fact. In the early 20th century, members of the British secret society of the Golden Dawn created what would become the world's best-known tarot deck: the Rider Waite Smith tarot. They also created an infrastructure of esoteric correspondences around the deck, assigning each minor card numbered 2 through 10 in each of the four suits, to a decan—a 10° section of the zodiac, and by extension a 10-day section of the calendar year.
For intermediate tarot students.
Holistic Tarot by Benebell Wen
Holistic Tarot is one of the biggest tarot books you will come across currently. This book is a beast and can be rather intimidating. The thing is, Holistic Tarot is best treated as your ultimate tarot reference book. This book is packed with solid tarot information, reference material, keywords and card explanations that go beyond the basics. It’s a tarot information overload. I would not recommend a cover to cover read, instead, take your time with Holistic Tarot, you’ll be glad you did.
For more advanced intermediate tarot students, this book is a beast.
Tarot Wisdom by Rachel Pollack
Yet another big tarot to add to your collection. Tarot Wisdom is replete with, well, tarot wisdom LOL. In this book, the legendary Rachel Pollack introduces you to the original forefathers of the tarot and their various philosophies. Pollack will provide you with historical card interpretations and shows how they now differ from modern-day interpretations. This book is choc full of depth and super tasty information that you won’t find anywhere else. Have sticky tabs on hand, and get ready to lay down a sticky tab rainbow!
Tarot Wisdom is often thought of as a good beginner resource. I disagree, however, as the writing style is more complex, as is the terminology. I know many tarot novices who have struggled with this, and I also know tarot novices who have loved this book. As such, I have added Tarot Wisdom to my Intermediate Tarot book list for strictly practical reasons.
For intermediate tarot students and those with an interest in tarot history and origins. Also suited to a more advanced beginner.
Tarot For Your Self by Mary K. Greer
Mary K. Greer is a tarot legend, you will be hard-pressed to find a better tarot researcher and historian and I will happily recommend any of her books to you, particularly this one. When it comes to tarot, reading for yourself can be a tricky thing. It’s hard not to come to your cards with a certain emotional bias. This is where Tarot For Your Self shines. Learning to read tarot for yourself is an invaluable skill to cultivate and one that suits the intermediate tarot student.
For intermediate tarot students.
Tarot Correspondences: Ancient Secrets for Everyday Readers by T. Susan Chang
This cleverly, crafted tarot book looks rather closely at tarot symbolism and hidden correspondences. Focusing on four main systems of correspondences―the elements, astrology, numbers, and Kabbalah―this book helps you integrate the images, associations, and myths that have allowed the tarot to resonate across many centuries and cultures.
For more advanced beginners to intermediate tarot students.
These days, the number of Tarot readers who read reversals has dwindled significantly and for a variety of reasons. But I am a tarot reader that enjoys working with reversals, and I imagine I’m not the only one. So get ready to turn your Tarot practice upside down with The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals, the first book in Llewellyn's exciting new Special Topics in Tarot series. It's time to dive deep into the mysterious world of reversals and discover the many shades of grey lurking within. With twelve different methods for interpreting upside-down cards, you'll be able to explore new depths of meaning and tap into your intuition like never before.
This book isn't your typical Tarot guide – it's filled with unique twists and unexpected insights that will keep you on your toes. Each of the 78 Tarot cards is presented with both upright and reversed interpretations, giving you a comprehensive understanding of the learning opportunities available. Plus, you'll get insider tips and positive advice that will help you unlock your inner potential and deepen your connection to the cards.
So, are you ready to shake things up and take your Tarot practice to the next level? The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals is your ticket to exploring the flip side of the Tarot and unlocking a whole new world of possibilities.
For intermediate tarot students
Secrets of the Waite-Smith Tarot: The True Story of the World's Most Popular Tarot by Marcus Katz & Tali Goodwin
This book almost speaks for itself. I have added this one to the intermediate tarot book section because it specifically focuses on the Rider Waite System (RWS) of tarot deck which is arguably the most popular tarot system in English-speaking parts of the world. Secrets of the Waite-Smith Tarot explains the art and symbolism found in the RWS tarot and provides expanded meanings for each of the 78 cards.
For intermediate tarot students and the more advanced beginner.
Psychic Tarot: Using Your Natural Psychic Abilities to Read the Cards by Nancy Antenucci with Melanie Howard
Psychic Tarot introduces to the tarot student the importance of allowing your intuition to be present during a tarot reading. This book not only highlights the importance of your intuitions but also provides you with sound advice on how to access your intuition in a tarot reading as well as how to sidestep nerves and uncertainty. Psychic tarot will offer you experiences and information surrounding such topics as energy basics, seeing the unseen, trusting the sight and the initial image. Psychic tarot is the perfect book for tarot students who wish to add another aspect to their tarot practice and who are cultivating a more intuitive tarot approach.
For the intermediate tarot student.
Tarot and Astrology: Enhance Your Readings With the Wisdom of the Zodiac by Corrine Kenner
If you find yourself in a place within your tarot studies where you wish to understand more about the subject of Astrology and how it can be infused into your tarot practice, then this book is for you. Tarot and Astrology offers you a comprehensive look at the astrological associations for each of the 78 cards within the tarot. By understanding the Astrology of each of the cards, you can add extra layers of meanings and insights to your tarot practice.
For the intermediate tarot student.
Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot: New Edition by Lon Milo DuQuette
For tarot students with a particular interest in the Thoth Tarot System, this book is for you. Crowley authority Lon Milo DuQuette offers interpretations and deeper explanations into the esoteric symbolism found within the Thoth tarot as well as the important history behind the Thoth tarot and in-depth card meanings. If you have only ever worked with the Rider Waite Smith system of Tarot, then you may find this book interesting as it will offer you insights into an alternative tarot system.
For intermediate tarot students and those interested in the Thoth Tarot System.
Understanding the Tarot Court by Mary K. Greer & Tom Little
The tarot court is perhaps one of the most complex facets of tarot teachings to get your head around. Understanding the Tarot Court really helps you to look at alternative ways in which to view the court cards which in turn provides you with more options when interpreting a court card. Understanding the Tarot Court will also show you how you can match the court cards with the zodiac signs, the Myers-Briggs personality types, and the Jungian archetypes. This is a truly excellent book that will make sense of a tricky part of the tarot.
For the more advanced intermediate tarot student.
Tarot Time Traveller: Enhance Your Modern Readings with the Wisdom of the Past by Marcus Katz & Tali Goodwin.
Tarot Time Traveller is one of those beautiful books that I would highly recommend to those transitioning out of their beginner, tarot studies and entering into their intermediate tarot studies. Throughout the generations, personal relationships, esoteric practices, and cultural beliefs have blended together to form tarot's many layers of meaning and mystery. Join authors Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin as they share reading methods, card meanings, and spread ideas based on the most important developments in the history of tarot. This book is well laid out and easy to follow as is the nature of Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin books.
For the new intermediate tarot student.
Tarot Deciphered: Decoding Esoteric Symbolism in Modern Tarot by T. Susan Chang and M.M Meleen
This is one of those all-rounder types of books that touch on every subject pertaining to and surrounding the tarot. For each card, you will discover how astrology, mythology, alchemy, the elements, and Qabalah contribute to the card's overall meaning. Authors T. Susan Chang and M. M. Meleen, co-hosts of the popular Fortune's Wheelhouse podcast, decipher the symbols and stories of tarot. Their carefully researched synthesis of esoteric ideas is designed to foster a deeper connection with the wisdom of the cards.
For intermediate tarot students.
Advanced Tarot Books Recommendations
Now that we have made our way through the beginner, book recommendations, and intermediate book recommendations, we naturally find ourselves here in the advanced book, recommendations section. The titles that you will find on this list represent books that are rather complex in their subject matter. More often than not, the books on this list will deep dive into aspects of Tarot learning that other books gloss over. The titles that I have added to this list have been thoughtfully chosen to help you to refine your tarot practice. So let’s get into it.
Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Tarot Journey to Self-Awareness (A New Edition of the Tarot Classic) by Rachel Pollack
Originally, I made the mistake many years ago to recommend this book to a beginner. That was a mistake. One of the few tarot books I know that do not contain illustrations which is unusual as the tarot is pictorial. What you do get is an information overload with esoteric interpretations, analysis symbolism, modern tarot, Kabbalist references, more complex card meanings and a plethora of meaningful insights. Rachel Pollack is a true tarot legend. The way in which she writes about the tarot is complex yes, but extremely well-researched and thought-provoking.
For the intermediate to the advanced students.
The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination by Robert M. Place
Yet another well know title The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination Robert M. Place provides a historically grounded and compelling portrait of the Tarot's true origins, without overlooking the deck's mystical dimensions. This book is both pragmatic while still remaining somewhat grounded in esotericism. This is an exceptionally well researched book, and Place has done his best to hold back his bias. You could consider this a more academic approach to tarot literature, which may appeal to some of you, looking for more advanced material on the subject of tarot.
For advanced tarot students.
Mystical Origins of the Tarot: From Ancient Roots to Modern Usage by Paul Huson
It’s impossible to escape the expansive subject that is the Kabbalah when deepening your tarot studies. By understanding the fundamentals of Kabbalah, you end up adding yet another layer to your tarot studies. Mystical Origins of the Tarot provides a thorough examination of the original historical source for each card and how the cards’ divinatory meanings evolved from these symbols. Huson also provides concise and practical card-reading methods designed by the cartomancers of the 18th and 19th centuries and reveals the origins of the card interpretations promoted by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and A. E. Waite.
For advanced intermediate and advanced tarot students.
The Magician's Kabbalah: Kabbalah as an Initiatory Path illustrated by Tarot by Marcus Katz
If I do you have been studying the tarot for some time now, then you will know all too well that the tarot has a tendency of intersecting with the esoteric subject that is the Kabbalah. In The Magician's Kabbalah tarot teacher and author Marcus Katz demonstrates clear and practical ways in which you can integrate a fundamental understanding of the Kabbalah thus adding yet another layer to your tarot studies.
Drawing on three decades of experience and using previously unpublished material from the original archives of the Golden Dawn Society of 1888 and ground-breaking research on A. E. Waite, you will discover how Kabbalah is used as a tool of spiritual initiation. Complete with exercises, tables and diagrams to allow you to explore the Kabbalah and Tarot for your own magical and mystical development.
For advanced tarot students
The Mystical Qabalah (Weiser Classics Series) by Dion Fortune
The Mystical Qabalah is an iconic title in the wonderful world of esoterica and occult literature. Because tarot intersects with the subject of Qabalah (Kabbalah) understanding the origins and fundamentals of such broad teachings can be quite the challenge. Fortune was one of the first to bring this “secret tradition” to a wider audience with her clear and comprehensive exploration of the Qabalah tradition. The Mystical Qabalah remains a classic in its clarity, linking the broad elements of Jewish traditional thought—probably going back to the Babylonian captivity and beyond—with both Eastern and Western philosophy and later Christian insights.
For advanced tarot students.
The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals (Special Topics in Tarot Series, 1 by Mary K. Greer
The idea of tarot reversals is ever-changing. In this day and age, fewer and fewer tarot readers are choosing to work with tarot reversals in their practice. But, the concept of working with reversed cards is old school and there are still many tarot readers (myself included) that work with reversals. When working with reversals, you open up even more ways to read the cards.
Reversals are not black and white―there is more than one way to interpret them. Explore these shades of grey with the twelve different methods for reading upside-down cards. Upright and reversed interpretations for each of the 78 Tarot cards offer inner support, positive advice, and descriptions of the learning opportunities available, yet with a twist that is uniquely their own. Stimulate your intuition and deepen your connection to the cards as you explore the flip side of the Tarot.
For advanced tarot students
Numerology and Tarot: Unlocking the Power of Numbers and Tarot Spreads along with Discovering Symbolism, Intuition, Numerological Divination, Astrology, and Ayurveda by Mari Silva
Tarot is largely comprised of numbers, every single card features a number or two. Numerology is a way of understanding the meanings behind numbers and is valuable information to cultivate as a tarot student. Unlock the Power of Tarot Spreads and Learn About Psychic Tarot Card Reading, Symbolism, and Developing Your Intuition. But more than that, by understanding numerology you are then able to add yet another layer to your tarot practice.
For advanced tarot students
The Esoteric Tarot: Ancient Sources Rediscovered in Hermeticism and Cabalah by Ronald Decker
For the thinky-thinky tarot student. I love a more academic approach to tarot and this book fits into that category for sure. Ron Decker’s meticulous scholarship will surprise practitioners and academics alike, revealing the Tarot’s true evolution and meanings as its inventor(s) understood it. The Esoteric Tarot will naturally debunk some of the more common tarot misconceptions while adding new layers of meanings to the cards. Decker’s interpretation integrates three whole systems-astrological, arithmological, mystagogical (concerning initiation rites into the Mysteries). His depth of knowledge makes the book a must-have for serious students of Tarot and esotericism.
For advanced tarot students.
The Magian Tarok: The Origins of the Tarot in the Mithraic and Hermetic Traditions by Stephen E. Flowers PhD
This is a heavy read to be sure, but if you can manage to remain engaged and focused, you will get a lot out of this one. In this book, Flowers explores the historical roots and mythology of the symbolic images that became known as the Tarot. Drawing on theories first pioneered by the Swedish scholar Sigurd Agrell (1881-1937), he reveals the genesis of the Tarot’s symbolism in the great Hermetic tradition at the same time the Magical Papyri were being written in Greco-Roman Egypt. He explains how the sequencing of the Major Arcana is related to the images used in Mithraic initiation, elements of which were then integrated into existing Roman and Egyptian traditions. The Magian Tarok is a book for analytical and esoteric tarot students.
For advanced tarot students.
Tarot and the Archetypal Journey: The Jungian Path from Darkness to Light by Sallie Nichols
The teaching of Jungian psychology is often integrated into the tarot system. In Tarot and the Archetypal Journey Nichols takes you through analogies to the humanities, mythology, and the graphic arts, the significance of the cards is related to personal growth and what Jung termed "individuation." The Major Arcana becomes a map of life, and the hero's journey becomes something that each individual can relate to one's personal life.
For advanced tarot students.
I so hope that you enjoy the comprehensive list of tarot book recommendations. If there is a book that you absolutely love and adore that, I have not mentioned in this blog post, please leave the title of that book in the comments section so that I may update this blog with your great tarot book recommendations.
And lately, I would like to remind you that tarot is a lifelong passion. There is no need to rush through your studies. The best advice that I can give you is to take your time, read all that you can and look at your cards often.
Take care, and may the cards serve you well.