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Tarot for Beginners: A Practical Guide to Reading the Cards
This all-new edition of the popular Tarot for Beginners makes it simpler and more enjoyable than ever to learn how to read and interpret tarot cards. Award-winning tarot expert Barbara Moore clearly explains every aspect of the tarot so you can perform readings with ease and confidence.
Discover the core divinatory meanings of all seventy-eight cards, clearly broken down by Major and Minor Arcana, suit, and number. A variety of spreads and sample readings will help you develop essential skills and ultimately create your own unique style.
—Card images are from three popular tarot decks that follow the classic Rider-Waite structure
—Follow easy step-by-step instructions for giving effective readings for yourself and others
—Learn about reversals, symbols, interpretive techniques, tarot journaling, and much more
360 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
About the author
Barbara Moore
179 books136 followersThe tarot has been a part of my personal and professional life for nearly twenty years. I first discovered the Tarot in college. Right from the start, the tarot intrigued me with its marvelous blending of mythology, psychology, art, history mystery, and magic.
My education in the tarot has been and continues to be broad and enlightening. I am grateful to have been blessed with the opportunity to study under renowned tarot scholars Mary K. Greer and Rachel Pollack. I have also had the privilege to share the wonders of the tarot with all manner of wide-eyed, would-be tarot readers.
I enjoy giving a voice to tarot cards by writing the books that accompany decks. I have had the good fortune to write books and booklets for several decks, including A Guide to Mystic Faerie Tarot (Llewellyn, July 2007), The Gilded Tarot Companion (Llewellyn, September 2004), The Enchanted Oracle (Llewellyn, September 2008), The Mystic Dreamer Tarot (Llewellyn, September 2008), and Shadowscapes Tarot (Llewellyn, May 2010). Recently, I finished writing a new edition of Tarot for Beginners (Llewellyn, November 2010).
My articles on the tarot have appeared in several tarot publications and in Llewellyn's New Worlds of Mind and Spirit.
Over the years, I have been very active in the tarot community. I am a founding member of the Minnesota Area Tarot Symposium and have spoken at tarot conferences around the United States. In July of 2010, I had the pleasure of attending the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI) Annual Conference as keynote speaker.
In addition to teaching tarot classes and providing personal readings, I currently work as a consultant for tarot publishers Llewellyn Worldwide and Lo Scarabeo. I also contribute bi-weekly posts to Llewellyn's Tarot Pathways blog. I am very excited to be working on designing several forthcoming tarot decks as well as another book for tarot newbies on spread design.
My education in the tarot has been and continues to be broad and enlightening. I am grateful to have been blessed with the opportunity to study under renowned tarot scholars Mary K. Greer and Rachel Pollack. I have also had the privilege to share the wonders of the tarot with all manner of wide-eyed, would-be tarot readers.
I enjoy giving a voice to tarot cards by writing the books that accompany decks. I have had the good fortune to write books and booklets for several decks, including A Guide to Mystic Faerie Tarot (Llewellyn, July 2007), The Gilded Tarot Companion (Llewellyn, September 2004), The Enchanted Oracle (Llewellyn, September 2008), The Mystic Dreamer Tarot (Llewellyn, September 2008), and Shadowscapes Tarot (Llewellyn, May 2010). Recently, I finished writing a new edition of Tarot for Beginners (Llewellyn, November 2010).
My articles on the tarot have appeared in several tarot publications and in Llewellyn's New Worlds of Mind and Spirit.
Over the years, I have been very active in the tarot community. I am a founding member of the Minnesota Area Tarot Symposium and have spoken at tarot conferences around the United States. In July of 2010, I had the pleasure of attending the Tarot Association of the British Isles (TABI) Annual Conference as keynote speaker.
In addition to teaching tarot classes and providing personal readings, I currently work as a consultant for tarot publishers Llewellyn Worldwide and Lo Scarabeo. I also contribute bi-weekly posts to Llewellyn's Tarot Pathways blog. I am very excited to be working on designing several forthcoming tarot decks as well as another book for tarot newbies on spread design.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 1, 2019
Wonderfully detailed starter to Tarot reading! I am glad I have this one as a reference book, until I am able to memorize the basic core meanings of the cards. This book has everything you need to get started.
January 2, 2011
~A MASTER WITH BEGINNER MINDSET~
What happens when an acknowledged Tarot Professional goes back and adapts the Beginner Mindset? A masterpiece such as this book is. Barbra Moore speaks simply yet informatively and very, may I say so, "engagingly" of complex matters of which the card meanings, though representing the core of this book in volume, are NOT the core of the book in meaning.
"Well, what is "the core" then?" -- you ask. In my opinion, it is the calm excitement of a true Professional who knows what it is like to be the one with the cards; who knows what it is like to lift the veil of the unknown both in predicting the future and trying to understand oneself and one's circumstances; it is the gratitude for one's long and not always easy way and desire to take a Beginner by hand and walk them straight through the bushes of being confused by choices and dry benches of lack of confidence onto the path that leads to the field of Mastery. And the Field of Mastery, as we know, has no end, but it is the Journey and Exploring that matters.
When a friend gifted me this book (THANK YOU!!!!!) I thought: "oh, well, another book for beginners" and trust me, I have read many of them. After all, nothing compares with actually spending time with the cards. But nonetheless, the design was SO attractive, the highlighting inside drew attention to the professionally explained (because they were LIVED by the author) cards' core meanings, the familiar pictures of the Universal Waite, Legacy of the Divine and Shadowscapes decks called me into the book. And boy was I glad they did! Assumptions and judgments, inevitably associated with cards' meanings are vanishing in this book. It is non-threatening and intellectual: such "scary" for the beginners cards like The Devil or The Tower are lifting up the veil of scariness and opening their deep, subconscious meanings: "A choice, action or situation contrary to your best interests" for the former and "An unexpected event that changes everything" for the latter. Along with the core meanings Barbara dives deep into the cards from the three decks she used for this book. I have to say, that both the Legacy of the Divine and the Shadowscapes decks have had Barbara Moore's influence onto their lives! I think you can learn more about it from other sources; I will concentrate on the review.
The Minor Arcana cards are presented in the same practical format. Initially, I did not like that the Court Cards are clustered together in their own section, all Pages, all Knights, all Queens and all Kings together rather than following the 1-10 cards of their correspondent suits. But it made sense: it is easier to compare and understand the court cards, usually called "the most difficult to interpret". Well, not with Barbara's book. It is simple and direct, like "The Knight of Wands is someone whose actions in this situation are fired by his will. He has something very specific he wants to achieve; he very much wants to have his way and will stop at nothing to get it. The knight is all hepped up and passionate about something, and he may needlessly run roughshod over anyone in his way. If his will is in sync with the querent's, he will be...." and so on.
The Finding More Meaning section of the book introduces the reader to the techniques that bring meaning and depth to the reading. Secrets of the Suits, Numbers, Elemental Dignities, Reversals, Significators smoothly run into Adding Something Extra: creating a Sacred Space, application of final questions and cards, practical how-to's on taking care of your decks, and finally, the section I found the most enchanting: Developing Your Skills. The series of exercises given there will be much useful for any Tarot Reader, even the one who's been working with cards for decades. Multiples and Combinations are presented in easy-to-understand format, taking, as usually with Barbara's book, all the difficulty out of them.
Spreads, sample readings, practical tips on working with a journal are adding to the attraction of this book in the eyes of any Beginner, desiring to be guided by a Professional who truly understands and values the Beginner Mindset.
I recommend this book for every new-born Tarot Enthusiast out there.
Victoria Evangelina Belyavskaya
What happens when an acknowledged Tarot Professional goes back and adapts the Beginner Mindset? A masterpiece such as this book is. Barbra Moore speaks simply yet informatively and very, may I say so, "engagingly" of complex matters of which the card meanings, though representing the core of this book in volume, are NOT the core of the book in meaning.
"Well, what is "the core" then?" -- you ask. In my opinion, it is the calm excitement of a true Professional who knows what it is like to be the one with the cards; who knows what it is like to lift the veil of the unknown both in predicting the future and trying to understand oneself and one's circumstances; it is the gratitude for one's long and not always easy way and desire to take a Beginner by hand and walk them straight through the bushes of being confused by choices and dry benches of lack of confidence onto the path that leads to the field of Mastery. And the Field of Mastery, as we know, has no end, but it is the Journey and Exploring that matters.
When a friend gifted me this book (THANK YOU!!!!!) I thought: "oh, well, another book for beginners" and trust me, I have read many of them. After all, nothing compares with actually spending time with the cards. But nonetheless, the design was SO attractive, the highlighting inside drew attention to the professionally explained (because they were LIVED by the author) cards' core meanings, the familiar pictures of the Universal Waite, Legacy of the Divine and Shadowscapes decks called me into the book. And boy was I glad they did! Assumptions and judgments, inevitably associated with cards' meanings are vanishing in this book. It is non-threatening and intellectual: such "scary" for the beginners cards like The Devil or The Tower are lifting up the veil of scariness and opening their deep, subconscious meanings: "A choice, action or situation contrary to your best interests" for the former and "An unexpected event that changes everything" for the latter. Along with the core meanings Barbara dives deep into the cards from the three decks she used for this book. I have to say, that both the Legacy of the Divine and the Shadowscapes decks have had Barbara Moore's influence onto their lives! I think you can learn more about it from other sources; I will concentrate on the review.
The Minor Arcana cards are presented in the same practical format. Initially, I did not like that the Court Cards are clustered together in their own section, all Pages, all Knights, all Queens and all Kings together rather than following the 1-10 cards of their correspondent suits. But it made sense: it is easier to compare and understand the court cards, usually called "the most difficult to interpret". Well, not with Barbara's book. It is simple and direct, like "The Knight of Wands is someone whose actions in this situation are fired by his will. He has something very specific he wants to achieve; he very much wants to have his way and will stop at nothing to get it. The knight is all hepped up and passionate about something, and he may needlessly run roughshod over anyone in his way. If his will is in sync with the querent's, he will be...." and so on.
The Finding More Meaning section of the book introduces the reader to the techniques that bring meaning and depth to the reading. Secrets of the Suits, Numbers, Elemental Dignities, Reversals, Significators smoothly run into Adding Something Extra: creating a Sacred Space, application of final questions and cards, practical how-to's on taking care of your decks, and finally, the section I found the most enchanting: Developing Your Skills. The series of exercises given there will be much useful for any Tarot Reader, even the one who's been working with cards for decades. Multiples and Combinations are presented in easy-to-understand format, taking, as usually with Barbara's book, all the difficulty out of them.
Spreads, sample readings, practical tips on working with a journal are adding to the attraction of this book in the eyes of any Beginner, desiring to be guided by a Professional who truly understands and values the Beginner Mindset.
I recommend this book for every new-born Tarot Enthusiast out there.
Victoria Evangelina Belyavskaya
July 10, 2020
Much more than I was expecting! Unlike many tarot books which are just card meanings, they made up maybe 50% of this book, with other info such as history, discussing ritual, reading spreads collectively, different types of readings, and sample readings (including coming at the same spread from 4 different angles). I also love that the card meanings also look at 3 different decks, and how that meaning is communicated (and sometimes altered) by the symbolism in the artwork.
June 15, 2021
well, this was worth reading but not my favorite. barbara moore's knowledge of the tarot is obviously valuable, and I will definitely take note of the "core meaning" she provides for each card. I don't read court cards the way she does though. my main issue with the book is that she compares cards from three decks for each card meaning - which is a great format, actually, helpful for seeing how different artists interpret the card and convey that interpretation. it's just that I don't have ciro marchetti's legacy of the divine or the shadowscapes deck, and those are the decks she uses besides RWS. besides the fact that I don't own or really like those decks, it is not easy to see the reproductions of the cards. RWS has light colored backgrounds plus is so familiar that those are pretty clear but the marchetti has a dark background and shadowscapes is notorious for having art far too detailed for its size.
August 12, 2018
One of the few books that focus more on how to interpret cards in context, instead of studying individual meanings. Very helpful book when you know the meaning of the cards but still struggle to interpret them . My all time favorite exercise is from this book. ( in chapter 5. experiment 4: context is everything).
May 5, 2011
A good, down-to-earth beginner's book on tarot. Barbara's voice is cheerful as she teaches, compares, and leads readers through learning the basics of tarot.
March 29, 2021
Barbara Moore provides an excellent starting point to develop ones understanding of Tarot, and what it can be used for. Well beyond a medium for fortunetelling, Tarot is best used to gain deeper understanding of a situation or how energy is moving in ones life. To this end, Moore emphasizes using your intuition in your interpretation of the cards, suggesting that the reader allows the cards to visually tell their story.
I appreciate Moore's use of three very different decks, all drawing from the classic Rider-Waite, they are The Universal Waite Deck, The Legacy Deck, and the Shadowscapes Deck. Doing so shows subtle nuances in meanings between decks, and the importance of finding a deck that can truly "speak" to you,
A great starting point for new users of Tarot, and those that want to deepen their work with this tool.
I appreciate Moore's use of three very different decks, all drawing from the classic Rider-Waite, they are The Universal Waite Deck, The Legacy Deck, and the Shadowscapes Deck. Doing so shows subtle nuances in meanings between decks, and the importance of finding a deck that can truly "speak" to you,
A great starting point for new users of Tarot, and those that want to deepen their work with this tool.
June 8, 2020
Her interpretation of the tarot makes them less scary. This book is a good introduction for beginners as it demystifies the tarot, establishes the right mindset for both readers and querents, and provides enough information about the card while opening the room for more personal connection and interpretations of the cards.
December 5, 2023
This has been a great addition to my tarot library.
I am currently illustrating my own tarot deck and I love that it has illustrations for each card from three tarot decks. It's so good to see other illustrations of each card and how it can be interpreted. I am constantly referring to this book in my tarot journey. I just wish it was printed in colour.
I am currently illustrating my own tarot deck and I love that it has illustrations for each card from three tarot decks. It's so good to see other illustrations of each card and how it can be interpreted. I am constantly referring to this book in my tarot journey. I just wish it was printed in colour.
January 9, 2024
Just getting back into Tarot and feel like this is a great starting point. Simple and easy, light on the meaning and talks more about the imagery on the cards to evoke your feelings/intuition.
Please only read this if you have at least one of the decks that she writes about in the book, otherwise it’s not really going to help. I have the Rider-Waite set.
Please only read this if you have at least one of the decks that she writes about in the book, otherwise it’s not really going to help. I have the Rider-Waite set.
September 4, 2018
This book was 100% helpful for me!! It explains everything in detail that you need to know about Tarot and has left me confident that I can start doing this on my own. I still have a lot of practice needed but you can definitely go back and use this book as a go to reference guide!
January 10, 2022
This book was the perfect way to jumó into tarot cards. I learned about each individual card and got to dip my toes in the water with different ways of reading, spreads and interpretations. Super glad this was my introduction to the tarot world!
June 7, 2024
Filled with good starter info, Nice explanation of the cards.
Only slightly down side : 3decks are mentioned, Nice comparison art wise, but extra information on the cards meaning, tips in interpretation is what I was missing.
Only slightly down side : 3decks are mentioned, Nice comparison art wise, but extra information on the cards meaning, tips in interpretation is what I was missing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2019
Such a good reference book! I would recommend this for both beginners and those familiar with tarot.
September 22, 2019
Barbara Moore does a great job introducing beginners to Tarot. She comes up with easy-to-follow explanations that really help learners to get into the cards. Straightforward and simple.
December 1, 2019
Great book for beginners!
March 4, 2020
Great book as a beginner... I just needed more detail than what was given on the paper that came with my cards. So excited to start reading!
April 18, 2020
Solid reference guide for a beginner like me. Style is simple and gets the point across.
January 6, 2022
Fantastic book to start your tarot journey. I would recommend this for any beginners.
November 6, 2022
Great for any beginner like myself. Leaned the foundations well through this!
August 22, 2023
Let me read your tarot- Julia, Irene, and Tati if u see this as my only Gr followers!!!!!!!
February 24, 2014
If you prefer not to go online to read the plethora of websites or would like a text to carry around when you don't have internet access, this book is probably worth purchasing. As someone who understands the cards more than on their basic level, this book can be a tad bit disappointing.
However, if you have never worked with the cards and want a universal book to use, pick this one up. You will find Barbara Moore's writing easy to understand and some of the popular decks are covered within the text.
However, if you have never worked with the cards and want a universal book to use, pick this one up. You will find Barbara Moore's writing easy to understand and some of the popular decks are covered within the text.
December 28, 2014
I am not a Tarot reader. The symbolism and how to interpret it, is what lures. This is an easy to understand book, and it is amazing what can be read into one image drawn out of the deck. I appreciated the use of three cards from different decks as we are walked through the pictorial landscape of The Hanged Man or Ace of Wands - it made it such a nice guide. Some great tips offered to novices and good examples at the end of how to read a spread. All in all, a nice ride through the Tarot that added depth, imagery and practicality.
July 22, 2013
Very practical, like in its title. It's not all about the theatrical magic that a lot of people think of tarot cards. I'm not saying that that kind of belief is bad, I'm just saying I have a different view. I think that tarot cards help a person to analyze a situation with the help of a stimulating guide, and also unveil some psychological factors that are buried or overlooked. This book helps you learn Tarot cards whether your view be like mine or very spiritual.
June 9, 2017
I liked this better than The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tarot and Fortune Telling. The author's voice was more inviting and sincere. I really liked the fact that she used three different decks (not just the Rider Waite, which is still a deck I like) to illustrate meanings. It also went in detail about the artwork on each card, showing how the message was communicated through imagery.
June 12, 2016
A good overview. Gave a little more insight than I've seen so far. And I found many new ideas to play with from her book. I would definitely recommend it other new tarot students. My only disappointment was the lengthy list of card explanations.
August 28, 2024
This really was interesting & helped me a lot. I bought a Tarot deck & am a beginner wanting to learn. This book offers a lot of other references to help. It also explains everything in enough detail & it’s not cumbersome.
May 20, 2016
A good, brief introduction.
October 24, 2016
Good reference. Insightful.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews