19 Best Tarot Books

Rachel Pollack explores tarot through the symbolism of each card, mythology, and psychological interpretations of its archetypes. The guide combines a brief history with common spreads, presenting tarot as a tool for reflection and self-awareness.

Mary K. Greer presents twenty-one techniques for exploring individual tarot cards beyond familiar meanings. Storytelling, drawing, dialogue, metaphor, and other imaginative exercises combine traditional interpretation with personal responses, encouraging readers to develop flexible approaches to their practice.

Mary K. Greer and Tom Little explore tarot's kings, queens, knights, and pages as characters and aspects of personality. Comparisons across decks, exercises, and spreads connect the court cards with archetypes, relationships, and personal patterns of behavior.

Corrine Kenner explores connections between tarot imagery and astrology, explaining how cards correspond to planets, zodiac signs, houses, and elements. Sample readings and spreads demonstrate her approach to combining the two symbolic systems in tarot practice.

Mary K. Greer presents tarot exercises for self-exploration, combining spreads with writing, dialogue, meditation and visualization. This anniversary edition develops a personal relationship with the cards through structured activities rather than relying only on memorized interpretations.

Mary K. Greer examines twelve approaches to interpreting reversed tarot cards. Upright and reversed readings for all seventy-eight cards illustrate possibilities beyond simply assigning negative meanings, helping readers compare methods and expand their own interpretive practice.

Dusty White introduces tarot through hands-on exercises and games intended to develop personal interpretations of the cards. His interactive workbook explores spreads, traditional meanings, and the ways a question and surrounding cards influence a reading.

Dusty White builds on his introductory tarot workbook with exercises and games for interpreting more complex spreads. He emphasizes preparing questions, recognizing patterns, and exploring how cards interact, with additional material on using tarot for brainstorming and storytelling.

Benebell Wen presents tarot as a framework for personal reflection, creativity, and decision-making. She covers its history, the Rider-Waite-Smith system, interpreting cards and spreads, and establishing a practice, with case studies and guidance on professional ethics.

Joan Bunning introduces tarot through nineteen lessons that progress from basic concepts to more developed reading techniques. A reference section uses Waite-Smith card images, descriptions, keywords and suggested connections, linking practice with systematic study of the deck.

Michelle Tea offers a contemporary guide to tarot shaped by personal experience, humor, and a queer perspective. Interpretations of the seventy-eight cards accompany rituals and reflections, presenting the cards as tools for self-exploration and personal growth.

Anthony Louis introduces the meanings of all 78 tarot cards, including upright and reversed interpretations. Illustrated with the Robin Wood Tarot, the guide combines historical background, spreads, and sample readings to show how surrounding cards affect interpretation.

Sasha Graham provides a tarot spread for each day of the year, drawing inspiration from historical events, holidays, and magical traditions. Explanations and sample questions cover themes such as relationships, work, family, personal growth, and spirituality.

Eileen Connolly introduces tarot through lessons, exercises, and an exploration of esoteric symbolism. Her handbook covers the Major and Minor Arcana, preparation for readings, and basic spreads, connecting the cards with astrology, numerology, and cabalistic traditions.

Anthony Louis develops tarot interpretation through astrology, numerology, the four elements, and the cards' philosophical traditions. Detailed sample readings illustrate how reversals, intuition, and a reader's own experiences can shape the meaning of a spread.

Deborah Lipp teaches readers to interpret tarot cards as an interconnected narrative rather than isolated symbols. Lessons and exercises explore card pairs, patterns, layouts, storytelling, meditation, and communication with the person receiving a reading.

Previously published as Tarot: The Open Reading, Yoav Ben-Dov's guide explores Marseille card imagery, history, spreads and interpretation. Full-color illustrations and explanations of visual motifs support an approach to reading cards together rather than relying solely on isolated meanings.

Robert M. Place examines tarot's development in Europe and the symbolic traditions associated with its imagery. The book connects historical discussion with interpretation, exploring philosophical and esoteric influences before presenting the author's approach to reading a three-card spread.

Brigit Esselmont provides upright and reversed interpretations for every tarot card, applying them to relationships, careers, finances, and well-being. Journaling prompts and keyword charts supplement the reference material and encourage readers to develop their own understanding.