Four Books On Tarot Reading That Are Worth The Money
Introduction
Many tarot reading books are published, but not all are of a high quality. The rise of AI-assisted writing has further complicated matters, sometimes leading to plagiarism or a lack of factual oversight. This situation can lead one to believe there are no tarot books worth buying.
However, several master diviners have authored genuinely useful works. This article offers a curated list of four such books. Each has its own perspective and potential issues, as no author or text is perfect. But I do believe that each of these books are worth the money.
Four Tarot Divination Book Recommendations
Book 1: Tarot Skills for the 21st Century by Josephine McCarthy
Josephine McCarthy, founder of the Quareia magical school, is an established master of the Western Esoteric tradition. She has been divining with tarot since she was a teenager and is, in my opinion, one of the most proficient divinatory masters active today.
Her book, Tarot Skills for the 21st Century (2020), is written primarily for students of her school. A general reader can set aside the specific card meanings or deck handling procedures that pertain to Quareia students and still find a great deal of value.
Several points in this book are particularly noteworthy:
The Spreads: A few of McCarthy’s layouts are excellent. I have incorporated modified versions into my own practice. Her directional layout, for example, is a valuable tool for finding lost objects, among other uses.
The Ethics Section: McCarthy provides sound ethical guidelines in her characteristic no-nonsense style. She includes the sensible advice not to invent interpretations when uncertain. This stands in contrast to other teachers who may encourage readers to babble about the imagery to fill a silence. While this may be harmless for an entertainment reading, for a divinatory reader, it is a form of charlatanry. A diviner should know what to say; if they do not, then there is no reading to give.
Creative Interpretation: To illustrate that the 78 cards can represent anything, McCarthy uses the example of "baby booties." She masterfully shows how this simple term can have a multitude of meanings depending on the context. This demonstrates a creative and flexible approach to the cards that avoids the dogmatism of some other authors.
Fate vs. Free Will: McCarthy has a sophisticated understanding of how fate and definite predictions can co-exist with free will. This challenges the common dogma that one should not predict the future with tarot because it is "disempowering." The argument against prediction often ignores the practical value of foresight, much like telling a weather forecaster to stop issuing evacuation warnings.
Spiritual Context: McCarthy’s approach emphasises understanding not just the outcome of a situation, but also the "why" and the spiritual lesson to be gained. Her spreads for "yes/no" questions, for example, use more than five cards to provide a nuanced, insightful answer. This is a more valuable method than simply pulling a single card for a literal "yes" or "no."
Book 2: Advanced Tarot by Paul Fenton-Smith
Like McCarthy, Paul Fenton-Smith is a psychic who claims to read for corporate clients. While his style can be performative, his book, Advanced Tarot, is valuable for its frequent use of example readings.
For aspiring professional readers, the book provides a useful look into the experience of working with the public. Fenton-Smith demonstrates how to handle a wide range of personal issues with a balance of empathy and professional detachment. This is valuable information for anyone new to public practice.
Book 3: Advanced Tarot Secrets by Dusty White
Dusty White is a tarot teacher knowledgeable in the Western Esoteric tradition. His book, Advanced Tarot Secrets, should be approached with a critical eye, as it sometimes contains marketing hyperbole and ideas that may not be suitable for all practitioners, particularly those on the Right-Hand Path. For instance, he gives instructions for manifesting with tarot for selfish purposes.
The book also frames some common concepts as his own unique, "advanced" inventions. The idea of "spreads within spreads," for example, is simply a neologism for the standard practice of reading spread positions together rather than in isolation. This tarot reading technique is neither ‘secret’ nor ‘advanced’; it is a very common technique for complete beginners!
Despite these serious issues, the book contains valuable insights, particularly regarding:
Preparation: White’s emphasis on preparation, such as his "pre-spread mental walkthrough," is a mark of an advanced reader and a valuable concept for students.
Professionalism: He insists upon non-judgement when reading for clients. His example of reading for someone who is cheating on their partner correctly illustrates that a diviner's role is to interpret the cards, not to impose their own moral code on the situation.
Curiosity: White’s genuine curiosity for the art of tarot is evident. It is this quality, more than his years of experience, that makes him a masterful reader. Experience alone does not guarantee expertise; only the constantly curious practitioner truly masters their craft.
Book 4: Tarot Card Interactions by Deborah Lipp
This recent book offers a good overview of how to use symbols and esoteric correspondences to add depth to a reading. However, it should be read with a degree of caution.
While the book has some strengths, such as a mathematical breakdown of card arrangements and clear explanations of complex topics, it also contains what I consider to be factual errors and faulty logic. For example, Lipp incorrectly claims that the Rider-Waite-Smith deck was the first to use illustrated pips.
Furthermore, some of her arguments appear speculative or contradictory. A significant example is her assertion that readers who charge for their services become better readers. This is only true if money is the primary motivation for taking one's craft seriously. Anyone interested in mastery for its own sake knows that true proficiency can be reached without any financial gain. Lipp's framing of this point is particularly vexing, as she condescendingly suggests that those who do not charge should be "an amateur forever if you like."
Conclusion
If you can only afford one book from this list, I recommend Josephine McCarthy’s Tarot Skills for the 21st Century.
