Llewellyn's Complete Book of Tarot: A Comprehensive Guide by Anthony LouisMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
You know when Llewellyn publishes a "Complete Book of" it's bound to be good, and Lewellyn's Complete Book of Tarot does not disappoint. This comprehensive title is filled with endless amounts of fascinating and useful information that it will be your go-to reference for tarot.
In the beginning, Louis provides his disclaimer. When asked to write this book, he was not only honored, but also noted that he would have to approach it from a non-bias platform. This automatically intrigued me, as I tend to tread lightly with my spiritual reading for this very reason. Anyone can make a subject be what they want it to, based on their own opinions, uses, experiences, or version of history. Louis' respect for the reader playing the role of his student makes him a more credible teacher.
The next set of business is the history of the tarot card and many misconceptions that come with it. Honestly, this was probably one of my most favorite parts. I'm still fairly new to the practice, and I learned so much about where tarot came from (originating from the Italian Renaissance as playing cards). There is so much depth to this section that I didn't want to stop reading for fear of missing information. I was very impressed with Louis' knowledge and the execution was very easy to understand. This is also where he covered several myths and replaced them with facts...all very interesting to read!
The rest of the book covers the application of tarot. In my opinion, it was well organized and Louis did a very good job of encouraging his student to follow their intuition. He ties in astrological significance, so be prepared for a lot of planetary and zodiac references. I had to take all of this a little bit at a time, because once you get into all the lists and charts it can get a little overwhelming. But the information is rich! This is most definitely my new go-to book for tarot. Louis is a mindful teacher, and that is obvious in his writing. Llewelyn's Complete Book of Tarot is a great choice for the beginner and advanced readers alike.
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