Tarot Books: A Collection Of My Favorites

Posted byCarmilla DawnPosted inUncategorizedTags:,
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I first became interested in the Tarot over twenty five years ago. I picked up a copy of the RWS at a tiny metaphysical shop located on the outskirts of my college campus.

I remember lingering over a small collection of tarot decks. I scooped up the cheapest pack feeling rebellious and a bit nervous. Up until that moment, I’d only seen cards being used by fortune tellers in movies and television shows.

The death, tower, and devil cards were always dramatically thrown onto the table. Foreboding music ended the scene while the querent’s eyes bulged with terror as an audible gasp slipped between their lips.

Fade to black… Cue the flashback.

As I stepped into the shop, an intoxicating incense smacked my senses into attention. The smoke cloud perfumed the air. It mingled with the distinct odor of old brick building and threadbare rugs. If magic held a scent, this had to be it. I immediately became convinced. I still am.

I remember shyly asking the woman behind the counter what the lovely smell was . She replied, “Egyptian musk,” without glancing up from her magazine.

Thanking her, I wandered over to a wall lined with mismatched bookcases punctuated by display racks. They overflowed with glass bottles, jewelry, cloth pouches, herbs, powders, and hand carved boxes. I squinted to get a closer look at the mysterious objects.

Each bauble was identified by a handwritten price tag attached with twine or tape. Some, I read, were altar tools and ritual oils. Others- candles for casting spells of healing, money drawing, and attracting love.

Crystals advertised for chakra work and protection filled a wooden bowl; larger pieces were arranged neatly. I admired their beauty before quickly moving along. The price tags made me nervous. I did not want to test the “you break it, you buy it” sign tacked to the wall.

Picking through a pile of decorated paper boxes, I found my magic incense. I hummed along to a classic rock song playing from a hidden stereo. I found the music to be the perfect volume. It filled the silence of the room without being migraine inducing. I don’t recall the exact songs of that day, but I do remember feeling stoked I could afford the incense and a tarot deck.

Next, I moved to a section containing used books. You could tell they’d passed through many hands before landing on those shelves. The subject matter ranged from astrology, herbs, and crafts to mythology, Tarot, Paganism, Wicca and Witchcraft.

I thumbed through the titles before my eye spied a table filled with Greek and Egyptian statuary. I wandered away without purchasing any books.

If I had grabbed one, perhaps I wouldn’t have given up on learning Tarot. With just the little white book included with the deck, I grew frustrated and defeated.

I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the antiquated language of the booklet. It offered a meager explanation of the system with vague keywords that didn’t match the scenes portrayed on the cards. More important, I’d not yet learned to trust my intuition. After some time, the deck of cards became forgotten then lost between moves and life changes.

Fast forward to 2020. My curiosity reignited when researching divination for a short story premise. This time I set out to learn the history of Tarot and other predictive systems. My goal became to understand the how and why of it all.

I turned to the internet to find books on the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot. Soon, I pivoted to learning the Thoth. I delved into topics like romance and career readings, dream interpretation, spirit communication, and shadow work. I’m always adding new titles to my to be read list.

Many books I have read cover to cover. Others, I only use if I have questions about a specific situation or cards drawn in a reading.

My favorite is a beast of a book by Benebell Wen. Please don’t let the lengthiness scare you off. It’s one I dip in and out of frequently. I refer to my copy of Holistic Tarot as my “Tarot Bible”. If I could only have one book, it’s the one I would choose.

Holistic Tarot is a wonderful resource for all skill levels. Benebell generously designed free study guides to supplement it. You can find them on her website here. Holistic Tarot is invaluable.

If you are curious about the Tarot, I recommend starting with the books listed as beginner friendly along with Holistic Tarot.

I have included links for purchase when available. I do not receive a commission if you use them. My opinions, as always, are my own.

Beginner Friendly

History|Reference

The Thoth

Tarot And Astrology

Tarot And Healing

Tarot And Reading For Others

Tarot And Romance

Tarot Spreads

Tarot Workbooks

Tarot And Writing

Tarot Guide Books Included With Decks

Note: A little white book (LWB) is a booklet usually included with tarot decks. It may contain a brief introduction to tarot, how to shuffle, store, and cleanse your deck, and keywords for each card.

Published by Carmilla Dawn

Hi! I write poetry and short stories under the pen name Carmilla Dawn. I’m a bookworm and a music and tarot enthusiast. When not writing, I can be found goofing around with my husband, fluffing up my PomChi doggie's ears, playing solo role playing games and binging videos on YouTube.

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