Growing and developing your tarot skills often means reading everything you can get your hands on. this, however, can be a bit overwhelming. especially when you are new to the world of tarot, as there are so many tarot books to choose from.
Where to start with so many options available? how do you know what to choose and what resonated with you?
You are reading: Best tarot books for beginners
As a tarot reader, I have searched for many tarot books to deepen my relationship with cards and the tarot system. So before you spend hours searching for your first or next tarot book, check out this list of tarot book reviews, containing seventeen of my favorite tarot books and guides.
hopefully in a few weeks your bookshelf will fill your little library with many more tarot books and you can recommend me some of your readings in the comments. but for now, without further ado, the definitive list of tarot books for 2022.
review of the best current tarot books
Because getting started with tarot can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, I’ve selected some of my favorite tarot books for beginners and also included some of the best advanced tarot books for the more experienced readers among us.
>
Please feel free to send me your own tarot book suggestions because I really love diving into new ways of looking at tarot spreads, cards, readings and guides.
*some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. this fee is at no additional cost to you. for more information, click here.*
tarot card books for beginners
When you’re just starting to read tarot cards and books, we suggest you take a look at the list below before moving on to our more advanced tarot reading books.
I started with the description of more introductory tarot books and then touched on some specific card reading books for beginners, continued with tarot spreads books, ending with a book that teaches a more spiritual introduction to the readings and tarot learnings.
>
the ultimate guide to tarot – liz dean
VIEW PRICE
The Ultimate Guide to Tarot is definitely one of the best tarot books to start out with. I like to use this book as a guide as its easy-to-use, yet comprehensive enough.
provides easy-to-follow steps on how to begin reading and options for different card spreads, often followed by a detailed description of each major and minor arcana card.
I personally return to the ultimate guide to tarot card meanings over and over again when looking for a refresher. it is complete and accurate enough, but easy to use.
so I think this is one of the best beginner tarot books on the market. You won’t regret buying this book when you’re just looking to get started with tarot and want a solid introduction.
the easiest way to learn tarot, ever – dusty white
VIEW PRICE
Do you want to have fun learning to hear what your cards are saying to you from day one? Then The Easiest Way to Learn the Tarot-Ever!! is the perfect book for you! Don’t be fooled by the lightened irreverent tone of the author.
The information in this book is solid and the practical exercises are top notch. With his unique and characteristic confessional style, White will teach you the meaning of each of the 78 cards.
will not let you memorize generic keywords. instead, it included hands-on practical exercises for learning and working with the tarot. will deepen your relationship with the cards.
In addition, it helps you develop skills to create a system of meanings that suit your unique instincts and intuition. the two exclamation points in the title are surely well earned.
your intuitive and printable tarot journal
My personal tarot practice got the biggest boost when I wasn’t being too hard on myself and just having fun with the cards. And that’s what inspired me to create my own printable tarot workbook and journal! I have divided this printable tarot journal into the following five sections to help you easily on your tarot journey:
- your tarot deck and you
- basic tarot spreads
- cycles
- love tarot
- tarot reading for yourself
Each section of this workbook contains fun and easy pages with plenty of space where you can draw, paste or write the cards you have drawn.
Besides the spreads, you’ll find some fun exercises that can help you connect with your deck… things like speed dating your cards, layouts to create your own cheat sheets (this really helped me learn meanings), and some tips and tricks for tarot novices.
Hopefully, I piqued your interest! If it did, I’d be eternally grateful if you’d buy this tarot journal from my little etsy shop right here.
I can guarantee that this will not only increase your confidence levels and skills, but more importantly, it will make it a lot more fun.
tarot cards: a beginners guide to tarot cards – julia steyson
VIEW PRICE
Whereas the first mentioned books of this ultimate list provide a solid introduction in everything tarot, the focus in this book is more on the specific cards to enable one to be more aware and to see possibilities when normally it would be difficult.
The book explains the purpose of tarot cards and the meaning behind each specific card. each card that is explained has a picture of that card with a clear explanation of what is seen, so you can recognize them when you see them, regardless of your deck of cards.
The book also explains in detail how to do a tarot reading and which spreads to use.
Especially for people with a background in Eastern religions such as Dao and Buddhism, this book is very fascinating. As you read this beginner’s book, it becomes obvious that the author has a true passion for tarot and even discusses the sacred nature of simply choosing the right tarot deck for you. definitely a must have item on your tarot shelf.
easy tarot: learn to read the cards – josephine ellershaw
VIEW PRICE
Created especially for beginning tarot readers, this Easy Tarot kit is the easiest way to learn to read Tarot cards. In the Easy Tarot Handbook, the author Josephine shares mind-tricks, shortcuts, and valuable time-saving techniques to improve your card reading and general knowledge.
See Also: Favorite Dr. Seuss Tongue Twisters | EverythingMom
This book makes it very easy and simplified so that anyone can learn with this method. this tarot book explains it all and as long as you follow the instructions in the book exactly, you can learn the exact tarot reading process in a couple of days.
365 tarot spreads: revealing the magic of each day – sasha graham
VIEW PRICE
Once you have mastered the basics of tarot reading, you’ll want to explore new spreads. As described in the Ultimate Tarot Beginners Guide the most given advice to beginners is to learn the tarot by pulling a daily card.
This book applies this advice to learning new spreads as well by providing a tarot spread for each day of the year.
Each page of the book is connected to a historical or magical event that happened that day and is accompanied by detailed information and sample questions to focus on.
with 365 tarot spreads: revealing the magic in each day you will have a great journey to reach enlightenment every day of the year.
power tarot: more than 100 spreads – trish macgregor
VIEW PRICE
Another great book to learn tarot spreads is Power Tarot: More Than 100 Spreads That Give Specific Answers to Your Most Important Question. This book contains a good beginner’s guide to the tarot but also contains nearly 100 pages of tarot spreads.
These spreads are organized by the number of cards they require. You can start with the single “yes/no” spread, but you can also test your tarot skills with the full twenty-four double horoscope spread.
power tarot, although it doesn’t go as deep into the history of the cards as I would have liked (which is great for beginners), it does give a very clear and concise summary of the use and origin of the tool.
There’s also a nice long explanation, not only of each card, but also how the cards can interact with each other. In addition, the authors also included empowering meanings for each card. this is very useful when you want to explain the use of cards in spells and incantations.
seventy-eight degrees of wisdom: a tarot book – rachel pollack
VIEW PRICE
No tarot book list is complete without the classic Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom Often cited as one of the landmark books in modern tarot, it will help you develop a relationship with your cards and your own spiritual side.
This book draws from history, mythology, and philosophy, delving into the symbolism and meaning of each card.
In addition, it presents common and practical differentials. as such, it is a clear and readable book. deep and rich in information for both the beginning and advanced tarot student.
The author of this book, Rachel Pollock, is considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on modern tarot interpretation. Ella Rachel is not only a member of the American Tarot Association, the International Tarot Society and the Tarot Guild of Australia, but she has also taught at the famous Omega Institute for the past 15 years.
tarot card books for advanced readers
After finishing the beginner tarot books section, we can now move on to the more advanced section to build more confidence in your readings, apply astrology, and gain more perspective on the history and spiritual meanings of your spreads.
tarot beyond the basics: get a deeper understanding of the meanings behind the cards – anthony louis
VIEW PRICE
This is one of the first books I would recommend once you finished reading our beginner’s book list on tarot. It is truly a level-up in reading tarot that teaches you how to become an advanced practitioner.
This book emphasizes the influences of astrology and shares practical instructions for working with reversals, number symbolism, intuition, the four elements, and the philosophical roots of tarot.
a perfect follow-up to take your readings to the next level and deepen your advanced tarot knowledge.
There is a nice balance in this book of historicity, research, and personal opinion that is engaging and readable, and I know that I will eventually re-read the chapters on astrological influence when I need a refresher.
advanced tarot secrets – dusty white
VIEW PRICE
This book reveals the advanced spread techniques and trade secrets used by the top psychics, tarot readers, and mediums in this world on a daily basis.
this is an advanced tarot manual for professionals who charge between $100 and $1000 per hour.
I really improved my accuracy and strengthened my intuition and readings by practicing the exercises and playing the games detailed in this book.
When you want to take your readings to the next level and be different from everyone else, this is the book that is the training you need to become a truly proficient tarot reader.
Warning: You need a solid foundation and confidence with your tarot deck before working on the secrets in this book. Otherwise things just won’t fit together and this advanced tarot book will be a waste of time, energy and money.
21 ways to read a tarot card – mary greer
VIEW PRICE
This is also a great book to consider after you finished some of the beginner tarot books. Just as the twenty-six letters of the alphabet can be combined to form billions of words, Greer’s twenty-one methods can be used in any combination for gaining amazing new tarot insights.
The techniques outlined in 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card will help you develop the confidence to read on your own without the help of a manual or guide.
You learn to read instantly, without being tied to a book to consult the meaning of each letter. this will result in a more present reading where you will be more open to the messages flowing through the cards.
By mastering the 21 different methods, you will progress from being a beginner tarot reader to an intermediate level.
holistic tarot: an integrative approach to using tarot for personal growth – benebell wen
VIEW PRICE
See Also: 15 Travel Books That Will Change The Way You See The World
This book leaves out nothing. It covers beginners topics like picking out your deck and card meanings, as well as intermediate and advanced subjects, like how to use the tarot for improving relationships, professional development, and personal resilience.
Advanced readers will also enjoy the detailed theoretical discussions of tarot. The book will teach you to tune into your inner self by reflecting on the images, meanings, and associations of the cards. As Holistic Tarot: An integrative approach to using tarot for personal growth is very inclusive. you’ll come back to it again and again!
tarot and astrology: enhance your readings with the wisdom of the zodiac – corrine kenner
VIEW PRICE
The science of astrology is a very important system to incorporate with your tarot readings, as it links intrinsically with tarot for six centuries.
In this easy-to-use book, Kenner makes it easy to explore and learn about this fascinating intersection, even if you don’t have any knowledge of astrology.
She will help you start your journey by discussing the basics of tarot and astrology, the archetypal symbols and images of the cards, the twelve signs of the zodiac, and the planets.
tarot and astrology: enhancing your readings with the wisdom of the zodiac will teach you to combine tarot and astrology for yourself and expand your tarot practice while enriching your life.
tarosophy – marcus katz
VIEW PRICE
Certainly, not the least book on my list is Tarosophy written by Marcus Katz. The book features a collection of all the knowledge and wisdom Katz has gained upon 30 years of studying, reading, researching, and teaching tarot. He successfully combined academic rigor with practical experiences.
With 50 unique exercises and detailed reading lists, it will give you lots of tips and ideas to help you explore the wisdom of the cards in a playful way. It really is a revelation for tarot readers who want to delve deeper.
I really enjoyed reading this book and recommended it to all my friends who are interested in tarot, so I definitely invite you to read it too!
the essential lenormand: your guide to pinpoint & practice divination – frog george
VIEW PRICE
Not so much an advanced tarot reading book, but more so a book on general fortunetelling. I choose to include this book on the list to broaden your scope on card-readings to further improve your skills and abilities.
For over 150 years, the Lenormand deck has been a popular divination tool around the world and a must-read if you want to become a top reader.
From simple questions to critical dilemmas, lenormand provides insight into the future when you need it most.
The Essential Lenormand includes old-school reading methods, modern techniques, tips and tricks for working with multiple spreads, and ways to use the Lenormand in your next tarot reading.
bonus: the best tarot coloring books
Whenever I need a little break from the “heavy” teachings of some of the previous books, I like to switch to conscious coloring. Below are my three favorite tarot coloring books to inspire and spark more creativity as I work to master the beautiful world of tarot.
the tarot coloring book – theresa reed
VIEW PRICE
This coloring book is just AWESOME. Even as a beginning tarot reading you can literally color your way through every card in the deck―and go from “Tarot rookie” to “Tarot master” in no time. Talking about a fun way to learn how to tarot, right?
Created especially for new practitioners and people who have been intimidated by tarot, this guide was created to help you get started right away with a tarot practice that will only grow and deepen.
beautifully spiral-bound, it has large reproductions of the rider-waite-smith tarot deck, major and minor arcana, with suggested colors and ideas to spark creativity out of suggestions.
tarot card adult coloring book – g.c. carter
VIEW PRICE
Whether you are new to the tarot or an experienced reader, The Tarot Card Adult Coloring Book will help you discover and explore the cards in a new and playful way.
however, there is no information about the cards, so if you want to learn tarot while coloring, I suggest you choose the first tarot coloring book.
This book is great if you’re looking to practice your coloring skills on all the cards and put your own personal touch on a deck that will truly be your own.
shadow coloring book: tarot diary – amy cesari
VIEW PRICE
What’s different about this tarot coloring book is that it is not focused on coloring the tarot cards but all the beauty and magic around tarot. This coloring book takes you on a magical ride of exploring richly illustrated note pages, different tarot spreads, magic spells, and so much more as you follow your intuitive path in this enchanting tarot coloring journal.
Truly one of my favorites when I need a little break from life and want to go down the rabbit hole like Alice in Wonderland.
choose your tarot book and card decks
I am really happy to be able to share these books which I also recommend to my students who are starting their journey through tarot.
And now, more than ever, people look within themselves for answers. Through our readings, cards and books we will find more meaning and through the community we are building online and offline we will find better ways to apply that meaning and create more joy in those around us.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, this list is not complete. I check my list (too) often because while there are some classic tarot books that are there to stay forever, there are also new books released with modern versions and amazing tarot designs from new readers and our community.
Hopefully, you can leave your thoughts in the comments below and tell me which tarot book you like best. once read and approved i will be sure to add it to this ultimate list of tarot books with congratulations to you!
Will you tell our community what your favorite tarot book is?
See Also: An Introduction to Philosophy – The Best 5 Books to Read | Philosophy Break