Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth

GREAT PACKAGING! Product has arrived in great condition. The Book is truly HOLISTIC. An in-depth dive into tarot, indeed!

OH MY GOD !! I simply LOVE THIS BOOK. I do own quiet a few books on Tarot but I've not found anything like this. This is truly amazing. This is quiet an achievement if I would say so myself. There are just so many reasons as to why I love this book and I would recommend it to any one who is interested Tarot. I like the contents of this book, its division and subdivision is neatly put. Chapter One - Tarot Analytics, a chapter where she tells What is Tarot? and describes her approach to tarot. Chapter 2 - A Concise History Lesson, now it is very difficult to sketch the history of Tarot and to do so more accurately is a challenge in itself. I had no idea that the earliest playing cards are said to have originated in China, Tang Dynasty, 618AD to 907AD. And where do I get the info, that's right Holistic Tarot and not only that, she beautifully describe it origins and how we have along so far with the Tarot right in the modern days. I should comment that her research on this is just flawless. Chapter 3 - Allaying Fears and Offering Theories, Oh my! this is one of my favorite chapters, as I don't think there are many tarot books that talk about this, of course not the ones I know. However, there are many people who are afraid of Tarot cards and especially with certain cards like Key 13 DEATH, Key 15 THE DEVIL, Key 16 THE TOWER and so on and really that is only because of fear resulting in ignorance. I would like to quote her here - "The tarot represents the spectrum of the human condition, the good, the evil, the light, and the dark. Do not fear the darker aspects of the human condition. Understand them. The tarot is a storybook about life, about the greatness of human accomplishment, and also the ugliness we are each capable of... So confront your fears. Start by studying the Major Arcana cards..." She discusses the various theories of how tarot works. Chapter 4 talks about Choosing Your Deck like Which deck to use? The book contains a lot of diagrams, illustrations, charts and it's neatly done. Chapter 6 a chapter dedicated to maintaining a tarot journal. Chapter 9 Cyclopedia of Card Meanings, great chapter on Tarot meanings, you have chunky paragraphs and pages on card meanings including reversals. Key words and reversal key words. Chapter 10 talks about Signifier or Significator cards. From Cutting, Shuffling lay out the cards to Tarot spreads and numerology t's all here. From Astrological association to elemental dignitaries all in this massive book.Tarot ethics to foot notes. This book is a must to own it and read it. 'Opening of the Key' to 'First Operation' all in this gigantic book. I could just go on and on. It's a great book.

Excellent book for beginners and advanced practitioner alike. Benebell Wen has shared her wisdom of the craft and designed the book in a very easy to read manner. She talks about everything possible tarot in the book; from astrological and elemental correspondence to shuffling and cutting, to allaying fears about tarot. There is a chapter exclusively on "interpreting the courts". There is a chapter which talks on using tarot to build resilience. She gives many spreads , starting from a one card draw to three to 7 cards, to a chakra spread, the Celtic cross, tree of life and many more. There is a very interesting chapter on the first operation and the signifier cards. She also gives case studies along with the speeds. The appendix in the book itself is worth the price. Overall it's a meaty book packed with information. Benebell also has study guide available in her website to be used to work with the book. The guide is free to download and print. Highly recommended.

Very good book.

Amazing hands on practical guidebook to gain a deeper understanding of tarot and to apply it to reading for self and clients! Very quick reference! Gives a detailed understanding of each card in depth!

I love This book , I was a bit hesitant of buying it at first but I love it no doubt on that . I like the book because it has all information about the spreads , Meanings , Astrology related to cards , Court cards , And with good examples . Examples will help you learn more easily . Though what I sometimes don't like about this book is that it seems very logical to me , I personally read intuitively as it is what works for me and Whenever I read the meanings of this book , I feel like I need to learn those meanings that are confusing me at times . I love the Spreads and Everything else though . It will definitely give you huge information as it's Thick af . Have fun reading .

This book explains everything in detail in a very holistic way. That's what I like about this book. This book doesn't support divination but analytical part of the Tarot. I loved it.

I think this book doesn’t need any review because every single person who bought this book is not disappointed. I bought this after reading lots of reviews and yaa I find same in this book . Worth buying

Aunque es un libro bastante grueso, es de muy fácil y rápida lectura y va al punto en cada sección. Benebell Wen es muy bien organizada en su forma de exponer su método de aprendizaje del Tarot. El Tarot en general puede parecer un tema oscuro y subjetivo, pero con este libro se aclaran y aterrizan muchos puntos que lo convierten en una herramienta verdaderamente útil para conocerse a uno mismo y a su entorno, para conectarse con el Universo y alcanzar a ver un poco más allá de lo cotidiano, sin comprometer las creencias personales. Este libro basa su análisis de simbología y significados en el Tarot Rider-Waite, pero creo que no es difícil aplicar varias de las propuestas y metodologías a otras tradiciones de Tarot como Marsella o Thoth. En su página personal, la autora publica actualizaciones al texto y en su canal de YouTube hace videos que acompañan y extienden las explicaciones de este libro, con su personalidad generosa, ligera, sencilla y muy organizada. Lo cual hace a este texto aún más útil y rico como material de estudio. Sin lugar a dudas es una excelente opción tanto para los que quieren empezar a leer el Tarot, como para quienes quieren adentrarse un poco más en sus estudios.

This book was exactly what I was looking for to break free from the customary interpretations of the cards. I don't use them for fun or leisure, and I don't read for others. I use them for myself. After decades of going around and around, I really started to get frustrated with the same old thinking. Wen's book changed all that for me. She doesn't TELL you what the card means, she offers several different interpretations, branching off from the symbols on the Rider Waite cards. If something does not resonate, she offers several possibilities. But the best thing is, because she doesn't TELL YOU what to think about a given card, you can start to really flesh out interpretations as you work with them, and your readings become more concise FOR YOU. Which is really what tarot is all about, really. The only complaint I have about this book is that I didn't see an option for hardcover, and it's a beefy book that I will have for the rest of my life. I use it daily, and a hardcover would have ensured a longer life. I would have happily paid the hardcover price! Thank you Wen. After decades of reading that the three of swords mean heartbreak and that the seven of swords means lying cheating stealing, I am FINALLY FREE!! So many fresh perspectives, and even perspectives within perspectives if the card offers several figures. I love this book. For me, this will be the book that allows me to eventually put all books down, because I will have honed my mind to think of the cards in an intuitive way. OH, sorry one thing about the content of the book that I don't appreciate is the placement interpretations of the Celtic cross. They seem super outdated and out of step with her very modern interpretations of the cards themselves, and would like to have seen an update in that as well. BUT, it forced me to return to a habit that I abandoned (getting caught in the Celtic cross look keeps you on a hamster wheel!) when I was young, and that was devising my own placement means/spreads, which is something all readers should do anyway. This way I am able to really utilize the book to its full potential. As it is now, this excellent new perspectives get really limited once you throw them in the old Celtic cross placement meanings, which feels really, really wrong and incongruous and super confusing. It actually made me angry to try to employ her new interpretations within that outmoded spread. So, I guess it was a good thing because I'm much happier with my personal placements. I would like to see a next incarnation of this book remove all spreads altogether. This would remove the box completely and allow total freedom in our interpretations. If you are new to reading, you may not feel like you can do that, or you may not know how to go about doing that. So omitting them is to encourage unfettered access to our agency. ***UPDATE: one final thing that I must contest about this book. So far the only perspective that I think is absolutely wrong (like, TOTALLY wrong) is the Hierophant. There are several interpretations of the cards, yes, but the interpretation of her Hierophant is ALL negative. I see the Hierophant as a traditionalist, but not necessarily to one's peril. Yes, tradition can be the downfall of those who perpetuate or follow religious dogma, but for students and knowledge seekers, the Hierophant represents education, the seeking of education. The crossed keys symbolize a balance of thoughts: that what is being taught, and how we receive it, or rather, how we filter it and thus integrate it within our own consciousness. The Hierophant is giving the sign of blessing. So, the seeker will find blessings in the fulfillment of self-edification. There is an emphasis on the importance of education and following the traditional path of education, as depicted in his height over his disciples. This could also indicate that an attainment of wisdom and now the ability to share his wisdom with others. This is all taking into consideration that the seeker doesn't get caught up in dogma. Pure education, and the wisdom to assess and process education and transform it into wisdom grants us the position to share this wealth with others. The two pillars represent a sort of 'upright' philosophy or upright morality. The crown is one of attainment not only of 'traditional education', but spiritual education. So far this is the only perspective in her book I avoid. It seems way out of left-field and incongruous with the book as a whole, and I think it needs to be revisited, or at least expanded upon to give contrast to the almost negative interpretation offered.

Every Tarot reader needs this book. Has all that you can possibly need in this excellently written book with depth, clarity and loads of information

I thought I had what I needed when I purchased the Lo Scarabeo books series (Tarot Fundamental, Tarot Experience and Tarot Compendium). I thought they could help me to start on this Tarot path. It is tough to go through these three books - without some kind of guidance and methods of starting. In this book Holistic Tarot, I get those. The author has a web site that gives you a study guide, flash cards, and practical reading experiences and etc: Benebellwen.com I am starting this program, so I am not sure how good the content is, but I sense that the author has a good grasp and with all the excellent detail materials, I am sure I am on the right route - to get to know about Tarot and how that guides my own Tarot journey - to see what is ahead of me. Underneath multiple layers of bright light chandelier and by the fire place - with a cup of lemon and ginger tea, I begin! :D

I came across Tarot by accident, had a gut feeling that there might be something more to this, and quickly thought 'Why is everyone using this method as a "voodoo" fortune-telling trick when there is this actually a psychological application where the cards enable one to see unconscious childhood behavioral patterns? Luckily I came across this author who takes the same common sense, realism-based approach to Tarot without theater acts or magical/religious cult thinking. It's about learning to consciously see what we do every day and what the short-, middle- and long-term life consequences will be, simply based on logical action and reaction. This is where it really becomes apparent, what the damage and loss of not having psychology in school, really is. Additionally, the book contains everything one needs to know to get started without overburdening a learner with complex mathematical or psychological concepts (and omitting all overcomplicated concepts that only sound rational but are there for people to believe in them without questioning them). It's all straightforward and easy to follow with common sense, logic, and rational thinking. It just makes sense. Also the book is incredibly complete. Everything is mentioned that one would need to know. I've been practicing reading for myself for a couple of weeks now, always referring back to the book to understand the psychological concept behind it. I agree with many, that it simply works, and while we wait for science to get over its own ego and start serious investigation and research, we might as well use this method to navigate our own psychological layers in the meantime. BTW, 'it works' means, that when something happens in life, the cards enable one to start to understand one's contribution to the web of dependencies of action and the resulting action of oneself and others. It's like solving a mathematical calculation where before you only had fragments that made no sense, and now you can actually put formulas together that are always the same, work in correlation, and allow to calculate a predictable outcome in your own life. It's fascinating and raises the daily question of how great the middle age style fear and superstition mindset of 'modern day' people really is, to miss out on such a tool to understand one's own mind, while pretending that certain predictable elements of reality simply don't exist. If one ever wondered how superstitious people without school education acted in the middle ages when they came across a broken bone or infection, this is pretty much it. Only now related to the mind. How people react to a "broken bone or infection" issue in the mind nowadays is as brutal and naive as back then. Thankfully we are not killing people anymore for applying common sense to the world and using tools like the Tarot to solve common sense life problems. Or writing excellent, analytical books like this without having to fear to be burned alive. At least something has improved.