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

I bought this in the paperback form, as I find reference books difficult to use on a Kindle. When it arrived, I groaned a bit, because it is huge. Huge as in 2 inches thick and 873 pages! However, if you're at all interested in working with the tarot, don't hesitate to order this book.I've been reading selected chapters, and I must confess I think this is probably the best overall 'how to' book on tarot that I've ever read--and I personally own about 20 of them. The author's tone is matter-of-fact, and focused on getting a person up to speed on reading, rather than the more ethereal view of tarot. Her attitude seems to be that this is less a predictive tool, and more a tool for people to understand a situation, cope with problems or re-envision their future. While the ability to see things that might happen is part of the tarot-reading process, Ms Wen is more concerned about making connections between cards and their positions in the spreads and relationships to one another. She uses these connections to think about issues, and help the 'seekers' get to grips with their lives.She uses the Rider-Waite deck, and her examples are often illustrated, and very easy to work with. I am totally impressed, actually. Every single question that arose in my mind as I was reading was immediately answered, and almost always illustrated as well.I have been especially impressed with the way she deals with the court cards, which, as any semi-experienced reader knows, can be difficult to work with. Do they represent people? Astrological signs? Ages? Sexes? Personality types? Situations? Her answer is 'all of these.' However which version you choose depends on the question being asked and the relationships of the other cards. This is the first book I've read that deals with odd groupings of court cards as well. There is something to consider if you get more than one of the same suit, or more than one of the particular levels, such as three Pages, or four Knights.I also read, with interest, her sections on card-reading ethics, which goes into much more detail about who should be sent elsewhere, for medical, legal or psychological counselling instead of a tarot reading. This is hard-hitting, level-headed stuff.I don't normally review a book until I've finished it, but this one is unique. Everything I've skimmed or read in detail has been totally impressive. I do believe one of the blurbs on the back cover, which says, basically, this is the only tarot book you will ever need. I agree.This is really good, helpful and enlightening stuff, and I look forward to absorbing it all, in time!UPDATE: 9 years later, I am still of the same opinion. This book is nothing short of fantastic. I refer to it frequently. Highly recommended.

Just received it in the post. It’s a thick, heavy book (which I wasn’t aware of) but I’m not fussed about. seems to be condensed with important info.As a tarot reader myself, this will help me to expand my approach in reading the cards alongside fortifying my intuition by using this guidebook.Will update this review later on, but so far so good.EDIT/ UPDATE: WOW! There’s a lot of valuable information within this book, from spreads to diff cultural perspectives to other insights on how to read and interpret the cards which I hadn’t considered in the past, this is THE book you MUST buy if you want to get into tarot 🙌🏼

This is the ultimate book on Tarot, just holding it you have a timeless sense that the information held within is far superior than that of any Tarot book ever written in the history of time. A highly intellectual book that teaches and supports you on a journey of learning tarot, as well as a wealth of facts and reference, it is THE book for all levels. Benebell’s knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm shines so brightly, I treasure this book.

This book is BIG it’s no coffee table read! I’ve just started it and I’m engrossed already, the writing style is beautiful, it’s complex but understandable. It is possible if you read this book front to back you may never have to read another tarot book again!

I want to thank Benebell, not just for this amazing book but for all the work she has done to help all of us expand our knowledge of the Tarot. Benebell's generosity in providing free courses on her website and her youtube videos, all presented with good humour and in a way that's easy to engage with. I just don't know how she's managed to achieve all that she has. Holistic Tarot is a very thick book, you certainly get your money's worth with this and it's a pleasure to work through, I'm using it alongside the courses on the website and the videos. I can't praise this book enough.

A must have for any tarot reader. This is like the Bible of tarot. Lots of info and spread ideas.

If you read tarot or interested in tarot this is like the holy gril of tarot book must have in your vollection of books. You will read it and ho back to it and dtudy it its everything. Recomend over and over agan. It came quick in new condition.

This is the very book I’ve been looking for!!When I first seen the size of this Cyclopedia my first thought was “this is going to be a hard and long read”BUTOnce you open it and see what’s on offer!! Your heart doesn’t only smile “It Sings!!” The content is amazing and I can already tell that this is going to be the best education.I’m not saying this is the only book! As you can never have enough material. But this is a MUST HAVE and I would consider “Essential!”

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.comI 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.