The Complete Tarot Reader

by Theresa Michelson

Reviewed by Lisa Rush

The Complete Tarot Reader (Llewellyn ISBN 0738704342) is a self study program that begins with taking a key word self-test. This section is excellent review and rediscovery for more advanced readers. The nice thing about this book is that you can skip around within chapters. You can choose what topic you want to study, and the exercises thoroughly support putting what you learned into action.

There are many different styles of reading and Michelson presents three methods for learning tarot. She shows ways to memorize traditional key words and meanings; gives a means of learning intuitive approach to reading; and shares knowledge about underlying structures and patterns using numerology and astrology. Although all three methods are discussed, this book focuses on the intuitive and on structures. This book doesn't give card meanings due to variances in decks being too numerous.

Even without having memorized key words, developing the intuitive can be done through free association and story telling. Instead of just reading with upright or reversals, Michelson recommends learning a range of meanings: positive, neutral and negative for each card. To support your learning new meanings, this book provides wonderful charts for correspondences of the suits which include elemental dignities and astrological associations. There is a chapter that thoroughly explains the cycles of the aces through tens and gives examples of how their associated major arcana relate to real life experiences.

Courts are presented in elemental and astrological terms, as well as showing a variety of ways to use them as significators, persons influencing the situation, aspects of the mind or personality, and activities or approaches to take. The Major arcana are a spiritual journey and this book discusses them as mythological archetypal and psychological meanings of the cards.

Some readers choose to rephrase questions, something Michelson is opposed to and teaches alternatives to doing. She helps you gain confidence so that you can do readings for yourself, since sometimes reading for yourself can be like a doctor being a patient, we have a tendency to be negative or not very objective. Work through the exercises in this chapter to help eliminate your fears, and also for reader's block. When in doubt, ask your client!

Reversals are dealt with as being positive, neutral or negative. Reversals can indicate: opposite of the upright meaning, diminishment or weakening of the upright card, and obstacles or problem areas that need attention, and extreme or unbalanced energies. Another system of reading cards is using elemental dignities where the cards? elements work together as being compatible, neutral, or incompatible. This book presents several ways of working with them. The Complete Tarot Reader also includes a chapter on ways to tell timing in readings by comparing suits, elements, whether a card is active or passive and assigning astrological correspondences.

In the appendices are numerology, astrological associations, elemental associations, a glossary of symbols, and how to play the game of Tarocchi. The only thing missing from this wonderful book is a bibliography for readers who want to do further tarot research or add to their tarot libraries. By the time you have finished this book you will be able to interpret the cards by: where their positions are in the minor arcana; by using positive neutral and negative assigned meanings that you have discovered; by adding depth to the meanings by how the Major arcana relate to the minor cards; and by using court cards for timing and personalities.

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