Elliot Adam, Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2023.
Love and relationship questions are often very popular in Tarot, cartomancy, and other forms of divination. Whether you are a beginner starting out or an experienced Tarot veteran, this book can help you refine your skills when it comes to love and relationship readings.
The book is arranged as follows:
- Foreword.
- Introduction. This includes advice on how to use the book and avoiding pitfalls in relationship readings.
- Part 1: The Major Arcana in Love.
- Part 2: The Minor Arcana in Love. This is arranged by suits, and the suits include the court cards.
- Part 3: Spreads for Relationship Readings. This includes 7 spreads.
- Conclusion.
- Appendix: "How Does This Person Feel?" Quick Guide. A bit of a quick reference sheet.
This is the best book if you want to learn about and relationship readings in Tarot. It is not just about intimate love. The book teaches about other forms of relationships. Many of the lessons about love relationships are applicable in settings such as family and business. You can get a lot of insight on relationships in general if you read this book. The book is easy to read, and the material is accessible. Jargon is kept to a minimum.
Each card entry covers the following categories:
- New relationship.
- Long-term partnership.
- Intimacy.
- Seeking romance.
- Desires.
Each entry also includes reversed card interpretations. The entries are well written and get to the point. They are informative and provide options for interpretation. Much of the content is applicable to other situations besides love readings. This is a good feature for learners as well as advanced readers seeking to learn more or expand their knowledge base. By the way, I also appreciate authors that do not skimp on the Minor Arcana. Speaking of the Minor Arcana, the book includes some notes on getting multiples in reading, example if you get two aces. This is a question I often find interesting, and I appreciate this author addressing it in the book.
Overall, this is an excellent book that I strongly recommend. It belongs on your book shelf. I would buy one a personal copy. I am glad I read this one. I really liked it. A great Tarot resource to keep handy.
5 out of 5 stars.
By the way, if you liked this book, you should consider also reading his previous book, Fearless Tarot (link to my review).
Additional reading notes:
On Tarot as language of symbols:
"Tarot is a language of symbols that speaks directly to the heart. It can be very useful to discover the vibration around a person or situation, highlighting patterns in human behavior and giving you a general idea about what direction events are likely to progress in. However, tarot can be tricky when interpreting hints about the future if your emotions, fears, and expectations are fixed on a desired person. Tarot readings are link mirrors. They reflect what you carry in your heart at the time of the reading. The future is always in motion" (2, emphasis in original).
Where Tarot is effective:
"Tarot is most effective when it is highlighting warning signs, patterns, or issues that need to be resolved within yourself before proceeding with others. When predicting the future with tarot, you must understand that you are seeing a potential future, based on the information you carry with you now" (2, emphasis in original).
The author strives to be inclusive:
"This book is not restricted to only interpreting heterosexual partnerships and interactions. It can be applied to any relationship or any gender identity" (3).
As for pronouns, he uses "he" and "she," but you can substitute pronouns as needed.
On that puzzling card:
"Sometimes you might encounter a particular card over and over in your readings that doesn't seem to describe the person or situation you are asking about. Instead, the card may be trying to get you to understand a particular lesson you yourself are struggling to move beyond" (5).
When Tarot works best:
"Tarot works best when you are accountable. It can also help you find what needs to be replenished in your own heart before you place expectations on others to fill it for you" (8).
Tarot is contextual:
"However, tarot is contextual. The meanings of the cards change depending on what you are asking about, your current state of mind, or what position of the spread a card appears in. That is why no one tarot book can give you fixed definitions that apply to every concern. Tarot is a nuanced tool. It can go far deeper than simple yes or not answers to your questions, but you must have the courage to see what is truly there" (101).
What the Minor Arcana reveal:
"The Minor Arcana will reveal passing situations or events that can be enjoyed, worked through, or learned from" (101).
What Tarot spreads can do:
"Tarot spreads help you systematically organize the intuitive information you receive in a reading. They supply structures, sequence, and, most importantly, context for card interpretation" (341, emphasis in original).
This book qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenges:
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