The Tarot Book You Need to Read
Here is my review of Theresa Reed's new book. I love it, and so will you.
A Review of Tarot No Questions Asked
By Theresa Reed
Published by Weiser Books
Review by Christiana Gaudet
If you are going to read only one tarot book, this year (or at all) let it be the new book from Theresa Reed, Tarot No Questions Asked. Recently published by Weiser Books with a forward by Rachel Pollack, this book is a unique and valuable gem. I might go as far as to say that Reed has written the perfect book for modern tarot readers, whether beginner or adept.
The book is subtitled ‘Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading’. Reed strikes the illusive balance between interpretive and intuitive reading styles. I’m convinced that the delicate balance that happens when we use both these tarot skills well and together creates the best readings for all of us. This book makes mastering that balance approachable and understandable.
At 283 pages, this book is an easy, comfortable read, filled with the right amount of information to be useful without being cumbersome.
Theresa Reed has a very specific communication style that uses a lot of slang and pop culture references. In Tarot No Questions Asked she shows us her natural voice in a way that doesn’t feel forced or cheesy, and that doesn’t distract from the depth of her subject matter.
The first half of the book includes a full description of each of the seventy-eight cards, making it appropriate for any tarot beginner. Each card description offers ideas for the different ways the card may speak in a reading. There is also a suggestion for a way to embody the energy of each card, as well as a ‘tarotcize’ designed to help the student find deeper understanding of the card. These extra nuggets of wise action steps will give the beginning student a fuller understanding of how to work with tarot and will make the book interesting and useful to more advanced readers.
The second half of the book focuses on intuitive reading in a way that is unusually grounded, practical and useful. Nowhere will you find the usual misleading adages suggesting that one’s intuition is always correct. Reed asks us to do the actual work it takes to discern, understand and deliver truth.
The book is peppered with short personal anecdotes from Reed’s lengthy career as a full-time tarot reader, and her lifetime as a natural intuitive. Its final chapter offers good advice for those tarotists who might consider reading professionally.
One of my concerns over time about the way we tarotists share our collective knowledge and experience is this. For the very most part, the tarot authors who tend to write the most popular books are not themselves fulltime tarot professionals. Many of the tarotists sharing wit and wisdom on YouTube don’t have a significant amount of real-world tarot reading experience.
The people who do the most tarot readings, and the people who encounter the most challenging situations in tarot reading, are those of us who are fulltime tarot readers. Sadly, a fulltime tarot reading schedule doesn’t give most of us the time required to share and document our knowledge and experience in well-written books.
Thank goodness Theresa Reed found the time and dedication to carefully craft this book which reflects the wisdom and knowledge she has acquired over her lengthy and successful fulltime career.
