Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth Paperback – January 6, 2015

(tl;dr): this is a must for anybody who reads the tarot…but check out her site first)If I were able to read this book 20 years ago, I would’ve learned tarot much faster, grasped deeper meanings sooner and, most importantly, learned HOW I could grasp those meanings on my own. Benebell is a natural teacher. I worked full-time as an interpreter at a university. After interpreting more than 100 courses, I learned that teaching is an art. There are many skilled teachers…but those who have an innate talent for it, the ability to break down complex concepts in such a way that even a neophyte can easily understand are rare…and I believe Benebell Wen is one of those rare few.I discovered her by accidentally stumbling across her site—which I highly recommend, not only because it is a wonderful, comprehensive resource, but also because it will give you a clear picture of whether or not you agree with Benebell’s overall approach. The reason I’m advising people to check out her site *before* you buy the book is that she does not believe in using the tarot to predict the future, but rather learning as much as possible about the symbols and their origins as well as how parallel philosophies/mystical studies eg the Kabbalah are linked and how they can help you truly understand tarot in a deeper yet clearer way. Admittedly, like her, I’m an atheist, I’m so not claim to be psychic and I don’t believe I’m capable of predicting future, BUT…I do believe in the Collective Unconscious and the teachings of Jung in general. So many symbols in tarot are based on the same archetypes which have been found in all cultures around the world since the beginning of time. I interpret the archetypes a a look for patterns, synchronicity etc that *may* affect the querent. Not that I have all the answers (spoiler: omg I *don’t* lol), and this is not the blueprint for reading tarot…but this is much closer to Benebell’s approach than say, Eden Gray’s.That is not to say that using tarot in the classic method of divination is wrong; it’s just not what how tarot is presented here. I’m addressing this because I’m admittedly a little annoyed by a couple of Karen-ish reviews (out of 1800 glowing reviews) who felt that Benebell was patronizing or even insulting. I feel that they either misunderstood her OR they felt threatened by any opinion different than theirs. Especially the one who claims that anybody who said they liked the book “obviously didn’t read past chapter 7”, because disagreeing with their opinion is WRONG.And she accuses Benebell of being arrogant. Irony is dead lol.She and a couple of other reviewers were also offended by Benebell’s suggestion that a beginner should practice readings using a teddy bear or other inanimate object because it isn’t fair to the querent to interpret the cards when you’re a neophyte. But as a beginner, a student has not studied well enough to give an accurate reading. I was happy to read that. A ballerina doesn’t take a 3 month class in ballet and feel they are ready to dance on stage, but way too many people do readings on real-a** humans when they are incapable of conveying all the subtleties, the archetypes, the history and endless other factors. Bluntly, it is irresponsible and possibly harmful.BUT if you are a serious student, and willing to commit to regular study, practicing readings on a teddy bear or any other prop is a wonderful idea because you have to tell the object the meanings out loud, just like in a real reading. It’s a lot harder than just reading cards to yourself and not only is it a great way to practice it, it is also a wonderful way to learn as you are reading, ie explaining a concept to a willing teddy bear (I practice on a mannequin named ChaCha lol) is an excellent way to discover whether you know the meaning as well as you think.Again…I wish I could read have read these sort of techniques 20 years ago. I struggled with the cards for years before I became an even intermediate tarot student…and I still consider myself a student because it is impossible to learn all there is to know about tarot…but by god, if you commit to reading 878 pages, that’s a pretty good start lol.Also, her her writing is NOT “patronizing”; she doesn’t hold your hand nor does she wax poetic—she gets right to the point. She is a natural teacher and that is how she presents this enormous wealth of valuable, very accessible information—as if she were teaching a course…and in a way she is.Quite simply, out of the dozens of tarot books I have, I find this to be one of the most helpful, if not THE most helpful book in my collection.I do have one tiny objection—as some other reviewers have noted, the book is so large that it can feel unwieldy, especially if you have baby hamster hands like I do…and especially-especially if you have RA, carpal tunnel or other conditions which affects the small joints in your hands and wrists. Even after 20 minutes or so, I get achey…but it is too thick to lay flat propped on a surface or table, desk etc. While that issue is very specific and wouldn’t affect the vast majority of people, it’s still difficult to read for any length of time without it feeling clumsy. I’ve dropped this book god knows how many times because I was having a difficult time holding it. The weight alone—3 lbs—makes it difficult to hold for any length of time. In future printings, it would be great if she could sell the book in two volumes. Yes, it might cost a few dollars more, but it would be enormously helpful and that would make it much easier to read. Just my two cents.…which is a pretty insignificant complaint considering the wealth of solid instruction. In an ideal world, she would teach an actual class…and I would live close enough to attend lol. Meanwhile, don’t be intimidated by the size of this mammoth book; the best way to learn is to break it down in chapters and read it section by section. I believe this book is destined to become a tarot classic…and Benebell Wen belongs with tarot goddesses like Rachel Pollack, Barbara Moore, Joan Bunning.

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.

Holistic Tarot by Benebell Wen is an absolute treasure for anyone seriously interested in learning the tarot. It’s comprehensive, insightful, and incredibly well-researched. Wen manages to combine traditional meanings with intuitive and psychological approaches, making it a must-have for both beginners and experienced readers. The book is thoughtfully structured and filled with practical exercises, charts, and detailed card descriptions—it's truly a full course in one volume.I also want to thank the seller for their excellent service. The book was carefully packaged and arrived much faster than expected. Highly recommend both the book and the seller!