What Are Your Favorite Tarot Books?

When folks ask me to recommend a book on tarot I give them a list of what I consider to be the classics—the golden oldies.

The Tarot, A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages, by Paul Foster Case
Paul Foster Case (1884-1954) was a member of The Golden Dawn and founder of The Builders of the Adytum. The Tarot examines the 22 major arcana cards from a ceremonial magician’s point of view. It can be a bit abstruse at times, but it is well worth the effort.

Mastering the Tarot, by Eden Gray (or any of her other books)

Chicago debutante Eden Gray (1901-1999) followed her dream to New York City and became an actress. She also worked in radio and on the London stage, earned a Doctor of Divinity degree, lectured and taught classes on Science of the Mind, ran a bookstore and publishing house, and wrote the first easy to comprehend books on tarot. They are still in use today. See Mary Greer’s blog for more information about this amazing woman.

The Devil’s Picture Book, by Paul Huson
Paul Huson (1942-) drew his first tarot on index cards when he was 14. Like Eden Gray, he acted on the British stage and was also an art director for the BBC. Trained by the Society of the Inner Light, he has written several excellent books about the occult. When I began studying witchcraft and tarot in the 1970s, his book, Mastering Witchcraft, was one of a very few decent books available on the subject. The Devil’s Picture Book and its new and improved version, Mystical Origins of the Tarot, are a delightful blend of mythology, tarot history and old school modern witchcraft.

Tarot for Yourself, A Workbook for Personal Transformation, by Mary Greer
This book finally convinced me that, contrary to what I was taught, yes, indeed, you can read your own cards. Tarot for Yourself is not so much about the tarot, although she does give excellent explanations of each card, it’s more about the many ways that tarot can be useful to you.

But it’s been a few years since I’ve read a book on tarot and many more since I’ve read one I’d recommend. But there must be scads of good ones. The tarot section of Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon is huge and most daunting.

Any suggestions?