The Complete Tarot Reader by Teresa C. Michelsen a review by Errol McLendon, CTM, CTI

I have to preface this review with the fact that I had seen a rough manuscript of this book before many of the exercises and study goals were put into it. My initial impression was that the manuscript was confusing and lacked a progression with which a beginning student would be comfortable. The vast amount of work done between the time that I saw the manuscript and the time I received the finished product in my hand is phenomenal. Ms. Michelsen has written the ultimate Tarot study guide.

The most impressive element of this book is that is looks beyond the learning of the cards into the world of professional Tarot reading with all of its quirks and surprises. Teresa's exercises guide students gently through the material and her study guides at the end of each chapter provide a simple check to insure the material was truly learned.

Beginning at the introductory material, Ms. Michelsen leads the new student by the hand into the mysterious world of Tarot, but through Ms. Michelsen's writing, this unknown world doesn't appear frightening at all. The student is given a massive amount of options from which to choose - numerology, astrology, elemental dignities and more. Ms. Michelsen merely provides the information and encourages the students to find the approaches which work best for them. Ms. Michelsen does not state an opinion on any of these choices, which allows the student's choice to be based on their preference, not the author's preference.

The book also delves areas of Tarot which are often overlooked, including reading for yourself, boundaries and ethics and overcoming reader's block. Prior to the release of this book, a beginning student would have to utilize several books to obtain all of this information.

The end material is equally as valuable. In addition to the numerological, astrological and elemental associations of Tarot, there is an excellent keyword self test and a substantial symbolism glossary. You even get the rules to the card game which used Tarot cards in Italy. I have never seen that presented in a book.

For a complete course for beginners to advanced readers, pick up The Complete Tarot Reader by Teresa C. Michelsen (ISBN 0-7387-0434-2). By following this book page by page, any student will become a professional reader by the time the reach the final page.

"The Complete Tarot Reader",
by Teresa C. Michelsen
© Llewellyn Publications
Images used by kind permission from Llewellyn Publications.