The Big Book of Tarot Meanings: The Beginner’s Guide to Reading the Cards

Witch and tarot reader Magdaleno debuts with an accessible introduction to tarot card reading. Reading tarot, Magdaleno posits, creates “a bridge from your subconscious to your consciousness” that can provide insights and inspire one to embrace one’s “truest self.” In making tarot accessible to newbies, Magdaleno simplifies the meanings of the 78 cards, replacing vague traditional interpretations with straightforward explanations. In Magdaleno’s reading, for instance, the Death card does not portend doom but instead signifies transition and change, such as leaving one’s job or breaking up with a partner. The upright Sun card indicates joy, but if reversed, means a gloomy outlook, though both encourage the reader to follow their intuition. Magdaleno includes lush color images of every card face to accompany her interpretations, featuring designs based on the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909. Though the author’s caffeinated prose (“You go, organized babe!”) is a love-it-or-hate-it proposition, her interpretations are generous and instructive. Those new to tarot among the Gen-Z set would do well to pick this up. (Mar.)