How to Read the Tarot: The Key Word System

by Sylvia Abraham

Book stores, gift stores, grocery stores, occult stores, and boutiques frequently have Tarot decks. There are hundreds of them available. But when you get one, what do you do with it? Will it take months or even years to become a good Tarot reader? The answer is that you can learn to give great readings in as little as a week if you get How to Read the Tarot by Sylvia Abraham.
All you need to do is memorize 26 keywords and you will be able to give powerful interpretations of all 78 cards! And you won't have to look at a book during the reading. If you have been trying to learn how to read the Tarot, or would like to learn, this book is like a gift from the Gods!
The secret is in the use of the keywords. Each of the 22 Major Arcana cards gets such a word. For example, the keyword for the Empress (also known as "Key 3") is "I make." The book shows how you can easily expand on this idea to interpret the card. Each of the four suits also has a keyword or two. Pentacles means "money and health." So if the three of Pentacles comes up you combine the keywords and get "I make money." It's just that easy.
The book explains each of the keywords and how they apply to each card. This way you'll see that the system is just the beginning. It lets you expand from the short keywords. Also included is a list of the meanings of common symbols used in the Tarot so you can use them to expand on the interpretation of the cards.
Of course, unless you had a structure to put down the cards you wouldn't be able to give a reading. This structure is known as a Tarot spread and the book includes several suggested configurations you can use for any purpose.

Genres: Tarot, Reference, Nonfiction, Occult, Spirituality, Divination

Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and well organized. Although not sure if I personally connect well with the definitions of the cards after reading other books on the subject.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has interesting insights into Tarot reading. I enjoyed learning about the new spreads I had not previously been introduced to. Also, I loved the different interpretations of what the cards symbolize. I like getting information from multiple sources to try to get the clearest picture of what each reading could possibly mean. I am going to try to start memorizing the card meanings soon as well so I can do readings more easily!

[Marieta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro muy útil para aprender un poco sobre el tarot (desde la historia hasta las diferentes cartas que lo componen y cómo interpretarlas). Lo recomiendo a todo el que quiera aprender un poco más sobre el tarot, pero no es muy completo para aquellos que quieren saber más y ya tienen algunos conocimientos.

Reseña en el blog: https://relatosnaufraga.blogspot.com/...

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Éste librito es el tipo clásico de guía para la consulta del milenario arte adivinatorio. Con un estilo básico y nada recargado (la cual cosa facilita tanto su repetida lectura como recurso de apoyo), pero sumamente aclaratorio a la par que bastante preciso, nos da su explicativa acerca de toda la baraja al completo, por palos y numeración, con toda su significativa al derecho e invertidas; partiendo con unas ilustraciones de baraja clásica y un concepto narrativo conciso, pero introspectivo y muy simbólico; a la antigua usanza. Esto resultará sumamente útil a los pocos introducidos en el Tarot, además de a los que requieran de un vistazo u aclaración rápida.
Previo a su parte fundamental, ya comentada, hay un apartados sobre su historia, la elección de la baraja. Para finalizar, remata con las tiradas más utilizadas por los diestros en ésta práctica: la tirada Celta, la de los signos y las de las 21 cartas. Quizá se encuentra en falta alguna más introductoria o corta, como la del si / no o la del pasado, presente y futuro (todas en tres cartas); especialmente por ser para principiantes.
Por lo demás, un libro fantástico y esencial, para nada recargado y que es perfecto como libro de cabecera y repetida consulta. No te hará falta nada más para comenzar. Después vendrá tu práctica y desarrollo de la intuición propia con ella. El libro es el preciso para esto. Que no os engañen otras parrafadas que existen por el mercado.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clear explanation of the cards and some very insightful help on different spreads. Great for beginners.

[Deyzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Güzel

[Brittany Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone wishing to learn how to read the tarot- this is an excellent beginner book!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first introduction to the Tarot. The author laid out the meanings of the cards in a logical, understandable format.

[Leonore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always helpful.

[jzmcdaisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I am nowhere close to spiritual, I thought this was a comprehensive intro to Tarot. I got a Golden Tarot deck last year and read the little instruction book that came in the box. The illustrations and the subject matter were always similar, but occasionally very different from the Rider-Waite decks featured in this book. Abraham used different decks and blended their meanings with Christian symbolism, pagan ideas, and astrology. None of those really spoke to me as I don't find help in those disciplines. Abraham also gendered the cards a bit, which came across as archaic. However, the structure of this book deserves praise. The author gave her meaning of the cards and then provided a bunch of different hypothetical spreads and wove them together into a story. I think I want to use the cards for writing, but I'm also going to read other material about tarot. Symbolism is subjective, especially across cultures, and I've seen other people comment on the rigidity of this book.

[Christ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this books is very good for tarot's beginner.. the language is simple and very acurate, this books also teach you how to read tarot card in many different layout..