Thought I would try something a little different. I never noticed that GoodReads gives you the option to copy and paste your book reviews (until now), so I figured I would take advantage of that.

I've been working on a project that I'll get online relatively soon... I don't think it's really ready for primetime right now. It's just more of a “yeah that's cool.” It's not really a full app yet, and I've been playing around with some different ideas. Technically it is already online if you follow my github commits you can probably guess what I've been cooking. Needless to say, it's tarot-related.

Tarot: No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading by Theresa Reed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great practical guide, albeit, a bit bloated with standard card breakdowns. If you're already familiar with basic card meanings, you can comfortably skip those and just read the other two-thirds of the book surrounding that middle bit. It's also a bit light on hard attributions for the cards. While not strictly necessary, if you are going to be using the Rider-Waite deck (or any based on or derived from it or from the Golden Dawn system of magick), having an understanding of the astrological, Kabbalistic, and numerological symbolism can go a long way with Reed's methods.

While the book is kind of marketed to tarot enthusiasts and readers of all skill levels, I would recommend it for intermediate readers. If you're a beginner with no experience; Start with Papus (Tarot of the Bohemians), A. E. Waite (Pictorial Guide to the Tarot), and A. E. Thierens (The General Book of Tarot). You don't have to memorize those books, but they're a good foundation, and this book will be so much more valuable.

The Initiates of the Flame by Manly P. Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There's a lot to unpack in this short text. Definitely more of a brief essay and primer on occult symbols and symbolism than an in-depth work. Still worth the read, or even a quick listen. I found an audiobook version and it's only about 90 minutes long.

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