Tarot & Oracle
The Tarot is at its tabletop practical basis a deck of decorated cards. Its order and appearance began to be somewhat uniform in the Renaissance, roughly the 15th Century. More complex meanings and purposes of this tool of gamesmanship seem to have begun early in the 18th Century, eventually growing and roaming into the wide spectrum of entertainment, interrogation, divination, and cartomancy that we know today.
A friend introduced me to the I Ching in college, and I quickly understood it to be an effective and enjoyable method of psychological investigation. After years of being put off by some of the more arcane and ambitious claims of tarot enthusiasts, I finally saw the analogy to the I Ching. After many years of resisting carrying the tarot in the store, I now stock it in the simple and inquiring spirit of my understanding. I am attracted to eye-catching art, of course, and I like the idea of cats being involved, of course, although I suspect cats may be more interested in pushing the cards off the table than in being supportive familiars. I respect the tarot’s history, and I will seek out books that place in the context of its origin and survival.
I am aware that the supply and diversity of decks is enormous, but I begin simply and humbly, alert to what my customers like.
Tarot for Your Self: A Workbook for the Inward Journey
Tarot for Your Self: A Workbook for the Inward Journey
“I was so excited when I discovered Tarot for Your Self years ago. This book ignited in me and so many others a love of the cards and all they have to offer.
—Joan Bunning, author of Learning the Tarot
“Mary K. Greer's Tarot For Your Self revolutionized the world of Tarot like no other book before or since. At a time when almost all tarot books were either formulas for fortune-telling, or complicated occult doctrines—and virtually everyone said you must never read for yourself—Mary Greer broke open the rules by showing us how to explore the many ways we ourselves could discover meaning and the power in the cards. She did not simply ignore, or discard, what had gone before. Instead, she studied and absorbed the meanings and teachings, and then showed us how to use them for our own explorations. It is a pleasure—and a moment of great benefit to the tarot world—to see this magical book in a new edition.” —Rachel Pollack, author of Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom
“If you’re looking to deepen your relationship to the tarot, look no further than Mary K. Greer’s classic Tarot for Your Self. The exercises, meditations, rituals, and other activities will help you connect with the cards in a meaningful way. The interpretation section in the back is pure gold—and one that you’ll refer to again and again. Both the tarot novice and seasoned pro will find Greer’s book to be a useful, transformative tool. This new edition is sure to delight and inspire a whole new era of tarot fans around the world.” —Theresa Reed, author of The Tarot Coloring Book, coauthor of Tarot for Troubled Times
“One of the first Tarot books I ever bought was Tarot for Your Self. To this day, it is always the first book I recommend to my students. Mary K. Greer's text is iconic because of the way she offers her own knowledge. For me, she managed to demystify Tarot without losing the magic. That fine line is a hard one to keep, but Mary knows how to stay on track. I always have a spare copy on my shelf for that visitor that wants to learn more about Tarot. This book doesn't just teach you about Tarot. It provides learning methods that will last a lifetime.” —Arwen Lynch-Poe, editor of The Cartomancer
“Mary K Greer was giving us a head's up when she named Tarot for Your Self a Workbook for the Inward Journey. This is accurate in so many ways. You can use this book to gain independence and confidence with the cards. You go through this book at your own pace and essentially teach yourself how to handle your cards. You work. The beautiful thing about this process is that it works so beautifully. The hardest part about reading the cards is believing you can do it, and Mary K Greer hands you the tools to do just that. There is a reason this is on every tarot students shelf, and always will be." — Melissa Cynova, author, Kitchen Table Tarot and Tarot Elements
“Tarot for Yourself is a deep exploration of Tarot as tool for self-empowerment. Mary shares much wisdom for working with Tarot in a way that is personal to you, your journey and your style of learning. Tarot is a lifelong study, there’s always something more to discover and Mary offers numerous perspectives to work with the cards. If you are new to Tarot this book will introduce you to the flexibility of Tarot as a medium for healing, personal exploration and guidance. As you can never have too many tools in your tool kit for working with Tarot, even the most seasoned reader (if you haven’t already read this book) will find something of value in these pages. More than anything you will feel Mary Greer’s wise and humble spirit come through every page, and you will know you’ve been initiated into the long history of the ever-evolving Tarot." - Shaheen Miro, Author and Creator of The Lunar Nomad Oracle
“Without a doubt, Tarot for Your Self was and remains one of the most influential tarot books I’ve ever read. Greer’s work shines a light into darkness and guides us as we learn about ourselves and the cards more deeply.” — Barbara Moore, author and creator of, Steampunk Tarot, Tarot in Wonderland, and Llewellyn’s Little Book of Tarot
The tarot classic that first promoted the practice of reading the cards not just for others but for one's own personal insight and self-transformation
“Tarot for Your Self was ground-breaking when this book was first published and is still radically significant today.” —Benebell Wen, author ofHolistic Tarot
“Deciding to work with the Tarot is like embarking on a long, inward journey.”—Mary K. Greer
This tarot classic by Mary K. Greer was the first book to promote reading the cards for your own insight, revolutionizing tarot through a combined emphasis on self-teaching techniques and personal growth. Tarot for Your Self uses meditations, rituals, spreads, mandalas, visualizations, dialogues, charts, affirmations, and other activities to help you establish your own relationship with the cards. All the information is presented using the best in traditional knowledge and know-how. This powerful breakthrough process will turn all your readings into truly transformative experiences.
Tarot for Your Self covers interpretations for the major and minor arcana, reversed card meanings for all 78 cards, and enlightening information on your shadow/teacher cards.
Replaces ISBN 978-1-56414-588-8
Mary K. Greer is a Grandmaster of the American Tarot Association and teaches workshops and classes on Tarot and astrology throughout the U.S. and abroad. She is the author of several books, including 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card and Tarot for Your Self. This book is a revision of Mary Greer’s Tarot Constellations. (Photo: Paul Nagy)