The Essential Guide to the Tarot

To Fontana (The Secret Language of Symbols), the way we see and interpret tarot cards can, like an ink blot test, offer us better understanding of ourselves. He introduces this concept in a rather extensive 30-page introduction that also touches on other subjects like the history of the tarot. The majority of the book is devoted to sections on how to read and interpret the cards and conventional layouts for readings. Because using the cards to unlock one's subconscious and the three stages one must work through to achieve full understanding of the tarot requires time, Fontana suggests memorizing each card of the major arcana until they can easily be recalled; the casual practitioner of the tarot may find this a bit overwhelming. Overall, the book is well researched, well written, and well organized; but it might be information overload.