Tarot Deciphered is a reference book. It focuses on dissecting the symbols in common modern Tarot decks, exploring their roots, and circling back to arrive at meanings which enrich our Tarot experience.

Most of us can know (roughly) what story Pamela Smith sought to tell when she painted the Three of Wands (for example). It’s a much richer experience, though, to actually learn why that story was chosen for that particular card, and what traditions led to that choice.

As is often the case, there’s a focus on the Thoth and Waite-Smith Tarot images. I don’t see this as a problem, given that they’re the most commonly-seen Tarot decks on the planet. The author includes information about other decks, as well. I don’t think it’s untoward for Chang to assume that the reader will at least be familiar with the Waite-Smith (or Thoth) images. Considering how influential they’ve been, the focus on Waite-Smith and Thoth is warranted.

I didn’t learn a lot of new practical information, but that’s not the point. This isn’t a how-to book of Tarot - it’s more of a Tarot encyclopedia with major historical background included. I could see this book helping a beginner in their first steps, particularly if read alongside a more traditional Tarot book. The book’s size (over six-hundred pages!) might intimidate some at first, but you should really approach it as a reference book. It’s not meant to be read cover-to-cover sequentially.

I’ve already been using this book to quickly check some older attributions for various symbols. It works well as a reference book, even for seasoned readers. You cannot find a lot of this information in a more organized place than this. The author includes references to the Picatrix, for example, which I don’t see a lot in recent Tarot books.

The author draws a lot from Crowley and the Golden Dawn. I’m not a huge fan of Crowley, personally. A lot of the Golden Dawn approach just makes me feel stifled, too. Other people might see things differently. The thing is, it doesn’t really matter how I feel about Crowley, because his influence on Tarot and the wider field of occultism can’t be denied. The same is true of the Golden Dawn.

This book traces those influences and others that have shaped modern Tarot practice, and you quickly see that the Golden Dawn was a major nexus, from which Crowley sprang. Chang paints a detailed portrait of this. Going through different sets of symbols, you can really see the massive influence of Victorian occultists like Crowley and Mathers.

I was pleased that the author at least acknowledged some controversy surrounding the use of the term “Qabalah” in Hermetic circles and its relationship to Judaism culturally. I readily admit Qabalah, and the issues therein, aren’t my purview, but it’s good that authors are viewing things with a more critical, less colonial lens. Chang goes into some detail about how the Golden Dawn’s system of Qabalah influenced the creation of their own, and almost all later, Tarot decks, right down to the colors used on the cards.

I wish there had been even more inclusion of astrological information - there are sections, but could’ve been explored in greater detail. I say this as someone who just happens to dig astrology intersecting with Tarot, though - some people might find that boring or unhelpful.

In any case, I’m giving this book four out of five stars. Just keep in mind that it isn’t a Tarot 101 book. I recommend reading it alongside a more how-to book on Tarot, or just keeping it for reference whenever necessary. I think it would pair well with Benebell Wen’s Holistic Tarot, and goes well with Rachel Pollack’s Tarot Wisdom.

Great overview of tarot symbolism. Very useful reference book regardless of which deck one chooses to use.

I've been fascinated by Tarots and what the cardsmeant and how the Tarot is practiced. Definite a keepsake and a book I would recommend to people learning the practice.

I enjoy learning more about books that deal with tarot. Being able to go in-depth with each card helped me with my readings. I have a few friends who are into tarot and/or the Golden Dawn. I recommended this book to them because I knew they would find this information very resourceful.

This is not a beginner tarot book. You’ll benefit from it if you have some knowledge of the tarot. However that being said I believe it’s a good resource to add to your shelf.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a FANTASTIC book to have in your arsenal and even better to have on your device. Having immersed myself into tarot and oracle reading over the pandemic have brought me to the other side of things in a better frame of mind than I might have been. I recommend this book for beginners as well as the seasoned. Appreciate the opportunity to have reviewed in advance.

Tarot Deciphered by T. Susan Chang; M. M. Meleen is yet, another good reference in the toolbox of tarot. Already a fan of both authors as a frequent listener to Fortunes Wheelhouse and a Thoth deck owner created by Meleen, I couldn't wait to jump in. This is a comprehensive collection of well researched esoteric roots in the Thoth and RWS systems. Although I have little interest in Thoth, I knew that going in and skimmed over what didn't interest me for the vast amount of information that did.
Tarot Deciphered is probably not the best choice for a beginner new to the subject. I would recommend this for someone that has a basic familiarity of one or both systems to expand on the knowledge they currently have. These ladies know their stuff and it is evident in every project they present.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are authentically mine.

If you are looking for an extremely comprehensive guide to tarot that focuses on the Rider-Waite-Smith or Thoth decks this is definitely a must read. This book delves into the esoteric meaning of each card in these decks while following the traditions of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Personally I found the overall tone reminiscent of a text book and some of the information went right over my head, but I learned a great deal in reading it.

This is an extremely thorough and extensive book about the esoteric interpretation and meaning of each tarot card. It focuses on the Rider-WaiteSmith and the Thoth tarot decks exclusively and the traditions of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. If you're looking for a book that goes into the meaning of more modern decks or traditions this is not the book for you. I honestly found this book to be a little too much for me. The overall tone was very academic and I felt myself a little lost with all of the information. I did go ahead and give it 4 stars though because despite its academic tone it is a very well written and comprehensive guide.

An excellent, well researched and detailed guide to Tarots. Everything you want to know about a Tarot card.
Interesting and informative, an excellent guide to Tarot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Overall, I do like the book a lot, but as librarian and reader's advisor I am not quite sure how to place it. It is not for brand new beginners in Tarot. It is more for either folks who already know much of these topics and have some fluency, or for those wishing to advance their studies by adding these Hermetic elements to their repertoire. Also, the book feels more like a reference book than a learning guide (nothing wrong with that). In addition, the book offers an abundance of information but often feels like getting the Cliff's Notes since of the topics may need a book of their own. I feel like very advanced Tarot practitioners and occultists likely know much of this already and likely have their own books. Yet for some folks this book can serve as a starting point; start here then delve deeper.

The bottom line is that despite some mixed feelings I do like this book. For someone like me, this can be a good reference book and a possible way to start delving into the Hermetic concepts the book presents. Your mileage may vary for very advanced practitioners, so ask yourselves if you need another reference work on Tarot and esoteric topics.

For libraries, I wold say this is a good selection if they already have a good and fairly comprehensive collection of Tarot and esoterica. If your library's collection on Tarot and esoterica is minimal or more pop culture oriented or starting out, you may want to wait before you get this book.

(More detailed review over on my blog)

* I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for a fir and honest review *
I'm giving this book 5 stars, even though I didn't enjoy reading it, here's how that works: it's an extremely well-written, knowledgeable resource. I just didn't enjoy it because I discovered that the esotericism of the tarot isn't what interests me about tarot. I don't read with the two main decks created out of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Thoth and RWS, I like decks based off the RWS system to the deck itself and Thoth has never been my thing. So, unsurprisingly, this book wasn't really for me. That said, this book is a great resource for Quabalistic readers, which again, isn't really my thing, but for those who want to learn about the Kabbalah/Quabalah origins of tarot, this is your book. Likewise, the parts that deal with astrology/elements/geomancy/bibliomancy/I Ching/ mythology (that part was most interesting to me.) The authors host the Fortune's Wheelhouse podcast, so they really know their tarot, and it differs from a lot of tarot books in that it is bursting with info rather than having a bloated page count without substance, so that's another factor in my 5-star rating. The book is super well-structured and laid out so that all this intricate information isn't overwhelming (which helped me, since I discovered pretty quickly that only some of the esoterica of tarot interests me.) Finally, five stars because there aren't a lot of modern books out there that deal in their part of the tarot, the only one that comes to mind it A.E. Waite's Pictorial Guide to the Tarot, which ya know, is just a smidge outdated (/sarcasm). I'm glad I read it, and for the person who's truly interested in this aspect of tarot, this book will be a stellar addition to your tarot library.

Tarot Deciphered is an in-depth voyage into the esoteric roots that underlie the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, the Thoth Tarot, and the myriad of decks that share their symbology. This card-by-card analysis reveals detailed insights drawn from the multi-layered traditions of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the magical order that most strongly influenced modern tarot.… From the Publisher

Tarot Deciphered: Decoding Esoteric Symbolism in Modern Tarot by T. Susan Chang and M.M. Meleen is a massively informative text containing every correspondence and point of reference you would most likely find of use and then the authors treat the reader to even more. In this case the use of the word “massive” is a nod to the 672 pages that serve as the distributors of a wealth of research, cross connection and interpretation beyond the ordinary standards.

Each card is defined through the esoteric disciplines of Astrology/Element, Mythology/Alchemy, Hermetic Qabalah, Rider-Waite Smith Symbolism and Thoth Symbolism. The Related Cards within the tarot keys and Advanced Concepts for Further Exploration complete the chapter. Being a teacher of Hermetic Qabalah and reader that prefers the imagery of the Thoth Tarot deck, I especially appreciated the incorporation of these tools ion a one-stop source vs. reliance of individual texts and meanings to draw greater conclusion from.

The Introduction gives the reader ample information about the inclusion of the Thoth Tarot deck as a point of reference for each of the cards. This is not a deck traditionally used other than those aligned with Aleister Crowley’s teachings and the understanding of multi-layered systems of Qabalah and ceremonial magick. Another interesting discussion is the influence of the Golden Dawn on the cards of the Major Arcana.

The offerings at the beginning of each of the Tarot Key’s chapters include the Card Number, Element, Hebrew Letter, Hebrew Letter Meaning, Path (of the Qabalistic Tree) Color Scale in the Four Worlds and other Themes and Keywords. This provides a nice quick look for easy reference and sets the tone for the more in depth discussions by topic within the chapter itself.

The approach of synthesis taken by T. Susan Chang and M.M. Meleen in Tarot Deciphered: Decoding Esoteric Symbolism in Modern Tarot ensures that the reader will come away with a better understanding of the multiple disciplines that compromise a diverse and well-rounded practice.

Would I Recommend:

Tarot Deciphered: Decoding Esoteric Symbolism in Modern Tarot by T. Susan Chang and M.M. Meleen is an absolute must for anyone seriously interested in Tarot studies and exploring the common threads found in all of the esoteric disciplines. On the scale of cost for most books these days, this title is a bit pricey, but the compendium of resources gathered in one reference will more than validate the cost.

Tarot Deciphered: Decoding Esoteric Symbolism in Modern Tarot by T. Susan Chang and M.M. Meleen is a well written and user friendly book from cover to cover. This book is definitely one that I will be adding to my library. And, be returning to frequently to explore new perspectives and fresh interpretations.

Reviewed by Robin Fennelly of PaganPages.org
https://paganpages.org/emagazine/2021/03/01/book-review-tarot-deciphered-by-susan-chang-and-m-m-meleen/

Seriously, Just WOW!

I have been a student of the tarot for over two decades, and the first word that springs to mind about this detailed and amazing book is simply “WOW”! In this book, the authors delve deep into tarot symbolism by deconstructing the images from the Rider-Waite-Smith and Thoth decks. They also include a detailed analysis of the cards in relation to astrology (especially as viewed by The Order of the Golden Dawn, which strongly influenced both decks) and the qabalah. The authors explore both the major and minor arcana in depth, starting with the major. Sections for each major arcana card include astrology, mythology, qabalah correspondences, symbolism in the two decks, an image of the card from another deck (aside from the two being studied in depth), other cards related to the particular card, and further ideas to explore about the symbolism and meaning of the cards. As you might imagine, the setup is slightly more simple for the minor arcana. You certainly need to read the introductory material before you delve deep into any particular card. The introductory material explains several points that will help you appreciate what is stated in the card sections later. The only fault I can see in this book is that it does not include the images for the Thoth cards as it does for the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. If you consider yourself a serious student or practitioner of the tarot, you need this book! It will certainly give you a grounding in tarot symbolism that will be a foundation and springboard for your intuition as you work with the cards.

Not huge on this book, it does have some good points. More for those who a more rounded look or esoteric/golden dawn interpretation.

Tarot Deciphered is more than just a Tarot guide. The author gives you an in-depth history and card-by-card analysis. A book full of knowledgeable information anyone interested in tarot cards/tarot reading can take something away from. Tarot Deciphered is a book I am sure to read again and again.

T. Susan Chang and M. M. Meleen have made a name for themselves in the Tarot community with the podcast Fortune's Wheelhouse where they discuss the esoteric nature of the Golden Dawn's two main tarot systems; RWS and Thoth. This text appears to be a product of the podcast and so is packed with in depth analysis, multiple correspondences, and multiple approaches to the tarot cards i.e astrological, mythological etc. The text is well constructed with the introduction setting out and defining the parameters the text covers, and clarifying differences in the RWS and Thoth, as well as basic introductions to systems they utilise and drawn on like Qabalah. Then they approach each card one by one, starting with the major arcana, then the minor (as is usual). The Court cards are discussed in their own section and interestingly include correspondences with I Ching and geomancy, which is not something I have seen explored in other books. The card is introduced with a list of basic correspondences, then a deeper analysis is provided firstly by astrological/elemental, then mythological, qabalah associations, until finally you get first the analysis of RWS interpretation followed by the Thoth. The analysis of the card then ends with a brief section on associated cards and concepts you can explore further. This sounds like a lot, and it is however the way they have structured it means that you can choose which area of symbolism or interpretation you want to focus on rather than be overwhelmed with all of it at once. In addition the authors have a rare gift of breaking the information down and making it readable and accessible. If you are interested in the esoteric nature of tarot you need this book, it is one of the best out there for tackling the intricate topic. Another unique aspect of this book is that it discusses both Thoth and RWS (people interested in Thoth will really find this book helpful as there is so few books on that system. I would have appreciated colour images in the book, but other than that this book is about to become a classic in the tarot world and one of the few book advanced tarot readers can look forward to owning.

A lot of information. Hard to decipher through Kindle as it was poorly formatted. More pictures would be helpful.

A good and well detailed book. The only issue I had was the ARC version I have is so poorly formatted for the Kindle that it makes it hard to navigate through the chapters. I’m sure the final product will be very well formatted and worth purchasing.

This book is an in-depth description of every card in the Tarot. While I found most of the extensive card information to be over my head, anyone in search of knowledge on the tarot will find this guide to have everything (and possibly more) they are looking for. If you want to really learn about the Tarot, this book will not disappoint! The card descriptions are explained using both the Rider-Waite-Smith and the Thoth decks, which is very helpful!

Thank you NetGalley and Llewellyn Publications for the ARC. I enjoyed this in-depth exploration into the Tarot.