Review: Tarot & Oracle Card Reading For Dummies

Is anyone in the mood to get back to the basics? I hope so, because today's book is all about tarot and oracle cards 101. It's been a while since I got an introductory book, but after reading his book for the Incubus Tarot, I simply had to read Tarot & Oracle Card Reading For Dummies, by Charles Harrington. Thanks to the publisher for the copy to review!

• Print Length: 304 pages.
• Publisher: For Dummies.
• Publication Date: June 3, 2025.
• Genres: Folklore, Mythology, Non-Fiction, Paganism.
• Rating: 5/5 stars.

A beginner’s guide to tarot and oracle card reading.

Looking for a fun, in-depth guide to tarot and oracle card reading? In this book, you’ll find the tools you need to give yourself and others in-depth and impactful readings with the cards. You’ll learn about the origins of card readings, how to pick and work with decks from various traditions, and gain insights into developing your unique style as a reader. From learning card meanings to activating your intuition with interactive techniques and exercises, and exploring more than a dozen spreads, Tarot & Oracle Card Reading For Dummies is the book you’ve been waiting for.

Inside…

• Explore the history of tarot.
• Understand intention-based readings.
• Pick the right card deck for you.
• Learn the Rider-Waite-Smith® card meanings.
• Explore oracle card themes.
• Work with tarot and oracle spreads.
• Conduct readings for you and others.
• Perfect your reading technique.

As a history nerd, Charles Harrington started just right for me with a concise yet detailed history of tarot cards, how they evolved, how they went from simple entertainment to divination, and more. My favorite part was the answer about where reversals came from! It's been a mystery for a long time for me as a reader, so finally uncovering the reason why has been life-changing.

I'm always skeptical about books that promise things like "the book you’ve been waiting for," but Tarot & Oracle Card Reading For Dummies gets very close. And I'm absolutely in love with it! The research is very thorough, the explanations are simple (not in vain, it is intended for dummies), and the fun facts along the way were the cherry on top. What could have made it better? Not mentioning so often "more about this in chapter X Y Z" because, as much as it can be useful sometimes, it took me out of the reading after a while.

Obviously, all parts of it are valuable, but if I should pick one, it would be the fifth and last part of the book, compromised of chapters 14 and 15. They go straight to the point about several details you'd better keep in mind when using your cards, something that I always welcome when it comes from a seasoned reader like Charles Harrington.

In short, Tarot & Oracle Card Reading For Dummies is a book that can add something to witches of different levels. Newcomers can get a solid foundation about the two most popular methods of cartomancy, while experienced readers get a great refresher while also exploring new ideas. Casual readers can also benefit from it, but the target here is people who are more serious about it.

Kinky regards, K!

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Review: Wild Eden Tarot

Hello, hello. Today I want to tell you about a tarot deck that blends nature and femininity with a simple aesthetic. Although it wasn't my favorite, I'm confident many of you will appreciate the Wild Eden Tarot, written by Alice Mastroleo and with art by Gloria Pizzilli. Thanks to the publisher for the copy to review!

• Publication Date: October 8, 2025.
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications.
• Page Count: 128 pages.
• Dimensions: 3.19 x 2.19 x 5 inches.
• Rating: 3/5 stars.

Enter a lush paradise brimming with animals and people living in harmony through this elegant deck and guidebook set.

Each card, a glimpse of heaven on earth. Each scene, a moment of pure bliss and perfection. Wild Eden Tarot takes you to a lush paradise brimming with animals and people of all kinds, living together in a state of untainted, primordial harmony. The elegant nudity of the bodies interweaves with the sinuous shapes of beasts and vegetation, creating a synthesis of eroticism and nature that highlights a sense of communion among all things that breathe, live, and love.

First of all, I am a fan of the concept, even if we have seen it before. Presenting a balance between humanity and the natural world, plants and animals especially, is always something I can appreciate because of the divide modern society has installed in all of us. I also like the idea of a Pagan-oriented Garden of Eden (besides Lady Gaga's, mind you.) The cards hit a good middle spot between thick and thin, along with a standard size, making it easy to work with them.

Now, it is with the execution that I have mostly problems because Wild Eden Tarot feels too Eurocentric despite the fact that the creators included a few people of color. Most of the time, the delivery fell short of what it could have been due to the color palette, with so many European-looking women and just a sprinkle of men. Again, the idea is great, but the execution wasn't my favorite because I wasn't expecting a deck with mostly European, cisgender women.

I believe a reformulation of the deck would be the best option. The innocence in all the cards, the freedom they show, and the message of living in balance with the natural elements are all beautiful aspects of the proposal. Yet the execution wasn't my favorite. A more balanced result would have changed my perception of the deck.

With a beautiful concept and nice coloring that reflects the serenity of the world in the cards, Wild Eden Tarot is a good addition to those who are looking for a natural and feminine approach. However, despite the artwork being evocative from beginning to end, it fails to deliver the diversity one would expect, making it an aesthetically pleasing starting point, but not more than that.

Kinky regards, K!

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