Product Description

Creating original spreads is a rite of passage for many ambitious Tarot students. James Ricklef gives valuable lessons in doing just that-with advice for finding inspiration, defining positional meanings, and structuring a layout.

Tarot: Get the Whole Story is also for those who want to peer over the shoulder of a Tarot master as he demonstrates a variety of new spreads. Readers will learn which spreads are best for relationship concerns, personal transformation, New Year's resolutions, life decisions, and more. Each chapter discusses a new spread with detailed explanations of positional meanings and dynamics between the cards. Also included are illustrations and entertaining sample readings featuring Clark Gable, Marie Antoinette, Hera, Don Juan, and other historical, literary, or mythological figures.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #142011 in Books
• Published on: 2004-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
"A book that will provide guidance and inspiration for inexperienced and experienced Tarot readers alike for a long time." -- Sandra Thomson, CTGM

"An ideal resource for any reader looking to create and modify new Tarot spreads." -- Donald Michael Kraig

"This is a wonderful book, a gentle journey which is very enriching and enlightening." -- World Tarot Network Newsletter

From the Publisher
By the author of Tarot Tells the Tale, the 2004 C.O.V.R. Award First Runner Up.

About the Author
James Ricklef (California) is a Certified Tarot Master who, besides
reading the cards, also teaches and writes books and articles about this subject. He has written numerous articles for Tarot newsletters and magazines, and his book, "Tarot Tells the Tale" grew out of his popular "Ask KnightHawk" columns. His second book, which also features entertaining and illustrative "Ask KnightHawk" readings, focuses on creating and interpreting more complex Tarot spreads

Customer Reviews

The cards place James Ricklef's book in your future
What an amazing feast James Ricklef's third book is: readable, informative, and, most importantly, outright fun. I know little about tarot and am not a practitioner, but I am always interested in learning about other beliefs, religions, and practices. The beauty of all Ricklef's books is that they are written for novice and expert alike. There is enough explanatory material to make someone like me feel like part of the in-crowd--yet also so much insider information/references to the beliefs of famous masters that even the most experienced buffs will find new ways of thinking about an old art. In addition, Ricklef neither talks down to the novices nor bores the devotees; he finds with verve and panache that middle ground so many writers cannot.

Light a few candles, put on some low music, and pick up this delightful read.

Engaging and Informative--a wonderful contribution to Tarot literature
James Ricklef's book on the use, creation, and interpretation of Tarot spreads is a necessary addition to any Tarot enthusiast's library. Whether professional reader or personal seeker, Tarot: Get the Whole Story is richly informative,yet warmly accessible.
As he has done in his Knighthawk readings, collected in his other wonderful book, Tells the Tale, Ricklef again uses familiar stories to illustrate how various spreads provide the thematic structure for readings, thereby adding both depth and breadth to the information that can be gained by the querant. Of particular interest to me were the chapters on the use of personally meaningful symbols or quotations to design unique spreads, such as his "Sorrow's Alchemy Spread." Following Ricklef's suggestion to use the Major Arcana to determine position meanings, I was able to design a Flaming Chalice spread that elegantly illuminated the issue at hand.
Ricklef's book exploring spreads offers hours of enjoyment, with opportunities to try out his various techniques. It serves as a reference, as well as a delightful evening read. Both the novice and the expert will gain from reading Tarot: Get the Whole Story.

Freedom with Tarot!!
At last, a very comprehensive guide to learning to create your own spreads for the Tarot. This book differs from others in a few marvelous ways...

1. Ricklef uses characters from literature with whom we are already familiar, so he gives us examples from people we already "know".

2. Having someone walk you through every step of the reading and possible interpretations is more than just static meanings for the age-old tool...it brings the Tarot to life!

3. Ricklef opens the mind to creating spreads that fit a particular situation. You learn to use your own symbolism and what feels right to you, so your own spreads mean more to you.

I highly recommend this book to anyone...beginning through advanced. You learn the freedom of creating ways to use the Tarot that feel right for you with practical examples in a constructive environment. Bravo, James! ;) OH! And you should defintely check out his web site: www.JamesRicklef.com for his new deck The Tarot of the Masters, which was inspired by paintings created by the greatest art masters in history. Being an artist, I have a deck and I just LOVE it!

That's my two pence...
Arial Burnz
http://www.ArialBurnz.com
http://www.EnchantedWoodz.com