We need to talk about 'The Tarot Handbook' by Angeles Arrien 

It was actually Alistair Crowley who first shared the original method of calculation of one's growth number and personal number (I don't know if he was the one who first had the idea, but he certainly spoke about it long before the author of this book). He also spoke extensively about the idea of using Tarot for personal growth and as a way to get closer to one's best and highest self. He insisted that the integral part of the tarot practice was what he called Knowledge and Conversation wth one's Holy Guardian Angel (or alternatively, Spirit, God, Higher Self, Spirit Guides, etc). In fact he said that any work with the cards that didn't involve this higher intention and connection could lead to black magic (something that I'm sure many will dispute today, but this is what he seems to have believed). He saw the Tarot as a path to knowing the world, and knowing oneself in it. So the idea of using tarot for personal growth isn't unique to the author of this book, either. Psychology was only in its developing stages during Crowley's time, after all, while it was much more at the forefront of our culture in the 70s and 80s. Not to take away from Angeles Arrien or Rachel Pollack, but if we want to be fair about attribution, we can't deny that Crowley had probably the most significant impact on making tarot what it is today. Nor should we ignore the fact that the Thoth and RWS decks are based on the same symbolism and share many of the same ideas and imagery. Personally I only recently started delving into the Thoth after two decades of insisting it wasn't for me, and then one day realizing that that insistence wasn't based on any actual knowledge, just on hearsay, prejudice, and fear. Not to say this deck is for everyone - we all get to make our own choices after all - but has so much wisdom and knowledge in it. It can also be read purely intuitively, just with the use of color, imagery and numerology. My point is, a powerful lesson I learned myself is that it's important to at least become familiar with something before saying it's not for me, or that it's too complicated. Otherwise all we're doing is internalizing other people's biases and assumptions without using our own critical thinking and intuition.

Carrie I love your videos SO. MUCH. I bought this book awhile back + couldn’t really even enter it, and I feel like I have a better sense of how to begin to tuck into it. Love your calling in of a “citation politic” (my words…)-giving credit to people, especially women!, whose ideas form the basis of practices so widely used in the tarot community. Appreciating your nuance with respect to what you like and what doesn’t work. I feel like you really model what it is to be a student-to read things closely, reflect, and have your own thoughts + judgements, able to take what works for you without swallowing anything whole. Thank you for all your offer to the tarot community.

This book has been my favourite for over two decades. It was interesting to listen to your take on it. Many thanks.

Thankyou for taking the time to make this video. I came across it as I am reading this book right now, just started it today and I think it's fantastic. Finally so.ething different

My soul and personality cards are also both strength!😀 Really enjoyed this talk, thank you Carrie!

Thank you for shining a spotlight on this book.. When I decided to tackle the Thoth deck a few years ago I was so put off by the male authors I found writing about that deck, (forget about Crowley I just cannot) and I was really happy to find Angeles’ book. Like you, the Thoth is not for me, but I’m sure glad I came across this book with its intriguing ideas and theories. You’ve inspired me to pull it back out again to revisit.

I have never thought to combine Tarot readings with the therapeutic aspects of my little spiritual business, what an interesting concept! Thank you for sharing this

Than you, Carrie for this video! I have this book, and I have the same feelings, I found it hard to connect with the text. But now that you mentioned these points I will try again and read it! Also, I would be very interested in hear your point of view in that Bardo states concept! I appreciate all your content, you bring so much value to the tarot community, and I really resonate with how you see Tarot. 🙏🏻 Thank you!

I was already planning on getting this book and your video convinced me to finally get it. :) I used your affiliate link. Interesting to me that this video published on Feb 9 2022, and the book is scheduled to arrive Dec 9, 2023!

I first heard of this book from Brian Cormack Cart’s Tarot to the Nines RU-vid series. It’s one of his main sources for that series. (Also an excellent tarot numerology resource.) I think he draws from the section on constellations specifically. It’s so great to hear such an in-depth review of a classic tarot book! It’s hard to know what you’re getting before purchasing, so I really appreciate these kinds of reviews. I’d love to hear more about how you intentionally use tarot cards as visual affirmations/to meditate!

This was so interesting, Carrie - thank you for sharing! One small criticism I wanted to voice.. the background music and the fact that it’s starting and stopping several times throughout the video was really distracting to me. Sorry, just figured I’d share that.

I also highly recommend her book Signs of Life: The Five Universal Shapes and How to Use Them, it is so much fun! The Tarot Handbook was my first tarot book and it helped to shape my work in many way. Much love x

Thank you, i have another book from her and will check the chapters cause I would like to read more about those bardo states.

Katey Flowers 💐 sent me🤣😊

I went there for my Masters in Psychology/Counseling with a concentration in Expressive Arts Therapy. California Institute of Integral Studies is a pioneering East/West transpersonal/Jungian orientated Masters and PH.D Programs for counseling/Psychology. Deborah Koff-Chapin creator of Soul Cards often taught as a guest teacher at that time offering touch drawing classes. I have not heard of this book. Interested in checking it out.

I so appreciate you deep diving into this book. I’ve begun working with it and agree that while there are some issues, it is worth a read given what Arrien put forward. Her take on the tarot has already brought more depth to my practice. Additionally, I agree that the cultural and psychological views are not missing. I believe Arrien was part of CIIS’s anthropology department and not its psychology department. Having gone to the school myself for Somatic Psychology, I can attest to its rigor and credibility, at least in the counseling psychology programs. Along these lines, if you have read any books that take a deeper psychological approach please share! Most of the books that say they take that approach seem more self help to me. Perhaps I just haven’t found these resources yet.

Thank you for the post. One comment - the background music is too loud. I have a question regarding the growth cycle check sheet - do you know if it is intended to loop back from 2059 - to 1880?

What would you opine about tarot reversals?

Thank you for this video! You share so much knowledge and inspire me to dive deeper every time!👍 As a foreigner i must really concentrate because of the pace of your speaking, but that wont hurt me:-)

Great topic. Sadly can't focus hard enough to hear you through the music.

Good video, but you misused the term humblebrag. (You just meant brag.) Humblebrag is a putatively self-deprecating statement that actually brags.

The esoteric layer in the thoth can be left out and read just like any old boring rws