Tarot and Astrology by Corrine Kenner

Whether you’re an astrologer wanting to branch into tarot or a tarot reader wanting to deepen your understanding of the cards by incorporating astrological associations into your interpretations, then Tarot and Astrology may be what you’re looking for. If you’re after the basics then the included tables can serve you well but in order to get the most from this book you will have to be willing to work your way through it.

Before reading Tarot and Astrology my astrology knowledge was limited. I knew which star sign or planet linked to each Major Arcana and a little about what that meant. I also had a vague understanding of the way the signs and the planets interlinked and how that could be applied to a reading, but as I was to discover, my understanding of the potential here was minimal at best. Now as my study continues I am constantly amazed by how things fit together. Diving into the possible implications and the insights that derive as a result has been a real pleasure and I look forward to my ongoing learning.

I am by no means a tarot beginner though. Since I am coming from years and years of tarot experience I find the layering comes quite naturally because I have a strong foundation to work from. This definitely helps. As such I believe it may be a tad overwhelming to anyone just starting out. For me, the best way to begin your tarot journey is by engaging with your cards, not by trying to connect too much additional information. I don’t say that lightly.

I am a study nerd. I love learning. But, sometimes I think when we try and take in too much information too quickly it just becomes a bunch of remembered words rather than something we are able to internalise and integrate into our everyday. That might just be me and I’m sure that some people are able to pick up on all the connections without too much difficulty. However, for me, as enjoyable as I find this book, I believe you will gain greater benefit if you already have at least a basic knowledge of tarot or astrology. Even the subheading, ‘Enhance your readings with the wisdom of the zodiac’ suggests as much. It doesn’t say learn how to do readings.

Most of the book is dedicated to exploring how each card relates to astrology, but it doesn’t stop there. Interwoven throughout are various astrologically inspired spreads such as The Houses of the Horoscope Spread and The Eclipse Spread. Each provides a fully explained sample spread to help you get a feel for how to interpret the reading. There are also several ‘Cosmic Connection’ sections that provide additional titbits of information. For example: ‘Cosmic Connection: The Part of Fortune,’ ‘Cosmic Connection: Saturn’s Cloak’ and ‘Cosmic Connection: Court Cards and the Wheel of the Year.’ Each of these are short entries that offer additional insights that for the most part I found really interesting because they explained things I had never thought to question before.

As you may expect, there is also a section dedicated to Astrology. It is relatively short but it manages to throw a lot of information at you. However, it does so in a fairly gentle manner. To anyone well-versed in astrology I’m sure it is elementary but like any discipline, astrology has a language of its own that needs to be learned. I will never forget how I felt flicking through my first sociology text at university and seeing a whole heap of names, theories and types of theories, and unfamiliar terminology, and wondering how I would ever get my head around it all. I also remember the day I noticed that I was using and engaging with all those things as if it was a totally natural way to think. That is one of the greatest things I learned at university. Hang in there and one day what seems like information overload becomes ingrained knowledge that can be accessed and integrated often without conscious effort. I’m assuming in time this will apply in this case. Though, for now, Trines, quincunxes, grand sextiles, stelliums are still just words devoid of anything more than definitional understanding. But hey, at least the book has taught me how to define them. Connecting with the information is up to me.

For me though the value in this book is in showcasing the interconnections between tarot and astrology. I was going to say this book really changed how I do readings but I’m not 100% sure that’s the case. What it did do though was open up further avenues of exploration within a spread and it encouraged me to see various cards in a different light. That makes this book invaluable.

Some people have complained that she uses her own deck to illustrate the book and as such she refers to it a lot; but why not. As far as I’m concerned it’s her book and, for many reasons, using her deck seems like a logical thing to do. My only complaint in this regards is that her deck is not readily available.

About the Author

Corrine Kenner is a certified astrologer and tarot master. She created the Wizards Tarot, (not to be mistaken with the Wizards Tarot by Barbara Moore which is still easily available), and she has authored more than 20 books. Tarot for Writers, Tarot Journaling, Flash Fiction: Mix-and-match Writing Prompts serve as a reminder that first and foremost she is a writer. This book benefits from that fact. You can find more about her by visiting her website Creative Guidance.

Tarot and Astrology Contents

• List of cards
• Introduction
• Overview
• Part one: Tarot Planets and Signs
  • The Building Blocks of Tarot
  • The Planets, Astrology’s Guiding Lights
  • Signs of the Times
• Part two: The Minor Arcana
  • Elementary Astrology
  • Tarot, Astrology, and Qabalah
  • The Numbered Cards
  • The Planets in the Signs
  • The Court Cards
• Part three: Astrology In-Depth
  • The Houses of the Horoscope
  • How to Read a Horoscope Chart
  • A Simplified Guide to Chart Interpretation
• Conclusion
• Glossary of Astrological Terms
• Quick Reference Guide: Horoscope Keywords
• Recommended Reading and Resources

Overall I would say that if you’re looking to expand your tarot knowledge, or you’re interested in learning about astrology through a tarot-centred lens, then this is a great book. As I stated earlier though, I believe you will gain more from this book if you are not new to both tarot and astrology. This isn’t a beginner’s guide. This book requires both the intent and the willingness to devote the time necessary to absorb and utilise the information. It is well written, well laid out, and well thought out. And, if the interest is there, it is well worth your time.

Publishing Details

Published by:

Llewellyn Publications

Pictured Version:

1st edition, 13th printing, 2021

Pages:

296