Review by Bonnie Cehovet

“Psychic Tarot” focuses on learning to read the Tarot using psychic skills. The method used in this book is very specific, but can be used with any deck the reader chooses to read with. Throughout the deck creative exercises are provided to help he reader become familiar with their cards. At the end of the book sample spreads and readings are provided, to help the reader “see” the cards in action.

At the same time, the reader is presented with a variety of original intuitive exercises that help the reader discover and develop their own psychic abilities.

Antenucci notes that to properly experience this book the reader needs to have a creative mind, an adventurous spirit and an open heart. “Psychic Tarot” is seen as an exploration of the readers personal spirit and journey, as well as an exploration of their cards. Through this process, the reader will find their own voice. She goes on to rename creativity as “psychic”, and sees this as the first step in the process of nurturing mindful intuition. She refers to it as “Sight” (the ability to see into the invisible), and uses the terms “Sight” and “psychic” interchangeably.

There is a strong recommendation that the reader begin trusting their own Creative Authority. To develop that trust, the reader is asked not to study card definitions. The reader is asked to explore their own perceptions, with their own Sight, It is also recommended that the reader start a Tarot journal, which acts as a compilation of the reader’s own card definitions, as well as their own first impressions. Antenucci sees this process as expanding in the light of the moon, as opposed to the brighter light of the sun. In the soft light of the moon, the reader senses, rather than knows, and learns to trust that sensing.

Acknowledging Creative Authority (psychic ability) is addressed in the beginning of the book as a possible block. Self-knowledge becomes Creative Authority. She addresses using the Tarot and Sight to facilitate making choices that move the reader towards healthy personal growth. She addresses death and the Death card, and the thought that the cards have fixed meanings. Her suggestion is to approach the cards as friends that the reader does not know yet. She advises the reader to have faith in their own strength and goodness, and to own their own courage.

Antenucci discusses the basics of Tarot, such as what to store decks in (bags, boxes, silk cloths etc.), to interact with their cards when the reader is in a curious or hopeful state, and to not attempt to study Tarot definitions when developing an intuitive reading style. The thought here is that the reader should growth their own interpretations before seeding their Tarot garden with other people’s ideas.

The Minor Arcana (Ace through Ten of each suit) are seen as the First Family. The four elements are seen as the four foundations of the Tarot system. They each relate to specific seasons and cardinal directions. Wands are associated with creativity and the element of Fire. Cups are associated with emotions and the element of Water. Swords are associated with mental abilities and the element of Air. Pentacles are associated with sensations, boundaries, form and the element of Earth. The Essence Spread Part 1,and the Light and Shadow reading are included in this chapter.

The Court Cards are known as the Second Family. They represent humanity – the people in the Seeker’s life, as well as te various “faces” of the Seeker. Antenucci sees the court cards as actors in the various roles the Seeker enacts in the script of their destiny. The court cards are seen as mirrors for the Seeker to better understand themselves. It is recommended that the court cards are viewed in three layers, or perspectives: The first, basic layer is that they represent people and relationships in the Seeker’s life. The second layer is their archetypal energy. The third layer is that the court cards represent different kinds of energy. Part 2 of the Essence Spread is presented in this chapter.

The Major Arcana are seen as the Third Family. Antenucci sees them as symbolizing various forces of nature, great spiritual lessons and the various faces of the Divine. It is here that the reader’s Creative Authority will be most required. She sees each card as challenging the reader to embrace the mystery beyond this life so that they can embrace the mystery within this life. Several exercises, including the Fool’s Journey, are presented in this chapter. In the Fool’s Journey the reader is asked a question by each of the cards that they encounter.

On the psychic side of things, information is presented on reading energy, seeing the unseen, and working with psychic selves, as well as trusting the Sight.The Six Principles are presented as a system for working with any form of divination. The principles are: Grounding, Intent, Form, Synchronicity, Closure and Integration. Setting boundaries is also addressed. .

There are two appendices: black and white scans from the Lo Scarabeo “Universal Tarot”, followed by a self-study guide.

The material in this book is written in a very straight-forward manner, easily understood and worked with by any level of Tarot student. Exercises and examples are included throughout the book to bring the information into ”real life”. I would recommend this book to all levels of readers that are interested in developing their intuitive reading skills.

© Bonnie Cehovet

Bonnie Cehovet is Certified Tarot Grand Master, a professional Tarot reader with over ten years experience, a Reiki Master/Teacher and a writer.

Home > Tarot Books > Psychic Tarot