Untold Tarot: The Lost Art of Reading Ancient Tarot

EDIT: I wanted to revisit this title after a lot more experience with it. My respect for the book and it’s author has only grown since I first reviewed it, but there are a couple of things I am going to add. Foremost is: this book is an instant classic worthy of a wide readership.And, if it isn’t clear, this is written primarily out of the French, not the English, school. So, get yourself a “Marseille” Tarot deck. Not that it wouldn’t work with an English deck (not saying it would, either... I’m not sure the il’ RWS clone speaks French!)I noticed Untold Tarot (2018) was published after her Lenormand book, The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook (2014). I suspect the book under review benefitted from her research into that system. In any case, having recently begun studying the Lenormand oracle with the other book, much in Untold Tarot is clearer. In fact, her Lenormand book is an excellent companion volume to this one. Caitlin Matthews is reaching back to the most ancient cartomatic traditions—why, as far back as the 18th century! (Sorry if that offends anyone’s romantic ideas about ancient Egyptian wisdom, Cathars or whatever, although the historic origins aren’t really that important.) I think Lenormand is a very good system in its own right. But whether you take it up or stick with Tarot, I think the other book is also worth studying for Tarot de Marseille readings in the French tradition.The second reason I’m here again is to address some frustrations. Past frustrations, I should say, because I get it now. The type of “open reading” (see Yoav Ben-Dov’s excellent book of that name) that stirs everything into the mix and comes out proper tasty relies on intuition. It is ephemeral. It’s not “this card in this position means such-and-such.” Her examples (like the Lenormand exercises in her other book) are often wildly at odds with what I see. But a card or combinations of cards can mean different things on different days in different readings. I hazard to say she wouldn’t disagree with me here. This is a big reason she insists on a properly framed question. (Although casual personal conversations with Tarot are valuable, too, in my view.) The reader should study these as examples of the process. I’m certain I should have realized this earlier.I do have one minor complaint. The author drops tantalizing hints about some tradition that really is “untold,” meaning she does not tell it in this book! For example, on p. 187, we are told that the Ace of Swords and 2 of Swords is “a classic combination about mental health.” While I realize card combinations may depend on many factors, if some are truly “classic,” they should be shared. Where does this “classic” combination come from? How is a reader supposed to follow a hint like that? Or is the use of the word “classic” just a bit inartful? Certainly not a major complaint, but it would be interesting to know more, since she brought it up!This is not “Tarot for Dummies.” This is a rich book by a respected writer, a book backed by careful research and much experience. It is meant to be studied and experimented with. Yes, it might be a bit overwhelming for someone new to Tarot. But the beauty of it is, you don’t have to use every spread, or take every word as gospel. It’s a beginning, not an end.In a strange way, the Untold Tarot remains untold because it cannot be told. Caitlin Matthews is renewing and handing down a tradition of card reading within those limits. I hope she would take it as fair comment that we should pay attention to her experience and wisdom, but the Tarot will forever be “untold” until it unfolds its secrets in its own time and manner to each sincere seeker. Caitlin Matthews is one of the best teachers living.—————With the well-deserved rediscovery of the Tarot de Marseille we’ve seen more books featuring the deck. This is one of the more interesting. First off, it’s a handsomely produced, slick book fully illustrated with various TdM decks. (Perhaps the lion’s share goes to the excellent CDM tarot, whose clean lines make it a good choice.) I hope someone looking for something else finds his or her way here because if you have, my friend, consider it a special invitation to get a TdM deck and this quite sensible and well-written book.There is quite a bit of good history in here, which surprised me since I was not led to expect as much by the advertising. As for the divergence into the English tarot current... Let’s say the RWS deck is respectfully put into perspective and some of the more creative clones are viewed with a slightly jaundiced eye. From the latest crop of TdM books we expect a good historical, well-sourced treatment, and that’s what the author gives.The trend toward which TdM interpretation is presented is in a looser style which takes into account all sorts of things beyond by-rote meanings and spread positions, and this book is no exception. Line-of-sight interpretation gets a very good treatment. Cards are rarely considered by themselves. There are card-by-card interpretations, hovever, as well as set spreads. On the other hand there are examples of some very open readings. The TdM is very flexible and the book gives full credit to that quality.The TdM defies rules. Anyone who works with it for any length of time will find their own methods. This is the best book for beginners on the TdM I’ve seen.

This is the best book for reading TdM/pip decks that I've come across. There's a disturbing tendency in Tarot literature - old as well as new - to talk and talk but not give any actual useful information. You don't see that here. This is good, solid cartomancy with a lot on techniques and meanings, along with relevant historical factoids. It's an interesting read, as well as something I will be referring to often - and it's made for this, nicely bound with the pages stitched in!This is not hermetic Tarot, nor is it Jungian or new age. It's old-fashioned European cartomancy, which has become so obscured in this day and age that someone commenting on facebook called it "Lenormand techniques"! Yes, the Lenormand method shares some similar approaches (like directional reading, combining cards, knighting, etc.), as do playing card methods, Kipperkarten, French and Italian Sibilla, etc. - it's just what everybody used to DO in those days. Tarot readers included.It's straightforward, well organized, and includes jewels like, "The Fool shows you what you are not taking seriously, which will be the card he faces" and "Knights bridge or convey something from one card by taking it to the card they face." Reading by number and suit is thoroughly explained, historical documents are referenced, there's plenty of detail but not so much as to make it dull.I've been into cards forever, and I learned things from this book. But it would be good for beginners, as well. It's for anyone with a desire to unlock those lovely old pip Tarots!A much needed breath of fresh air - thank you, Caitlin!

A concise, utilitarian treatment of pre 18th century cartomantic approaches to interpreting Marseilles / unillustrated pip style tarots. a wealth of practical information and tools not seen in other books in here, definitely enhanced my ability to read TdM decks, particularly rich with useful approaches to interpreting the court cards.Although Jodorowsky and Ben-Dov don't concern themselves much with historical precedent I do for the most part admittedly prefer a blend of the the pip attributions they offer in their respective books, which seem to me more sensibly related to imagery on the cards, rather than the perhaps historically based but nonetheless often random seeming attributions offered in "Untold Tarot". Of course if you have a serious ambition to work with Marseilles tarots you'll want to read everything available and reach your own conclusions about what makes sense and works for you, but definitely include this book on your reading list since it offers a lot of unique and highly practical information so far as I'm aware nowhere else accessibly described in the present body of english language tarot literature, excellent stuff!(also as others have mentioned the binding and tactile qualities of this book exceed expectations)