The best books on tarot for personal growth and spiritual development

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been studying and reading tarot for more than 50 years—starting when I was a teenager. I feel called to do this work—I think of it as holy work, because every reading is an inner journey for my client, I merely serve as a guide for them to discover the insights and wisdom that already exists hidden within them. Over the years I’ve studied with some of today’s top tarot teachers, I’ve studied Kabbalah with respected rabbis. I’ve studied psychological principles with leading therapists. And I’ve studied storytelling with world-famous performers. Tarot brings all these disciplines together in a way that makes every reading an encounter with the Divine that lives within each of us.  


I wrote...

Book cover of Tarot and the Gates of Light: A Kabbalistic Path to Liberation

What is my book about?

Tarot and the Gates of Light will take you on a mythic journey deep within yourself to experience your highest self and your Divine connection. Along the way, you’ll learn how the tarot is structured on Kabbalistic principles—and you’ll learn those principles in language that’s clear, concise, and down-to-earth. No previous knowledge of Kabbalah is necessary for you to come away with a deeper understanding of the cards of the Minor Arcana. More importantly, you’ll learn a traditional 49-day Kabbalistic practice using the cards that can help you remove blocks and overcome the issues that hinder your personal growth and spiritual awakening.

This is spiritual guidance in a highly practical form. With teachings drawn from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and other wisdom traditions, this profound practice offers you a guided path to personal transformation. 

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The books I picked & why

Book cover of Tarot for Your Self: A Workbook for the Inward Journey

Mark Horn Why did I love this book?

This was the first book that ever taught people not only how to read for themselves, but also how to use the cards to attain personal insight. It will teach you how to develop a deep relationship with the cards, and it shows you how to use the cards for greater self-knowledge. Every book on this subject since has Mary K. Greer to thank. When I first came across it, it changed the way I read forever. And it gave me new tools to use the cards for my own.

By Mary K. Greer,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Tarot for Your Self as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?


The tarot classic that first promoted the practice of reading the cards not just for others but for one's own personal insight and self-transformation

“Tarot for Your Self was ground-breaking when this book was first published and is still radically significant today.” —Benebell Wen, author of Holistic Tarot

“Deciding to work with the Tarot is like embarking on a long, inward journey.”—Mary K. Greer

This tarot classic by Mary K. Greer was the first book to promote reading the cards for your own insight, revolutionizing tarot through a combined emphasis on self-teaching techniques and personal growth. Tarot for Your Self…


Book cover of The Numinous Tarot Guide: A New Way to Read the Cards

Mark Horn Why did I love this book?

This is a very recent book that I love for its deceptive simplicity. The explanations are easy, the language is conversational, and each card is described in contemporary terms so that you’ll recognize yourself or people you know on every page. And for each card, there are a series of questions and journal prompts that on the surface seem simple, but that takes you on a deep inner journey. The subtitle of this book is “Know the cards to know yourself” and it’s a promise this book will help you keep.  

By Rashunda Tramble,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Numinous Tarot Guide as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Numinous Tarot Guide is an interactive, self-study guide that unlocks the meaning of the cards in an instant - and in a way that is deeply personal to every reader of every level. Designed to be used with any deck, a reading for each of the 78 cards offers a modern, evolved interpretation of the card's meaning, along with prompts and journal exercises, to help guide the reader into a space of deep reflection.

The traditional way to interact with the Tarot is to ask a question and then pull a card to divine the 'answer'-this guide instead offers…


Book cover of Tarot Shadow Work: Using the Dark Symbols to Heal

Mark Horn Why did I love this book?

There is no personal growth or spiritual development without encountering and coming to terms with one’s shadow. It can be a frightening prospect, and it’s not a very comfortable process, but there is no getting around it. That’s why this book is important. When you confront your shadow, it helps to have a guide who has been there and done it. Steel has done the work and knows how to help you do it too. I am very grateful for this book—it helped me face inner conflicts and accept things about myself I always thought were unacceptable. It’s not an easy practice, but the results are profound. 

By Christine Jette,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Tarot Shadow Work as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Through Tarot work, journalling meditation, creative visualization, and dream work, you can free yourself from the shackles of the unbridled, unconscious power of your shadow self. This book is ideal for those who are in recovery from a serious addiction or illness, as well as any person seeking a deeper understanding of his or her true self.


Book cover of Tarot for Troubled Times: Confront Your Shadow, Heal Your Self & Transform the World

Mark Horn Why did I love this book?

One of my gripes about so much “new age” teaching is that it can be very Pollyanna-ish. Everything is light. Except that’s what the authors call “woo woo psychobabble”. And they’re right. This book is the cure for spiritual bypassing. It recognizes that we all have neuroses—old behavior patterns and beliefs that limit our growth and development. And it can be very difficult to look at these patterns, much less work through them. This book gives you powerful exercises that will build your personal insight into your shadow, to heal your relationship with it. 

By Shaheen Miro, Theresa Reed,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Tarot for Troubled Times as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Out of Darkness Comes the Light of Transformation

Each of us has a shadow that darkens our inner and outer lives. In Tarot for Troubled Times, Shaheen Miro and Theresa Reed show us how working with the shadow—facing it directly, leaning into it rather than away—releases power that can free ourselves from negative mental habits and destructive emotions to find healing ourselves and others. Tarot, as the authors show, offers a rich and subtle path for this profound transformation.

Through this book, you will discover a different approach to tarot, life, and self-empowerment.

Befriend our shadow by working with the…


Book cover of Tarot for Change: Using the Cards for Self-Care, Acceptance, and Growth

Mark Horn Why did I love this book?

The last book is actually the most recent, with a title as direct as it can get. While my orientation is Kabbalistic, the Kabbalah is highly psychological, and Dore’s book brings the wisdom of behavioral psychology to working with the cards. This isn’t about telling fortunes but working with the cards in this way can change your future, because in fact, it helps you change yourself. And really, that’s what the cards are for. Best of all, the book is highly personal, so while you’re connecting with the author, you’re learning how to better connect with yourself. 

By Jessica Dore,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Tarot for Change as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Unlock the transformative power of tarot with this unique investigation into the psychology of its secrets, symbols and stories.

Symbols have been used in modern psychology for generations, from the interpretation of fairy tales to inkblot tests. Although tarot is often thought of as a spiritual tool for divination and fortune-telling, it too contains a set of symbols that can help us better understand our selves and align with our values. In this book, Jessica Dore reveals years of secrets and insights about how to work with tarot to activate your potential.

You'll discover:
* the importance of choosing the…


You might also like...

Act Like an Author, Think Like a Business: Ways to Achieve Financial Literary Success

By Joylynn M Ross, Falessia Booker (editor),

Book cover of Act Like an Author, Think Like a Business: Ways to Achieve Financial Literary Success

Joylynn M Ross

New book alert!

What is my book about?

Act Like an Author, Think Like a Business is for anyone who wants to learn how to make money with their book and make a living as an author. Many authors dive into the literary industry without taking time to learn the business side of being an author, which can hinder book sales and the money that can be made as an author.

This resource serves as a guide to mastering the art of financial literary success and to help avoid the mistakes that many authors make while learning the ropes on their own. This book helps authors “think outside…

Act Like an Author, Think Like a Business: Ways to Achieve Financial Literary Success

By Joylynn M Ross, Falessia Booker (editor),

What is this book about?

Do you want to make money with your book? Do you want to make a living as an author? There’s more to doing so than simply writing and publishing your book. Many authors dive into the literary industry without taking time to learn the business side of being an author. This could dramatically hinder your book sales and the money you can make as an author. Without a guide such as this, mastering the art of financial literary success can take you years, and you’ll be sure to make mistakes during the learning phase. Some mistakes could cost you money;…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in tarot, spirituality, and personal development?

11,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about tarot, spirituality, and personal development.

Tarot Explore 56 books about tarot
Spirituality Explore 295 books about spirituality
Personal Development Explore 29 books about personal development