• Jenny’s Journal: For Your Tarot Journey
  • by Jennifer Garner
  • Independently published, 2023
  • Available via Amazon UK/US as Hardback (£18.99 / $23.99) or Paperback (£14.99 / $19.08 )
  • Reviewed by Jason Dean – TABI Endorsed Reader

Jenny’s Journal is a breath of fresh air amongst the smoke and haze of Tarot journal publications! My way of reading tarot is about the intuitive interpretation of the art in relation to the querent/client’s question, and I use some basic numerology and the elements. I am acutely aware that many of my friends in the Tarot community have also integrated Astrology, crystals, and Runes into their practice. Also, many people keep Tarot journals, recordings of their daily card pulls, thoughts and synchronistic experiences in relation to their Card of the Day, which I don’t.

I had been looking for a style of journal that incorporated these other divinatory practices and integrated them with Tarot. I also didn’t want a calendar; I did not want to be restricted by time. I was interested when I saw that Jennifer Garner had released a journal. I know Jenny through TABI (Tarot Association of British and International Members). I knew she was recently the Chairperson, and I had read a few of her posted Tarot readings on the forum there. So, I bought Jenny’s Journal, not knowing if it was for me. But I liked her way of reading, had heard her speak with authority on various Tarot topics on Zoom calls, and wanted to support someone I know in the Tarot community doing self-publishing.

Jenny’s Journal is everything I wanted! I am brand new to journaling. I had looked a lot at other journals, but they weren’t quite what I wanted. My first use of Jenny’s journal was as a reference and educational tool. While doing my online readings, I would come across a card and then look it up, “Let’s see what Jenny says about this card!?” I would think to myself. Each card is cross-referenced to their astrological sign, Rune, Crystal, and Element, and each has its own page in the journal! I soon realized I was holding all the little gems of knowledge that Jenny had acquired during her considerable Tarot journey. They are expressed well, easily understood, and a snap to apply!

Jenny’s Journal is well-constructed and laid out. All the cards across the suits are grouped together. For instance, the four Queens are together one after another on their own pages. All the court and the numbered cards are also in these groupings, from Aces to the Kings. The suits each have journal pages for all your insights about them in a collection together for quick comparisons. This novel approach lets you quickly compare a particular card to another suit. It’s a great learning and referencing device.

At the start of the Minor Arcana, the pip cards, Jenny spends the first page explaining how the Zodiac Decan personality traits, seasons and timings can be helpful guidelines in your Tarot readings. These are so beautifully explained in a single page; elsewhere, entire books have been written on these topics. Jenny’s approach is so very refreshing and accessible.

When I started writing in Jenny’s Journal, I found I was leaning towards scrapbooking. I use stickers, cut things out, paste them into the journal, and use mind-mapping techniques to link ideas and concepts. It’s so much fun and a great way to consolidate thoughts and experiences.

Jenny also includes a section on her most universally useful spreads and a handy index at the back! The journal has plenty of room for your copious notetaking, with every card’s divinatory correspondence listed and a large lined blank page section for your additions. I intend to use part of this area for numerology and some illustrations, such as Tree of Life, Chakras, Spreads, and Reiki. So, plenty of room to expand and personalize. The journal pages feel smooth and creamy. It felt nice to write in and flick through.

I highly recommend Jenny’s Journal. I am enjoying using it with all the simple, easily accessible correspondences throughout. As I mentioned, I am new to journaling and the broader divinatory associations with other systems of Tarot, and I was looking for something that would fit my learning needs. Jenny’s Journal certainly does all that and more. So, if you are in the market for a simple to understand, easy-to-use Tarot Journal, do yourself a favour and pick up one of these. I’m sure you will enjoy Jenny’s Journal as much as I am. Thanks for reading all this!

Note: If you are buying this on Amazon, make sure you use the site for the country you are in. I am in the US, but bought it on Amazon UK and had to pay additional shipping costs. If I had bought it on Amazon US, the total costs would have saved me more than $10.

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