- Tarot Training Sleeves
- By, James Jacob Pierri and Dan Williams – Creator’s Website
- Published by REDFeather
- Internet price for Deck and Guidebook Box Set: UK £27.77 / US $28.03
- UK Release Date: 15 February 2025
- US Release Date: December 17, 2024
- ISBN-10 0764368192
- ISBN-13 978-0764368196
- Reviewed by Jason C Dean
Tarot Training Sleeves by James Jacob Pierri and Dan Williams is a novel concept in learning Tarot, combining elements of cheat sheets, word prompts and QRF linked mini video lessons of each of the cards. The utilisation of the clear plastic sleeves enables the Tarot student to use any Tarot deck they prefer, as long as the card size is 3” x 5” or smaller. This is the novel part, as it also enables the flexibility of using them again and again if you want to try learning more than one tarot deck. I think the mini videos linked via a QRF code on the ‘Definition Cards’ are a pretty neat learning device.
The kit comes in a box in the form of a book that would fit in with any bookshelf. Once you open the front cover, you will see that it is a box with instructions on the inside cover, three bundles of plastic sleeves and stickers, and two bundles of ‘Definition Cards’ for the Majors and the Minors, respectively. The instructions on setting up the training sleeves are simple and easy to understand. Plus, there is the QRF that links you to a video that shows how the Tarot Training sleeves are assembled, or you can go to the creator’s website (link above) and follow the set-up there.
The stickers are provided for each of the 78 Tarot cards with their title and keyword prompts, plus there are a number of blank stickers for decks with additional cards. The definition cards inserted inside the sleeve behind your Tarot card provide both upright and reversed meanings. The training gets a little bit more in-depth when you follow the QRF code to the videos on the training portal, and there are further narrative explanations of the cards upright and reversed. The portal also includes astrological attributions of each of the cards (but not planets). The videos for each of the cards have a cartoon character presenter in exotic cosplay style attire explaining the art on an RWS card in both upright and reverse. A second version of the same card but from another deck is also shown, and the presenter explains the meanings of the card when situated in past, present, and future positions in a spread. In addition to the information in the videos, the training portal also has videos on how to do a one, three, and seven-card spreads. The portal also has external links if you want to buy the RWS deck from Amazon, and/or the Auset Gypsy Tarot deck. The Auset Gypsy deck is used in the various areas of the training portal. It was also created by James Jacob Pierri and published by Red Feather.
As a training tool, I found this system fun and interesting. I could see how it is immediately helpful for the new Tarot reader to be able to easily access keyword prompts during a reading, either for themselves or interested friends. I enjoyed doing the setup, seeing how it all functions, and watching the training videos on my phone. There are advantages here with Tarot Training Sleeves, which I feel are better than other decks that use QRF links to videos. The videos and the information on the definition cards in the sleeves and in the training portal are better integrated and easier to apply than other beginner decks that have used similar devices. Also, there is neat portability with the book/box format and your phone access to the training portal if you are heading out to meet with friends and play Tarot. It is here that Tarot Training Sleeves shines, in that there is a valuable bridge between the virtual world and the real world where the cards, reader and querent exist, in that the keyword prompts on the definition cards can be viewed side by side with the video and narrative definitions online. Whereas other decks I have seen only had the video, and to look further, you had to scroll to other pages online. This made it more convoluted, which I thought led to a distancing, a loss of connection with what is happening at the Tarot reading table.
I was impressed by this simple-looking training system. I must admit though, at first, I wasn’t too enthusiastic to review this product as I might have been if it was a newly released Tarot deck! However, as I got into it, set up, and started using the system and portal, I found it fun and interesting. I could see that the makers of this system put an enormous amount of thought and effort into making it accessible and easy for beginners. It was also a good exercise for me to explore it, like a refresher course, and experience how learning Tarot is changing in the 21st century.
I genuinely feel that Tarot Training Sleeves has added a great degree of easy access to Tarot for the curious novice. I know from personal experience that it is very easy to get lost in the mountain of information that is Tarot and all its adjacent practices. For many people, learning Tarot is like learning to ride a bicycle on the Motorway (Interstate), too much too soon. That is the beauty of Tarot Training Sleeves; they are like training wheels that keep you balanced and not overwhelmed during those critical early moments when learning Tarot. Tarot Training Sleeves is a great learning system and would be an asset or a gift of encouragement to anyone who wants to learn Tarot, and begin exploring all it has to offer.
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