- Author: Barbara Moore
- Contributor: Jessica Roux
- Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
- Publication Date: July 2026
- RRP: (US) $16.99 / (UK) £14.99
- ISBN-13: 9780738780405
- Reviewed by: Melissa Stratton-Pandina
The Art of Tarot Spreads by Barbara Moore is a wonderful book for those who want to deepen their understanding of tarot spreads. Moore takes a historic and practical look at different spread types, while keeping her tone light and conversational. She walks you through how she learned certain spreads and why she finds them useful. In the end, the book feels like having a cup of tea with an Auntie and having her talk about her favorite subject.
This book is not just a deep dive into the Celtic cross. In fact she does not even discuss it until half way through the book. It is also not a book about modern spreads or Moore’s own spreads that she developed. This book is more about older spreads that are not used as often any more. The first spread she mentions is from an early manuscript that uses playing cards instead of tarot. If you have ever read the older manuscripts, you know they read like stereo instructions. Moore carefully and plainly translates these instructions to a modern audience. She takes care to make it understandable even if the complexity of the process means it will not be a practice I adopt. She works her way forward in time touching upon the Golden Dawn, tableaux and yes/no spreads. Moore talks about the Celtic cross, Modern Spreads and more unusual ways to read spreads; even including tossing cards. By the end of the book, you have a well rounded understanding of your choices in reading cards from old to new.
The gem of this book is her discussions on tableaux spreads. She lays out a mighty strong argument as to why this spread should make a revival. I really appreciated how she went over the history of this layout and why it used to be the go-to spread. Spoiler alert: life was way more predictable in “the before times”. Then, Moore explains how to use this spread. What I really liked is once she was done explaining, she left it there. Is this as far as you could take the spread? No. She, then, gives 2 additional resources to use in order to go further, if you want to, in the text. I really appreciated the recommendation being in the text instead of as a foot note.
My only criticism of this book is the lack of visuals. Each spread is depicted beautifully with simple graphics and numbers. These simple graphics are easy to understand and printed at a perfect size so as not to distract from reading the paragraphs that explain them. Unfortunately, when Moore goes on to walk you though a reading the same graphic is used with the addendum of the card name, e.g. ‘Ac’ for Ace of Cups. This may make newer readers have to look up card images or read the book with your deck of cards sitting next to you. Later in the book, this is rectified and images of the RWS cards are featured in the spread that Moore is describing.
This is the perfect book to bring you from a novice to an intermediate reader. Even expert readers will walk away with a new spread or technique to use. Written in a light conversational tone, you never have to question what Moore means or slog through tough academic writing. She give just enough information to make you feel comfortable using these new (to you) spreads and why you should try them, but never gets preachy or dogmatic. In the end this was an easy fun read and filled in some of my lapses in knowledge.
Please note: The deck shown in the images above are the reviewer’s own and do not come with the book.
Creator Bio:
Prolific author and deck creator Barbara Moore has been in love with tarot for over 35 years, and has taught tarot all over the world. Her creations include Steampunk Tarot, Good Fortune Tarot, and Trick or Treat Tarot all published by Llewellyn. To find out more about Barbara, please visit: https://barbaramooretarot.weebly.com/
The Art of Tarot Spreads – Past – Present – Future is now available and can be purchased here: https://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738780405 and from all good online bookstores
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