Book Review: The Major Arcana Anthology: 22 Tarot Experts Share Their Stories
- Curated by: Jane Meredith
- Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, www.llewellyn.com
- Publication Date: November 2026
- Format: Paperback original, 336 pages, 6″ x 9″ (proof copy)
- RRP: US$23.99 (US) / GB£22.00 (UK)
- ISBN: 978-0-7387-8205-8
- Reviewed by: Stephen Curry (Instagram: @reikirisehealing)
Reviewed from an uncorrected advance proof, so details may differ in the final edition.
Overview
I have never written a review of a book before, and with a book like this you don’t want to give spoilers, so I will keep to how it feels to read. The concept is what lured me in: 22 tarot experts sharing what the Major Arcana mean to them, or perhaps how those cards have moulded them.
I find that fascinating because tarot is personal, even though it is also universal. The Fool alone can set off an array of emotions and stories, and you are instantly propelled through deep personal landscapes. Tarot cards are portals, and this book treats them that way.
The curator and contributors
Jane Meredith is an Australian writer and ritualist and a teacher within the Reclaiming Tradition. Her other books include Elements of Magic, Rituals of Celebration, Journey to the Dark Goddess and Aspecting the Goddess. Here she curates rather than writes alone, bringing together 22 contributors, among them Mat Auryn, Mary K. Greer, Lilith Dorsey, Cassandra Snow, Fio Gede Parma and Cat Treadwell.
What makes it different
What makes the book so refreshing is that it explores vulnerability rather than glancing over the cards like a generic tarot encyclopaedia. Don’t get me wrong, those books have their place, but I have always been drawn to the humane narrative. Most of us who adore tarot have been through some trials and tribulations, and not many people come to divination without a battle scar or two.
The beauty of tarot is that it is constantly changing, and the wonder lies in the shuffle, a mirror of many facets. Sometimes a card comes out and it is so relatable. When I see the Hermit, I see my own reflection, yet to someone else the same card means something different, because everyone’s reflection is distorted in some way, whatever the archetype says.
Spreads, rituals and spells
What makes this more than a collection of essays is that each contributor closes their piece with something to try: a tarot spread, a ritual or a spell. After reading someone’s story, you are invited to step into the card yourself. That turns the book from something you read into something you work with, and it keeps the personal and the practical together.
So far I have tried one of them, the Pillars of the Temple Meditation by Fio Gede Parma. As a reiki practitioner, meditation is something I enjoy, though it is always a little awkward doing something for the first time. It is a practice I will return to. I haven’t yet tried the other spreads, because I don’t want to rush them. I would rather give each one the time it deserves.
Verdict
I feel privileged to read these personal reflections, and each one is a reminder that every one of us has a story to tell. This is a humane, personal take on the Major Arcana that suits anyone who wants to feel the cards as well as study them.
The Major Arcana Anthology is now on release in the US and can be ordered here, and releases 08-Dec-26 in the UK and is available for pre-order from all good online bookstores.
