The Authentic Tarot by Thomas Saunders (Watkins, August 2007 £10.99)

Thomas Saunders challenges the popular view of the cards as a device for fortune-telling. In his new book The Authentic Tarot he sets out the true purpose of the Tarot which is to provide wisdom, guidance and insight into where we are on our path through life.

The Tarot deck is a ‘book’ of 78 cards that tells an allegorical story of our quest in life, using a symbolic language of archetypal pictograms and numbers. In its truest form, the Tarot is an ancient tool for self-development and indeed, self-realisation.

Thomas Saunders decodes what may be the oldest known complete deck of cards – the Ancien Tarot de Marseille – which retains the greatest integrity for their original function. He explains the symbolism of each card and the relationships between the different cards, suggesting how the wisdom of the Tarot can help us to self-awareness and an understanding of where we are at present and the next step forward in our quest.

Thomas argues that the self-awareness that appears to be lacking in our modern society is a problem that leads to the breakdown of community and our modern malaise, especially amongst stressed-out young urbanites. He also outlines how the Tarot can be used as an ethical guide for political and business leaders.

About the Author

Thomas Saunders has been a Tarot reader for many years – he was also the Tarot reader for LBC Radio and Marie Claire Magazine in the 80s/90s.
He is an international consultant architect, a practising dowser and a member of the National Federation of Spiritual Healers. He lectures in the UK and the US on the Tarot and is the author of The Boiled Frog Syndrome: Your Health and the Built Environment (Wiley Academy 2002).

He will be running a series of seminars and courses, teaching his method of reading the Tarot. For details please go to www.authentictarot.com for more information.

What they are saying…

"Two weeks ago for the first time in 53 years "The Authentic Tarot" has shown me the bridge that connects two very separate halves of my personality: the spiritualist and the pragmatist.
Renzo Orlandi, MD R.O.S. Marketing & Sales Ltd

Thomas Saunders gives a fascinating and unique insight to the Tarot. The book offers the reader great hope and inspiration in that by the correct use of the Tarot a person can take responsibility of their own life and control their destiny……….…..truly an eye opener!’
Sarika Jobanputra, Director S J Associates Ltd

“What it teaches us is that the complete Tarot deck is derived from the necessity for instructing people - who were mostly illiterate - on how they could face and solve life's problems.” Karren Brooks, Founder & CEO, Whitespace Leaders

“Not only a thorough and in depth guide to the meaning and symbolism of the Tarot, this book contains powerful lessons for living a better life. It skilfully guides the reader to use the Tarot in the way in which they were first intended.”
Marilyn Devonish, Director

“I enjoyed reading The Authentic Tarot immensely and recommend it as a well balanced, thought provoking and enlightening look into such a fascinating subject.”
Claire Nicholson, Mindspire - Coach

“Thomas Saunders has accomplished quite a feat – he has stripped the Tarot back to basics, both in his approach and in his choice of deck, the Ancien Tarot de Marseilles. His book allows us to use the Tarot as a tool for discovering more about our own personalities, rather than foretelling the future.”
Fiona Brown, Editor

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For more information, interviews and review copies please contact Jenny@happypr.co.uk or 0207 2639304.