General Book of the Tarot

General Book of the Tarot is an illustrated book by A. E. Thierens, first published in 1930. Written by one of the leading early 20th-century astrologers, this classic occult text sets out a complete system that links the tarot with astrology, treating the seventy-eight cards as a symbolic map of the heavens and of human experience. Thierens opens with a substantial theoretical section in which he explains his esoteric philosophy, the structure of the major and minor arcana, and how the suits and trumps correspond to the zodiac, planets, and elements, making this a foundational work for anyone interested in tarot–astrology correspondences. The heart of the book is a detailed, card-by-card commentary on both the greater and lesser arcana. Each tarot card is given a clear upright and reversed meaning, along with its planetary or zodiacal association and its practical application in divination. Thierens walks the reader through the symbolism of the trumps, then the suits of wands, cups, swords, and pentacles, showing how each image reflects cycles of fate, character, and destiny. This makes the work useful not only as an introduction to tarot divination, but also as a reference manual for more experienced readers looking to deepen their interpretations. Images were not part of the original book - illustrations of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck are included in this edition to make the references clearer.