Tarot Book Recomendations
Since 2026 is the year to be authentically me I wanted to find a fun way to find book recommendations that included one of my favorite things to do: Tarot.
I've been doing tarot since I was about 12. These cards are around 11 years old now which is wild to think about. A fun fact is I used to bring them to school on days we weren't going anything and do pulls for my friends until one of my friends told me that she should do them because she was a practicing Wiccan and it was disrespectful of me to appropriate her culture. I stopped doing reads for friends until a few years ago when another friend asked me about the cards I kept in my car.
Onto the read and the book recommendations.
The first card I pulled was The Empress. The vibe I got from this particular pull was a feminine energy living with comforts. This card right side up means nurturing, abundance and fertility. But I was really feeling the femininity from this pull, I found myself drawn to the strength of this card. Giving everything to the world and letting things be.
The second card was the 10 of Wands: This card is about taking on too much for you to handle. The woman in this card is struggling on her journey home. I found myself really drawn to the home of this card, it was a fantastical place that she is fully taking the burden of.
My final card was Judgement Reversed: Which is connected to denial, there's something more needed but there is nothing pushing them further. On this card I felt myself drawn to the spirits in the dress reaching out to her like she is their only hope.
So now I know I'm looking for a female protagonist who is struggling with a burden that she's in denial of. Which honestly is a lot of books. So I did a fun little look at all the books I have ever logged into storygraph and found myself being pulled to Witchcraft For Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix.
While I didn't rate this book really high I did enjoy parts of it. It fits with the themes of fertility because the girls are all pregnant living at a home for unwed mothers. These girls are expected to take on a burden from the older witches that the girls decide is too much to ask of them. This was set in 1970 and the homes weren't closed until late 70's later 80's. There are a few other elements of the story that really fit with this card pull but I don't want to spoil anything else.
As someone who has explored tarot for many years, I find the way the cards connect to storytelling truly fascinating. When I pulled The Empress, 10 of Wands, and Judgement Reversed, I was drawn to themes that often resonate on a deep, personal level—nurturing feminine energy, carrying heavy burdens, and facing denial of change. These archetypes are powerful lenses through which to explore literature. One compelling aspect of tarot-aligned book selection is how it helps highlight stories that center on emotional and psychological growth. For example, The Empress card’s emphasis on abundance and fertility aligns beautifully with narratives about women embracing their power and creativity. The 10 of Wands, which symbolizes taking on too much, invites us to consider protagonists who struggle under overwhelming responsibilities, often hidden beneath everyday life. Finally, Judgement Reversed reminds us of the barrier of denial—characters stuck, unable to heed a call to transformation. In my reading, Witchcraft For Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix emerged as a fitting choice. The story’s focus on pregnant girls at a home for unwed mothers and the burden passed down from older witches reflects the tarot’s themes vividly. This historical horror set in the 1970s brings to life the tension between tradition and change, much like the Judgement card’s message about the need for transformation that is resisted. For readers interested in exploring tarot through literature, I suggest paying attention to protagonists who embody these thematic elements: a nurturing yet strong feminine presence, the weight of unseen burdens, and an inner resistance to growth or acceptance. Tarot can be a powerful tool not just for divination, but also as a guide to discovering books that resonate deeply with your current journey. If you enjoy blending spirituality with reading, try pulling tarot cards before choosing your next book. It adds a layer of personal meaning and connection to your literary adventures! This approach helped me find stories that challenge and enrich me, creating a more immersive reading experience.