This book is not new, but has been out for several years now, first being published back in 1990.  It has, however, been revised and reprinted in a new edition, so I finally got around to reviewing it.  I have to admit that, while I am both a practicing pagan and tarotist, I don't work with spells terribly often, and so I kind of avoided this book for a number of years.  I think I had this idea that it must be some sort of fluff, skimming the surface of both Wicca and Tarot without really going in deeply into either.  Boy, was I ever wrong!  Tarot Spells is a clear, logical approach to using the cards from the Tarot to aid in visualization for reaching your goals, in both personal and spiritual ways.  I almost wonder if the title isn't selling the book short in some ways; perhaps other people are avoiding it, thinking it only is good for magickal spells and anyone who is not pagan might not want to do spellwork.  Many people do not realize that creative visualization and other meditative techniques for setting and reaching personal and spiritual goals are no different from magickal spellworking.  This book has a much wider reach than just a pagan audience.
 
That said, I must comment right off the bat on the new front cover.  The old cover was nice, being brown and having pictures of cards on the front, but this new cover is nothing short of spectacular.  I saw it, and was compelled to open the book immediately.  I think if it is given the proper amount of shelf space so it can face out, it will garner this much attention in every tarot section of every store it is displayed in.  The cover makes the claim that over 120,000 copies of this book have been sold.  I imagine that is over the last ten years, and referring to the first edition.  This edition should sell equally well if not better.
 
Inside the book, there is obviously a wealth of material.  The table of contents is six pages long.  Most of this is because the spells are categorized and then listed, so that you can find exactly what you need right off the bat without leafing through the entire book.  This is a help if you are in a hurry.  The entire first section of the book is devoted to introduction of the Tarot; different decks, books, applications, and so on.  A good amount of time is spent explaining HOW tarot magic works.  Then the book gets right to the spells.
 
Most of the spells listed are for positive change in one's life, such as, conquering an addiction, artistic and creative concerns, business, courage, dreams, health and healing, knowledge, motivation, protection, psychism, or stress.  There are several spells designed to help with specific circumstances, such as legal aid, job hunting, finding a new home, helping lost animals, and such.  And many things deal directly with physical matters such as farm and garden, beauty, health and fitness, and families, children, or divorce.
 
Most, but not all, of the spells in this book require a significator to be taken from the deck that is to be used for the reading.  Incidentally, the book is illustrated using the cards from the Robin Wood Tarot; this excellent deck is based upon the Rider-Waite traditional tarot, but it is not identical.  You do not have to use the Robin Wood Tarot to perform these spells; however, it does say that often the spell will rely on arranging several of the cards based on the physical orientation of the figure on the card (i.e. pointing in certain directions, facing a certain way, etc) so if you use a different deck for the spell you have to tinker with it to make it work out so the orientation is accomodated.
 
Each of the tarot spells in this book uses a specific spread or layout to accomplish the visualization goal; instead of working with one card, you are arranging the cards to produce a specific effect or mindset which will accomplish the goal.  So there is not a separate section of spreads, but rather the whole book ends up being a sort of book of spreads.
 
I particularly like the way each specific spell is presented.  First there is a pictorial presentation of the cards used for the spell, shown in the exact layout used for the spread.  Underneath the picture of the spread, there is an explanation of what the spread is supposed to accomplish.  For example, the spell for Addiction says "For help in overcoming an addiction or bad habit."  Then a page is dedicated to explaining the spellwork to be done, and lists things like accessories, timing, etc.  A meditation and visualization is described, and then a lovely affirmation is given.  Finally, the spell is ended, and you are done!

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Review Copyright 2001 by Gina M. Pace
 
Tarot Spells by Janina Renee, 1990, 2000 (second edition)
published by Llewellyn Worldwide, St. Paul, MN
ISBN 0-87542-670-0