The occult practice of using cards in fortune-telling. There are seventy-eight cards in a tarot deck. The deck is divided into two types: major arcana and minor arcana. The former has twenty-two cards, with each one representing some aspect of a human being's psyche. The other fifty-six cards consist of four suits, called wands, cups, pentacles, and swords, symbolizing the various elements. Court cards include the king, queen, knight, and page, symbolizing spirit, soul, vitality, and body, respectively. These are commonly spread out to form given patterns while some deity is invoked, who is expected to reveal the future of a given person's life.
Source: Encyclopedic Dictionary of Cults, Sects, and World Religions by Larry A. Nichols Image: WikiCommons
Around 1367 the first deck was created as a card playing game in Europe. In the 1430's the 22 triumph cards were added in Italy for the wealthy. In the early 17th century the cards were starting to be used in divination. In 1791 Jean-Baptiste Alliette created a deck made specifically for divination. The most recognized deck, The Rider Waite Smith, was published in 1909.
These cards were made in 1491 for a wealthy Milan family and were held privately by the family until 2009. See: A Renaissance Riddle: The Sola Busca Tarot Deck (1491) for more information.
Image: WikiMedia Commons
There are several types of tarot cards available currently. The main ones are: Rider-Waite, Thoth, Marseilles, and Lenormand.
Rider-Waite - Originated from the occult theory of the Golden Dawn, a British occult association, and combines some elements from astrology and magic to extend and develop a card system that is very suitable for beginners. The number cards from each minor arcana use specific story images to represent meanings.
Thoth - Was created by controversial occultist Aleister Crowley in collaboration with Frieda Harris over a period of five years (1938-1943), combining various occult elements such as astrology, Kabbalah, I Ching, mythology, alchemy and magic. This deck is based on the Egyptian theme.
Marseilles - A classic tarot deck from France. The structure of the seventy-eight standard tarot cards recognized today is based on the specifications of it. It is simple and uncomplicated. Its number cards of minor arcana, like playing cards, have no character patterns, but simply draw the symbols of the deck.
Lenormand - This system was invented by Madame Lenormand, who was a born diviner. She is best known for predicting Napoleon’s accession to the throne and the claim of Napoleon’s wife, Josephine, to the throne. Since then, she had become a favorite of the court as Napoleon’s royal soothsayer. If each of Waite’s Tarot cards provides a detailed and philosophical view of a situation, Lenormand’s, on the contrary, refers to a specific event or person in a single card, giving the seeker a simple and intuitive result.
Source: Types of Tarot Cards by Jack Yang
Recommended Articles for Further Learning:
10 Easy Steps to Learning the Tarot by Donald Tyson
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Designed for beginning as well as experienced tarot readers, Holistic Tarot offers a fresh and easy-to-follow approach to the use of the tarot deck for tapping into subconscious knowledge and creativity. The tarot deck has been used as a divination tool for more than two centuries; while the tarot is still most commonly thought of as "fortune telling," the true power of the tarot lies in its ability to channel a clear path for our deep intuition to shine through. Consulting the tarot can help clear creativity blockages, clarify ambitions, work through complex decisions, and make sense of emotions and relationships. Whether used for simple decision-making or an understanding of your life's purpose, learning tarot can be an indispensible tool for being more mindful of the factors that can assist or weaken your efforts toward success. In Holistic Tarot, author Benebell Wen provides a complete guide to using the tarot to foster personal development. Wen gives a comprehensive overview of the history of the tarot and a wide array of theories on its use (including its relationship to Jungian archetypal psychology and traditional Chinese divination practices) before digging deeply into one of the best-known tarot systems, the Rider-Waite-Smith. Beginners will find a complete guide to working with the tarot, including choosing and caring for a deck, how best to learn and remember the attributes of the major and minor arcana, the interpretation of cards and spreads, the role of meditation in a tarot practice, and how to use the tarot for improving relationships, professional development, and personal resilience. More advanced practitioners will appreciate nuanced theoretical discussions of the tarot as well as practical advice about reading others' tarot cards and setting up a practice. Containing over 500 illustrations and detailed information on each card as well as numerous spreads, Holistic Tarot is a complete compendium of tarot study that every practitioner should have in his or her library. "A modern alchemical achievement."--Barbara Moore, author of Tarot Spreads "Will become one of the jewels in the crown of tarot literature." --Anthony Louis, MD, author of Tarot Beyond the Basics "A tarot classic."--Sasha Graham, author of Tarot Diva "A magnificent, intelligent, comprehensive overview and innerview of the Rider Waite Smith system of tarot This is the only guide you need to have. Bravo " --James Wanless, PhD, author of Voyager Tarot "A huge accomplishment ... likely to become the essential guidebook for serious students of the tarot."-- Joan Bunning, author of Learning the Tarot "No tarot enthusiast should be without this book "--Chic and Tabatha Cicero, authors of The Golden Dawn Magical Tarot "Arguably the most comprehensive guide to tarot on the market today. It's also innovative: it deftly combines Eastern mysticism with Western metaphysics. It's an impressive tome that presents a wholly modern, rational approach to tarot practice while preserving notable elements of tradition."--Corrine Kenner, author of Tarot and Astrology
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Learn to read with your own voice and get the answers to all of your questions. For years, Melissa Cynova has been sitting down with friends and neighbors who are curious about the tarot. She's heard all the questions and misconceptions that can confuse newcomers (and sometimes more experienced readers, too). Kitchen Table Tarot was written as a guide for anyone looking for no-nonsense lessons with a warm, friendly, and knowledgeable teacher. Join Melissa as she shares straightforward guidance on decks, spreads, card meanings, and symbols. Filled with real-life examples and personal explanations of what it's like to read the cards, this book tells it like it is and provides the information you need to read with confidence. Praise: "If you're looking for an intuitive overview of how tarot might work for you and a pragmatic guide to learning the cards' core meanings, this book is the one. It's a warm, fast read with plenty of swearing, and I wish it could be bundled with every one of my tarot decks...It's that good. Buy one for you and one for your best friend, and go through it together. A+"--Maggie Stiefvater, #1 New York Times bestselling author and creator of The Raven's Prophecy Tarot "Cynova's debut book struts forward to lead the pack with its authentic voice, candid and nimble teaching approach, and ability to pare down the principles and experience of reading tarot to its essentials...Exemplary. Eminent. Authoritative. A veritable gem." --Benebell Wen, author of Holistic Tarot "A punch-in-the-gut teaching guide to the tarot...illustrating how much the tarot encourages each of us to find our own unique language and meanings when we begin this journey."--Terry Iacuzzo, author of Small Mediums at Large "Melissa Cynova has written one of the most accessible, relatable tarot books ever. Pull up a chair, pop a cold one, and get ready for some straight-talking tarot lessons that will have you slinging the cards like a tarot badass in no time at all!"--Theresa Reed, author of The Tarot Coloring Book "I've read many books about tarot readings, but this one is my favorite book so far."--Library Noire "This book is a major asset to anyone curious about tarot...Reading Kitchen Table Tarot genuinely feels like sitting down with her and getting a whole workshop series delivered one-on-one."--Amber Unmasked "Kitchen Table Tarot is for the beginner who wants to dip their toes in the tarot world for fun and personal study."--Spiral Nature Winner of a 2018 IPPY Award for Best First Book
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For centuries, the tarot has been revered as a tool for divination and self-discovery. Today, its more popular than ever, with hundreds of decks available representing cultures, ideas, and spiritual traditions from around the world.
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