| The most popular version of the Tarot was | | | | child to adult and all of the challenges we must face |
| established in 1910 by the artist Pamela Colman-Smith. | | | | as we progress into a deeper level of maturity and |
| She worked under the guidance of occultist A.E. | | | | spirituality. |
| Waite. The Waite deck was the first tarot deck to | | | | The second half of the Major Arcana (The Wheel of |
| include symbolic imagery on all 78 cards. | | | | Fortune through the World) reflects our personal and |
| The tarot has its roots in many different philosophical | | | | spiritual world view. In a tarot reading, the second |
| and religious backgrounds. It originated in a time | | | | half of the major arcana typically points to a more |
| imbued with symbolic imagery that was influenced by | | | | inward-looking stage or process in our development. |
| many cultures, languages and historical references. | | | | Keep in mind, this does not always happen in |
| The tarot's symbolism is based on archetypal | | | | procession. In fact, in some areas we are still the |
| elements and metaphors, giving its imagery an | | | | "fools" while in other areas we can be the "The |
| universal appeal. Regardless of one's cultural, religious | | | | Hermit". |
| or educational background, the Tarot experience is | | | | The Minor Arcana Cards |
| collective. Their interpretations are recognizable by | | | | The Minor Arcana, or Pip cards, are the numbered |
| everyone. | | | | cards (1-10) that comprise each suit. The Minor |
| The modern Tarot deck is comprised of 78 cards, 40 | | | | Arcana reflect day to day issues. They can represent |
| in the minor arcana, 16 court cards and 22 cards that | | | | how you interact with people, your work, your |
| make up the major arcana. The 16 court cards | | | | emotions, your finances, and your personal |
| consist of pages, knights, queens and kings. The four | | | | relationships. In a tarot card reading, the minor arcana |
| suits in the minor arcana include the Suits of Cups, | | | | reveal the who's, how's, and what's. There is no |
| Swords, Wands and Pentacles. Each Suit is connected | | | | sense of permanence. If there are a number of |
| to one of the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire and | | | | minor arcana suit cards in your spread, know that |
| Water. They are also connected to the four | | | | you can make changes, work through blocks, and |
| directions: North, South, East and West. The imagery | | | | understands where you are emotionally. |
| of Tarot reflects an association to these elements. | | | | Interpreting Tarot Card Meanings |
| This enables the tarot reader to identify the key | | | | They key to understanding tarot card meanings is to |
| aspects that are influencing a particular situation or | | | | not always be literal. It often requires one to attach |
| individual. | | | | their own life experiences to each of the tarot cards. |
| The Suit Cards | | | | Tarot card meanings can also vary depending on the |
| In tarot, the cups suit represents the dream world, | | | | type of reading that is being done or even where a |
| the unconscious, feelings and relationships. The wands | | | | particular card might appear in a tarot spread. Upside |
| suit represents fertility, creativity and one's sense of | | | | down cards, known as "reversed tarot cards", also |
| purpose or career endeavors. The sword suit | | | | have their own unique meanings as well. |
| represents reason, life challenges, the mind and truth. | | | | The Basics Of Tarot Reading |
| And lastly, the pentacles suit represents the material, | | | | Now that you know a little about the basics of the |
| financial and ethical aspects of a person's life. | | | | tarot cards, we can now look at what you can |
| There is a king, queen, knight, and page in every suit | | | | expect from your first tarot card reading. Most |
| as well. They are referred to as the court cards and | | | | readings typically consists of shuffling the deck, |
| each one (excluding the page cards) has an | | | | drawing a set number of cards, and placing them in a |
| astrological sign associated to it. This adds yet | | | | specific configuration known as a "tarot spread". |
| another level for interpretation in tarot card readings. | | | | There are hundreds of tarot spreads in use today, |
| To be helpful, here are the astrological associations. I | | | | but most psychic tarot readers tend to favor some |
| often encourage people to identify their sign and the | | | | spreads more than others. They will often use |
| associated tarot card meaning. This can offer | | | | different tarot spreads for different types of |
| tremendous insights into ones strengths and | | | | readings as well. |
| vulnerabilities. | | | | Once the cards are pulled and placed in a spread, the |
| * Aries: King of Wands | | | | tarot reader will begin to interpret the symbols of the |
| * Taurus: Queen of Pentacles | | | | cards. Often they will point out the implications of the |
| * Gemini: Knight of Swords | | | | past, what is happening in the here and now, and |
| * Cancer: King of Cups | | | | what will influence your future. You may ask |
| * Leo: Queen of Wands | | | | particular questions and additional tarot cards may be |
| * Virgo: Knight of Pentacles | | | | drawn for specific areas of your life. The |
| * Libra: King of Swords | | | | configurations the cards are placed in add to the |
| * Scorpio: Queen of Cups | | | | complexities of their meanings. |
| * Sagittarius: Knight of Wands | | | | The tarot's power lies in its ability to distinguish a |
| * Capricorn: King of Pentacles | | | | person's path through the psychic ability or intuition of |
| * Aquarius: Queen of Swords | | | | the tarot reader. In some cases, a psychic tarot |
| * Pisces: Knight of Cups | | | | reader will rely primarily on their own psychic abilities |
| The Major Arcana Cards | | | | to interpret the cards, while a non-psychic tarot |
| The Major Arcana cards reflect where one is in his or | | | | reader will rely more on the tarot card meanings |
| her life's journey. There are 22 tarot cards in the | | | | themselves. Either way, trust the cards can do their |
| Major Arcana. The first half of the Major Arcana (the | | | | job and ask a lot of questions. |
| Fool through the Hermit) identifies the transition from | | | | |