| The lighter side of Tarot deals with games played | | | | Tarot versions include the Visconti-Sforza, the |
| using this deck of uniquely peculiar cards. These | | | | Marseille, and the Minchiate. These latter decks often |
| range from the highly complex to those a | | | | feature elaborate artwork without a great deal of |
| four-year-old can play. Zarcana, a complicated | | | | occult imagery and, depending on personal tastes, |
| game encompassing battles, voyages, life, death, | | | | can sometimes be construed as masterpieces of |
| love, loss, and more can be played indefinitely | | | | Renaissance design. |
| — or until one player in a winning position | | | | Many teachers of Tarot recommend using the |
| decides to declare the game finished. Another game | | | | Waite-Smith version until the novice has become |
| appeals to the younger set because of its much | | | | familiar with all the image meanings and |
| simpler rules. Each player is dealt a card and | | | | representations. At this point, the student can then |
| whatever image is on the card, the player must | | | | proceed to select from the many Tarot designs |
| enact a semblance. This can be quite humorous and | | | | available the deck that appeals to him or her |
| fun for younger children. Imagine the delight when a | | | | personally. It is not unusual for even a long-time |
| player is dealt The Fool! | | | | practitioner of Tarot to continue using the |
| There are as many Tarot games as there are Tarot | | | | Waite-Smith version because, as one Tarot reader |
| aficionados, and a quick look through the Internet can | | | | says, It is simple, forthright, and appeals to the |
| locate more Tarot games than a person could | | | | pragmatic side of my personality. |
| humanly attempt to play in one lifetime. But this is | | | | Tarot card decks can be purchased many places |
| the joy of Tarot — and of the Internet! | | | | both online and at brick-and-mortar retailers. Because |
| As with games, Tarot deck designs run the gamut as | | | | the stigma of devil worship has left the Tarot |
| well. After all, these cards have been around for | | | | in many parts, sometimes one can find a deck in as |
| hundreds of years, and each culture has contributed | | | | innocuous a place as Wal-Mart. Other areas may only |
| its own version. Sometimes even individuals have | | | | carry decks in out-of-the-way fortune-teller supply |
| come forth with their own versions of the game, and | | | | shops and other underground markets. |
| some of these have become quite popular. The | | | | Tarot serves to entertain as well as to gain insight, |
| Waite-Smith Tarot version (also known as | | | | much as it did hundreds of years ago. So invest in |
| Rider-Waite) of the cards, created during the | | | | your own deck and begin today to reap the rewards |
| early part of the 20th century, has become probably | | | | of learning Tarot. You may gain more than you ever |
| the most popular design used today. Along with | | | | imagined! |
| Waite-Smith, some of the better-known and still-used | | | | |