| Modern Tarot decks are comprised of 22 Major | | | | give their meaning in the different positions and |
| Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards in four suits, | | | | corresponding cards in the spread. Each position in the |
| much like the standard playing cards we use for | | | | spread has a meaning, and each card has a meaning |
| regular card games today. This 78-card deck is the | | | | as well. |
| widely-accepted standard. There are also many other | | | | The Major Arcana are generally seen as an important |
| decks that have varied styles and numbers of cards. | | | | significator. If a Major Arcana card shows up in a |
| These are generally called Oracle decks. | | | | reading, it means that is something you want to pay |
| The origin of Tarot cards is no longer known. One | | | | closer attention to in your life. Major Arcana cards |
| strong held belief is that Tarot originated in ancient | | | | represent the journey through life; the major points |
| Egypt, spreading thence to the Greeks, and moved | | | | one may go through while traveling the path of |
| through the world by the Gypsies. There are still links | | | | existence. |
| to Egyptian, Greek, Roman and other early religions in | | | | The four suits that make up the Minor Arcana each |
| modern Tarot. It is also generally believe that what | | | | have an overall meaning, and each individual card has |
| we know now as modern Tarot came about in the | | | | a more specific meaning. |
| 13th century, and while it shows obvious differences | | | | Cups, which coincides with the element of water, is |
| from that time, it still follows the same basic | | | | associated with relationships and emotions and the |
| principals. | | | | development of feelings. |
| Tarot cards have had an arduous journey through | | | | Wands, coinciding with fire, is the development of |
| history, at times only being allowed to nobles, | | | | creative imagination and the challenges one meets |
| occasionally sanctioned by the Catholic Church, and | | | | through their life. |
| sometimes seen as something evil. Some, even now, | | | | Swords which represents air, is the realm of the |
| believe Tarot cards to be something dark and evil. | | | | mind, looking at intellect and thoughts. |
| While this is not the case, Hollywood has taken hold | | | | Pentacles, representing earth, is the material world |
| of this idea and frequently presents it as such. | | | | and its reality, the resources the one will have or |
| The cards of the deck are used to represent the | | | | need on the journey. |
| different stages in the journey through life. The cards | | | | |