| The first question one might ask when the word | | | | representation. There are some who claim that Tarot |
| "Tarot" is mentioned, most likely has to do with what | | | | cards traveled to Europe from the Middle East |
| is Tarot and how does it work. According to its | | | | through trading caravans or during the Crusades. But |
| practitioners, Tarot is a form of divination using a | | | | although the exact origin of Tarot cards remains |
| deck of cards, each carrying a symbolic meaning. | | | | unknown, the fact still is that Tarot makes some |
| Tarot is a window through which one can learn to | | | | people, who do not believe that the future can or |
| see the future. It is best if one considers Tarot as a | | | | should be predicted, feel uncomfortable. Interestingly |
| mirror that deeply and, for its funs, accurately | | | | enough, Tarot has managed to survive over the |
| reflects the feeling, dreams, thoughts and aspirations | | | | centuries, although fortune-telling is actually forbidden |
| of a person. For the thousands who have been | | | | by some religions and is considered incompatible with |
| reading or listening to Tarot cards readings, Tarot | | | | some spiritual approaches to life. |
| resembles a guide that can help someone face the | | | | For a long time Tarot cards remained privileged to |
| unknown landscape of his or her life. Contrary to | | | | the upper class of society, but after the invention of |
| many of its opponents, Tarot is not spooky or | | | | the printing press the once hand-painting deck of |
| something supernatural. But where did it come from | | | | cards became available to the masses. The typical |
| and why people seem to be drawn by its "magic?" | | | | 78-card Tarot deck is structured into two distinct |
| There are a number of different theories, stories, | | | | parts: the major arcana and minor arcana. The word |
| guesses, and assumptions, regarding Tarot's origin, | | | | "arcana" means the secret or mysterious knowledge. |
| the exact sources of Tarot are not completely | | | | Neither part is more important than the other, just |
| known. People that have researched on Tarot's | | | | different. The first set, major arcana, also referred to |
| history, find that the earliest available reliable | | | | as the Trump cards, consists of 21 cards without |
| information categorizes Tarot as a card game played | | | | suits numbered from 1 through 21, plus a 22nd card |
| in Italy during the fifteen century -the oldest of | | | | "The Fool," which is sometimes given the value of |
| found Tarot cards belonged to the Visconti family, | | | | zero. The second group, minor arcana, consists of 56 |
| rulers of Milan. But it is unknown when exactly Tarot | | | | cards divided into 4 suits of 14 cards each. Further |
| earned its reputation as a device used for | | | | classified, the 14 cards in each suit consist of an Ace, |
| fortune-telling. Different civilizations over time, like | | | | nine cards numbered 2 through 10 and four court |
| that of Ancient Egypt, used images drawn on cards | | | | cards; just like the regular deck of 52-cards. |
| which were used to predict events through symbolic | | | | |