| The Tarot holds a particular allure for many, and is | | | | to deck. |
| one of the most popular practices utilized in | | | | The Major Arcana is made up of 21 additional cards, |
| determining events pertaining to an individuals past, | | | | each card depicting a figure, figures, or a symbol. |
| present and future. | | | | These include The Sun, The Hanged Man, The |
| Originally, popular theory credited the Romany people | | | | Hermit, The Empress, The Lovers, and The Wheel of |
| with the creation of Tarot cards and their | | | | Fortune, to name a few. |
| introduction into society, preceding regular playing | | | | The most popular and well known of the many |
| cards. However, further studies have proven that | | | | varieties of Tarot decks is the "Rider" deck, created |
| Tarot cards were present in Italy and ancient Egypt | | | | by A. E. Waite, a member of the Hermetic Order of |
| centuries before being utilized by the Romany to tell | | | | the Golden Dawn. This order was comprised of |
| fortunes. | | | | magicians who believed that the cards of the Major |
| The exact origin of the Tarot is unknown, though | | | | Arcana symbolized pathways into the mind, related |
| several theories persist to this day. A French | | | | to the tree of life. |
| theologian by the name of Antoine Court de Gebelin | | | | Using the Tarot cards as a means of divination has |
| believes that the Tarot were originally part of the | | | | become somewhat of a standard practice amongst |
| Book of Thoth, an ancient Egyptian book of divine | | | | would-be "psychics", somewhat diminishing the |
| wisdom. Another theorist, Eliphas Levi, believes that | | | | seriousness of the practice. In fact, Tarot readings |
| the Tarot is related to the paths to stages of | | | | have become an opportunistic business throughout |
| consciousness described in the Qabalah. Additional | | | | the nation. |
| studies have also found that the Tarot correlates | | | | However, only a practiced individual with years of |
| with the Hebrew Alphabet. | | | | experience and an innate talent for mastery of the |
| The Tarot itself is divided into two specific sections: | | | | Tarot can truly understand and accurately interpret |
| The Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Minor | | | | the cards drawn for any particular reading. Because |
| Arcana is made up of four suits. These suits may | | | | each card drawn is relative to one another, and all |
| vary, as there are many variations of Tarot decks, | | | | the cards drawn are relative to the individual who has |
| but typically they are swords, pentacles, cups, and | | | | drawn them, each reading is unique. Divining the |
| wands (or staves). Each suit numbers 1 through 10, | | | | meanings of the cards is an ancient tradition, and a |
| and also include a King, Queen, Knight and a Page. | | | | professional Tarot reading should never be |
| Again, some of these names might vary from deck | | | | considered lightly. |