| The Basics Of Tarot Tarot cards are unique, and | | | | · Wands – or batons, rods, clubs, |
| used for the purpose of divination and problem | | | | staffs, or staves. |
| solving. A Tarot deck consist of 78 cards, divided into | | | | · Pentacles – or coins, disks, or |
| two categories – the Major Arcana cards, and | | | | diamonds. |
| the Minor Arcana cards. There are 22 cards of the | | | | · Cups – or hearts. |
| Major Arcana and 56 of the Minor Arcana. It is | | | | · Swords – or spades. |
| thought that Tarot originated in China, Egypt, or in | | | | The 14 cards of each suit consist of 10 numbered |
| India, though its origins are unknown. However, what | | | | cards and 4 court cards. The numbered cards are |
| is known is that the Tarot cards we know today, | | | | numbered from 1 to 10, with the ‘one’ |
| appeared in the late 14th century or early 15th | | | | card also known as the Ace. The four court cards |
| century Italy. The 22 Major Arcana cards are | | | | are known as the King, Queen, Knight, and Page (or |
| numbered 0 to 21 in Roman numerals, and are: | | | | Prince and Princess in place of Knight and Page). The |
| - The Fool | | | | assigned values of the cards progress from one to |
| - The Magician | | | | ten, and then to Page, Knight, Queen, and King. Just |
| - The High Priestess | | | | as it is done in the normal playing cards, the Ace is |
| - The Empress | | | | also assigned the highest value. |
| - The Emperor | | | | Understanding Tarot [ |
| - The Hierophant | | | | There is a need to understand Tarot, as different |
| - The Lovers | | | | people interpret it differently, and may arrive at |
| - The Chariot | | | | different conclusions. Assume that during a reading |
| - Strength, The Hermit | | | | you picked out The Devil card. An inexperienced |
| - The Wheel of Fortune | | | | reader could form an opinion that you are on the |
| - Justice | | | | brink of disaster, with bankruptcy staring you in the |
| - The Hanged Man | | | | face. There is a need to look at it from a positive |
| - Death | | | | angle, as an experienced reader would do. He would |
| - Temperance | | | | interpret this as a warning to desist from wasteful |
| - The Devil | | | | spending, to work out a budget, and to stick to it. |
| - The Tower | | | | This will lead to your finances becoming stable. Tarot |
| - The Star | | | | is not an end in itself, but a means to that end. That |
| - The Moon | | | | is why understanding Tarot is very essential. Tarot |
| - The Sun | | | | only tells you what is likely to happen if you follow a |
| - Judgment | | | | particular path. It only gives you an indication. What |
| - The World These cards are also known as | | | | you choose to do, and what will actually happen |
| ‘trumps’ and have their own pictures | | | | depends on you. Following the indications given by |
| and symbolisms that are interpreted by the Tarot | | | | Tarot readings, you can mould certain aspects of |
| reader. The cards of the Minor Arcana are divided | | | | your life. This manipulation can make you bring certain |
| into 4 suits of 14 cards each. | | | | events to pass, and similarly, avoid certain events |
| These suits are: | | | | from happening. |