The origin of the tarot cards, the region of the world, and the precise purpose of their origin, are wrapped in a haze of conjecture, doubt and superstition. Some authorities claim that the Tarot evolved from the Chinese divination system called I-Ching; others say that it was adapted from the legendary Book of Thoth. Still others place its origin as recently as fourteenth or fifteenth century Europe, since the earliest known complete deck dates from that time.

Whatever the origin of the Tarot, it is clear that the symbolism on the cards is universal, speaking to many different cultures and philosophies.

The Tarot Deck

The Tarot deck consists of 78 cards, divided into: –

1) The Major Arcana, consisting of 22 pictorial and symbolical cards, and

2) The Minor Arcana, which are composed of 56 court and numeral cards, divided into 4 suits.

The word “Arcana” comes from the Latin word ‘arcanus’ meaning closed or secret.

The major arcana, or trump suit, consisting of 22 cards has different pictures on each card illustrating an action, behavior and or event. Each card also has a label, which is a name, a title, or the description of the picture on the card.

All the cards in the major arcana except one are numbered, from 1 to 21. The Fool, which is an unnumbered card, is generally considered to be number 0.

The remaining 56 cards, the minor arcana, are divided into 4 suits: Swords, Cups, Coins, and Wands. There are 14 cards in each suit: 10 numbered (or pip) cards, from Ace to Ten, and 4 face (or court) cards: Page, Knight, Queen, King.

Tarot Spreads

There are many spreads to choose from. Some spreads are suitable for answering in’ yes or no’ while others require a great deal of skill from the reader and fair deal of patience from the questioner, for these spreads are complicated; but they provide an indepth analysis to the questioner.

The spreads mentioned below have been chosen for their ease of use and the depth of answer that they impart.

1) The Four-Card Spread : – This gives a reasonably detailed answer to simply phrased question. The beginner with minimum knowledge of the Tarot may use it with ease. It may be of further use as a part of a longer reading using another spread to answer secondary question relating to specific part of the questioner’s life.

2) The Celtic cross Spread : – This is perhaps the most widely used and most popular of all Tarot spreads. It gives the questioner a much more detailed view of his/her circumstances than the Four Card Spread. The reader should attempt to read the cards in relation to each other for all the cards taken together would provide more meaning than the sum of their individual parts.

3) The Astrological Spread : – This spread, as the name implies is based upon the principles of astrology. 12 cards are placed in positions representing the 12 astrological houses. Each card is interpreted with in the context of the individual house. This may take a little longer to learn for the beginner but any one with the knowledge of astrology will find the principle straightforward.