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The Tarot
Divination Tool
Consists of 78 cards, 56 Minor Arcana and 22 Major Arcana cards
The deck is divided into 4 suits, traditionally called Wands, Swords, Cups, and Pentacles/Coins.
The tool was popularized by the creation of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck, or just the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, in 1910. (Pictured on the right)
Many other types of Tarot exist, including the Thoth Deck by Aleister Crowley, but the RWS Deck has become the standardized version of the Tarot.
It is now one of the most prevalent divination and self-reflection tool and is sold online and in many stores including metaphysical stores and bookstores.
Photo of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck found at https://riteofritual.com/products/rider-waite-tarot-deck
"Workshop of Bonifacio Bembo (Italian, Cremonese, active ca. 1442–died before 1482). Love, from The Visconti Tarot, ca. 1450. Made in Milan, Italy. Paper (pasteboard) with opaque paint on tooled gold ground; 7 3/8 x 3 1/2 in. (18.9 x 9 cm). Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (ITA 109)" Italian tarrochi card found on https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/tarot-2
From Card Game to Divination
The Tarot did not begin as a divinatory tool, contrary to a popular misconception that it was an ancient tool to speak to the dead and deities. It began as a card game played predominantly in Italy in the mid-1400s. Similar card games were also found globaly in places such as India and Persia. "Tarot" comes from the Italian word tarrochi which referred to the 21 trump cards in the deck, the same cards we now refer to as the Major Arcana. Though the name comes from the Italian tarrochi, there is a possibility that the trump cards were originally invented in Germany and were called Karnöffel. The game relied on trickery and overtaking your opponent by using higher ranking cards against them.
The association with Divination, both in fortune telling and speaking to spirits, began in the late 18th century through the 19th century. Jean-Baptiste Alliette is credited with creating and selling the first divinatory Tarot Deck in 1791, claiming that it was an ancient Egpytian divinatory tool despite little to no evidence proving his claims. This claim was made likely to sell the deck and gain credibility. Tarot became known moreso for its divinatory practice going forward and began to be used in wider Occult spheres including within Kabbalah/Qabbalah and Hermeticism and being used during the 19th-20th centuries' Spiritualism movement.
The Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck
In 1909, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an Occult society founded on the beliefs and practices of Hermeticism, and occult publisher William Rider commissioned their members, British Occultists Arthur Waite and Pamela Coleman Smith, to create a Tarot deck that could be used by the order in their practices. Waite would go on to write the accompanying book to the deck that explained each meaning of each card while Smith hand painted each card to match the divinatory meaning of each card. It took Smith 6 months to paint each card. When the deck was first published, Smith's name was completely left off and the deck was referred to as the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck. In the late 20th century, a push for Smith to be recognized for her contributions led to the name change and for an introduction discussing her life and contribution to the deck in each decks' booklet to be added.
The deck is the most recognizable Tarot deck due to its artwork that is imbued with Kabbalistic imagery and explains each card's meaning in its imagery. It is the recommended starter deck for new Tarot readers due to its accessible imagery and wide-spread availability.
Arthur Waite, British Poet and Occultist. Author of Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck
Photo found at https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw103224/Arthur-Edward-Waite
Pamela Coleman Smith, British Artist and Occultist. Artist of Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck
Photo found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Colman_Smith
The Minor Arcana and their Suits
The Minor Arcana is similar to a standard playing card deck. The 4 suits each have 14 cards, from the Ace (1) to 10 with the additional face cards (the Page, the Knight, the Queen, and the King). The Minor Arcana describes super specific scenarios and messages and work as specifiers for the more generalized, larger messages of the Major Arcana.
A standard Tarot deck has 4 suits or groups in its Minor Arcana. Each suit is associated with an element and specific energies such as emotions and concepts. The Major Arcana do not fall under these suits. While most Tarot decks use the standard suits (see below) some may use alternate words to describe the suits (ie: Hearts instead of Cups, Sticks instead of Wands, Stars instead of Pentacles)
Wands
Associated with the element of Fire, the Wands suit often deals with messages associated with creativity, passion, hard work, and effort. The Wands might suggest passion for something or between people, career or educational ambition, or hopes.
Swords
Associated with the element of Air, the Swords suit discusses the mind, communication, conflict, and the inner world. The Swords might suggest outward or internal conflict, a decision to be made, clear or bad communication, or a struggle to overcome.
Cups
Associated with the element of Water, the Cups suit is connected to the heart, dealing with emotions, love, and external connections. The Cups might suggest to look inward on how you feel, an incoming or current romantic connection, or close friendships.
Pentacles/Coins
Associated with the element of Earth, the Pentacles or Coins suit deals with messages associated with money, values, security, and other material topics. The Pentacles might suggest a change in your career or education, financial hardship or gain, or a conflict in your beliefs or values.
The Seven of Wands. Found on https://www.thetarotlady.com/tarot-card-by-card-seven-of-wands/
The King of Swords. Found on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_Arcana
The Ace of Cups. Found on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_of_Cups
The Six of Pentacles. Found on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_of_Coins
The Major Arcana
The Major Arcana, or the Greater Arcana, are 22 cards that deal with larger themes and messages. Once referred to as trump cards when the Tarot was a card game, the cards stand out from the numbered Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana are the more recognizable cards in the deck. The Major Arcana use archetypes to explore many large themes from new beginnings, to cycles, to trauma, and to love. "The Fools Journey" is often used to describe the story of the Major Arcana's Fool (0) card's spiritual evolution to The World (21) card, signifying humanity's spiritual evolution.
From The Fool (0) to The World (21), the Major Arcana mostly (other than The Wheel of Fortune (10)) depict people or beings carrying out often grand tasks. The Magician (1) carries out a ritual, Strength (8) wrestles a lion, Death (13) rides in on a white horse, The Devil (15) imprisons a couple, and Judgement (20) depicts an angel calling in the end days. Each image directly relates to the meanings of the card.
Often Tarot readers use the Major Arcana as message themes or larger messages. (such as The Lovers noting the message to be about relationships or The Tower noting the message to be about a sudden change) The Major Arcana work in tandem with the Minor Arcana to create a robust and extensive message for the reader.
How to Read Tarot?
Tarot can be read in many ways. It is generally recommended that you enter a meditative or trance-like state of slow breathing and relaxation to better connect with the cards. The deck offers complex answers to your questions, so its better to not use yes-or-no questions.
You can read Tarot in whatever way you feel most comfortable with, but below are two methods commonly used to help you get started!
Beginning Steps:
These are generally understood to be how to start the process, but its not a super strict guideline,
just a recommendation. Feel free to change whatever steps you want!
1. Set out your deck and your information booklet on a surface.
2. Shuffle your Tarot Deck well. You can split the deck in halves or thirds if the deck is larger. You can shuffle like you would a deck of playing
cards, with a shuffling machine, and/or using the shuffling technique
used in the second reading technique.
3. When you finish shuffling and put the deck together again, give it one last shuffle to make sure everything is mixed.
4. Formulate a question you want answered. The question can be general or specific and can be about any subject you want guidance on.
Some examples include: "What does the year hold for me?" "How can I achieve my goals?" "Is there any messages from (spirit/deity/universe)
for me?" "What am I overlooking?"
5. Begin using one of the following techniques or your own technique to
shuffle through the cards and pull out a few cards to receive a message. You can use a spread like the photo to the left or just pull
cards and lay them in a line to interpret later.
6. Once you're cards are pulled, take deep breaths and examine
each card pulled. Interpret the cards. You can derive messages
from the imagery of the card or the written meaning of it.
If you don't know the meaning, there's no shame in
consulting the booklet the deck comes with or online!
Combine each pulled cards' messages into one story or message.
Tarot spread found on https://forum.thetarot.guru/t/best-tarot-spread-for-a-beginner/589
Tarot Reading Methods
Method 1: The Tarot Fan
This is the method you often see in TV shows and Films. While its a cliche, it can be very helpful for beginners or people who just prefer the method.
You start by taking the full, shuffled deck and setting it facing down. You then gently spread the deck into a fan formation, making sure there isnt a stack of cards on either side. (See Image Below) When ready to pull cards, you either look at all the cards and pull what you feel drawn to or hover your hand above the cards and pull what you feel drawn to. Let your intuition guide you. You may feel a energetic pull toward a card or have a gut feeling to pull a card.
Method 2: The Shuffler
This method may be more difficult if you struggle to shuffle and can also be messier as cards can go flying the faster you get at it.
Once your deck is shuffled, take the full, mixed-up deck and begin shuffling through them. (See Video Below) You can shuffle slowly or quickly. Shuffle through the cards until one is left in your hand, you feel drawn to a card you hold, and/or a card flies out of the deck. The faster you go, the more likely a card will fly out of the deck. Let your intuition guide you. You may feel a energetic pull toward a card or have a gut feeling to pull a card.
Tarot Card Fanning Method. Photo Found at https://www.dreamstime.com/fanned-out-tarot-cards-black-background-top-view-deck-playing-fortune-telling-spread-fan-image250017092
How to Shuffle Cards. While this uses playing cards, the same method can be used in Tarot.
Citations and Further Reading/Viewing
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