Tarot Cards

While it seems that each person has their own way of reading, the cards themselves have not changed! All through the centuries, each card has its own picture and its own meaning, these two principles never change.

The earliest Tarot cards are found as early as the 14th Century in Italy. These cards were painted and used as playing cards, featuring four different suits. The Italians began painting additional cards and adding them to the four suits. These additional cards were known as trump or ‘triumph’ cards and were often painted for the wealthiest of families. For example, the Visconti family of Milan had a set painted which consists of several dukes and barons.

It wasn’t until the invention of the printing press that these cards became available to more of the ‘general’ people.

In France and Italy, these cards were originally used as playing cards (rather than for divination). They were not ‘used’ for divination purposes until the 16th and 17th Centuries. It wasn’t until the 18th Century that each card started to be given a meaning, and even how the cards could be laid out for ‘divinatory’ purposes started to be looked into.

In 1781, Antoine Court de Gebelin started to connect the wisdom of the cards to ancient Egyptian mythology, especially Isis, Osiris and other Egyptian gods. The cards were now being painted and copied on the pictures found in the tombs of the ancient Egyptians of the Egyptian gods.

In 1791, Jean-Baptiste Alliette (a French occultist), released the first Tarot deck to be used for divinatory purposes only. These cards soon became connected with Kabbalah and the secrets of hermetic mysticism. Occultism and spiritualism became popular ‘past time’ by the end of the Victorian Era.

The Rider-Waite Tarot deck was first published in 1909. Arthur Waite was a British occultist and was a member of the Order of the Golden Dawn, and a nemesis of Aleister Crowley, who was also involved in the Golden Dawn. Waite, with his friend and artist Pamela Colman Smith, created this deck, which is used today with nearly all of the instructional books on Tarot.

Today, a standard deck of Tarot cards consists of 78 cards: 22 of the Major Arcana and 56 of the Minor Arcana. There are hundreds of different Tarot card decks today, some of which are = the Rider-Waite / the Wild Unknown / the Modern Witch / the Mystic Mondays / the Ethereal Visions Illuminated / the Forest of Enchantment / the Santa Muerte / the Everyday Witch = to mention only eight.

The beauty of today is that anyone can buy a deck of Tarot cards and a book of Instructions and can Learn the Tarot for themselves.

However, as with all things mystical, Tarot must be treated with respect. The deck may be ‘just’ cards but the ‘spirit’ is a real living ‘spirit’ --- and like the Ouija board --- Tarot is not something to be played with!

THE MAJOR ARCANA

In Tarot, the Major Arcana consists of 22 cards = numbered 0-21 = and these cards are the more ‘significant’ cards. They stand out in a reading and represent 1/ life’s lesson 2/ karmic influences and 3/ the ‘major’ influences within your life.

These meanings do not ‘pull any punches’ but they do represent the Positive side of life:

The Fool The Justice

The Magician The Hanged Man

The High Priestess Death

The Empress Temperance

The Hierophant The Devil

The Lovers The Tower

The Chariot The Star

The Strength The Moon

The Hermit The Sun

The Wheel of Fortune Judgement The World

THE MINOR ARCANA

The Minor Arcana are the 56 ‘suit’ cards. These are four suits: Cups, Wands, Pentacles,Swords. Each suit has 14 cards within it: Ace / 1-10 / Prince or Page / Knight / Queen / King. Each card has its own meaning.

These cards can reflect the trials and tribulations we experience and go through on a daily basis. They represent what is going on in your life --- on a daily basis. Typically, they have a temporary influence.

“They represent an energy that is moving through your life right now and that can be easily changed, depending on the actions you (personally) take.”

Like I said before, anyone can learn Tarot, but it is not a ‘Force’ to be played with, but it is to be respected and Tarot Always has a Positive effect Life.

It is interesting that the word “Arcana” means: “secrets or mysteries.” This is interesting as the Major and Minor Arcana cards of Tarot are looked into to uncover the secrets of the future or even of Life itself.

In a ‘spread’ of Tarot cards, if there are a lot of the Major Arcana cards this means that the Universe is making big changes. If there are a lot of the Minor Arcana cards this means that it is up to you to make the changes in your own Life and that you CAN make those changes.

“The Wheel of Fortune” card can mean luck, success, and destiny and if it is reversed, it van mean an increase or an abundance.

We shouldn’t really have favourites, but mine is “The High Priestess” card --- it is such a beautiful card. When it shows in a spread, this could mean desire, mystery, spirituality as well as a thirst for knowledge. The reverse card could mean repressed intuition, blocked psychic powers and lack of self-belief. This card had a very strong spiritual ‘feeling’ to it.

We are all excited to see Magicians do magic tricks but what does “The Magician” card mean? This card can mean influence, resourcefulness, skill and concentration as well as having physic powers. Its reversed meaning can be manipulation, unused ability, trickery and lack of mental clarity. When “The Magician” cards appears in a spread, it could be telling us not to miss an opportunity.

We all know the word “Justice” a when this card shows in a spread, it can mean just that = that truth and honesty will be seen and shown and that “Justice will be done!” This could also mean that legal matters may be coming into your life. Life gives its lessons. The reversed “Justice” card can mean karmic retribution, corruption and unfairness. This is a card to be listened to.

When “The Star” card appears in a Tarot spread there is a feeling of joy, hope and peace. This card represents inspiration, calm, contentment and healing. However, if it is reversed, it can mean that you are focusing on the negative, that there is a lack of faith and boredom.

It is true the old saying = ‘keep busy, never become bored, as the Devil makes work for light hands!’

5 meanings of 5 of the 22 Major Arcana cards. But what do the Minor Arcana cards mean?

The four suits are = Cups / Wands / Pentacles and Swords.

Cups = represent a new beginning, a new relationship, happiness, a celebration. A nice cup of tea is nice to drink when you are thirsty. The reversed “Cup” can mean sadness, blocked emotions or bad news. When the “Cup” is the right way = it is filled with much joy. When the “Cup” is upside down and empty = there is no more wine to drink and that is sad.

Wands = represent good news, being creative, having enthusiasm. Reversed, it can mean a lack of initiative, disappointing news or maybe a cancelled journey. Wave the “Wand” and see the smile but drop the “Wand” and you can lose your grip on life.

Pentacles = represents finances, a new job, new business and money. The reversed “Pentacle” can mean loss of money, lack of financial opportunity or insecurity. Hold the coin (Pentacle) in the hand and life will understand, drop the coin (Pentacle) and lose a penny.

Swords = represents new ideas, victory, intellectual ability and clear thinking. The reversed “Sword” can mean failure, arguments, insults or making a wrong decision. When you hold the “Sword” you win, if you put the “Sword” down you can lose.

There can be several spreads in a Tarot reading = 3 card spread / 5 card spread / 7 day spread / Celtic cross spread = to name just 4 spreads.

Psychic ability or intuition is needed when reading a Tarot spread. It is important to “tune in” to your natural psychic abilities so that you can read Tarot with accuracy.

Again, though, remember that Tarot is to be respected!