What are tarot cards? This is a question that can be difficult to answer, as tarot cards have been used for many purposes over the years, and there are hundreds of different Tarot card decks.
Each tarot card deck may have different art styles the nomenclature of the tarot suits may change slightly but there is a method to the madness and there is a numerical structure that makes up a Tarot card deck vs a plain oracle deck despite the fact that each one may have its own imagery.
Some people believe that reading the Tarot is a tool for divination, while others see them as a way to access spiritual guidance. Still, others believe that the cards can be used for self-empowerment and personal growth or an inexpensive way to indulge in a little art appreciation.
Your tarot deck can be a great tool for self-exploration especially when you just need a new perspective on an old problem or recurring pattern.
Making decisions can become easier when you step out of the verbal mindset and work on the visual level. Answers come as you get into a flow state and just travel through the story the pictures on the cards are telling you.
What are Tarot Cards?
Tarot cards have been used for centuries as a way to access hidden knowledge and insight.
You can use tarot cards to access your inner strength as you learn to process trauma and apply the card meanings to your personal situation.
The traditional deck of Tarot consists of 78 cards, which can be a bit confusing because each has its own unique symbolism and meaning.
However, with most decks, there is a numerical pattern.
There are 22 Major Arcana tarot cards that represent life’s most important lessons, while the 56 Minor Arcana cards reflect the challenges we experience every day.
The minor arcana cards are structured like modern playing cards with aces, numbers, and face cards. Each of the four suits relates to the four elements, the four seasons, and four aspects of one’s possible career paths. (Merchant, Soldier, Sailor, Cop/lawyer).
The major arcana tarot cards tell the big-picture story about things we all experience at one time or another, and the minor arcana cards tell the story about how we respond to those things or process them through our inner world or personality.
What Tarot Cards are Best for Beginners?
If you’re new to Tarot, there are a few decks that are particularly well-suited for beginners. The Rider Waite Smith deck is probably the most popular and widely-available tarot deck out there. It’s also one of the easiest decks to learn, due to its simple illustrations and clearly defined symbolism.
The first thing to do is learn all the upright card meanings and then you may find it helpful to learn to go to the polar opposite end of the emotional spectrum to see what the reversal card meaning is.
Another great option for beginners is the Universal Waite deck. This card deck is similar to the Rider Waite Smith deck, but with more muted colors and softer illustrations.
Finally, the Gilded Tarot is a beautiful deck that’s perfect for those who are drawn to ornate artwork and symbolism.
However, because it can be difficult to interpret some of the tarot cards, it’s not recommended for beginners. That said, you can use any deck that appeals to you. The different tarot card decks have a similar structure but the interpretation of the symbols is always up to the reader.
Many times wisdom speaks to you as you set aside fear and accept messages from your own intuition. So interpretations of the tarot cards are great as far as they go but you have to really be able to tap into the emotion that the image on the tarot cards evokes for you to really get an accurate reading – no matter the spread you have used.
Practice makes perfect and in working with your favorite tarot cards over time you will see the patterns the artist has put in the images to spark your intuition and help you discover a deeper understanding of your situation and the message the cards may have for you on it. The important thing is to just keep moving forward with your hobby each day and soon you will be able to interpret any deck you pick up.
What is the Tarot Based On?
Tarot cards are based on a centuries-old system of symbolism. The earliest known tarot cards date back to the 15th century, and they were used for games like Italian Tarocchini and French Tarot.
It wasn’t until the 18th century that Tarot began to be used for divination purposes. One of the most popular tarot decks, the Rider-Waite deck, was created in 1909 by A.E. Waite and artist Pamela Colman Smith.
The Rider-Waite deck is what’s known as a ” pictorial” tarot deck, which means that each of the tarot cards features an illustration that represents a particular meaning. For example, the suit of Cups is associated with emotions and the suit of Pentacles is associated with material matters.
The Major Arcana, or Trumps, is a series of 22 cards that represent major life events, such as The Fool, The Tower, and The World. The Minor Arcana is made up of 56 cards. These cards represent more everyday issues, such as The Page of Cups or The Three of Pentacles.
There is no such thing as a bad luck tarot card in the deck. However, there are some powerful images within the major arcana. But the pictures can be gathered and laid out in a tarot spread because each card needs context to tell the whole story. to gain greater clarity over any questions one may have. Some questions are more serious than others and there are some very powerful images in the various tarot decks.
Reading tarot cards is simply a matter of learning to tune into your own intuition and putting away the self-doubt that may keep you from leaping to a creative conclusion.
Learning card meanings is simply a matter of practice. Anyone can read tarot cards it’s just a matter of making associations with the imagery.
We hope this blog gave you new insights into the power of the Tarot. If you want to continue your learning, find out the meanings of tarot cards today.
