When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. If you want to find out how this works: [Read More Here]

Tarot – What Is It?

The tarot consists of a deck of 78 cards and is widely used by many as a way of seeking guidance and answers. Effectively connecting your intuition and the spirit world.

When you look at the pictures on tarot cards, you can tap into a part of your mind that is often overlooked. Tarot can be a great tool that enables you the reader to hopefully gain new insights into your question or situation.

How Is the Tarot Split Up?

The 78 cards of the tarot are divided into the major and minor arcana. The major arcana consists of 22 cards that represent the Fool’s journey.

The remaining 56 minor arcana cards are divided into four suits. Each suit corresponds to one of the four elements: fire, air, earth, and water. The suits are Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands.

The Major Arcana

There are 22 cards in the major arcana:

The Minor Arcana

There are four suits in the minor arcana:

Unlike normal playing cards which have 13 cards each minor arcana suit consists of 14 cards. Both go from the Ace through to the King, but whereas playing cards go Jack, Queen, and King the minor arcana go Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

Variations of Naming

You will sometimes see Pentacles called Coins and Cups called Hearts. Similarly, the Page and Knight are sometimes called Princess and Prince among other names.

Some deck designers think that by naming their court cards in a non-standard way that it will help their deck stand out. The problem is that that can be confusing for a beginner.

How Is a Tarot Reading Done?

Tarot readings are explorations of possible future events using a tarot deck. The cards are shuffled while asking a specific question that an answer is sought for or a specific situation where guidance is needed.

The cards are then laid out in one of a number of different layouts or tarot spreads. The tarot reader then interprets the cards for the question asked.

The tarot deck is used as a tool to help a psychic reader connect when reading for someone so as to promote a better understanding of all the issues surrounding a particular problem. Much of the information is actually channeled direct from spirit, but the tarot cards are a focal point to draw out the underlying issues and to help get to the heart of the problem during a reading.

Many people think that a tarot reading predicts an absolute future. It doesn’t. The future is not set in stone! Free will definitely comes into the equation. A tarot reading will show the most likely outcome if you follow the path you are currently on and do not deviate from it. As an indicator of where you are going and where you might go should you choose a different path, the tarot is invaluable.