Tarot Basics
Tarot is more than just a deck of cards with pretty pictures on it. Each card tells a story that unfolds before your very eyes.
The deck contains 78 total cards divided into two groups. The first is the Major Arcana which contains 22 cards. Each card in the Major Arcana has a specific name with an even more specific description. Among them are the Fool, Death and the Devil cards. Despite the name, the Death and Devil cards are hardly evil. The Death card for example typically means a major change is coming. The "death" of something old maybe what the card is trying to tell you.
The second group is the Minor Arcana or Pip cards which are divided into four suits containing 14 cards each. In most decks the four suits are called, Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Each deck is unique and the suits can go by several different names.
Each card tells the reader something. The meaning of the card is only a small part of interpreting the outcome or the answer. The layout is also important. The layout the reader chooses can better help him/her uncover exactly what the card is trying to say. Each reader is different and may choose to use a variety of layouts. There is no right or wrong way to lay the cards out, it is a matter of what is best for the reader.
There are many thoughts on the origins of Tarot in existence. Ancient Egyptians, gypsies, Atlantis. Historical evidence points to a beginning in the courts of Northern Italy, in the mid fifteenth century. Tarot was a simple card game in those times.
There are many different types of decks to suit every taste and belief. Choosing a deck can be tricky. There are many different opinions on how to choose a deck. The first is that you have to be given the deck as a gift. The second is you pick the deck based on the pictures. The third is you pick the deck that speaks to you. While any of these is neither right or wrong it all depends on you. Whatever you decide will be the correct deck. Most people believe the best deck to start with is the Ryder Waite Tarot deck. There are many readers who believe that the Ryder deck is not ideal for beginners. We say its up to you.
If you choose to buy your deck there are many places to go either in store or online. We recommend going into a store to look at the deck in person and make a choice there. It can be a lot easier to choose when your looking at a deck rather than a picture of it on your computer.
When you pick that perfect deck for you make sure to read the book that comes with it. It will help you better understand the deck you have chosen. There is also a book, tarot for dummies, which can be very helpful.
