An introduction to the theory,
history and breakdown of Tarot card meanings
A Beginner's Guide to Tarot
Card Readings
by Fred Street
This quick guide is an
excellent introduction to the Tarot. Theory, history and a breakdown
of card meanings.
INTRODUCING THE TAROT
Tarot is a means of divination - that is, the art of 'reading' the
future or uncovering the unknown. The tarot consists of a set of
playing cards which are dealt into a particular layout according to
what your question is. When dealing the cards you should focus on a
particular problem you may be experiencing or think about an aspect
of your life about which you'd like more clarity. Traditionally the
tarot has been interpreted by a 'tarot-reader' - either professional
or amateur. More recently, however, computers have been used more
often to give readings online or on CD Roms etc.
HISTORY - There is much
mystery surrounding the history of the tarot and myths about its
origins abound. Some cynics say that this mystery has been
perpetuated as a marketing tool for tarot card salesmen! However, by
just looking at the evidence available we can estimate that the
earliest surviving full deck was painted in 1422 by Italian artist
Bonifacio Bembo. This is known as the Visconti deck, named after the
Duke of Milan, who commissioned them. Although accounts of Ancient
Egyptian, Celtic, Indian and earlier Italian links have been
suggested, there is no evidence to support claims of earlier decks
than the Visconti. It is possible that these more exotic links were
drawn as a result of the Moorish and other cultural influences on
Italian society at the time.
The cards were originally
used for a game called Tarocchi or 'Game of Triumphs' which was
similar to Bridge. The game was played mainly by the Upper Classes
and has continued in some circles (mainly in Italy and France) to be
played to this day.
The tarot's use by the Upper
Classes probably saved the game from being banned by the Church
(though some accounts state that tarot was considered heretical and
outlawed by the Church). Indeed in the latter half of the fifteenth
century some church sermons labeled tarot as the work of the Devil.
But in fact the Church concerned itself more with the use of
ordinary playing cards, which were considered gambling. Some cards
from the tarot deck - such as the Devil, the Tower and the Death
card - were on occasions omitted from the pack, as they were feared
by many people, but little harm was actually done to the use of the
cards until centuries later.
EVOLUTION - The tarot has
undergone many permutations in its use, design and interpretation
over the centuries. There is early evidence, for instance, to
suggest that one of the first permutations was in using the cards as
inspiration for poetry - possibly the first use in describing
aspects of the human psyche and personality traits. The cards have
since evolved according to the prevailing culture of the times and
attitudes within them.
The first evidence of tarot
being used as a divinatory tool came in the early eighteenth century
in Bologna. In 1781 a clergyman, Antoine Court de Gebelin,
revitalised and raised awareness of the tarot in his book, which
drew links between the imagery in the Major Arcana and the mysteries
of Ancient Egypt. This was later picked up by occult practitioners
(occult means "hidden") such as Alistair Crowley and Waite of the
Rider-Waite deck. The imagery on this deck is the one with which we
are most familiar today as this was the deck introduced into America
in the twentieth century and the only one readily available to
generations of Americans. We therefore tend to associate the tarot
with more esoteric connections, rather than the lighter use which
defined its origins in fifteenth century Italy, over 500 years
before.
THE TAROT CARDS - There are
78 cards in a tarot deck. These cards are made up of a Major Arcana
(Trumps) and Minor Arcana. Arcana means mystery, which reflects the
secret wisdom contained in each card.
The Major Arcana Major
Arcana or 'Great Mysteries' consists of 22 cards and represents our
journey through life.
The Minor Arcana (Lesser
Mysteries) consists of 56 cards and represents day-to-day living.
The Minor Arcana can be divided into four suits. These are Wands,
Cups, Swords and Coins.
The Suits The Wands
represent doing Key words: Action, change, beginning, resolution,
fire element.
The Cups represent being Key
words: Feeling, emotions, spiritual, love, water element.
The Swords represent
thinking Key words: Ideas, understanding, reason, conflict, air
element.
The Coins represent having
Key words: Money, property, abundance, earth element.
Each suit consists of
numbered cards from Ace to Ten plus four Court Cards - the Page,
Knight, Queen and King.
Court cards
The Court Cards traditionally represent a person in your life or an
aspect of yourself. For instance, turning up the Knight of Wands
suggests you or someone in your life may be acting irresponsibly and
therefore behaving like this Knight. This site has been written so
that all the interpretations can be found in the text. You do not
need to do any extra work in adding the Court Card interpretations
into your readings.
Card numbering
These definitions are not intended to give comprehensive definitions
(nor do they fit each card precisely). Rather, they provide general
patterns and a rough path through the suits:
Ace: Represents the essence
of its suit Two: First steps into the area of the suit Three:
Further steps Four: Inner blocks to be overcome along the way Five:
Hardship, strife, struggle, conflict Six: Journeys and learning new
lessons Seven: Learning further, more challenging lessons in order
to break into the new Eight: Having to persist through difficulties
Nine: Final lessons Ten: The end result of learning all the lessons
of the suit Page: The apprentice who learns and plays with the
essence of the suit Knight: The rebellious or 'darker' side to the
suit Queen: The feminine manifestation of the suit - its 'inner
aspect' King: The masculine manifestation of the suit - its 'outer,'
worldly aspect.
To learn more about Tarot
and get a free reading visit
http://www.tarot-cards-reading.com
Fred Street is the
creator of
http://www.tarot-cards-reading.com a free Tarot reading site
which offers a wide range of readings online and by email. Ideal for
anyone learning Tarot
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