There is fairly wide variation of the symbolism for tarot cards used in divination. The interpretation of the tarot card spread will always be filtered through both the person doing the spread and the questioner. The spreads for the tarot cards will also vary, although there are certain popular spreads that are used more frequently. A tarot card spread may use one, three, seven and ten cards depending upon the type of question that is being asked and the preference of the reader. A belief that the symbolism of the cards can help in understanding the preferred course of action or decision making process is fundamental to seeking and accepting the results.

Minor Arcana from the Kabbalah

The tarot cards known as the Minor Arcana are similar to Anglo-American playing cards. The Minor Arcana consists of four suits of 14 cards each for a total of 56 cards. Each of the four suits, representing the four elements of Earth, Fire, Water and Air includes the numbers Ace through ten plus four face tarot cards representing the King, Queen, Knight and Page. The four suits are depicted as Pentagrams (Earth), Swords (Air), Wands (Fire) and Cups (Water). The face cards also correspond to the elements, so the Page of Pentagrams tarot card is particularly powerful, as is the Knight of Swords, Queen of Cups and King of Wands. The King of Wands or Fire of Fire is the strongest Minor Arcana tarot card.

Major Arcana Tarot Card Symbolism

The 22 tarot cards of the Major Arcana are the ones that most people are familiar with. The illustrations for the tarot card decks that are most recognized are rich with symbolism from many different spiritual and philosophical systems. Colors, astrological symbols, garments, background details and position of the central figure all have significance in the reading of the tarot cards spread.

Symbolism of the Hanging Man Tarot Card

The profound significance of the Hanged or Hanging Man tarot card is often veiled. It can represent passivity, sacrifice, acceptance, waiting or a different point of view. Some read the Hanging Man tarot cards as an indication of a changing perception or better understanding of some of life’s mysteries. The tarot cards associated with the Hanging Man may also represent the sacrifice of oneself for the greater good. The card has symbolism tied to the Norse god Odin, the Christian Jesus Christ, the Egyptian Osiris and the Roman Mithras.

Significance of the Tarot Card for the Chariot

Some of the interpretations for the Chariot tarot card include victory, honor, conviction, inflexibility and command. Tarot cards depicting the Chariot show a crowned or helmeted princely figure in a two-horse chariot. Some of the depictions show the Chariot pulled by sphinxes. The steeds may be colored in stark black and white. Some tarot cards show the charioteer in control of four creatures, symbolizing control of the elementals to achieve a goal. Victory for the Chariot requires determination, steadfastness, power and self-confidence. However, reaching of the goal or desired end result implies control of external forces rather than internal struggles

Spread of Tarot Cards

The layout of tarot cards during a reading is known as a spread. Certain spreads such as the Celtic Cross spread have become more popular. When using tarot cards, the position of a specific card within a spread can be as important as the card itself. In most types of tarot card spreads, a certain card is known as the significator. The second card placed over the significator card identifies the conditions of the question. Other cards in the tarot card spread may depict the history of the question, the attitude of family and friends, or the future influence that can be expected.

Celtic Cross Tarot Card Spread

The Celtic Cross tarot card spread consists of ten cards. The first five are arranged in a cross form with the next four arranged in a vertical row to the right of the cross. The final tarot card is placed horizontally on the central card of the cross. Tarot cards arranged in a Celtic Cross formation is believed to be the most common spread design. The significator card is the first central card of the cross, while the horizontal cross card is used to present the conditions of the primary question. The top arm of the cross stands for the questioner’s hopes about the question. Each of the other cross cards represents certain aspects of the question. The Culmination Card is the final card placed at the upper end of the vertical row to the right of the tarot cards making up the Celtic Cross. The Culmination Card represents the result of all the previous cards in the spread.

Horseshoe Tarot Card Spread

The Horseshoe tarot card spread is another quite common display used for the purpose of seeking answers to a question. The horseshoe tarot cards design is spread in a semi circle or a V shape consisting of seven cards. From left to right, these seven tarot cards represent the past, the present, influences shaping the question, obstacles in the way of the solution, expectations for the solution, a positive course of action and the expected outcome to the recommended course of action.

Tarot Cards in a Tetrastys Spread

The Tetrastys tarot card spread is a four-level pyramid, consisting of four cards, three cards, two cards and one card on the top level. The individual tarot card rows represent the four elements, earth, air, fire and water. The position of the tarot cards within the row has a specific meaning as well. The top card of the pyramid is typically the significator card.

Reversed Tarot Cards

There is some dissension amongst practitioners of tarot card readings about the significance of reversed tarot cards. Some individuals understand a card that is reversed or inverted to mean that it is the opposite expectation from what is traditionally symbolized. Others believe that an inverted tarot card indicates that the symbolism is particularly strong. Still others who use tarot cards believe that the orientation of the card depends upon the position in the deck and has no particular significance.

Tarot Cards Symbols

The symbolism of a particular deck of tarot cards will depend upon which deck is in play. Those who depend upon the tarot card decks usually have one style that is familiar and is the preferred choice when dealing a spread of cards. The symbols on the individual tarot cards usually carry out a theme and can be similar from one style deck to another. The understanding of a particular tarot card may depend upon the experiences and background of the individual doing the reading. The generally accepted interpretive principles of several of the Major Arcana (greater secrets) cards are described below.

Symbolism of the Jester or Fool Tarot Card

The Fool or Jester tarot card holds the number zero. The Jester symbolizes all that is childlike, rash, or without thought. At the same time, the Fool is clever to entertain and enjoy life at the moment of living. He appreciates beauty and is not loaded down with a desire for material possessions. Tarot cards depicting the Jester often show him accompanied by a small dog, which may signify distracting animal desires. When the Fool appears in tarot cards spreads, it may be interpreted to mean that significant change is about to come. Other interpretations say that the Jester means the individual doing the questioning should take action even though the end result cannot be known.

The Magician Tarot Card: Its Symbolism

The youthful Magician or Magus tarot card has been likened to the god Apollo, with symbolic ties to the Holy Spirit, eternity, reincarnation and the elements of earth, air, fire and water. Words used in conjunction with tarot cards depicting the Magician include energy, action, objectivity, confidence and personal power. When tarot cards showing the Magus appear in the spread, the individual doing the query is advised to transform something under some circumstances. However, the Magician can also indicate that the individual is intoxicated with self power.

The High Priestess Tarot Card

The High Priestess card was originally called the Popess tarot card and may have referred to the legendary Pope Joan. It is perhaps the most mysterious and hard to understand of all the modern tarot cards. Some apologists consider that the High Priestess amongst a spread of tarot cards indicates the dual nature of humankind. The representation of the High Priestess shows serenity, wisdom, introspection, love and common sense. Interpretations of this card in the spread include rational thinking, relationships and acceptance of current events.

The Significance of the Empress Tarot Card

The Empress is one of the two female figures in the top valued tarot cards. While all tarot cards are filtered through one’s own experiences and understanding, the Empress card is typically noted for her sensual side. She is the mother figure, also signifying abundance, comfort, satisfaction and health. The Empress tarot card is important when the questioner is searching for health or prosperity. With the power over life and prosperity, an inverted Empress card is sometimes used to mean death or poverty is in the future.

Tarot cards Deck

The term ‘tarot cards’ today is commonly understood by English-speaking people to mean the specialized deck used for divination purposes. Tarot card study circles around the philosophy that the spread of the cards and the order in which they are viewed can lend insight into the current situations of the subject of the reading. Future paths can be understood by knowing and understanding the present. Different tarot card practitioners believe the power of the cards comes from different sources. Gaia, or other spiritual forces, is the power behind tarot cards, according to some believers, while other followers believe the cards help to tap into the collective subconscious.

Some Typical Tarot Card Deck Styles

As the symbolic and mystic meanings of tarot cards changed over the centuries since the mid 18^th century, so have the illustrations and style of the cards. Today, some users of tarot cards depend upon a deck that is heavy with Egyptian symbols. Antoine Court de Gébelin wrote a treatise in 1781 that tied Gypsies, who first used a tarot card deck for divination, to the ancient Egyptian book of Thoth and the power of Isis. Other, more fanciful styles include decks with comic book and Disney characters

Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Cards

This tarot card deck is the most popular in use in the English-speaking world today. The images on the deck were created by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909, according to the instructions of mystic A.E. Waite. They were published by the Rider Company. The images are simple, yet hold a multitude of symbols. This tarot card deck moves away from the Christian symbolism of the Pope and Popess cards to become the Hierophant and High Priestess, respectively. The Smith designs are faulted only in the crudeness of the color printing. Later clones of the Rider tarot cards improved the color quality.

Thoth Deck Tarot Cards

The Thoth divinatory tarot card deck was painted by artist Lady Frieda Harris with coaching by Aleister Crowley, notorious English occultist. Crowley wrote several works about the occult, most notable of which is the Book of Law. The Thoth tarot card deck was intended to accompany Crowley’s Book of Thoth. Crowley’s tarot cards took nearly five years and were not published until after his death. The initial publication was in 1969, with a revised version in 1977. The 1986 version is the one most used today. The deck displays a wealth of symbolism, drawn from many different spiritual and philosophic systems.

Purpose of Tarot Card Decks

Tarot cards have been described in various ways and are used by practitioners for different purposes. Some of the suggested applications for tarot cards include spiritual, emotional and physical healing, assistance in making wise decisions, and guidance in understanding of mystical concepts and principles. Those who use a tarot card deck may be manipulating the cards as a mnemonic device to learn the principles of the Qabalah. Probably most practitioners who provide readings for others are simply looking for a way to focus their understanding of the universe in order to answer specific questions.

History of Tarot Cards

Tarot cards have been around since the mid-fifteenth century, although originally they were used as a deck of cards for playing various card games. A tarot card was used in games by the French and by the Italians. Tarot card games were probably played by other central European peoples as well. The etymology of the word is unclear. It has been traced variously to the Arabic, Italian and French. Card games first came into Europe from Egypt during that latter part pf the 14^th century. The cards from Egypt were very similar to the tarot cards used in European games.

Origin of Tarot cards

The name for the game played with tarot cards probably came from the Taro River region of northern Italy. The game played by both the French and Italians originated in Milan or Bologna. As early as 1367, there is documentation of a ban on tarot card decks and card playing in Bern, Switzerland. The ban didn’t seem to eliminate the playing of games with the tarot card deck throughout Europe from 1377 to the present day uses. There are surviving cards from decks that were hand painted in the mid-15^th century for an Italian ruling family.

18^th Century Tarot Cards

With the invention of the printing press, tarot cards were no longer hand painted in small numbers. They were produced in larger numbers, although there are many different regional variations of tarot card decks. The Tarot de Marseilles is perhaps the most famous of the tarot card decks. Other variations include the Swiss tarot and the expanded deck with 96 cards known as the Minchiate. While the usage and production of cards and card games increased during this period, so did the preaching against the game and the cards used in the games. Today, most games are played with the non-occult cards similar to the Italian decks.

Games Played with Tarot Cards

Many of the tarot card games played in France, Italy and other parts of Central Europe use the non-occult type decks. Some of the best known games played with tarot cards include tarot, tarock, tarocchi, taroccho and ottocento. Many are played only regionally or in the home country, but others, such as tarock are played widely in several European countries. The tarot card deck is often a standardized 78-card deck. The expanded, 96-card tarot card deck uses astrological symbols in addition to the standard tarot elements.

Make-Up of a Tarot Card Deck

There are dozens of different tarot card decks, although most use a 78 card deck with four suits including court cards and numbered cards, 21 trump cards and the Fool card. The 22 trump cards are known as the Major Arcana. They do not have suits. The balance of the 56 tarot cards are 4 suits of 14 cards each. These tarot cards are known as the Minor Arcana. Traditionally, the Minor Arcana suits are coins, cups, sword and wands. Modern tarot deck suits are disks, cups, swords and rods. Variations of decks are sometimes whimsical and at other times simply reflecting the viewpoints and emphasis of the creator-owner.

Importance of Tarot Cards

While some of us go through life not really caring about what will happen tomorrow, there are others who want to make sure they take the right step. A lot of people don’t trust tarot cards enough to follow it and some only check it to find out if it really works. So what exactly is the importance of this occult tradition? How will a tarot card help people change the way they go about life? Different people have different explanations but one thing that is clear is that tarot cards do help you make better decisions.

Believe in tarot cards before you use them

One of the most important things is to have faith in the tarot card reading. Without which you will not only find it hard to take the advice but you will not listen to the reading with an open mind. Tarot cards help you think beyond your normal levels. You get a broader view of the possibilities of your future. The level of trust people have on the tarot cards varies from person to person. Online tarot car reading is a disputable subject where some feel it works and others don’t. If you have doubts about getting your cards read online, stick to a regular tarot card reader.

Use tarot cards as a tool for making right decisions

Your past, present and future will be represented with the help of 78 shuffled tarot cards. Things to look out for and ways to approach your problems will also be talked about. The tarot card reader is usually experienced and has a strong understanding of the tarot card and what they represent when they are found in a certain pattern. After your tarot cards are read, it is up to you to take or leave the advice.

Tarot and love

One of the most often asked questions in tarot cards is about love and relationships. Even though career and health follow closely, love takes a very important place in tarot card reading. One should be careful when asking questions and shouldn’t be too specific. Is so and so the right person is a very specific question and it will be hard for the tarot card reader to answer you and you may get confused with the answers given too. Keep the questions focused and asking things like what I should do to make my relationship work will get you more understandable answers from the tarot card.

Online tarot

Looking for a tarot card reader and frequent visits is time consuming and expensive. On the internet there are a number of reputed sites which read your tarot cards any time you want them to. It is not only fun, but also increases one’s self awareness. Some websites allow you to subscribe to daily tarot card reading. It need not be considered divine as some religions can be opposed to this. It should be considered as a way of being more aware about one’s self. Tarot cards not only can be read online but one can also learn how to read them online.

Understanding Tarot Cards

There is always a sense of excitement when something is used to foresee the future and a lot of excitement surrounds tarot cards as well. If you have questions about the tarot cards and how they are read, you have come to the right place. In this article we will discuss about the deck of tarot cards and what each type of tarot card represents.

The deck

A deck of tarot cards has 78 cards. The cards are of two kinds and can be compared with the playing cards. The 22 major arcana tarot cards, also called as trumps, are similar to the king, queen and jack set of the playing cards and the 56 minor arcana cards resemble the numbered cards. Each tarot card has a symbolism of its own and hence is used to ‘read’. Like the playing cards, tarot cards also have 4 suits, Wands, Swords, coins and cups. .

The Spread

When the tarot cards are laid out, it is called a spread. The major arcanas indicate major events of life. If more than one major arcane is seen in a spread, then it is an indicative of an important phase in life. Sometimes a single tarot card is kept aside. This is to represent the one who is getting his or her cards read. This is called as the significator. Using this is optional as is using reversals. In tarot card reading reversals are where the card is present in the opposite direction. This sometimes can be read as opposite of the normal reading or with lesser emphasis to the reading. A tarot card can hold a lot of meaning and the neighboring cards are also taken into consideration while understanding it.

Symbolism

Wands in the tarot cards represent strength and confidence. Presence of multiple tarot cards with wands in a spread mean that there is a good chance of your project taking off well. Cups stand for spirituality and study. Multiple cups in the spread will tell about emotions, love, etc. Swords represent authority and multiple tarot cards with swords indicate action and decisions. Coins represent material things in one’s life. Multiple presence of this tarot card suggests a financial activity like an investment in business, etc.

Where should you get your reading done?

A lot of ads that tell you to call a number to get your tarot card reading done are scams. This is called as cold reading where they tell you random things till something clicks. This type of tarot card reading is not the real thing and all that happens is a waste of money. A good tarot card expert need not be the way they show them in movies. They are normal people who look normal and have a normal life. For some tarot card reading is a hobby for others it is a profession. If you are very serious about getting it read, go to a certified reader as they will have better experience and will interpret the cards better.

Tarot card reading

A lot of myths surround tarot card reading and some even believe it predicts the future. Most of the people who believe this are the ones who don’t really know much about tarot cards. Some find it hard to believe that a randomly picked card can tell you your future. Experts will tell you that this is not exactly what tarot cards are about. The tarot card talks about how your future plans can unfold and give you the possibilities. This is not the same as fore-telling the future.

How should your question be?

In order to make the most of tarot cards, one should know how to frame questions. When you ask questions, keep the question focused but not too specific. Keep the focus of the question on you. Even if another person is involved, frame the sentence in such a way that the focus of the tarot card remains on you. The question you pose to the tarot card should encourage an explanation and not a yes or no answer. Complex questions posed to the tarot card can result in complex, often difficult- to- understand answers. The questions should be simple and straight forward.

Staying neutral

You should come to the tarot card reading sessions with an open mind. You should not have a made up mind and then wish that the tarot cards agree with what you think. This attitude will help you take its suggestions better. Staying neutral helps you to be open to its suggestions and naturally your decisions will be much better. A tarot card can only give you suggestions and the final decisions rests on you. At times when the answers from the tarot cards don’t make sense, then that may be an indicative that something else needs to be done or that you are way off with your plan.

Be positive

Always keep the questions positive. Instead of asking the tarot card why something hasn’t happened, ask what you can do to make it happen. This will take you a long way. Some people sat that tarot cards are a way of practicing to get in touch with ones inner self. After you get used to what the tarot cards say, you will be able to look into your own self and decide what the right thing to do is. Tarot card reading has been practiced for centuries and a lot of people have benefitted from it.

Is it real?

A question such as this about tarot cards cannot be answered with a yes or a no. As it doesn’t exactly pin point and predict what will happen in the future, it cannot be wrong. All tarot cards do is to tell you what can happen in your future plans, taking into consideration your past and present. Tarot cards have helped people take on projects with more confidence and less fear. Knowing what could possibly come in the way of success can make one be better prepared. Tarot card does work or it wouldn’t have so many followers.

Tarot

When we think of tarot card reading, we picture a woman in long, flowing robes sitting in a dark house, etc. and a lot of myths exist about this. While a lot of people mystify the tarot cards, experts say it is more about getting answers from one’s higher self. This may not be easy to understand so to put it in a simpler way, tarot card reading is far from predicting exactly what will happen in the future it is more about showing you your options. You don’t need to be a psychic to understand tarot cards.

Types of tarot reading

There are basically two ways in which a tarot card is read. One is where you seek answers to the questions in your mind and the other is open reading. In question reading of card, you have to ask questions and you will find the answers or suggestion in the tarot card. Open reading of tarot cards is generally done when you are at a certain phase of life where there are crossroads. Like after graduation, when you are moving or any such time. You can guide the answers to stay on your career or health but you cannot ask seek specific answers from the tarot cards.

How are the cards read?

Tarot cards are first laid out. The meaning of the position of each tarot card and its meaning with reference to its neighboring tarot card is then interpreted for you. When the cards are arranged, they are seen as a cross and a staff. First the cross is read and they are taken in pairs to see your current situation. The bottom most card in the staff talks about you and the one about that will be external environment affecting you. The topmost tarot card will tell you about the projected outcome. When the tarot cards are dealt, if they face opposite directions, the outcome is said to be weak but doesn’t change.

How to be a tarot card reader?

If you are very enthusiastic about tarot cards and want to make tarot reading a career, there are a lot of ways to get certified in this field. Tarot card reading can be self taught as well. A lot of books can be found on this subject that will give you enough information. Online classes are also conducted where you will be taught how to read tarot cards. Some individual teachers can also be approached to learn more about tarot cards.

Certification

If you want your tarot cards read, go to a certified person. There are a lot of people who claim to be tarot card readers but just tell you something off the top of their head so make sure you ask to see a certificate before you trust the tarot reader. There is a tarot board which gives seven levels of certification in America for tarot card reading and they require different levels of experience and one will also have to pass standardized tests. The certifying organizations for tarot card readers can have different tests and certificates in different countries.