Tarot

There are many types of fortune-telling cards on the market these days, but not all of them are Tarot cards. The Tarot is a specialized set of cards that has a very long history. Some have even claimed that they derive from the ancient Egyptian civilization, but I think it more likely that they are European in origin and date from various mystical traditions some time around the period of the Crusades. A Tarot deck is similar to an ordinary pack of Playing cards. Both have four suits numbered from ace to ten. In a Tarot deck these are known as the Minor Arcana, and instead of Clubs, Hearts, Spades and Diamonds, the Tarot suits are Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Unlike an ordinary Pack of cards, each suit has four court cards rather than three: King, Queen, Knight and Page, making fifty-six cards in the Minor Arcana. In addition to the Minor cards, the Tarot deck has twenty-two 'extra', cards known as the Major Arcana. These do not belong to any suit, but have their own numbers (with the exception of the Fool), a symbolic image and a title. If, when doing a reading, more Minor cards occur than Major, then your destiny is mostly in your hands. If it is the other way around, fate governs Your future. The following sections of the site deal with the meanings of individual cards, as well as possible combinations and how to lay then out to create a reading. Each interpretations divided into upright and reversed meanings showing the Positive and negative effects of the cards. However, it is Permissible to use only the upright interpretations if you think that the reversed ones are too hard for the beginner.

HOW TO START

The first rule is to become familiar with your cards. Get to know the pictures, shuffle them a lot, carry them about with you, even sleep with them by your bed so that they absorb your personal energies and become uniquely yours.

I recommend keeping the cards wrapped in black silk or in a wooden box. The important thing to remember that the cards are yours alone and should be special to you.

You should not allow anyone to play with these cards or even pick them up without your permission. Most certainly should not use anyone else to read them.