Rider-Waite tarot deck and Vilma Bánky with cardsGetty Images
Tarot is one of the most popular divination practices, and though
occultists have been drawing the allegorical cards for centuries,
illustrated decks are now popping up all over. The intrinsic
aestheticism of this ancient art has revitalized interest in tarot,
making it a social media favorite — there's now even such a thing as emoji tarot.
Despite its ubiquity, though, tarot can still seem elusive and confusing. What exactly is
tarot? What do the cards mean and how are they used? Don't fret: The
tarot fundamentals are easy to understand. Here's what every beginner
should know about the history of tarot, as well as tips and tricks for
kick-starting your unique practice.
Where does tarot come from?
Surprisingly,
tarot is a relatively modern craft. Though tarot decks date back to the
1400s, pictorial cards were originally used for games rather than
prediction. Cartomancy, or fortune-telling through the use of playing
cards, actually wasn't developed until 1785, when French occultist
Jean-Baptiste Alliette — known by his pseudonym, Etteilla, the inversion
of his surname — created comprehensive links between illustrated cards, astrology, and ancient Egyptian lore.
Over
the next century, mystics and philosophers continued to expand the role
of tarot. In the late 1890s, several London-based occultists formed the
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, one of the groups responsible for
the modern magical revival. Two of the group's founders, husband and
wife MacGregor and Moina Maters, wrote a manual that detailed tarot's
symbolic power, entitled Book T.
In
1909, Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith designed and
published a tarot deck loosely based on the teachings of the Hermetic
Order of the Golden Dawn. This timeless deck is commonly known as the Rider-Waite deck
and is still the most popular tarot variant for both beginner and
professional card readers. In 1943, occultist Aleister Crowley (the
self-declared nemesis of Arthur Edward Waite) and Lady Frieda Harris
published their own interpretation of the Hermetic Order of the Golden
Dawn's tarot. Their Thoth deck,
named after the Egyptian god of alphabets, incorporates specific
astrological symbolism into each card, linking the divination practice
to the cosmos.
How do I choose a deck?
There
is no shortage of stunning, dynamic tarot decks. Since the
mid-twentieth century, hundreds — if not thousands — of beautiful decks
have been published. The Tarot de Marseille deck is an elegant reproduction of a classic French deck; the Motherpeace deck perfectly captures the ethereal spirit of the 1970s; the Black Power deck spotlights famous black luminaries.
The Sun, the House of God (the Tower), the Nine of Swords, the Magician and the Devil, French Tarot cards. France, 17th century.The
Sun, the House of God (the Tower), the Nine of Swords, the Magician and
the Devil, French Tarot cards. France, 17th century. (Photo: Getty
Images)
Some
tarot readers believe that your first deck should be gifted to you.
While everyone loves presents, there is nothing more valuable rewarding yourself
with the magic of divination, so I say you should relish the
opportunity to choose your first deck. With so many enchanting options
available, the most important variable is your unique connection to the
cards.
Whether you are shopping online or in-person, observe your
emotions as you browse different tarot decks. Does the one you're
considering make you feel excited? Wary? Confused? Trust your intuition:
Your careful consideration will ultimately guide your interpretation of
the cards. Explore the imagery: Are you enchanted by classical or
modern representations? Note the symbols: Are they enticing? Remember,
there is no hierarchy of tarot decks, so be sure to choose whichever
deck truly tantalizes your soul.
What's the difference between the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana cards?
Let's
talk about the structure of the deck and the meanings of its cards. Any
magical practice — tarot, astrology, or spell work — is based on the
Hermetic axiom "as above, so below." In other words, the macrocosm of
the cosmos is reflected in the microcosm of individual experience.
Accordingly, the entire universe exists within a tarot deck, with each
card representing a person, place, or event. These symbols are depicted
in both the Major Arcana cards, which speak to greater secrets, and the
Minor Arcana cards, which speak to lesser secrets.
The Major
Arcana cards represent monumental, groundbreaking influences. They
punctuate our journeys and each stands alone as a powerful message,
representing life-changing motions that define the beginnings or ends of
cycles. These dynamic cards appear during major transitions, signaling
distinctive moments of transformation. The cards are numbered to
represent stations within our greater journey through life; their
chronological order reveals the passing of time.
The World, the Wheel of Fortune, and the Sun are all Major Arcana cards. (Photo: Petchjira/Getty Images)The
Minor Arcana cards, on the other hand, reflect everyday matters. These
cards showcase ordinary people engaging in mundane activities, such as
dancing, drinking, sleeping, or quarreling. They suggest action that is
triggered by human behaviors and appear during gentle transitions that
may be temporary or have only minor influence.
The Minor Arcana
cards are broken up into four suits, each containing ten numbered cards
and four court cards. In the Minor Arcana, the card's number reveals the
stage of an event: The ace card represents the beginning, while the ten
symbolizes the end. Similarly, the progression of the court cards
demonstrates our understanding of circumstances on an individual level,
representing either personality types or actual people. The Page (or
Princess, in some decks), Knight, Queen, and King interpret
circumstances with increasing levels of understanding and wisdom.
The Swords card is among the Minor Arcana cards. The suits (Wands, Pentacles, Swords, and Cups) correspond to their own unique areas of life and astrological elements.
Wands symbolize passion and inspiration (corresponding with the fire
element), Pentacles represent money and physical realities
(corresponding with the earth element), Swords depict intellectual
intrigues (corresponding with the air element), and Cups illustrate
emotional matters (corresponding with the water element). These suits
reveal which spheres of influence are being activated, offering guidance
on how to best manage any circumstances at hand.
How can I get started reading the cards?
Together,
the Major and Minor Arcana cards create a comprehensive pictorial
language. It is important to remember that all the answers we seek exist
innately within the deck, with each card illustrating a person,
circumstance, or potential outcome. Since there are no secret puzzles or
hidden agendas with tarot, the ability to discern meaning lies within
your own narrative interpretation.
Before any reading, be sure to
shuffle (or "clear") the deck. This deliberate gesture should become a
meditation. Feel the physicality of the cards in your hand, visualizing
your question. If you're reading for another person, use this reflective
moment to get to the root of their situation and help you formulate
specific queries for them. Take as long as you need. Clearing the deck
is a critical first step in reading tarot cards, as it opens the pathway
between spiritual dimensions. Whenever you're ready, cut the cards into
three and reorder the pile, face down. On your favorite cloth (be
precious with your tarot deck), prepare to pull cards for your tarot
"spread."
Neoclassical, hand-painted tarot cards: Le Stelle, Il Sole, and Il Bagattelliere etchings (Italy, 19th century)Neoclassical, hand-painted tarot etchings, Italy, 19th century (Photo: Getty Images)
The
"three-card spread" is one of the most simple and effective tarot
spreads. You can adjust the categories to accommodate any situation
(past, present, future; yourself, the other person, the relationship;
opportunities, challenges, outcomes; mind, body, spirit). The cards and
their corresponding positions will effortlessly expose bonds and
dynamics. But before reading the straightforward explanation of each
card, take a moment to create your own story based on observation. How
do the cards you drew make you feel? What are the colors and symbols? If
there are characters, are they facing towards or away from each other?
Do the illustrations seem cohesive or disjointed?
Though each card
has classic associations, the most powerful resource available is your
intuition. Note your immediate emotional reaction: Your instincts will
inform your study and strengthen your pictorial memory. Eventually,
you'll develop your own systems and patterns, and individual cards will
carry meanings specific to you. Perhaps the Devil card will come to
represent an ex-lover, while the Two of Wands will symbolize a new job.
Your distinctive lexicon will inform your readings, allowing you to
create specific narratives that can be applied to any circumstance or
situation.
Don't forget, cosmic warriors, tarot provides a rich
vocabulary, but it is ultimately no more powerful than a coin toss: We
can energetically charge any item or action through the strength of our
own spirit. Though tarot requires time, practice, and patience, we
intrinsically possess all the skills necessary to produce honest and
accurate divinations. At the core of tarot is passion, logic, curiosity,
and intuition — characteristics that define both the illuminated cards
and their mystical readers.
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