What Is Tarot
Tarot is a practice where you use a set of tarot cards to gain insight, see into the future and look inside yourself. There are usually 78 cards in a tarot deck.
When doing a tarot reading, someone known as a “reader” mixes up the deck and places the cards down in a certain layout called a spread. Each spot in the spread matches with a different part of the question asked. The reader then explains what the cards mean based on where they are and how close they are to each other, relying on both their gut feelings and knowledge about the card’s meanings. This interpretation comes from the cards’ pictures which have things like characters, colors, and signs that add more layers of meaning.
Tarot doesn’t precisely predict what’s going to happen in the future. It’s more about looking at possible outcomes and getting why things are happening with a person or situation. People often use it to think over choices they need to make or to get their heads around tricky issues. Some folks take the spiritual side of tarot seriously, while others just see it as a chance to do some soul-searching or psychological unpacking. How valuable a tarot reading is really depends on what both the reader and the person getting read make of it.
Key Points
Deck of Divination: A Tarot is a deck that features 78 divine cards, enabling you to get some idea about relevant aspects as per pictures and their associations.
History: Tarot came to Europe from Asia or Egypt in the 15th century, but it wasn’t really used as a psychospiritual tool until about three centuries ago.
Archetypal Themes: Tarot has universal themes and archetypes on offer, allowing the reader to tune in to their own unconscious via collective patterns of experience stored in mythology.
What are the Origins of Tarot
One of the most veiled aspects in the history and academic significance of tarot is cast under an even larger cloud than the meaning(s) packed inside those infamous decks. As best we can tell, tarots first arrived in Europe around the 15th century.
Initially, tarot cards were used as playing cards in Italy for a game known as Italian Tarocchi. Over the centuries, a number of far more strange and esoteric supposed glosses came to be developed which originated with 18th century French ones.
Their cross-cultural appeal has some to do with the rich imagery and symbolism, which have been both reinterpreted and not lost in translation for most people.
The world has been quite a different place for the Tarot since its earliest days. Although the tarot originated in the 15th century, it did not see its first association with occultism and mysticism until Antoine Court de Gébelin declared that cards held an ancient wisdom from Egypt.
They adapted the idea, which was later embraced by a number of other esoteric traditions, such as Golden Dawn in the 19th century. As we have seen, in the 20th century different tarot decks were created with their own symbolism and may be used for a multitude of purposes.
What Does a Tarot Deck Include
The 22 Major Arcana cards — each reflecting a life experience, spiritual learning opportunity to evolve your soul & archetypal lesson.
These cards include The Fool, The Magician and the High Priestess, as well as other recognized figures such as The World.
The cards from the Major Arcana are all full of symbolism, and if these appear during a tarot reading, they often represent events that encourage deep changes or important insights.
Minor Arcana — What Is It?
These are the 56 cards made up of four suits known as The Minor Arcana. These best reflect the day-to-day occurrences and situations in your life.
There are also court cards (Page, Knight, Queen and King) which make up the Minor Arcana, as well as numbered cards (Ace-10), divided equally across four suits. Every time a Minor Arcana card shows up in a tarot reading, it tells part of this story.
What Are the Four Suits in Tarot
A tarot deck consists of four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Each of the suits symbolizes some specific aspect or subdomain of life.
- Wands: Creation, Initiation and Ambition
- Cups: Emotions (relationships etc.), the mind/intuition & spirituality.
- Swords: The suit of air, representing intellect, conflict (both warlike and not) as well as decision-making.
- Pentacles: Material, Money, health and work.
What Does The Symbolization In Tarot?
The Major Arcana cards are some of the most symbolic in them, which means that they will be mostly universal themes and archetypes. So for example, where The Fool card is about new beginnings and potentiality of the future, The Tower brings sudden change and chaos.
Additional Symbols that Illuminate Key Lessons Represented for each of the Card
The Minor Arcana symbolizes the everyday activities and decisions you are making. The images on these cards represent a means by which to impart context and comprehension into a tarot reading.
How Tarot Card Readings Work?
Tarot spreads are pre-determined arrangements of cards used during a reading in order to provide structure and meaning.
How to use Tarot for personal development
This can be a good exercise or experience, depending on how you choose. Understanding the symbolism and meaning of each card will give people a better insight into what is happening in their heads.
Next, you will begin to also give yourself the option of using meditation with Tarot, as this can be used for a meditative practice in focus and mindfulness.
Because this is what most people use tarot as — a way of having some sort of sight on the path and journey, by consulting our higher selves.
What are the mental sides of tarot?
How Do Jungian Psychology and Tarot Combine?
Jungian psychology and Archetypes– A significant inspiration behind the tarot is Jungian Psychology, specifically where it concerns archetypal images. Archetypes (in the words of Carl Jung) are those figures that show themselves to you in your collective unconscious.
These universal themes are what the Major Arcana cards all depict and it is these to which The Lovers card specifically points. If nothing else tarot, if only used as a child-like type of therapy – can help guide the unconscious mind and what bubbles to the surface.
THE IMPORTANCE OF INTUITION IN TAROT READING
Intuition plays a vital role when it comes to tarot reading. While traditional meanings behind cards fortify the foundation of a reading, an outstanding reader reads through intuition to produce all aspects about this person paired with the questions they have. Intuition connects the symbols of the cards and their meanings to your very individual situation, so that you can have a personal understanding about it.
How to Read Tarot Cards?
Step 1: Learning To Read Tarot
Select a Deck: You can choose your first deck. Find one that speaks to you.
The Cards: Make sure to learn the symbolism of each card and traditional meanings.
Spread Practice: Work smaller spreads at first and expand to larger ones as you get comfortable.
Interpreting tarot cards is more about understanding what the traditional meanings are and where you fall in a spread but then using your own intuition to determine what these same symbols mean for that person. Here are a few interpretation tips:
- The Context: A card + its cards around can change the meaning of that card.
- Spot Patterns: Are symbols and themes a part of the reading that keep reoccurring.
- Be Unbiased: Allow the cards to communicate any message they can, no matter how unexpected it may be — open-mindedness is key.
It doesn’t matter where you stand with your beliefs; anyone can learn to read tarot — and that’s a very empowering notion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How did tarot playing cards evolve?
Tarot playing cards, known as tarocchi or tarock, evolved in Northern Italy during the Renaissance. Initially used for card games like Taroccare, they eventually became associated with occultism and divination practices.
Who were some early patrons of tarot?
Notable early patrons included Filippo Maria Visconti of Milan. Artists and patrons in Europe commissioned lavishly illustrated tarot packs that showcased their status and interests.
What is Tarocchini?
Tarocchini is a variant of the tarot card game that originated in Bologna, Italy. It has specific rules and differs from the usual tarot-playing cards used in divination and other traditions.
What led to the use of tarot cards for divination?
The association of tarot with divination emerged in the 18th century when French occultists and spiritualists began using them for fortune-telling, numerology, and meditation purposes. This transformed tarot from a mere card game to a tool for spiritual exploration.
What impacts did the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn have on Tarot?
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn significantly influenced modern tarot practices. They integrated elements of Kabbalah, alchemy, astrology, and classical mythology into tarot, creating complex systems of symbolism and meaning.
Where can one find tarot resources in Denton, TX?
You can explore extensive tarot resources at the UNT Libraries located at 1155 Union Circle, Denton, TX, 76203-5017. This includes books, materials, and guides on various aspects of tarot, including its history and practice.
How does tarot imagery vary across different regions?
Tarot imagery varies significantly across regions like Italy, Germany, and France. For example, the imagery in Italian tarots often reflects Renaissance art, while German versions may showcase distinct face and pip cards unique to their traditions.
What are some folk traditions associated with Tarot?
Various folk traditions associate tarot with spiritual practices, rituals, and even celebrations. These traditions are particularly rich in countries where tarot has been part of local culture for centuries, such as in certain parts of Italy and France.
How has tarot been used for entertainment?
Originally, tarot was primarily used as a form of entertainment through card games like Taroccare. Over time, its entertaining aspects have also evolved to include artistic expressions in literature, film, and music.
What role do practitioners play in modern tarot?
Modern tarot practitioners use the cards for diverse purposes, including personal growth, self-reflection, and counseling. They often follow methods developed over centuries by societies like the French Tarot Association and individual astrologers and spiritualists.
