Some have said Tarot is ancient and connected to everything from aliens to Egyptian deities.  Scholars are still arguing which came first - Tarot or playing cards.  Usually the playing card deck wins out in a test of historical references.  Some scholars place the origin of playing cards in China and Korea around the 11-century CE.  The primary design was based on the paper money of the time.

According to Stuart Kaplan ('The Encyclopedia of Tarot', Volume 1), one of the first references to standard decks or 'tarocchi' cards was in Bern, Switzerland in 1367; with regards to a prohibition about playing cards during this year.  In 1377 (or 1472 -- the dates are not verifiable), Brother Johannes von Rheinfelden, a German monk in Switzerland, wrote about a card game called 'ludus cartarum'.  This game was reputedly used to describe the state of the world, as it existed for that time.  Four kings are listed and have a suit assigned to them.  There were two  'Marschalli' cards assigned to each king.  There were also 10 'pip' cards for each suit.  This was probably the parent of the standard playing deck of 52 cards.  The Brother did not make any mention to Tarot in his treatise.  He did however note that he thought there was value in playing cards which would further enhance proper morals and education.  Cards (also known as 'quartes'), dice and other games of chance and betting were routinely banned throughout Europe throughout the ages.

Many readers and scholars prefer to take the Tarot back to Egyptian times and some prefer to credit the gypsies of Eastern Europe with their humble beginnings.  While there is much speculation about how old the Tarot may be, recorded history lists the much loved standard 56 Minor Arcana and 22 Major Arcana to be from around the mid-14th century.  So, Tarot has been around for roughly 500 years.  Today, there are well over 1000 Tarot decks on the market and the number is growing.  Tarot has enjoyed a renewed interest since the 1980s.

There is no agreement as to how the word 'Tarot' came about or what it means.  Some refer to Egypt and a presumed book of the god Thoth.  In this instance, Tarot becomes the Egyptian word 'Ta-rosh' or 'royal way'. No actual Book of Thoth has ever been found to support this idea.  Some think the origin is romantic and Tarot is then 'rota' meaning a wheel and refers to the cycle of life.  When the word Tarot is read right to left in the Hebrew fashion, it becomes 'tora' or law.  Tarot may also be linked to the mystical Kabbalah.  The Gypsies of Hungary have the word 'tar', which means a 'deck of cards'. 

In conclusion, no one really knows the exact origin or concept of the Tarot.  What we do know is that it has been and is used throughout the world, by many cultures and sects.  Tarot gained in popularity during the spiritualism rave of the 19th century.  That’s also when it took on a mystical attitude.  This tone is being weeded out in modern times with the rise of psychic testing and more people being open about their own abilities.  (‘A Wicked Pack of Cards’ , Decker).

Tarot is not closed to only a select group of mystics or clerics.  It is a learned skill that anyone can use.  Tarot is closely related to other divination tools such as astrology and numerology.  Readings have a profound affect on most people and can be full of both personal and life issues symbolism.  Tarot is NOT ‘fortune-telling’.  The Hollywood image of a gypsy speaking with a poor Slavic accent, warning of death and life events that cannot be changed has nothing to do with Tarot.  One consults Tarot for life affirmations as well as instances forth coming that can be altered.  ‘Prediction’ is not a bad word.  If it is a taboo, then we better ban daily weather forecasts and stock market trend reports.  Tarot readings are a snap shot of the present, looking forward, with all aspects being equal, predicting trends, events and occurrences.  Alter one or more aspects and voila, you have changed the future. 

There is no right or wrong way to choose a Tarot deck.  Many book, occult and New Age stores carry several decks.  There are also many Internet web sites that give a pictorial example of the Major and Minor Arcanas.  Take your time and find one that appeals to you.  Take your deck home, open it and divide the deck into the Major Arcana and suits.  Take time to examine each card and the artist’s representation within each picture.  Find a silk or cotton scarf to wrap your deck in.  There are also specific ‘X’ shaped cloth holders with Velcro you and buy for keeping the cards together.  Some also like to have a special box or container for each deck.  Sleep with your deck and carry it with you.  I never leave the house without a deck tucked in my purse or a pocket.  You’d be surprised where and when you may read for yourself or another.  You may also consider performing a type of cleansing ritual for the deck and yourself.  This can be as simple as meditating with the deck to a more formal consecration.  Consider and write down your own personal set of ethics for reading.  What questions will you answer?  Will you read for others at some point?  Will you read for someone who is not present and does not give permission?  Will you keep silent to others after a reading?  Will you advise someone to seek professional help where you feel it is needed such as from a doctor or lawyer?  Your personal ethics are important.  Take the time to talk to make a contract with yourself for your reading future.

The standard Tarot (not to be confused with Oracle decks) is divided into the Major Arcana (Trumps) and Minor Arcana (Pips, suits).  The trumps are directly connected to the seeker (one being read) and their ‘life cycle’ with regards to general outlook or the question being asked.  Everything has a beginning and an end.  Many decks begin the trumps with the Fool - choices.  The remaining trumps define where the seeker is in the cycle, their actions/reactions, consequences, adaptation, review and conclusion which takes one back to the beginning - choices. 

Depending on the deck your choose, the trumps can be narrowed down to the following descriptions corresponding to the card number: Choices (0 - Fool), Present Skills/Talents (1 - Magician), as yet unknown Knowledge to be gained (2 -High Priestess), Growth or Weeding out (3 - Empress), Authority/Control especially with regards to the perceptions of others (4 - Emperor), Conformity/Assistance (5 - Hierophant), Decisions/Choices especially in relationships (6 - Lovers), Will/Self Control (7 - Chariot), Courage/Staying Power (8 - Strength), Reflection/Review (9 - Hermit), Luck/Advantages taken (10 - Wheel of Fortune), Balance/Adaptation (11 - Justice), Preoccupied/Self Sacrifice/Change (12 - Hanged Man), Transformation as result of change (13 - Death), Combinations/Adjustments (14 - Temperance), Domination/Compromise (15 - Devil), Reactions/Repercussions (16 - Tower), Inspiration/Motivation (17 - Star), Imagination/Fears to wrestle (18 - Moon), Attainment and Satisfaction level (19 - Sun), Renewal/Final Decision (20 - Judgment), Completion/New Beginning (21 - World).

An example of the Trumps life cycle is a trip.  Assume you plan a car trip to a city you have never visited to see your cousin.  First you would pack and decide which highway/road to take to get there (Fool - choices).  Since you know how to drive a car, you’ll use this as your transport (Magician - skills).  You’ll check the car out and make sure you have enough fluids and gas (High Priestess - covering your bases for and anticipating the unknown).  You may remove any stuff from your car you don’t need for the trip, take some favorite music to listen to and buy some drinks, snacks to take with you (Empress - Growth, material gain or weeding out of junk).  You have a general idea how to get to this city and confidently tell others about the trip (Emperor - authority and in charge).  Just to be on the safe side, you buy a map (Hierophant - assistance).  You decide to have dinner with a good friend and you decide to take them with you on the trip (Lovers - decisions involving others).  You resist letting your friend take more than one suitcase and nicely present logical reasons of conserving space (Chariot - will and self control).  Your friend gets you both lost using the map but you don’t give in to panic or anger (Strength - courage).  You stop and look over the map yourself and trace your journey (Hermit - reflection and review).  Going on instinct, you get off the highway and find a convenience store to stop and the clerk knows how to give you directions (Wheel of Fortune - luck made or that drops into your lap).   Back on the road, you re-chart your trip plans (Justice - adaptation).  You miss a highway change and get mad at yourself (Hanged Man - preoccupation and self sacrifice).  You double back on a side road and using instincts you talk yourself back to the right highway (Death - change due to transformation).  Your friend repeats the instructions from this point and you confirm you’re going the right way (Temperance - combinations).  Driving faster than the speed limit you are pulled over by a highway patrol officer who lets you go with a warning if you agree to slow down (Devil - compromise).  You picked up a nail in your tire when you pulled off for the patrol officer and your tire is now flat (High Priestess - Unknowns and Tower - repercussions).  A tow truck happens by, changes your tire and the driver gives it to you and lets you know you’re almost at your cousin’s turn off (Star - inspiration and motivation).  You worry about missing the right turn off and get serious about reading signs ahead (Moon - fears).  You find and take the right turn off (Sun - success).  You stop at another convenience store to call your cousin and get explicit directions to their house (Judgment - renewal and final decisions).  You finally make it to your cousin’s house (World - completion).

While this is a simplified explanation of the trumps, it is essential a reader take a macro view of the general meaning of each card.  When a card spread is read together, it then tells a story.  Don’t get bogged down in any absolute meanings. 

To assist in learning a general meaning of the Trumps, study each card and agree on a one to two word meaning.  Pencil the word(s) on the border of the card or use a Post-It with the word(s).  Each day, shuffle just the Trumps and pull 3 cards for yourself with the general question in mind of events in your coming day.  The first card represents the past (long or short term) that will influence your outlook.  The 2nd card represents the present conditions and your reactions during the course of the day.  The 3rd card represents what you may be feeling at the end of your day as a result of events.  Keep a journal of dates, what cards you pull each day, your interpretation at the time and most importantly, what happened during the day to confirm the cards.  You may decide on a different general meaning of a card(s) as a result of your own experiences.  Use your confirmed interpretation.  Again, there are no absolute meanings for any card.  You’re the reader and it is your impressions and interpretations that are right for how you read with that deck. 

Next edition will cover the use of the Minor Arcana and suits.  These give the why, what and how distinctions for the Trumps. 

starting from Bottom Left:

‘Grand Etteilla Egyptian Gypsies Tarot’ by B.P. Grimaud

‘James Bond 007 Tarot Deck’ by Fergus Hall

‘Masonic Tarot Deck’ by Jean Beauchard

‘Il Tarocco Delle Vetrate’ by Luigi Scapini

‘Tarocco Soprafino’ by F. Gumppenberg