Basic Tarot Card Reading
Tarot, was invented in the 15th century in Italy.
It closely mirrored the playing cards of the day. Some believe that
people had started using playing cards for divination purposes and the
tarot were just a refined version of these cards. These basics playing
cards had four suits of ten cards each. These cards were brought to
Europe from the Islamic world. It is thought that tarot originated when
gypsies and astrologers started using ordinary playing cards to tell
fortunes.
During the 15th century, special cards were
added to the playing cards. Later, these became known as the major arcana
cards, then called the trumps or triumphs. The major arcana cards consist
of 22 cards with titles rather than numbers and suit. Each one has a
strong symbolic meaning and are considered to be the 'leaders' of the
tarot deck. The remaining 56 cards are refered to as the minor arcana
cards. usually these cards are split into four suits: cups, staves,
swords and coins. Though there are many variations on this.
Tarot has evolved since it's original form.
Becoming more complex and rich in symbology. The cards themselves have
gained meaning over the years from the cultures that adopted their use.
Some cards have come and gone, like The Pope, The Juggler, The Arrow
etc. however, around the 17th century, tarot evolved into the form we
now know it as having. Many famous alchemists and prophets have used
tarot, including Nostradamus and Aristotle.
Tarot cards align with the energies projected
onto them. As you shuffle the deck, you and your energies place the
cards where they will be most beneficial for you. I always shuffle the
deck until the cards feel right. Some people shuffle the cards three
times then cut. it is really up to the user. Tarot tap into the spirit
realm, or the energies of the user to give their readings.
For centuries, people have been using symbols
as a type of divination. Tarot is no differnt. Each of the 78 cards
has an individual meaning. Tarot is an interactive Divination art. The
cards interact with each other, giving them new and more complex meaning.
You place the cards into various spread where
the placement of each card gives it even further meaning. Where cards
fall in the spread has a lot to do with how they interact with each
other. A card representing the past will influence a cards representing
the present and the future. There are many different spreads including
the celtic cross, the three card spread, the spread of fates, the single
card reading, the circle and cross and the ancestors to name a few.