Tarot, the mystical world of the sacred cards that have been a tool of divination for centuries. Learning the ways of the Tarot that have been passed down through many generations, is truly a gift. If you’ve been lucky enough to stumble across a reputable reader, the experience can be totally fantastic & a day of enlightenment for sure.
My first set of cards was gifted to me by my Mum. She would drive down to the city to see me and always bring her set for an evening of cards, wine, stories and insights. The time spent together was priceless and the memories are very special. Finally, on a trip down, she had the same deck as a gift for me. I used that deck & learnt my first ways of reading a “spread”. I keep that deck for special occasions or when I’m in need of a strong, maternal connection. Of course when my Mum is over for an evening of fun, that’s the only deck that’s used.
Tarot goes back centuries to Italy. It originated as the card game “Tarocchi“. It also dates back to the Egyptians who later brought it to Eastern Europe. Romany Gypsies (Egyptians) held this style of divination close and almost all the generations in a Romany family would know the way of the cards. The Elders were always headed as they knew of information that had not yet happened.
The Tarot made it’s way to Western culture by a Scholar, Arthur Edward Waite and William Rider, a Publisher. Together they produced the now famous “Rider Waite“ deck. More famously, was the illustrations of this particular deck, hand drawn by Pamela Colman Smith, nicknamed “Pixie”. Smith was a writer, illustrator, publisher & occultist. She is what makes Rider Waite deck so special to me. She is who I see when I think of Tarot.
The use of a deck of Tarot cards is really to gain insight into the past, present & future. There are thousands of “spreads” out there. The name “spread” is used for how a reading is set up and what question or questions you have. A reading can be a simple spread of the past, present or future or more extravagant spreads depicting an entire years outcomes. A reading can be done by anyone on anyone. You can do your own readings or do them for family, friends & loved ones.
The Tarot deck is made up of 78 cards separated into two main groups. The Major Arcana with 22 cards & the Minor Arcana with 56 cards. The Major Arcana represent the higher states & big life lessons that we may find ourselves in the past, present or future. Such as the Fool or Magician, Priestess or Empress, they depict someone and something of major importance hence the elaborate and fancy archetypes. The Minor Arcana such as Cups, Swords, Pentacles & Wands represent the “everyday” cards or more simpler life situations that we may find oneself, again, past present or future.
I have a secret fetish for Tarot cards and have to give myself a pep-talk when shopping. I could collect decks for days and have a special place in my heart for cards that have been illustrated by certain Italian artists. For me, the more elaborate and intricate a deck, the more the cards have to tell. I have one special deck, dedicated to my daily use. Other decks are for other purposes which we will learn together.
Tarot cards help you answer questions that have been burning deep inside or about what next Monday may hold. The choice is up to you and what questions you ask a Tarot deck. They can lead us on a journey for an hour or two and we come away with information we may or may not have wanted. The key to Tarot is to be open to the concepts of what a card is telling you. It’s up to you to decide if the information played a roll in your life, or will play or is playing out currently.
Tarot can just be a fun afternoon with some tea or can be an exhilarating night full of information the Universe has been waiting to reveal to you. The choice is always yours. In this feature of my blog, we will discover the mystical world of Tarot together. From the cards themselves to the spreads, type of readings, when to read and choosing a deck or in my case, multiple decks lo, that suit you. Looking forward to “Tuesday Tarot” with you. xo
