Tarot Cards - 20 Fascinating Facts

Tarot cards are a popular means of divination and entertainment for many people around the world today. Did you know that…

1. Tarot cards were originally used as playing cards.
2. The first documented use of the tarot for divination dates back to the 18th century.
3. Tarot cards originated in Italy in the early 15th century
4. A tarot pack is divided into cards of two main types: the major arcana and the minor arcana.
5. The major arcana consists of 22 cards – the 21 trump cards (such as the Sun, Death, the Lovers etc), and the Fool card.
6. The minor arcana consists of 56 cards which are divided into four suits, with cards in each suit forming a numbered sequence from Ace to King.
7. The four suits in the minor arcana are the Cups, Wands, Swords and Pentacles.
8. The Pentacle suit is also commonly known as the Discs or Coins.
9. When tarot cards are read, they are laid out in a pattern known as a ‘spread’.
10. There are many types of tarot spreads; popular ones include the Celtic Cross and the Horse-Shoe.
11. The first detailed method for laying out a spread of tarot cards was described by Antoine Court de Gebelin in 1785.
12. Each tarot card has meanings of its own, and these are also affected by the card’s position in the spread.
13. If tarot cards are dealt upside down, their meaning is commonly believed to be reversed.
14. Old and influential tarot decks include the Rider-Waite, the Marseilles, and the Thoth decks.
15. There are an enormous number of tarot decks available today, including ones based around themes as diverse as baseball, Silicon Valley and cats!
16. Many people find that the meanings of the tarot connect with those of other mystical systems such as the I Ching and astrology.
17. The name ‘tarot’ comes from the French word ‘tarots’, meaning ‘trumps’.
18. The 21 trump cards are the Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot, Strength, Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, Devil, Tower, Moon, Star, Sun, World and Judgment.
19. Tarot readings are often performed by professional clairvoyants, but many people also like to perform readings for themselves.
20. Contrary to what many people think, the Death card does not necessarily signify impending death; it is connected with transformation in a more general sense.

If you’d like to learn more about the tarot, there are many books and websites that provide more information, and tarot cards themselves are easily available to buy online. Two good sites to start with are Learn Tarot and Tarotpedia

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