What Is Tarot?

  How Does It Work?: 

It is my understanding that tarot works on the current energies around you as well as your own energy, the outcome is only ever a possibility as energy changes frequently, you only have to change your job or change your mind about something and go in a different direction and that changes the possible outcome, however, if it is fated destiny, the outcome will be the same but the path to get there will change as will any actions you take to get there. You can change your destiny but if it is fated or preordained, you can't. Please only use this information as guide. Always trust what your Higher Self is telling you.

Understanding The Major Arcana

It is the Major Arcana that is considered the heart of the tarot deck. They are also known as the Trump Cards. There are 22 Cards that make up this part of the tarot deck. The Major Arcana is not associated with suits or court cards like the rest of the Tarot Deck.

The Major Arcana represents life and its cycles from birth to death. It symbolizes the physical, spiritual, intellectual and emotional aspects of humankind and its relationship to the universe. In the Major Arcana, the 22 cards represent different archetypes. The archetypes include a nurturing mother, a strong commanding authoritative type, a traditional religious figure, a mystic spiritual figure and so on. These archetypes represent either real or spiritual figures in one's life.

If you look at the artwork on a Major Arcana card you will see a scene that has symbolic elements. Also on many decks, the cards feature the card’s title and the number of the Major Arcana card in Roman Numerals from 0 to 22. There are some decks, however, where the major arcana only have pictures. This is the same way the earlier first decks were. The speculation is that there were no numbers or pictures on those decks because the majority of people at that time were illiterate.

If one looks closely at the pictures on the Major Arcana deck you will find that the pictures are indeed steeped with symbolism. The Major Arcana also relates to those things regarding one's higher purpose for being on the planet. It tells of one's journey in life especially in relation to their personal character development. The numbers on the card ranging from 0 to 22 depict the fool's journey from birth to death and from innocence to wisdom to hopefully enlightenment. The Major Arcana tells of the journey one has to take to reach enlightenment in their lifetime. In addition to focusing on our spiritual selves, the Major Arcana also gives us answers in relation to major life events. It addresses such things as family, social relationships, jobs and other major milestones we face in our life.

The Major Arcana represents aspects of the human experience that we all go through in our lives. It looks at our spiritual selves, our hopes, our fears, our joys and sadness. It is recommended that when one starts to read tarot cards that they familiarize themselves with the Major Arcana first. Once you get used to them they help unlock your intuition so you can interpret the rest of the cards in relation to them in a tarot spread.

The Minor Arcana

Most of the cards in the tarot deck are Minor Arcana cards. These cards fill out the deck, making it more balanced and complete. The 56 cards of the Minor Arcana are split into four suits. Each suit represents a different aspect of life. Numerology can be used in conjunction with the Minor Arcana as the cards are numbered from 1 to 10, or Ace through 10. There are four nobles cards in each suit as well, the Page, Knight, Queen and King. This makes 14 cards in each suit.

The Suits of the Minor Arcana

Wands: The first suit represents a long object, whether it be a staff or wand by name. It encompasses growth, ideas and creativity. It is associated with the element of fire and the season of spring.

 Cups: This suit represents emotional desire. The filled cups are symbolic of filled emotions. It encompasses affairs of the heart, desires and the inner self. It is associated with the element of water and the season of summer.

 Pentacles: This suit is a round object of some sort, ranging from shields to coins. It represents material possessions. It encompasses money, wealth, health, prosperity and property. It is associated with the element of earth and the season of autumn.

 Swords: This is the suit of all things with sharp edges. It represents the intellectual self. It encompasses ideas, thoughts, morality, and strife. It is associated with the elements of air and the season of winter.

The Court Cards of the Minor Arcana

The Page:  is a bearer of messages and the harbinger of communication. This card represents youth and the beginnings of maturity.

 The Knight: is a traveller, one who brings change and good deeds into the world. This card represents new relationships, friendship, courage and stability.

 The Queen: The Queen is a strong female. She has the ability to lead, listen and guide. She represents the completion of relationships, jobs and projects, also a strong emotional person who knows where they are going and what they want.

 The King: The King is a strong male figure. He is the leader of the suit, the end of it and the highest mark. He represents a mature and wise person who knows what they can and cannot accomplish.

The Number of the Minor Arcana

One/Ace: Represents beginnings, action, will, new ideas, creative power, potential, first causes, primary impulses, and positive activities.

 Two: Represents partnerships, relationships, polarities, balancing, duality, choices, patience, stillness, and positive and negative.

 Three: Represents synthesis, growth, creativity, abundance, collaboration, friendship, artistic expression, refining plans, and preparing to take action.

 Four: Represents foundations, discipline, work, order stability, solidity, tangible achievement, and practical attainment.

 Five: Represents new cycles, change, progress, shifts, adjustment, fine tuning, instability, challenge, versatility, freedom, and courage.

 Six: Represents balance, health, beauty, harmony, contentment, relaxation, satisfaction, equilibrium, marriage, family, and sympathy.

 Seven: Represents Spirituality, wisdom, perfect order, the macrocosm, religion, luck, magic, and multiple options.

 Eight: Represents victory, will, success, regeneration, rebirth, re-evaluating, putting things in order, and setting priorities.

 Nine: Represents compassion, integration, movement, flexibility, fulfilment, attainment and benevolence.

 Ten: Represents transition, renewal to a new cycle, endings, completion, wholeness, mastery,  

FAQs About Tarot

What Are Tarot Cards?

Traditionally made up of no less than seventy-eight cards, Modern day decks of Tarot cards can be wildly different. Tarot cards come in all sizes, with all types of artwork on both the front and back. Some Tarot deck creators even make up their own additional Tarot cards. The meanings and the message of each one of those seventy-eight cards, however, usually remain the same.

Many believe that Tarot cards serve only to tell the future, but this is not necessarily true. When used traditionally, Tarot cards speak of the past and present, and are supposed to give clues and ideas about the future that you are potentially heading into.

What's In the Cards?

Tarot cards are made up of four suits much like any regular deck of cards. In fact, Tarot cards have all the same values as traditional playing cards: ace through king for each suit. Only one extra card is added to the royal family in Tarot cards, the page, their position is just under that of the knight (also known as the jack).

The suits are as follows: wands, which in general speak of esoteric issues such as spirituality or creativity; swords, which speak of conflicts and tensions; pentacles, which are about finances, money and material possessions; and cups, which deal in relationship matters and love. The other twenty-two cards of the standard Tarot deck are called the Major Arcana cards, and are all very specific. Cards such as the Devil, the Tower, and Death are in the Major Arcana.

How Could a Tarot Card Reading Help Me?

When done traditionally, a Tarot card reading can put everything into perspective in a clear and understandable way. Every Tarot card reading is prefaced by a question. Oftentimes, each card will then come up in the past, present, or future position and will shed some light on the topic of your question.

Whether or not you believe in spiritual or esoteric things, or even in the art of telling the future, a Tarot card reading can help you better understand your own thoughts. You'll realize potentially dangerous patterns in your life, and get a better understanding of self. Even the question that you ask in your mind can help you understand something about yourself, and in this way a Tarot card reading can truly help you.

Can Anyone Read Tarot Cards?

Yes, anyone can learn how to read Tarot cards. There are many books available, both online and physical bookstores that will tell you the meaning and message of each and every card. Every card in Tarot has a card-specific meaning, and a message or warning. The good news is, there's no secret about what these cards mean to convey, so you, too, can learn how to read the Tarot.

Once you know the meaning of the cards (and it's not something you have to memorize; it's perfectly okay to keep notes by you when you give yourself a Tarot card reading), you can read the Tarot for yourself or for others. Any book you read about the Tarot will explain the spreads to use and the way to lay the cards out to understand their meaning and placement in the scheme of your question.

From the imagination of Pamela

My mission is to provide guidance and support for spiritual growth and transformation. However, it's important to note that my information is not intended to replace professional medical care. If you are taking medication or are experiencing any health issues, I strongly encourage you to continue to follow the advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. In addition to my information, taking care of your physical and mental health is crucial to achieving overall well-being.