What is Tarot?

Tarot is a deck of (78) cards, a number of games played with the deck, and a number of metaphysical beliefs and practices attached to the non-gaming use and contemplation of the deck. Tarot was invented as a card game in the early-mid 15th century, most likely by the nobility of north Italian city states. In 1781 two small essays written by a Swiss-born French philosophe and a French cavalry officer provided the basis for all future development of what has come to be known as occult Tarot. Prior to this time little public discussion had occurred concerning the use of Tarot for divination, although much had been written (both for and against the practice) for almost three centuries prior to 1781 about the use of playing cards in divination. The extension of this tradition to Tarot was a natural one, and the main question is when precisely it took place.

Where did tarot cards come from?

Our knowledge about the origin of tarot cards is incomplete. We do know that they were developed in 15th-century in northern Italy, although we don't know by whom. The oldest known decks appeared in connection with certain wealthy Italian families, and were originally used for playing a parlour game called Tarocchi, a trick-taking game with trumps, or Triumphs. The mystical and divination practices associated with Tarot are widely believed to have originated in the 18th century. The study of tarot took a significant step forward in the 19th century, with the formation of a mystical society called the Golden Dawn, whose members reorganized the tarot decks into a format that was more internally consistent, drew from the magickal and qabalistic traditions of western mysticism, and integrated astrological and numerological concepts into the symbolism of the cards. These decks are known as the Rider-Waite-Smith decks collectively, and are the basis for most traditional decks you see in use today.

In more recent years, various authors and artists have developed decks in other traditions, including Pagan, Shamanistic, Wiccan, Native American, African, and decks developed by and for women (most of the early decks were developed by men, and they have a decidedly different focus and feel to them). These decks provide a variety of multicultural alternatives to the largely European Rider-Waite decks, and examples of many of these approaches, both traditional and multicultural, can be found on the Decks page.

What is a "reading"?

A traditional tarot reading involves a seeker - someone who is looking for answers to personal questions - and a reader - someone who knows how to interpret the cards. After the seeker has shuffled and cut the deck, the reader lays out the chosen cards in a pattern called a spread. Each card has a meaning. The reader interprets these meanings for the seeker using her knowledge of the cards and intuition.

What will the reading tell me?

Your tarot reading can bring clarity and insight into your current situation and your probable future. It can help you define what is important in your life. It can help you understand relationships, if your soul mate is here with you now or still in your future. Just ask the question and the tarot can help you find the answers.

Is the tarot dangerous?

No. Nothing bad can happen to you by using the tarot. Tarot cards are a tool that can be used for greater understanding.

I’ve always wanted to try it but what if I get the death card?

The death card does not mean literal death; it is a card of change, the symbolic death of something, and a moving on to something new. A new job or relationship perhaps? There are both positive and negative cards in the tarot, but it is important t to remember that everyone has free will and the future can be changed!

Can the cards be used for other purposes?

Tarot cards can be used to find the answers to almost any question, you just need to ask and be open to the answer.

Does a final outcome mean that it's the only final outcome, ie, the end answer?

No. It means that the conclusion won't be final. Nothing is written in stone. It's one conclusion from the question asked.

Does the death card mean I'm going to die?

No. It means the end/conclusion to the current problem. It signifies the end of something.

Does the devil card mean I'm going to be possessed?

No. The devil represents sexual power and sexuality.