tarot

Tarot cards refer to a deck of 78 cards used for various purposes, including gaming and divination. A standard deck comprises 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana divided into four suits—cups, swords, wands, and pentacles (also coins). The minor arcana cards are numbered ace through ten, plus four court cards per suit: page, knight, queen, and king. The major arcana are numbered 0 to 21 and feature symbolic scenes representing archetypes and life themes.

Historically, tarot originated in 15th-century Europe as a set of playing cards with regional variations. Its later association with occult and divinatory practices arose in the 18th and 19th centuries, when writers connected the cards to mystical traditions and ancient wisdom. Since then, tarot has developed a broad following and is used in various contexts, including self-reflection, counseling, and ritual practice.

Practitioners use spreads—patterns of multiple cards—to examine questions or situations. Interpretations rely on card meanings, relationships with neighboring cards, and the reader’s intuition or training. While some claim predictive power, most contemporary approaches emphasize guidance, insight, and personal reflection rather than fixed forecasts.

Several decks have become influential. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck popularized accessible imagery; the Tarot de Marseille offers traditional design; the Thoth deck reflects esoteric symbolism integrated with other systems. Various artists and traditions continue to produce decks with distinctive iconography, reflecting cultural and stylistic diversity.

In academic and cultural contexts, tarot is studied as a historical and symbolic artifact. Scholars note its evolution from gaming cards to a multifaceted tool for interpretation, while contemporary usage often centers on self-understanding and psychological insight rather than universal prediction.