Introduction and History of Tarot Cards

It’s no secret that Tarot cards have been used by occult practitioners for centuries, but illustrated decks are suddenly sprouting up all over. It’s possible that after viewing so many tarot readings on TikTok, you’re ready to start your own practise due to the renewed interest in this ancient discipline due to its inherent aestheticism. After all, you can get a tarot manicure.

Despite its widespread availability, though, the art may still be difficult to grasp. What is tarot, and how is it used? Is there a meaning or purpose to the cards? How to cleanse tarot cards?, and more. Don’t worry: The basics are simple to grasp. Learn about the history of tarot and how to get started with your own personal practise with these helpful hints for newcomers.

What is the origin of tarot?

It’s a rather recent art form. Tarot cards have been around since the 1400s, however they were initially meant to play games rather to prophesy the future, as shown on their cards. After the French occultist Jean Baptiste Alliette, known by his nickname Etteilla (the inversion of his surname), drew extensive ties between illustrated cards, astrology, and Egyptian mythology in 1785, the practise of cartomancy, or fortune-telling using playing cards, was born.

Many mystics as well as intellectuals expanded the use of Tarot throughout the next century. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, one of the organizations responsible for the contemporary magical rebirth, was founded in the late 1890s by occultists in London. Tarot’s symbolic significance was documented in Book T, a guidebook co-authored by MacGregor and Moina Maters, husband and wife founders.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn’s tarot deck, devised by Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith in 1909, was partially based on its teachings. The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck is the most well-known tarot deck among both newcomers and seasoned card readers. Lady Frieda Harris and occultist Aleister Crowley (who claimed to be Arthur Edward Waite’s adversary) released their own interpretation of the tarot in 1943. Thoth, the Egyptian deity of alphabets, is the name given to the deck of cards, which includes astrological meaning into each card.

The number of tarot cards is how many.

These cards are divided into four suits with 10 numbered cards and four court cards in each suit. You can easily find on https://wjplayingcard.com/custom-tarot-cards/.  A card’s number in the Minor Arcana shows the stage of an event: The ace card signifies the beginning, while the 10 depicts the finish. Individuals may be represented by either personality categories or real persons in the court cards development. The Page (or Princess, depending on the deck), the Knight, the Queen, and the King all have varying degrees of insight and awareness of the situation at hand.

Symbolically, each of the four card suits represents a different aspect of life or astrological element. Fire-related Wands indicate passion and inspiration, while Earth-related Pentacles represent money and material things, while Air-related Swords reflect intellectual intrigues, and Cup-related Cups represent emotional problems (corresponding with the water element). These suits display which spheres of influence are being triggered, providing direction on how to effectively handle any situation at hand..