Tarot FAQ

• What is the Tarot?
  The Tarot is a deck (pack) of 78 cards, many of which are usually illustrated. The cards were originally used for playing games but are now more commonly known as tools for divination. A deck consists of two sections, the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.

• What are the Major Arcana?
  The 22 cards of the Major Arcana are the most important cards of the deck and are sometimes called the "Trumps" or "Atu". For more details, see major arcana.

• What are the Minor Arcana?
  The 56 cards of the Minor Arcana are the lesser cards of the Tarot deck and are divided into four suits, each of 14 cards. For more details, see minor arcana.

• Who invented the Tarot?
  No-one knows for sure. Some people like to trace the mystic origins back to ancient Egypt, however a more widely held view is that Tarot originated in Europe around the 14th or 15th century.

• Which Tarot deck should I use?
  No-one can answer that. There are dozens - possibly hundreds - of decks on the market. Different ones will be right for different people. You need to feel one that "feels" right for you. Experiment and rely on instinct. See deck suggestions for some ideas.

• Can I read Tarot for myself?
  Yes. In fact, some people believe that Tarot reading works by tapping in to your subconscious and revealing things you don't know you know. If this is true then reading for yourself is likely to be even more effective.

• What are Tarot 'spreads'?
  A Tarot spread is simply a way of laying out the cards for reading. Over the years a number of standard spreads have arisen including the timeline and the celtic cross. However there's nothing to prevent you using any layout of cards that works for you.

• What is a 'significator' card?
  Many Tarot readers use a significator card. This is a card placed at the beginning of the reading to represent the querent. The card can be selected either on physical similarities or by considering relevance of the card to the querent's circumstances.

• What are reversed cards?
  Almost every deck has specific pictures on the Major Arcana, many also have pictures on the Minor Arcana. These picture cards can, after shuffling, appear upside down in the spread. Many people interpret these reversed cards as negative or diminished in strength.