Deck Deck Suggestions Major Arcana Minor Arcana Spreads FAQ

See also: Fairy Tarot

Information on the Tarot

Tarot History

The origin of the Tarot is uncertain if not positively controversial. Some occultists like to trace the deck's origin's back to ancient Egypt. However a more widely accepted theory is that the modern Tarot originated in Europe some time during the 14th or 15th Century.

It seems likely that the tarot was invented in Italy where is was used for playing games (specifically "tarocchi") - the divinatory usage came later. Initially this Italian Tarot was called Trifoni, a shortening of "carte da trifoni" which just means "cards with trumps".

What is a Tarot Deck?

Modern Tarot decks sold for for divination usually consist of 78 cards. 22 of these are individually named and numbered and are called the Major Arcana. The remaining 56 are the Minor Arcana, consisting of 14 cards of each of four suits.

The Major Arcana are of most symbolic importance and are always individually illustrated. The minor arcana might or might not be symbolically illustrated depending on the deck you choose to buy.

Tarot Decks on the Market

Today there are a huge number of Tarot decks available to buy. These vary from those steeped in symbolism to those which are more decorative than functional (my favourite example of the latter is the beautiful Salvador Dali tarot deck).

Some so-called Tarot decks only include the 22 Major Arcana. These are great for putting up on your wall but personally I'd never use them for divination.

If you already have a grounding in some form of psychic tradition then there is almost certainly a Tarot deck designed for you. Everything from ancient knowledge through Wicca and the New Age has been incorporated by someone into Tarot symbolism.

It will probably take several decks and some years before you discover which one is right for you. For the beginner, the Rider Waite deck is usually recommended. This is easily available, has all the Minor Arcana illustrated and the symbolism is generally quite benign.

For more ideas, see my selection of tarot decks.

Note: "Tarot" is the traditional spelling found in most dictionaries. However some people use other spellings such as "Taro", "Tarro" or "Tarrot". At the end of the day the spelling really doesn't matter so long as it works for you.