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Tarot is a method of divination which uses cards. The most ubiquitous form of Tarot Card Decks are the Rider-Waite Deck, as they are the most standardized and easy to understand. Each of these decks contains 78 cards; 56 comprise the ‘Minor Arcana’, while 22 comprise the ‘Major Arcana’. The minor arcana are very similar to regular deck of cards. They even have 4 suits- just like a regular deck of cards: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles/Coins. Also similar to a regular deck of cards, each suit has ten cards, numbered 1 through 10, in addition to the page, knight, queen, and king (14 cards in each of the 4 suits, equaling 56 total cards). These cards, known as the 'Minor Arcana' typically revolve around everyday issues, or issues which are much smaller and easier to control. The other 22 cards are stand-alone cards; each with their own separate and unique meanings. These cards, the 'Major Arcana'- sometimes referred to as ‘Triumph Cards’- include many cards such as: The Fool, Strength, Temperance, The Hanged Man, The Star, and more. These tend to relate to more general issues, and connect to the ‘big picture’. Each of these cards have their own unique meaning. The Death Card, for instance, may signify that a period of change is coming, or has just past. These cards meanings and purposes delve much deeper than their face value, and may be interpreted in many different ways. 

During the time of the Renaissance, tarot cards had very different purposes. Originally they were used simply for games, much like a classic deck of cards. Italian merchants and artists began to add to these decks, adding ‘triumph’, cards. These cards were stand-alone cards which held beautiful artwork on them. The wealthy then took notice, and began hiring artists to paint decks for them. Tarot cards steadily became more popular throughout and after the renaissance, especially after the invention of the printing press made mass-producing cards much easier. The desire for a more defined Tarot card culture drove much of Europe into a frenzy to learn more about- and collect more- cards. Tarot even became popular with nobility, with tarot card reading becoming common among gatherings and other events. In 1791, French Occultust Jean-Baptiste Alliette, who went by the name ‘Etteilla’, broke ground by creating the first Tarot deck made specifically for divination. Soon, with so many different Tarot Decks available, a want for a standardized Tarot Deck arose. Recognizing this, Arthur Edward Waite teamed up with artist Pamela Coleman Smith, and in the early 1900s, they created the Rider-Waite-Smith decks- The most popular and recognizable Tarot card deck in the English Speaking World. Smith’s illustrations took entire cards to fill, they had colored backgrounds and themes. They revolutionized the Tarot deck to the point that most contemporary decks owe their designs to Waite and Smith. 

A Tarot reading is a routine where a Tarot Card Reader and guest select a number of cards, place them in a predetermined template, and ascertain guidance through this process. First, a template is chosen to decide the number of cards and their orientation. These templates, or ‘spreads’, have varying meanings in an effort to provide knowledge about certain issues. Some, like the ‘Three Card Cluster’, seek to provide insight into the past, present, and potential future. Some, like the Celtic Cross Spread, look to give advice towards issues such as work or career. Once the spread is determined, the guest may then select the subject of the reading: a question they have, advice on work/career, help with a personal matter, or anything else the guest may ponder. Next, the cards are chosen. The method of card selection varies per reader. Some prefer to let the guest to chose the cards themselves. Others prefer to chose the cards themselves. With the internet becoming an increasingly popular place to conduct Tarot Card Readings, some readers will fan the deck, or shuffle the deck, and allow the guest to chose the card for the reader to pick. Another popular method is to shuffle the cards, and select the cards which fall out of the reader’s hands. These selected cards are then placed in a particular order according to the Spread. All these factors then result in the Reader divining the answer to the guest’s questions.