The Origins of the Tarot Deck
The standard modern Tarot deck consists of 78 cards, and its early versions are believed to have originated in 15th-century Northern Italy. Initially used for gaming, Tarot cards later evolved into a tool for fortune-telling, psychological insight, meditation, rituals, creative inspiration, and healing.
In some ways, Tarot Cards resemble a standard deck of playing cards. However, Tarot is more than just a game—it is a pictorial representation of the human life journey, symbolizing birth, transformation, challenges, and self-discovery. The images on the cards reflect universal archetypes, describing experiences and patterns that all humans encounter at different stages of life.
Major Arcana: The Greater Secrets of Tarot
The Major Arcana, which means “Greater Secrets,” consists of 22 cards that symbolize major life events, emotions, transformations, and turning points.
These cards are the most symbolic and spiritually significant in a Tarot Reading, depicting mystical figures and unique scenes that hold deeper meanings. The Major Arcana represents powerful archetypes and can indicate the life lessons that must be learned in a situation.
Key Major Arcana Cards & Their Meanings:
✔ The Fool (0) – New beginnings, spontaneity, and taking risks.
✔ The Magician (I) – Manifestation, power, and potential.
✔ The High Priestess (II) – Intuition, mystery, and hidden wisdom.
✔ The Empress (III) – Abundance, creativity, and nurturing energy.
✔ The Chariot (VII) – Determination, success, and self-control.
✔ Death (XIII) – Endings, transformation, and rebirth.
✔ The World (XXI) – Completion, fulfillment, and achievement.
When Major Arcana cards appear in a Tarot Cards Reading, they highlight crucial life lessons, major events, and spiritual growth.
Minor Arcana: The Everyday Aspects of Life
The Minor Arcana, or “Lesser Secrets,” consists of 56 cards and focuses on daily life, emotions, relationships, and challenges.
The Four Suits of the Minor Arcana:
✔ Cups (Hearts) – Emotions, relationships, intuition, and love.
✔ Wands (Clubs) – Creativity, ambition, passion, and personal growth.
✔ Swords (Spades) – Logic, intellect, decision-making, and conflict.
✔ Pentacles (Diamonds) – Finances, career, stability, and material success.
Each suit contains ten numbered cards (Ace to 10) and four Court Cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King).
The Court Cards and Their Role in Tarot Cards Fortune Telling
The Court Cards often represent real people, personality traits, or guidance in Tarot Reading. They may reflect aspects of yourself, someone you know, or qualities you should develop.
✔ Pages – Curiosity, learning, and messages.
✔ Knights – Action, adventure, and drive.
✔ Queens – Maturity, wisdom, and emotional depth.
✔ Kings – Leadership, authority, and mastery.
Example: If you pull The Queen of Swords, it may signify wisdom, honesty, and sharp intellect—perhaps encouraging you to think logically about a situation. If you pull The Knight of Cups, it could represent romantic energy or a creative opportunity.
The Minor Arcana cards add depth and context to a Free Tarot Reading, offering insight into everyday experiences, emotions, and relationships.
The Evolution of Tarot: From Card Games to Fortune-Telling
There are many theories about how Tarot Cards originated and evolved into a tool for divination.
Some historians believe that:
✔ Tarot was originally a game – In 16th-century Paris, Tarot was played like Bridge. Some people even modeled the Court Cards on popular celebrities of the time.
✔ Tarot was used for storytelling – The cards were sometimes arranged into entertaining and dramatic stories, enjoyed by both the rich and poor.
✔ Magicians in Venice uncovered hidden meanings – By the 1800s, a secret society in Venice began studying the significance of the numbers and symbols on the Tarot deck, but their methods were kept secret.
✔ Gypsies were among the first to use Tarot for divination – Long before Italian magicians adopted Tarot for mystical purposes, gypsies had been using ordinary playing cards to tell fortunes.
✔ The Rider-Waite Tarot deck (1909) made Tarot mainstream – The Rider-Waite deck, with its detailed imagery, became the foundation of modern Tarot Cards Reading and remains the most widely used deck today.
Even today, Tarot Cards Fortune Telling continues to evolve, with many people using Online Fortune Telling with Tarot Cards for insights into love, career, and personal growth.
Tarot in Modern Times: More Than Just Fortune-Telling
While many still use Tarot Reading Free for predictions and divination, others see it as a tool for:
✨ Meditation and self-reflection – Using Tarot for spiritual growth and mindfulness.
✨ Psychological insight – Some therapists incorporate Tarot Cards Reading into therapy.
✨ Creative inspiration – Writers and artists use Tarot to spark new ideas.
✨ Life coaching and decision-making – Tarot helps people gain clarity on life choices.
Whether you’re using Tarot for guidance, self-reflection, or curiosity, the deck remains a powerful mirror of the subconscious mind, helping people navigate life’s challenges, opportunities, and transformations.
✨ Conclusion: The Timeless Wisdom of Tarot
The Tarot deck is more than just a set of 78 cards—it is a symbolic map of human experiences, emotions, and spiritual lessons.
From its historical roots in Italy to its modern role in personal growth, Tarot Reading Free continues to offer deep insights and mystical guidance.
Key takeaway: Whether you use Tarot for divination, self-discovery, or meditation, its rich history and symbolism make it one of the most fascinating spiritual tools in existence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will the Tarot tell my future?
It is unlikely that the Tarot cards will be able to forecast your future. Your future is not set in stone. Depending on the choices and decisions you make it is possible to change a possible outcome or future event. A Tarot reading can help you with these decisions and choices, it can show hidden agendas and solutions that may have been previously overlooked. A reading can reveal aspects of the problem not seen before and enhance problem solving capabilities.
Q: What if the reading tells me something that I don’t like?
If the Tarot shows something you don’t like then you have the opportunity to change that outcome. The Tarot tells what will most likely happen if you stay on the path you are currently travelling. If you change that path then the outcome will change. I try to make my readings empowering and positive although I will not hide anything that you should be told about.
Q: How does the Tarot work?
The Tarot cards are a tool and an experienced reader will use their interpretation of the cards along with their sense of intuition in order to convey the message to the client. Using Tarot cards makes it possible to tap into the unconscious, where all the answers lie, and bring them to the surface – the conscious. It will then be up to you to decide what to do, or not do with this information. The Tarot cards can not tell you what to do. If you are asking a question, try not to make it too vague. A vague question can get a vague answer. The Tarot is not particularly suited to giving yes/no answers, it speaks of energies and trends rather than definites.
Q: How is it possible to conduct a reading by email or from a distance?
We are all linked together in some way through the Collective Human Consciousness or the ‘Akashic Records’. It is possible to tap into this level of consciousness and gain information. The Akasha is said to be the library of all events and responses concerning Human Consciousness in all realities. Every human therefore supposedly contributes and has access to the Akashic Records. This can be made possible by using cards, crystals, spiritual guidance, intuition and even physical sensations. The Akashic Records are said to have existed since the beginning of the planet.
Q: What kind of questions are best suited for asking the Tarot cards?
The Tarot is well suited for for receiving clarity on problems and issues such as relationships, work, families, career, finances, well-being and even life in general. Tarot cards can be used for practical problem-solving. self-improvement, a tool of understanding – to name just a few.
Q: There seems to be a lot of different decks and I am not sure which one to buy. How do I know which deck is right for me?
If you look through the many decks that can be found on the internet or at the bookstore you may see a deck that jumps out at you. Maybe you are drawn to the name of it or the symbolism you can see or perhaps you just like the pictures and/or colours. If you don’t like the look of a particular deck then you will find it difficult to read with. Just because someone has recommended it to you – doesn’t mean it is right for you. Some decks are easier for beginners than others. Don’t just buy one because you can’t make up your mind – go away and think about it and come back another day. Get a deck that speaks to you.
Q: Do I need to buy anything else with my cards?
Some people like to keep their cards in a wooden box or a drawstring bag or wrapped in silk. Do whatever you feel is right for you. Just keep them clean, dry and out of sunlight (to prevent fading).
A reading cloth on which to spread your spread is popular but again not necessary.
Q: Should I read any books about Tarot and Tarot reading?
Yes, it can be useful to read a selection of books but it should be realised that every author will have a slightly different interpretation of the cards’ meanings. This can be very confusing to the beginner when each book has slightly different meanings for the cards. As your studying of the cards progresses then you will develop your own interpretations, intuitions and feelings about what the cards are saying and these will be invaluable when conducting readings for yourself and others.