What's the Deal with Tarot Cards?

Unraveling the Mystique of Tarot

From crystal balls to mystical readings, the esoteric world has always captivated our imagination. Among the various tools believed to offer glimpses into the future and insights into the self, tarot cards stand out as one of the most intriguing and enigmatic. But where did these cards come from, and what secrets lie within their colorful images?

The History of Tarot: A Tale as Old as Time

The origins of tarot are shrouded in mystery, adding to the allure of these ancient cards. While some believe they have their roots in Egyptian mysticism, others trace their lineage back to the Middle Ages in Europe. The first documented tarot decks were created in the 15th century, primarily for playing games rather than divination.

The oldest surviving tarot deck, the Visconti-Sforza deck, is a testament to the intricate artistry and symbolism embedded in each card. Over the centuries, tarot evolved from a game into a powerful tool for spiritual growth, self-reflection, and unlocking hidden truths.

Modern tarot as we know it has been heavily influenced by the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, created in 1909, which notably modified some of the Christian imagery in the designs of the Major Arcana, switched the order of Strength and Justice to better align with astrology, and utilized allegorical scenes for the Minor Arcana where earlier decks had much simpler designs.

Deciphering the Arcana: Major and Minor Mysteries Revealed

Tarot decks are divided into two main sections: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards that delve into life's profound themes, representing significant life events and spiritual lessons. Each card in the Major Arcana carries a unique symbolism and narrative, guiding us through the journey of life's complexities.

On the other hand, the Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards split into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit corresponds to different aspects of our lives, offering insights into ambitions, emotions, challenges, and material concerns. These cards mirror everyday experiences and emotions, making them relatable and insightful for personal growth and introspection.

The Four Suits: A Closer Look

1. Wands (Clubs, associated with Fire):

Associated with energy, ambition, and action, the Wands suit ignites our passions and drives us towards our goals. Symbolizing creativity and growth, these cards inspire us to embrace change and pursue our dreams with zeal.

2. Cups (Hearts, associated with Water):

Embodying emotions, relationships, and intuition, the Cups suit delves into the depths of our hearts and souls. These cards explore love, joy, and spiritual fulfillment, encouraging us to connect with our inner selves and those around us.

3. Swords (Spades, associated with Air):

Representing intellect, conflict, and challenges, the Swords suit cuts through illusions to reveal truth and clarity. These cards confront us with difficult truths and encourage mental agility, resilience, and decisive action.

4. Pentacles (Diamonds, associated with Earth:

Grounded in material wealth, success, and stability, the Pentacles suit anchors us in the physical world. These cards explore our relationship with money, career, and practical matters, offering guidance on prosperity and abundance.

Numbers of the Cards

Each card carries a number and each number a specific significance, shared across their suits. Knowing the meanings of the numbers is another way to enhance and improve your tarot knowledge to quickly derive the meaning of any card within the minor arcana.

Ace: new beginnings

Two: partnership, collaboration

Three: groups, growth

Four: stability, time for manifestation

Five: conflict, struggle

Six: cooperation, harmony

Seven: knowledge, reflection, assessment

Eight: action, accomplishment

Nine: climax, attainment, fulfillment

Ten: completion, time for a new cycle

For example, let's say you pull the Five of Cups. Five = conflict, struggle + Cups = emotions, relationships, and intuition. The Five of Cups is telling us there may be a conflict related to relationships in our lives that needs some attention.

Another example, the Seven of Pentacles. Seven = knowledge, reflection, assessment + Pentacles = material wealth, success, and stability. The Seven of Pentacles is telling us it's time to reflect on all that we have and be blessed.

This is just another way that might be helpful to you as you continue to hone your tarot readings!

The Court Cards: Personalities of the Tarot

In addition to the suits, tarot decks feature Court Cards representing different personalities and archetypes. From the nurturing Queen of Cups to the authoritative King of Swords, these cards embody various qualities and characteristics we may encounter in ourselves and others. The Court Cards offer insights into our relationships, behaviors, and interpersonal dynamics, guiding us in navigating the complexities of human interaction.

Just like the other cards within each suit, the court cards also carry shared meanings.

Page: the moody teenager of the group; has no fears and wants to try everything; explorative, playful, also mischievous; curiosity might just kill this cat one day

Knight: the college student who's got a bit more life experience under their belt, but is still prone to acting like a kid some days; launches themselves into action headfirst due to their own stubbornness and ego sometimes

Queen: the inwardly mature individual; a perfect embodiment of their suit who leads by example

King: the outwardly mature individual; a perfect embodiment of their suit who leads by action

Let's look at an example, the King of Cups. King = leads by action. Cups = emotions, relationships, and intuition. The King of Cups signals the presence of someone who is in control of their emotions and leads by action, perhaps this is a call to set emotional boundaries or clarify the status of certain relationships.

Another example, the Page of Wands. Page = moody teenager, Wands = ambition, action. The Page of Wands represents someone who may be ready to act and fiery in their passions, but also may not have thought everything through just yet, and will need to beware that they control their actions and not the other way around, lest the fire of their passions burn them instead!

Like the examples given for numbers and suits, these are just another way to quickly improve your reading skills. These interpretations are simply examples and can be different depending on the circumstances and your own intuitive interpretative additions!

Learn Tarot Now!

As we unravel the intricate tapestry of tarot, we discover more than just a deck of cards; we uncover a mirror reflecting our deepest desires, fears, and aspirations. While the meanings of the cards may vary depending on the reader and context, the wisdom they offer remains timeless and profound. Whether seeking guidance, clarity, or spiritual enlightenment, tarot cards invite us to embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. If you have an interest in learning tarot for yourself, I invite you to join me as I share my way of reading tarot in hopes that it will help you unlock and uncover your own!

As a FREE gift to you for being a supporter of Invictus Tarot, I've prepared a special, no-frills workbook for you to fill out as you learn or refresh on your understanding of each of the tarot cards. Unlike other guides that will just tell you what each card means -- after all, there are plenty of those and you can find them easily! -- the point of this workbook is to get you to write down what makes most sense to you, because at the end of the day, tarot works best when you trust in yourself!

I'll be following the same template in my upcoming posts for each individual card so you can use my entries as a reference!