This page is dedicated to the Tarot...Differant cards, layouts, meanings of the cards and some links to other pages on the Tarot...
The oldest card game that is still in common use today- used both for a card game and as the basis
of a branch of the fortune-telling-art.
The TAROT.
Brought from the East to Italy in the 14th century by a band of Gypsies or returning Crusaders.
The origins of the cards is obscure and thoeries. Some are that the tarot is based on the Hebrew alphabet.
Some say that is was based on Egyptian or Hindu mythology. Those have not been conclusively proved.
The TAROT deck consists of 78 cards, which are divided into 2 distinct groups.
The MINOR or Lesser ARCANA, the precursor of the modern deck, made up of 56 cards divided into four suits:
The WANDS suit corresponds with the modern suit of clubs.
The CUPS with hearts.
The SWORDS with spades.
The PENTACLE with diamonds.
Each suit has 14 cards with numbered cards from Ace to 10 with four not numbered face cards. The King, Queen, Knight, and Knave
(the four KNAVE cards have been eliminated in the modern deck)
The MAJOR or Greater ARCANA consists of 22 cards, each bearing a title and a picture.
The symbolism of the Major Arcana has fascinated writers and psychologists, who assume that such pictures as the Hanged Man, the Wheel Of Fortune,the Judgement and the Moon are medival allegorical
representation of virtues and vices and life-and-death-dealing forces. 21 of the cards are numbered and the 22nd card, the FOOL, numbered zero, is the analogous to the modern Joker.
In fortune-telling, either the full pack or the Major ARCANA alone is used. The relationship of one card to another, as laid out in a number of differant configurations, is as important as the significance of each individual card.
The Italian card game Tarrocchi is still played in southern and central EUROPE.
(* some of the information was taken from:
The Lexicon Universal Encyclopidia...vol 19 T-U-V pg. 38*)
Links to other pages on Tarot and fortune telling
American Gothic Tarot
Free Tarot Readings
Tarot Course...Learn the Tarot
Tarot Girl...Tarot Readings
Archtypes Storytelling Cards
Akasha Vidio Tarot...Hands on cards method
Tarot Board....Map the future
Jayson Lynn's Tarot Scaope....Choose your own cards
U.S. Games...Tarot Cards, playing cards and other card games
I-Tarot....See your future in the cards
Online Mystic Service
Tools and Rites of Transformation
Facade....Tarot
The Stones and Spirit Totems
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