The bases of Tarot
The exact origin of tarot is uncertain but is thought that they began
in either China or Egypt. The cards we know today first appeared in the 14 th century in Italy.
A tarot deck consists of 78 cards and is divided into two categories- the Major Arcana (or
Greater Secrets) and the Minor Arcana cards (or Lesser Secrets). The 22 Major Arcana cards or ‘trumps’ are numbered
0 to 21( XXI )in
Roman Numerals and as as follows:
· The Fool
· The Magician
· The High
Priestess
· The Empress
· The Emperor
· The Hierophant
· The Lovers
· The Chariot
· Strength,
The Hermit
· The Wheel
of Fortune
· Justice
· The Hanged
Man
· Death
· Temperance
· The Devil
· The Tower
· The Star
· The Moon
· The Sun
· Judgment
Each as their own symbolisms and images which. represent life’s archetypal events, including bith, death, rebirth and fortune.
The Minor
Arcana cards are divided into 4 suits of 14 cards each:
· Wands.
· Pentacles
· Cups
· Swords
Each suit consists of 10 numbered cards (from 1 to 10) and
4 court cards. The number ‘one’ card is also known as the Ace. The 4 court cards are also known as the King, Queen,
Knight and Page (or the Prince and Princess instead of Knight and Page).
The assigned
values of the cards go from one to ten, the Page, Knight, Queen and the King. Ace is the highest value.
