All About...
Tarot Card Divination
What is tarot?
Tarot is an ancient system that uses 78 cards divided into the Major and
Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana consist of 22 cards representing
archetypal symbols of the human journey, also named the “process of
individuation” by Carl Jung. The 56 remaining cards are divided into
four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Disks (or Pentacles). They will
look familiar as they are the forerunner to modern playing cards.
Tarot cards drew their imagery from myth, mystery plays, and other
medieval sources that were potent with meaning and easily recognizable.
Astrological and Kabbalistic correspondences were added in the 19th and
20th centuries.
Though today you can find decks that seem to have little to do with the
original Tarot, most do rely on a root symbolic meaning for each card.
It is then up to the diviner to access their intuition to put their own
spin on the cards. This is the individual art of the Tarot, which does
require practice and experimentation.
In readings, the Major Arcana show up for important issues or placements
within a spread. They show how the archetypal forces play out within our
lives. The Minor Arcana point to everyday issues. The court cards of
each suit represent people, or, more often, personality traits within
ourselves that are being called out for development.
As a tool for divination, the Tarot draws upon the symbols to stimulate
the subconscious mind of the reader. It tends to activate the right
brain and call forth intuition.
Worked with daily, the Tarot is also a tool for personal storytelling
and growth.