Tarot cards are actually cards with attractive pictures on
them. Even today, despite considerable research, it continues to remain vague despite
considerable research. The concept of Tarot Cards dates back some 500 years ago. It is
often however is thought to have Egyptian origin. But it is Greek mythology, moral,
spiritual and mystical elements which actually form the backbone of Tarot cards. The
images and imagery portrayed on the card reveals hidden things about our life.
The images on the Tarot, and the interest in predicting events
through symbols, dates back to ancient Egypt and even older civilizations, right across
the world. Tarot may have travelled to Europe from the Middle East at the time of the
Crusades, in the 12th century. The earliest surviving Tarot deck, however, comes from 14th
century Italy, where an Italian nobleman had a deck hand-painted as a present for his
daughters' marriage.
The Tarot calls for a set of cards which may be used either for divination, or as a
philosophical instrument for answering almost any kind of question put to it through a
medium or someone familiar with its powerful symbolism. Tarot cards show the major themes
of life, and what we can learn about ourselves. Each card is called Arcanum, which means
'mystery'. The pack consists of two quite different, though not totally unrelated, groups
of cards, totalling 78 in number.
In
addition to 22 major cards known as the Major Arcana, there are four suits of cards -The
Suit of Cups (symbolizing water), The Suit of Wands (symbolizing fire), The Suit of Swords
(symbolizing air ) & The Suit of Pentacles (symbolizing earth) -- which form the Minor
Arcana.
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