The history of tarot cards began near the 1400s, a century later than cards were introduced in Europe opening with the developing cities in italy. The flowering of Tarot as we understand it at present has a variety of chronicles and folklore. The occultquality of tarot cards romances historians, probers and the religious. Tarot cards were original consumed as play pieces like regular decks, distinctfrom what we consider of tarot cards at present, although a connections to Tarot as a seriesof devil cards was made in the 1450's. The delights of tarot cards began in Egypt, which is the exact civilization that protagonised astrology.



Tarot cards are separated into one major arcana and five suits, namely: The Major Arcana, The Suit of Wands, The Suit of Coins, The Suit of Cups, and the Suit of Swords.



The suits are separated as well. Their points’ worth and specific meanings are determined by being one of Oudlers/Trulls, Kings, Queens, Cavaliers, Jacks, or Others. Oudlers and Kings have the same value; the others from Queens to Jacks are worth one point less than their predecessors.



Despite this, the English-speaking world pays more attention to the divinatory meanings of the cards, which will be tackled in the next area.



Tarot card meanings are generally changing - and they have also changed drastically through time. In the modern era, however, there are common interpretations for cards. Minor arcana cards, for example, carry with them a widely astrological meaning that varies depending on the time of year. The court cards, on the other hand, talk of different people. Their nature usually talks about the physical and emotional characteristics of these people.



To go into specific cards, their meanings are determined by the following things: Card Number, Key Number, Rulership (Astrology), Hebrew Letter, Translation, and Numerical Value. The meaning is also determined by the position of the card, whether it is upright or Ill-Dignified/Reversed. Death (Arcana), for example, means change. However, an upright Death means change that brings about ‘new life,’ whilst a reversed Death means ‘painful and abrupt change.’



Many tarot readings are done face to face. You can find someone who reads tarot cards in your local area by searching online, checking local listings or asking at an occult bookshop. You should come prepared with a question or query much of the time, and may find that while you can gain some useful insights from a reading, it is more a perceptive tool than a truly esoteric one. Each tarot reader has their own preferences with regard to how they lay out cards and read them; however, you can reasonable expect that a more complex and time consuming reading will be more costly.



Telephone readings are generally more available than the street readings. A simple Google search will provide one with more options than one can normally find in the local streets. These readings are available for more or less £5.00 per reading.



Phone readings are generally cheaper because being online the tarot card readers can appeal to a larger audience, and through which they do not have to over charge, as there is no lack of customers.



There is, however, a drawback to phone readings: a lack of mystique. According to tarot card purists, again, phone readings are less effective than the typical face-to-face reading. Unfounded as this argument may be, it is enough to sway reading prices lower, and for those who believe in astrology, this may mean a whole lot.



This industry is largely helped by the growth of online communication. While past services have only been for local phone lines or party lines, the Internet has encouraged a large market growth in tarot card readings over the phone.



Although tarot is known as something that is as accurate as astrology, there is still a growing tarot service market that is ever increasing through new mediums. However, purists still think that a face to face tarot reading is important. It is also important to note that tarot cards are not purely divinatory devices. They are also used in several countries as cards used for playing. This alone should encourage tarot card users to keep a level head.

Doris Trebescy is a creative writer who has an interest in psychic abilities, guardian angels and love horoscopes.