introduction to the tarot

tarot 1 one of a special pack of cards, now used mainly for fortune-telling. 2 a card in a tarot pack with distinctive symbolic design.


My life with the Tarot Court : by Mary K Greer

Beginners Guide to the Tarot : by Joanna Watters

Astrology and the Tarot : A Personal Interpretation by Melanie


history

It is believed that the very first tarot deck was documented in italy during the fifteenth century.  This deck had four suits (numbered one through to ten) and four court cards (page, knight, queen and king).  The tarot deck also had twenty-two "special" cards making it different to "normal" playing card decks.

The history of the tarot became patchy until the eighteenth century when the tarot became popular throughout france and england among occult groups who began studying the mystical symbology and meanings within the cards.  At this time it was believed that the cards originated from egypt.

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