Frequently Asked
Questions
 
There are a lot of people out there with a lot of unanswered questions regarding the tarot.  I will try to present here a cross-section of those questions posed most frequently to me as a reader of the Tarot.  As with everything else on this site, submissions are gladly welcomed.
 
What are tarot cards?
The tarot is a system of divination by cards which helps a person access information within their own subconscious mind by use of esoteric symbols and pictures.  The cards act as a trigger to that part of the mind which resolves problems.  The tarot can be interpreted by the seeker for themselves, or an intermediary can read the cards for the seeker.
 
The tarot consists of 78 cards, which are further
broken down into major and minor arcana, which comes from the Latin arcanus, meaning closed or secret.  The 22 cards of the major arcana are the cards which have the most meaning in them and refer to the most significant knowledge which is hidden within the subconcious mind.  The 56 cards of the minor arcana are broken down into four suits and are numbered and have court cards, resembling today's modern bridge deck.  These cards have smaller significances and combine with the major arcana to guide the seeker to find the answers hidden deep inside his or her mind.
 
Do tarot cards tell the future?
 Yes and no.  In the sense that they can interpret what the seeker is capable of doing, based on what he or she has done in the past, yes.  In the sense that they can tell exactly what will happen to someone, no.  There is a phenomenon called the Butterfly Effect, which goes like this: a butterfly flaps its wings on one side of the planet, setting off a chain reaction of events which changes the course of action in a person's life millions of miles away.  In short, if Napoleon had waited a single day, he might have won the battle at Waterloo.
 
This phenomenon means that no prediction of any future can be a guarantee.  A seeker may come in for a reading, and upon leaving the reader's premises, decide impulsively to stop for an ice cream on the way home and thus has changed the entire chain of events following.  The cards can give an accurate interpretation of how the path of the seeker lies at the exact moment of the reading.  However, should the seeker change his or her path, the outcome is changed forever.
 
Are tarot cards tools of the Devil?
Tarot cards were created by man for interpretation of the information already contained within the human mind.  They were not in fact given to man as any kind of gift from either a god or a devil.  There are some who argue that the cards give knowledge that we as humans are not meant to know, but how can this be when all they interpret is what we already know within our subconscious and just need to be reminded of?
 
How old is the tarot?
No one knows for sure, but theories exist that date the tarot
as far back as the Egyptian culture in its prime.  They are known to have circulated throughout the royal houses of Europe during the earlier part of the Renaissance, and in
those times belonged almost exclusively to the wealthy families who could afford to have painters commissioned to design
one.  There are decks in existence in museums dating as far back as the 1500's.  However, none of these decks are the
same as the tarot decks of today.
 
A revival of interest in the tarot in the last century brought about the first of the decks which are in existence today, and more followed so that now there are well over two hundred decks known in publication.
 
Why are there so many
different decks?
First of all, artistic temperament.  It is important to remember that every artist thinks he or she can improve
upon works already in existence.  Debate as to the esoteric meanings of the cards as well as differing religions using
them have all resulted in a wide variety of tarot offerings.
 
Commercialism has also led to a greater selection of decks.  Recent trends in tarot sales have led quite a few artists
to create decks based solely on their retail value and marketability.
 
How can I learn to read the tarot?
There are a large number of publications available for the self-taught student, some of which are mentioned in the books link on this site.  A large number of books have been published on the subject.
 
Local new age shops often advertise ongoing tarot classes for students at a nominal fee.  It is cautioned, however, not to spend a great deal of money in this pursuit, as lessons are not expensive to provide and should not cost the student a great deal of money.
 
Lastly, there are sites online which provide tarot lessons as well.  Sites offering these are given in the links portion of this site.
 
Can anyone read the tarot?
Yes!  If a reader ever advises that he or she has a special gift that only a very few people are able to use, beware!  Psychic abilities are undeveloped for the most part, but this is not something you are either born with or without!  Any person who has an open mind and is perceptive and able to be honest with themself has the ability to learn to read the tarot.
 
Who invented the tarot?
This sort of goes back to the issue of how old the tarot is.  It is unknown who actually invented the tarot, save that the tarot that we have today is a combined effort of many cultures and individuals alike.  The Gypsies were certainly instrumental in bringing the tarot to a broader spectrum of peoples all across the continent of Europe, and the cards are marked with their influence.  There is also a strong amount of Hebraic symbolism in the cards, as well as Egyptian and other cultures.....
 
Are tarot cards the same
as poker cards?
Actually, it's the other way around.  The tarot decks certainly were in existence long before poker decks and any games involving them were known to exist.  The modern bridge deck contains 52 cards, which correlate to the minor arcana cards in the tarot deck, with the knights and pages being combined into the Jacks.  The major arcana cards appear to have been dropped altogether from the modern bridge deck.
 
What is a significator?
A significator is a card chosen by the person reading the cards to represent the person asking the question, or to symbolize the content of the question itself, to be communicated to the deck for the reading.  When the cards are drawn and laid out for the readign, they are usually laid atop the significator, making the significator the basis of the spread.  There are many ways of choosing a significator and each reader uses a different one.  Additionally, some readers choose to dispense with this link to the subconscious altogether.
 
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This FAQ,, and all Answers, Copyright 1998 by Gina M. Pace