What are Tarot cards?

Tarot cards are used for predicting the future, and for finding answers related to life in general. The cards, with beautiful, deeply meaningful illustrations, are spread out in a certain pattern, usually a `Celtic Cross', or a three-card spread, among many, and are `read' or interpreted by a psychic person to predict future events or seek answers to questions put to her by the querent. It's generally believed that the Tarot cards were introduced to Italy in the 13th century, and that they were brought to Europe by Gypsies (some people say the original home of the Tarot is Egypt!). The pack initially comprised 22 cards that form the Major Arcana, namely that of Death, The Fool, Justice, Wheel of Fortune, etc. During the 16th century, the cards may have been used for playing and it's possible that around this time 56 suit cards were added to the pack. The minor or lesser arcana cards are very much like playing cards with suits of wands (clubs), cups (hearts), swords (spades), and pentacles (diamonds). Each suit also contains the familiar court cards (kings, queens, knights, and pages).

A look at some Tarot decks
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The Rider-Waite Tarot deck (Online version of High Priestess card top left of this page) is probably the most popular Tarot deck among users today. It was first published in 1910 by Rider & Company, a London publisher and designed by.
Arthur Edward Waite in collaboration with Pamela Colman Smith, an American
artist.

The Sola Busca Tarot dates from the late 15th Century in Italy.(King of Wands card on top right of this page).

The Spanish-English Tarot Deck (The Empress card, immediate left, top) has been adapted from an Italian deck first printed in 1736 from crude wood blocks.

The Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg (Page of Swords card, immediate left, bottom), with some of the most beautiful illustrations to be used in a Tarot deck, had been created by Yury Shakov, a Russian artist specialising in lacquer miniatures.

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