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Tarot and Self-Reflection
How I use a combination of Tarot, Meditation and Journalling to guide self-reflection and learning
Many people associate Tarot with belief in Witchcraft, Wicca and the Occult. Although this is a correct observation as many who follow those beliefs regularly do Tarot spreads, there are many more amazing ways to utilize Tarot.
History and Origins
Tarot decks have been used from the Mid 15th Century for popular card games still played today such as: Tarocchini (Italian), Tarot (French) and Königrufen (Austrian). These card games were the original use and purpose of the decks of cards, which slightly vary between different countries.
Fast forward to the 18th Century and Tarot cards began to be used for divination. The use of the cards for these purposes have been traced to Ancient Egypt and the Kabbalah, however, I was not able to find any confirmed evidence of use prior.
The Occult Tarot Deck:
The 78 card Tarot deck is divided into two parts:
The Major Arcana (meaning Great Secrets)
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards that do not correspond to any suit. They are numbered using Roman Numerals beginning at 0 and continuing up to XXI.
The Major Arcana are: (in no particular order)
The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Sun, The Moon, The Star, The Judgment, The World, The Fool.
The Minor Arcana (meaning Lesser Secrets)
The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards. These 56 cards are divided into four suits. These four suits contain 14 numbered cards further divided into ten numbered cards and four “Court Cards”, similar to that of a modern card deck.
The Four Suits are: Swords, Wands, Cups and Coins (Pentacles)
The Court Cards are: King, Queen, Knight, and Page
