A deck of tarot cards is divided into two main groups: the major arcana and the minor arcana. The major arcana usually number around 22 cards in a deck of 78 cards or more. The number of cards in either the major or minor arcana will depend on which deck is being used.
The major arcana are presented with an archetypal figure on the card. Some of the entities that may be seen on the court cards include the devil, magician, hanged man, justice, high priestess, the world and the fool. Each of these archetypes offer their own nuance to a tarot card reading. Some of their meanings are obvious while other meanings are more obscure and must be personally interpreted by the tarot card reader.
Many tarot card readers consider the major arcana cards to represent fated events from which a person may not escape. The person is meant to live through and learn from the events which are indicated by the appearance of any major arcana cards in a tarot card spread. Some tarot card readings are done with only the major arcana cards for this purpose.
As for the minor arcana, there are about 56 cards in that portion, depending on the deck. These cards are divided into suits, in the same way that regular decks are divided into hearts, spades, clubs and diamonds. The minor arcana suits are the wand, cups, swords and coins with 14 cards in each suit.
Like a regular deck, there are court cards with a king, queen, knight and page. The rest of the cards are numbered from one to ten and may represent figures, scenes or depictions of their suit. On any of the minor or major arcana cards, there may be a collection of arcane symbols on a single card.
For tarot reading purposes, the minor arcana cards are meant to represent events, which can be changed. Each suit has its own meaning as well. Wands represent work and new beginnings. Cups represent love and friendship. Swords represent the intellect and strife. Coins represent money and financial achievement. For divination purposes, the suits provide an excellent start for answering questions. Each of the 14 cards in the suits have individual meanings.
When someone gets their own tarot cards, it is recommended that the person go through the cards one by one to determine their personal interpretation of the cards before consulting the guide that comes with the cards. This task helps the deck owner develop a working knowledge of the different cards in their tarot deck.
A person will have to decide whether they want to use reversed cards in their readings. If reversals are used, this means that when a card shows up in a card spread upside down, it may reverse or strengthen the card meaning. A reversal may take the meaning in an entirely different direction. Many readers will not use reversals because it is easier to not do so.
Tarot cards have enough diversity in their numerous meanings to offer a wide range of variables in a tarot card reading. When used for divination, the tarot cards offer an opportunity for great insight into people and events. As an occult tool, tarot cards are among the best known and most used method for divination.
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