types of tarot cards
Types of Tarot Cards
There are different types of tarot cards. Although used as a kind of playing cards in ancient Italy, today, they are used in fortune telling and divination, and are popular in Europe, America, and Asia.
There are many arguments about the origin of the tarot cards. Some say that they originated in Northern Italy during the 15th century, while some believe that they originated in Western Europe during the medieval period. There are still some who argue that its origination was in ancient Egypt. However, the ones that exist today come from Italy. The point worth mentioning is, in spite of the arguments about their origin, the meanings and the interpretations have been consistent throughout the years. Today, there are many different types of tarot cards used by the psychic readers.
How Many Cards Make a Tarot Set?
In ancient times, tarot cards were used for card games, but today, they are used for meditation and fortune telling. They are used as a tool for problem-solving, self-improvement, and also for playing card games. A set of seventy-eight cards makes a tarot deck. Each card features different symbols or pictures. A set of twenty-two cards called the major arcana or trumps make a standard tarot. Another set of cards that is commonly used is minor arcana or pip cards having 14 cards of four suits.
Different Types
Tarot cards are used for fortune-telling in the West. Some of the popular and commonly-used ones are listed below.
- The Benedetti are a set of cards inspired by the Visconti (an ancient tarot) tarot deck. They have designs of leaves painted in gold. The psychic readers who wish to add a bit of elegance to their reading use these sets of cards.
- The Cat People are used by fortune-tellers who read the human mind. It is believed that this card enables the reader to see any far off place, pertaining to the inquiry of the client, in the mind's eye. It features the cat companions and their mystics.
- The Ator show beautiful and adorable characters that make it a popular choice of psychic readers. It is the fanciful representation of the Rider Waite tarot cards.
- The Curious is a set of modern tarot deck. This type is pretty unusual. The characters depicted on them are very eerie. This is one of those used as of today.
- The Colman Smith have original psychedelic colors and tarot drawings. This set is the modern version of the Rider Waite.
- The Marseilles are used for divination and meditation. This originated in the 18th century and is older than Rider Waite by 200 years.
- The International Icon is the traditional Swiss. They are one of the most popular ones used by the psychic readers.
- The Golden is a set that is mainly used by the great thinkers. Though modern, it has the touches of a medieval rendition for fortune-telling.
- The Phoenix are one of the cards that were created in the 20th century. The vibrant colors make it one of the beautiful sets.