What is Tarot?
Tarot is a system of 78 cards, commonly used in divination and spiritual counseling to reflect situations, trends, and inner lessons.
Also called: tarot cards · Tarot reading
What is Tarot?
What is Tarot and where does it come from?
Tarot is a deck of 78 cards, divided into two main parts: the Major Arcana with 22 cards of great symbolic weight, and the Minor Arcana with 56 cards split into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Tarot's origins are usually traced back to recreational card decks in Renaissance Europe, which later developed into a tool for divination and spiritual inquiry.
How is Tarot used in practice?
Tarot users typically pose a question, shuffle the deck, lay the cards out in a particular spread, then interpret the meaning of each card based on its position, its symbols and its relationship to the other cards. Each card can be read upright or reversed, depending on the reader's conventions. Tarot is used not only to predict events but also to prompt reflection, recognise emotions and weigh up choices.
How does Tarot differ from playing cards and other systems?
Tarot is easily confused with the standard playing card deck because both have four suits and numbered cards, but Tarot adds 22 Major Arcana cards and a richer system of symbols. Tarot also differs from systems such as the I Ching, astrology or Lenormand cards in structure, number of cards and method of interpretation. Some people use Tarot as a tool for psychological inquiry, without any necessary connection to esoteric belief.
Do you need to believe in the occult to use Tarot?
No, it is not required. Some people see Tarot as a means of connecting with intuition and reflection, while others approach it as a cultural system of symbols. Whichever direction one takes, Tarot belongs to the field of divination and traditional esotericism, and has not been verified by science. The content here is for reference only and is no substitute for professional medical, legal or financial advice.
How do the different schools of Tarot interpretation differ?
- The traditional esoteric school: Sees Tarot as a tool for connecting with cosmic energy, fate and spiritual forces, in which each card carries a message from the collective unconscious or the metaphysical world.
- The psychological school: Treats Tarot as a means of inquiry based on the principles of projection and association, helping the user recognise their own emotions, thoughts and behavioural patterns.
- The cultural symbolism school: Approaches Tarot as a system of artistic and historical symbols, focusing on the meaning of images, colours and cultural context rather than on divination.
Related articles
- Tarot card 5 of Swords (5 Kiếm), iconography and in-depth meaning
- Tarot card Queen of Pentacles (Hoàng Hậu Đồng Tiền), iconography and in-depth meaning
- Tarot card 3 of Swords (3 Kiếm) - Iconography and in-depth meaning
- Tarot card King of Swords (Vua Kiếm) - Iconography and in-depth meaning
- Tarot card The Hanged Man - Người Treo Ngược: iconography and in-depth meaning
- Tarot card The Hermit - Ẩn Sĩ: Iconography and in-depth meaning
- Tarot card Ace of Cups (Át Cốc) - Iconography and in-depth meaning
- Tarot card 10 of Pentacles (10 Đồng Tiền) - Iconography and in-depth meaning
- Tarot card Strength - Sức Mạnh: Iconography and in-depth meaning
- Tarot card 4 of Cups (4 Cốc) - Iconography and in-depth meaning
- Tarot card Temperance - Tiết Chế: Iconography and in-depth meaning
- Tarot card 7 of Cups (7 Cốc): Iconography and in-depth meaning
What does the structure of a Tarot deck consist of?
| Group | Code | Number of cards |
|---|---|---|
| Major Arcana | major | 22 |
| Cups | cups | 14 |
| Pentacles | pentacles | 14 |
| Swords | swords | 14 |
| Wands | wands | 14 |
78 cards in total. The Major Arcana speak to the great themes of a human life; the four Minor Arcana suits speak to everyday matters.
The figures in the table match the results of the lookup tools on Nhật Nguyệt.
